1.  Understand what a non profit is.  One of the reasons folks struggle with a nonprofit is that there is little understanding of what a nonprofit is.  The sizes and types of nonprofits range from your local soup kitchen to a major university.   Some non profits do direct service, others focus on advocacy, and some do a combination of things.  Some give money, others give guidance.  I love this diversity as it means the non profit sector is large enough to encompass a wide range of skills and interests.  It is simply up to you to figure out where you fit in.  To that end…

2.  Understand what you want to do. The more specific you are about what you want to do the easier it is for you to search and to have others search with you.  My favorite way to gain clarity on what kind of work I would enjoy is the Career Tracks Activity by the Office of Career Services at NYU Wagner.  In this activity you collect at least 50 job descriptions that appeal to you and build career tracks based on patterns that emerge from those descriptions.  I love this activity because it starts from a place of what is available, it exposes you to different opportunities, and it helps you figure out what your next steps are. Pay attention to what you already are a fit for and craft your resume and cover letter for those positions and organizations.

3.  Start with who you know.  Once you get a sense of what you would like to do and how you’re cut out for that work, let people know you are looking for a non profit gig.  Because the sector is so big, you’d be surprised how many people work for non profits or have people in their lives who do. Start with your immediate network:  family, friends, professors, and fellow alumni.  I recommend connecting with people individually, as opposed to mass emails, as I have found folks are much more likely to respond.  Alison Green over at Ask A Manager has some great advice on how to effectively let your network know you are looking for work. (Also, her blog is a must-read for job seekers at all levels if you want to know what your hiring manager is thinking.)

4.  Reach out to someone new.   Even if you are looking for work right now, you should still build your network and be strategic about your career moves.   Remember all those jobs you found in the Career Tracks Activity?  Look up folks in the positions and organizations you admire and ask for an informational interview. While an informational interview isn’t the time to ask for a job, it is a good way to learn more about career paths and opportunities.  You can also leverage social media to connect with people doing work you’re interested in and stay on top of opportunities.

5.  Hop online.  Well known places to search for non profit jobs online are idealist.org, cgcareers.org, and opportunityknocks.org.  In addition to job listings these websites provide a variety of career development and job seeker resources including books, interviews with leaders, hiring trends and more.  You should also look into online communities and networks which can provide a great deal of support during the job hunt  including information about job opportunities, events, and important trends in your field. You can find networks based on your profession (fundraising, social work, etc) or cause (hunger, arts, education, etc). Here are a few non profit related networks and associations to get you started:

• Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
• Americans for the Arts (and their Emerging Leaders program with sites around the country)
• Nonprofit Technology Network
• Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy
• Economic Analysis and Research Network
• Feminist Majority Foundation
• National Parks Conservation Association
• Grow Food
• National Organizers Alliance
• National Fair Housing Advocates

Where else can you find non profit jobs?

This is the second post in a series I am having where I address five common questions about careers in the non profit sector. Read the introduction here and the first post about non profit salaries.  And be sure to subscribe to my blog so you never miss a post!

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We see the impact of our narrow view when it comes to young people and activism. While people celebrate the millennial generation for our desire to get involved in public service, we are frequently labeled slactivists and many wonder how or if they can get young people to go beyond low-level online engagement. Engagement is frequently categorized as making donations or volunteering with the call being to do something, anything, other than clicking like on Facebook.

I think this approach misses some key elements in activism:

1. Giving back is not a single act. Volunteering and making donations to organizations are great ways to demonstrate support. However, these are not the only ways to get involved in one’s community. Some folks pay a great deal of attention to what they buy to ensure that their money isn’t supporting actions that are against their beliefs; others start companies or work for companies that focus on the triple bottom line; and some harness social media as free agents to raise awareness and support for causes they love. In other words, we are seeing the evolution of a lifestyle of generosity, not just one-offs.

2. Slactivism is not as bad as you think it is. I am often perplexed by charges of slactivism. If someone donates to an organization without doing research, asking questions, or paying attention to what that organization does or the cause in general, aren’t they a slactivist? Therefore is the problem the level/type of engagement or what organizations can or cannot do with it? To get more out of supporters, I think it is the organization’s responsibility to figure out how to engage. For example, rather than bemoaning the use of technology among teens, DoSomething.org has developed mobile and online strategies to connect and mobilize them. If anything, the use of social media to demonstrate interest in a cause makes it easier for organizations to connect with potential supporters and for individuals to spread the word about what they believe in.

3. We have to keep asking questions. Activism is a tricky thing to measure and monitor. And as I said before, it isn’t just a single act, but rather a lifestyle. This means it takes a while for people to define what giving back means to them and what that looks like may shift/evolve over time. Have people asked young people what motivates them? If/when/how they do get involved? When I have conversations about community involvement with my peers, there is a desire to do something, yet confusion over what to do and how to begin. IdeaslitNYC, a project of idealist.org, has developed a simple three question process that sparks conversation and encourages action:

1. What do you want to do (or what are you already doing) for the common good?
2. What’s getting in your way?
3. What would help you to move forward?

If we are interested in having people create a better world, we have to meet them where they are and explore different ways of giving back.

What do you think of the current conversation on millennial activism?

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This by far the most common question I get about working in the non profit sector and understandably so: according to Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey, non profit managers and administrative staff make less than their peers in the government and for-profit sectors, leading many to wonder if taking a non profit job means taking a vow of poverty.

At the same time, I think the narrative around salaries ignores the complexity of compensation. We should certainly strive for better salaries for non profit employees, yet we should also be mindful of the limitations of comparisons when it comes to our financial well being.

To that end, when searching for a non profit job, here are some tips to keep in mind when thinking about your salary.

1. It is ok to not take a job if it does not pay you enough to take care of yourself. This should be obvious, but it needs to be said: if you find yourself struggling to provide basic necessities for yourself, you will resent your job. Keep searching or rethink how you can become involved in the non profit sector—volunteering, part time, fellowships, internships—until you find an opportunity that provides the salary you need.

2. Define what you mean by “live.” My first salaried non profit job paid $36,000 a year, with a take home pay of about $2,200 a month. I was able to live comfortably on this salary in NYC and wrote about my expenses and lifestyle. The key for me was figuring out what I needed and what I valued.

What matters most to you? What are your non-negotiables? I love going to professional development and networking events and find that many of those are free or low cost so it didn’t break the bank for me to grow my network and learn about the sector. It was helpful for me to figure out what I really wanted to do, what I needed to do, and how I would allocate my funds to support those activities. Jenny Blake over at Life After College has put together a fantastic budget spreadsheet to help you get started.

3. Go beyond salary. While salary is certainly important, other forms of compensation (i.e. benefits) can make a lower salary worthwhile. Flexible hours? Tuition assistance or loan repayment opportunities? Mentoring and support for professional development? Take a look at some common non profit job benefits and see what resonates with you.

4. Do your research. As I said before, compensation is complex; therefore it is helpful to do some digging. There are some fields that pay better than others (health/medical vs. environment) and some professions that have higher earning potential than others (technology vs. outreach). A variety of other factors affect salary including the size and location of the organization and in some cases salary can be comparable to what is found in the for-profit and government sectors.  Common Good Careers offers some great tips on researching non profit salaries.

Want to learn more about non profit salaries?

Bridgestar has a straightforward Q&A discussing common questions about salary/compensation that non profit job seekers have.

Idealist.org has an extensive list of salary surveys and articles about non profit compensation. 

What questions do you have about non profit salaries?

This is the first post in a series I am having where I address five common questions about careers in the nonprofit sector. Read the introduction here. And be sure to subscribe to my blog so you never miss a post!

Is it possible to live on a non profit salary?

To that end, I am launching a short new series—Nonprofit Careers 101—that will explore some of the more basic elements of finding and enjoying your nonprofit job. Over the next few weeks I am going to answer the following questions on my blog:

• Can I live on a nonprofit salary?
• Where can I find jobs in the nonprofit sector?
• How do I start a nonprofit?
• What are some strategies for landing a nonprofit job?
• Is it possible to work at a nonprofit and still have work/life balance?

I am looking forward answering these questions and hearing your thoughts as well! Do you have other questions? Share them below! I may answer them in a later blog post or share on facebook. And if you are on twitter use the hashtag #npcareers101 to keep the conversation going.

They have really bad Founders Syndrome.

You know that grant’s due in 10 minutes, right?

ANY FOOD LEFT FROM THAT  BOARD MEETING? (all caps because the food is often delicious and is the best part of meeting)

I’ve heard these plenty of times and they are captured in the following funny video:

Sh*t Nonprofit People Say

There are some things that aren’t captured in this video–no mention of best practices?!–but I love being able to poke fun at ourselves.  What also stood out to me is the difference in how we view ourselves and our work and how folks outside of the sector view us and our work.  There is thoughtfulness, strategy, hunger (literally and figuratively!), and humor; elements that tend to get lost when we talk about our work vis-a-vis our for-profit peers.  Videos like this are fun, refreshing, and affirming while giving a gentle reminder of how we can grow.

Be sure to check out the comments.  They are equally hilarious.

One thing I have had the pleasure of witnessing in my four (!!) years of blogging is how the conversation on social good is changing to incorporate more approaches.  I’ve seen this specifically in the growth of social entrepreneurship.

However, the definition of social entrepreneurship seems to change depending on the speaker.  Is it someone who starts an organization for the social good?  A mindset when it comes to social change that encourages risk taking and focuses heavily on ROI? Then founders of nonprofits can fall into these categories.  Or is it something more specific like for-profits with social missions?  Many businesses fall into these categories as well.

Given this broad definition of social entrepreneurship, I’ve been a bit surprised by conversations framed as “nonprofits vs. social entrepreneurship.” It seems to be rooted in the idea that when a for-profit component is included in your organizational structure, you can both change the world at a faster rate and make more money than you would by leveraging a traditional nonprofit model.

False (and Troubling) Dichotomy

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Social entrepreneurship endeavors (specifically when using the for-profit designation) can suffer from the same problems that traditional nonprofits do including addressing lack of diversity, proving impact, and, our favorite, securing funding.

So why the rush to praise this approach as a panacea?  Part of it, I think, is the belief so heavily ingrained in our culture, that business really is the answer to everything. You’d think after our financial catastrophes and warnings from our greatest business thinkers, that we would take a step back from this thinking.  Clearly, we haven’t.

The flip side of this belief is that nonprofits don’t really do much.  But they do and I cant imagine what life would be without them. Indeed, they are testimony to the generosity and activism that are woven into the fabric of this country and, many would argue, fuel our economic, social, and political growth.

Given the complexity of social problems and the diversity of talents and resources that can be used to address them, we need to use a more inclusive approach to social change.  But what seems to happen when we try to be inclusive is that we begin creating hierarchies.

So what if shifted our focus from “what’s the best single way to solve all of the world’s problems?” to thoughtfully asking: “what works best given the need we want to address, how we want to address it, and the kind of life we want to live?”

Different organizations = different opportunities for changing the world

To start, I think we need to acknowledge how different organizations actually do pursue a social mission.  Nikita Mitchell shares a great breakdown on her blog from Inc Magazine:

• Traditional Nonprofit refers to the typical nonprofit model which is highly dependent on grants and donations.
• Nonprofit with Earned Income are nonprofits like the Girl Scouts that earn a significant percentage of their revenues from selling a product or service.
• The Hybrid are organizations that have a mix of both for-profit and non-profit activities. In order to maintain the 501(c)3 status, the for-profit side is legally separated from non-profit activities; however profits are used to support the nonprofit.
• Impact Investing is an investment strategy in which both social impact and financial returns are important.
• B Corporations, which I’ve written about before, are businesses that must prove that they care as much about society and the environment as they do about profits.
• For-Profit with a Social Mission is your typical legal corporation which also aims to make a positive impact on society. Ben and Jerrys is an example, as it has always been determined to “make the best ice cream in the best possible way.”

Additionally, the strategies above apply to businesses/organizations.  Individually, how do we act on a daily basis that affects the world around us?   Beyond starting organizations, what are some ways we can get more involved in our communities?

Given the social challenges we face, we need to focus on collaboration, learning, and sharing from all people interested in the public good.

What do you think?  Should we reframe the conversation?

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I recently came across this article on the secret to landing a job at Google. Applicants go through rounds of interviews with a variety of seemingly odd questions. Yet while the questions may appear unconnected, Google is really trying to gauge the following:

(1) whether you know your field of expertise;
(2) whether you can apply what you know in an unfamiliar context; and
(3) whether you can make “creative” leaps to arrive at a solution.

These three characteristics of their ideal employee struck me as characteristics we all should be developing as we navigate our careers and lead in the nonprofit sector.

1. Do you know your field?

Who are the key people and organizations? What are some big issues or policies on the table that affect your cause? How do the people you serve understand your cause? Beyond your cause there is also your profession. What are some best practices in fundraising? What key texts are useful in designing curriculum?

However, developing expertise isnt just a matter of reading and learning (which are important). It is also about connecting with others, exposing yourself to new opportunities, and putting what you learn into practice. Which brings us to the next question:

2. Can you apply what you know in different contexts?

I’ve recommended working on projects outside of work to keep your skills sharp. This is because knowledge isnt just developed in a vacuum; it is affected by the environments we work in as well. Exposing yourself to new challenges exposes the gaps in skill set while allowing you to hone in on what you’re really good at.

3. Can you make decisions without all of the information at hand?

As I assume more responsibility at my current organization, I find myself in this situation quite a bit. However, I find that rarely am I completely in the dark: I have my experiences and expertise to help guide me as well as an understanding of the context. This is often enough to help me make thoughtful decisions.  So the question really is how do you leverage what you DO know to solve a problem?

What I love about these questions is that in reflecting on them I get a better sense of where I am professionally: what skills and knowledge I have and what I need to build on.

What do you think of these questions from Google?

“I want to help people, but I don’t know where to start.”
“I don’t know what I’m good at or what I’m passionate about.”
“How do I really know what the right job is for me?”

While the mantra of our generation might be “do what you love” we often struggle with a. figuring out what we love (passion) and b. gaining the skills necessary to be excellent in what we love (practice).

So when I get emails asking for clarity, I often recommend the Career Tracks Activity (PDF) by The Office of Career Services of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.  I did this activity a few years ago while a fellow in the NYU Wagner Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service and found it incredibly helpful. In this activity, you gather at least 50 job opportunities that appeal to you on at least one of two levels: you like the organization or you like the job itself. Don’t pay attention to location or education, just focus on those two categories.

Next sort through the job opportunities, looking for patterns. Is there an issue or cause that resonates with you? Maybe you like the size/type of organization–small and entrepreneurial or larger and more established? Is there a department you like? Fundraising? Communications? Outreach? Or maybe there is a location you find most appealing, say in an urban or rural area?

After sorting, you create at least one but no more than five career tracks around attributes that have the most meaning to you–for example: cause, department, location, etc. Chapter 3 in Idealist.org’s Career Guide for First Time Job Seekers provides a great breakdown of building career tracks, as well as other questions to ask yourself when searching for your first job.

Why I love this activity:

1. It starts from a place of what’s available: Sometimes, our passions can be disconnected from what it takes to land a job and thrive in the workplace.  This activity helps ground us in our job search beyond what we simply enjoy.

2. It exposes you to different opportunities: Often times our understanding of jobs is very narrow. There is more to work than being a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or writer.  In fact, there are jobs today that didn’t exist just a few years ago. 

3.  It helps you plan your next steps:  Is there certain education or training you need?  Do you have a particular skill set that seems to be in demand?  Are most of the jobs you want focused in certain areas? By honing on patterns that are rooted in what’s happening in the workforce, you can better plan your moves.

Have you done this activity before? What are your thoughts?

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While the mantra of our generation might be "do what you love" we often struggle with a. figuring out what we love (passion) and b. gaining the skills necessary to be excellent in what we love (practice).

With only 55% of millennials employed–the lowest percentage since World War II–there is a pressing need to pinpoint the reason behind this depressing statistic.  After all, with this generation being the most educated, surely we all should be able to find employment, no matter what the economy is.  The consensus seems to be that if millennials are struggling, there is one reason: they don’t know how to choose the right college major.

It makes sense to me that professional track majors would yield higher employment statistics as there is often a clear path and clear opportunities.  This does not mean that those who chose liberal arts majors are doomed and I think the focus on college majors reinforces problematic thinking around careers:

1.  It implies that careers are linear. There are jobs today that didn’t exist years ago.  As a result of the weakening economy, we’ve realized that there is no such thing as economic security, prompting the rise of slash careers and side hustles.   In other words, the market is different and the older approach of school –> job –> career simply doesn’t apply any more.    This is especially true if you are interested in public service careers where a linear path never really existed.

2.  It reduces college to job training.  I majored in sociology and that is a small component of my college experience. I took some fabulous courses–some in subjects I was just curious about.  I spent nine months in South Africa.  I started blogging.  I had great internships.  I grew my network.  I created an experience that simply made me interesting and more competitive.  And this is the beauty of college.  I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many leaders across sectors–from Wendy Kopp to Mark Zuckerberg–started their innovative, groundbreaking businesses in college.  In college you have choices and can build yourself up in a way that’s not always possible outside of the ivory tower.

3.  It ignores the importance of excellence and self-determination (and implies that jobs are given, not earned):  Excellence and self-determination are key no matter where you are in your career, however they are especially important when you are just starting out.  No matter what you do, do it well, and do it with purpose.  Very few of us know exactly what we want to do when we graduate from college, yet you can still put your best efforts into your work and reflect on the skills, networks, and opportunities you have now earned as a result of that work.

So instead of harping on majors, why don’t we focus on integrating stellar career support programs into colleges?  Why don’t we expose people to opportunities and encourage them to act on these possibilities?

In the end, the career killers are lack of self-awareness and mediocrity, not the wrong degree.
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On Wednesday, Rosetta Thurman and I hosted our first #ynpchat of the year on creating a 2012 nonprofit career plan.  The questions, adapted from Rosetta’s powerful piece on the 15 questions you should ask about your nonprofit career, strengthened our sense of pride in our work and allowed us to walk away with a better vision and strategy on how to rock our careers in 2012.

1.  What do you most want to get out of your involvement with the nonprofit sector?  In other words, why are you here? What are you hoping to learn and do that will help you grow professionally and personally?

2.  What accomplishments in your nonprofit career were you most proud of in 2011?  I must say that the responses to this questions blew me away.  From raising money, to implementing new programs, to finding our voice in the sector,  we clearly have done a lot of good for ourselves and others.  Yet so often, we are quiet about the work we do, thinking that to focus on accomplishments is taking attention away from the problems we may be addressing.  Yet the reality is, if we dont celebrate what we do, nobody else will and our accomplishments often lead to more interest in our work.   So let your light shine, people!  My challenge to participants: do you have a portfolio of your accomplishments?

3.  What opportunities do you want to take advantage of in 2012 to grow your leadership and further your nonprofit career? This question essentially has two parts 1. Understanding how you would like to grow and 2. identifying those opportunities that would aid in your growth. In reflecting on your accomplishments and your reasons for choosing your work, it’s easier to think about how you’d like to grow and seek programs, events, or other opportunities that would help you.

4.  What’s ONE step you can take in the next 30 days to make progress on your 2012 career goals?  I don’t know about you, but it’s so easy for me to make a list of my goals then walk away hoping they get done.  30 days to take one step makes progress actionable and manageable.

5.  Given your 2012 career goals, what’s your ONE-WORD theme to guide your work for the year?  VISION.   FOCUS. CREATIVITY.  DISCIPLINE.  My personal favorite: STRENGTHEN.  Thinking of the previous questions, what  word embodies your success, your ambitions, and your plans?

This was one of the most exciting chats we’ve hosted and proved to be a great way to kick of the new year.  Didn’t participate in the chat?  Check out the responses on twitter.  You can also share your thoughts below, on facebook, or tweet your responses using the#ynpchat hashtag so we can keep the conversation going.  And be sure to join us Wednesday, February 1, 12PM-1PM EST for the next chat!

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