2013 State of Employment for Nonprofit Organizations Report

It probably wouldn't come as a shock for any of you to hear that nonprofits are strapped for cash, and that everyone is struggling to one extent or another.

FundRaising Success recently partnered with Production Solutions and PS Digital to survey the sector in an effort to shed light on employment trends and challenges in the fundraising and nonprofit marketing arenas. The result was the first annual 2013 State of Employment for Nonprofit Organizations Report. (You can download the results and an inforgraphic here.)

The survey of more than 250 nonprofit executives reveals not only the recruitment and retention issues facing nonprofit employers, but also highlights some of the creative and low-cost solutions they are taking to stop the drain of great talent and attract new qualified candidates. Findings include:

• Nonprofit executives cite budget constraints and inability to find qualified candidates as the biggest challenges in hiring team members.
• Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed are offering flexible schedules as an enticement to talented candidates as part of their hiring strategies.
• Almost half of nonprofit employees are permitted to telecommute.
• Nonprofits are creating new titles to address employment challenges in their organizations. The top three new positions are development coordinator, senior marketing positions and development coordinator/grant writer.

"It's a tight market for employers, and our survey tells us that only 33 percent of employers offer a formal training program for new hires," says Greg Albright, founder and chief communications officer at Production Solutions and PS Digital. "Our industry has to stay ahead of the curve — or at least keep up with it — if we are to remain competitive in the ever-changing landscape of marketing and fundraising. We hope that the industry starts to invest more in training and professional development."