Staffing & Human Resources
March 9, 2016 at 11:56 am
The CEO of an animal welfare nonprofit stepped down last month after being criticized for allegedly purchasing a puppy from a breeder instead of a shelter. Former employees and volunteers have described the decision as the final straw in a series of issues with the top executive....
March 7, 2016 at 10:18 am
The great recession of 2008 hit most business sectors hard, leading to layoffs and downsizing. But according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least one type of enterprise kept adding jobs all the way through, poor economy notwithstanding: nonprofits. The data shows that the nonprofit sector played a counter-cyclical role in…
March 3, 2016 at 10:43 am
Last week, I offered some considerations for choosing your next position. I’m not advocating change; in fact, I feel discouraged when I review the statistics on longevity of fundraising professionals. A 2013 study called "Underdeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising" found that one in two chief fundraising officers plan to leave their jobs within two years....
March 1, 2016 at 10:59 am
Interviewing is an important part of any business. It goes without saying that the successful candidate for the job will come to the interview prepared. What is often overlooked is that the same is true for the interviewer. When interviewing for any position, plan your questions in advance and use care when addressing the following topics...
February 29, 2016 at 10:45 am
Many Wikipedia editors finally got what they wanted Thursday. After weeks of revolt on social media and Wikipedia mailing lists, Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Lila Tretikov resigned amid concerns the foundation wasn’t being transparent with its community about plans to develop a search engine. Patricio Lorente, a member of the Wikimedia Board of Trustees, announced…
February 26, 2016 at 10:27 am
A recent study indicated that the average development director lasts just 19 months in his or her job. Having just passed the 19-month mark in my first development director job, it seemed like a good milestone to take stock of the factors that helped me find success and satisfaction. So, here are five things I’ve learned, firsthand, that are integral to being a successful development leader...
February 26, 2016 at 10:21 am
To achieve long-term success as a major gifts officer, you have to understand how complex your world is in reality. You are an explorer as you set sail to build new relationships—internally with staff, administration and volunteers, and externally with prospects. You must have clarity of purpose and focus as each relationship and fiscal year is different...
February 25, 2016 at 11:11 am
Whether you deliberately set out to be a fundraiser or you simply “landed” in a position, if you enjoy the work of fundraising, you probably hope to get ahead in the field. That may mean you switch organizations or that you take on more responsibility where you currently are working....
February 15, 2016 at 10:22 am
What college student wouldn't want the opportunity to work with a nonprofit, right? Think about all the experience he or she will gain, not to mention the fact that you can finally get that huge file-storage project done. If this all sounds familiar to you and your organization, step back and take note: The Fair Labor Standards Act may put a damper on your unpaid intern dreams...
February 10, 2016 at 11:18 am
If you are a leader in any way, shape or form, mushrooms can roll uphill on you. It doesn’t matter whether you are leading your event income department, your 10-year-old in doing homework, your Boy Scout troop or your company—if you lead, the mushroom can roll uphill on you. The worst of it is—if the mushroom is rolling uphill on you, it is because you let it, even unwittingly asked for it.
