5 Aspects Of A Good Career Coach

Originally posted on The Nonprofit Job Seeker

***


There are many different options that make the job search a little easier. Whether it's this site or other resources on the Internet, job seekers can get a lot of help for their career these days.

One option that is not discussed as much are career coaches. The fact that they cost money is probably one of the reasons but, if you are able find an affordable one, they can be very helpful. If you have been thinking about hiring a coach, the best place to start is word-of-mouth.

Make use of your networking contacts or other people you know to find out if there are any fairly priced and quality career coaches in your area. As a rule of thumb, you should look for the following five aspects when picking a coach:

• All coaches should undergo a comprehensive assessment of your skills before you start. How else will they know your strengths and weaknesses?
• You should never get the impression that the individual is focused more on their issues than figuring out how to best improve your career skills.
• Psychology plays a big role in getting a job, and many coaches do have backgrounds in this practice. It shouldn't dominate your time together, however, so don't stick with a coach who is only interested in discussing your psychological issues.
• Boundaries are important in any professional relationship. Your discussions together should never spill into anything more personal than your job search.
• Arguably the most important factor in deciding on a career coach is your comfort level with him. If it doesn't feel right, you aren't going to get the most out of your lessons, which is a waste of time for both you and the coach. 

The Pros And Cons Of Setting A Job Search Deadline

Setting goals during your job search is hardly a new phenomenon. Whether it's applying to a certain number of jobs in a week, or making X number of new networking contacts in a day, goal-setting is a good habit for job seekers. But is it a good idea to set a deadline for getting hired?

There is something to be said for setting this kind of deadline for yourself. While it seems arbitrary, a goal of this kind can really help motivate you. There's nothing more satisfying than meeting a goal that you worked really hard to meet and, if you are in the middle of a rut, it could be just the spark you need to kick-start your job search.

On the other hand, setting a deadline to get a job is a lot of pressure to put on yourself, especially in this economy. Missing a goal can also be demoralizing, especially if you did everything you could to make it a reality. Is a little extra motivation really worth potential disappointment?

Setting a specific date to get a job is ultimately something that will do more harm than good. Setting an arbitrary date for something as important as employment is only setting yourself up for disappointment. This doesn't mean you should take your time trying to get a job. On the contrary, you should work everyday on your various job search activities to improve your chances of being hired. Just don't overwhelm yourself by setting goals for thing you can't control.

What do you think? Voice your opinion on this topic by posting in the comments section below.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Regional Director

The PACE Center for Girls, based in Jacksonville, Fl., is looking to hire a Regional Director to help run the overall operations of all the agency's centers in Florida. Applicants may reside in any area in the state.

The Regional Director supports multiple Executive Directors (5-6) and community based Boards of Directors (5-6) in their region, serves as the Chief Executive of the region and is responsible for leadership and management development and support, board and resource development, marketing, and training needs of the assigned team members to ensure all performance goals are exceeded. The chosen candidate will also be responsible for the coordination and collaboration between PACE Centers in the region.

Other duties include:

• Coaching and training to support Executive Directors;
• Building the PACE brand both internally and externally; and,
• Serve as a member of the PACE Center for Girls, Inc. Executive Leadership Team.

This position is ideal for those individuals who have strong leadership skills and are comfortable managing large groups. If you are interested in applying, make sure you meet the following requirements:

• Minimum of 10+year direct work experience in relationship management and managing staff.
• Thorough knowledge of the characteristics and financial needs of education and social service agencies.
• Proven expertise in understanding of financial statements, program operations and policies and procedures; and be current on events and activities in the social service and education fields.
• Management level understanding of education and social service programs with at-risk populations.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal capability.
•  Demonstrated success at resource development and leadership coaching. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

You can ;earn more about this job on our career center, including information on how to apply.

6 Ways To Lose A Job

Originally posted on Nonprofit Job Seeker

***

Your goal as a job seeker is to make employers like you to the extent that you are chosen instead of other qualified candidates. The idea that you would intentionally try and make a recruiter hate you seems farfetched, but that doesn't mean you don't have any habits that are unintentionally rubbing employers the wrong way.

Hiring managers have plenty of pet peeves, but below are the six that will hurt your chances the most:

• Asking Personal Questions: It's one thing to ask how long the interviewer has worked at the organization, it's another to ask personal questions about her family or life.
• Using Slang: Whether it's in your resume or cover letter, slang has no place in a professional environment. You should also avoid any abbreviations that are not well known within the industry.
• Being Overly Aggressive: Employers like to see candidates who are go-getters, but there is a line you need to be careful not to cross. For example, it's not OK to send an e-mail written in all caps just because you are frustrated over to wait to her back about your application.
• Making Up Achievements: It's never a good idea to lie about your skills or an achievement at a previous job. Even if you aren't discovered immediately, it will soon become apparent when you aren't able to do the work you claimed you could.
• Being A Pest: It's very important to follow up shortly after you submitted your job application, but be wary of how many times you contact the employer. Here's a rule of thumb: Wait at least a week before your next message.
• Being Careless: Submitting stock resumes and cover letters is a good way to make the employer believe you aren't serious about the job. Continually writing customized applications for each new job is the only way you will get noticed.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Part Time Finance Manager

Most people think of job seekers as individuals who don't already have work, but that's not always the case. There are some individuals who have a job but desire more to earn more income. Part time jobs are very attractive for these folks and today, we are featuring one of them.
The American Pharmacists Association Foundation (APhA) is looking to hire a Part Time Finance Manager to oversee the financial management of the organization. Working 24 hours per week, the chosen candidate will provide oversight of insurance and investment policies, investment portfolios, and budget process. The Finance Manager will also be responsible for the following:

• Serve as liaison of the Foundation Board’s Finance Committee;
• Assess the Foundation’s performance against both the annual budget and long term strategic plan; and,
• Work closely with APhA's finance department to ensure required financial filings and a successful annual audit.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience, advance degree highly desirable. A minimum of 5 years related experience in accounting and/or financial management, experience with bank and general ledger account reconciliations, excellent oral and written communication skills, strong analytical and organization skills, ability to meet deadlines, ability to successfully interact with vendors, staff and member in a business office environment, and proficiency with automated accounting systems as MS Office applications.
If you are interested in this job, head to our career center for information on how to apply.       

Charity Distances Itself From Anti-Muslim Film

The head of a California-based charity tried to distance his organization from an anti-Muslim film that has sparked protests around the globe, saying he was duped into participating in the movie.

The Los Angeles Times reported today that Joseph Nassralla, president of Media for Christ, wrote in a statement on the blog of anti-Muslim advocate Pamela Geller that he first became involved with the film known as "Innocence of Muslims" when its filmmaker, a fellow Egyptian immigrant named Nakoula B. Nakoula, approached him for help. He allegedly told Nassralla that he was working on a film about Christian persecution, and wanted to use Media for Christ's broadcast studio for filming.

Nassralla insisted in his statement that was all he had to do with the film, and that the final product of the movie was completely different than the movie that was described to him. He accused Nakoula of altering the film "without anyone's knowledge, changing its entire focus and dubbing in new dialogue." He also said he was unaware that Nakoula listed Media for Christ on the government documents for the movie.

Despite distancing himself from the movie, Nassralla placed the blame on the violent reaction against "Innocence of Muslims" not on the filmmakers, but on "those who are murdering and rioting." The film has angered many Muslims by depicting the prophet Muhammad as clumsy and a sexual deviant. Those images and other rhetoric in the movie are being blamed for violent protests across the Middle East, including last week's breach of the American embassy in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, which resulted in the death of U.S. ambassador Chris Stephens and three others.

Media for Christ, which was established in 2005, runs a satellite television network called The Way TV, which airs sermons and hymns as well as anti-Islamic sentiments. The host of one of its shows, Steve Klein, worked as a script consultant for "Innocence of Muslims."

You can read the full story in The Los Angeles Times.

5 Ideas For Financial Growth

Finding ways to achieve financial growth in this tough economy sometimes seems futile. While there has been significant progress since the height of the Great Recession, some nonprofits are still struggling to find their way. The temptation to curl up in a corner until things get better can be very strong, but organizations must resist if this urge if they are to succeed.

During a recent DMA Nonprofit Federation conference, Neoma Harris of St. Joseph's Indian School spoke about steps her organization has taken to strive for growth in the aftermath of the Great Recession. She offered the following advice:

• Bond with your new donor. Use thank you packages and second-gift mailings. Go back with a premium or theme similar to what grabbed them first.
• Add an outsider's voice. The school tested a “mock” newspaper article insert in its Matching Gift house special and got a 40 percent lift and $9.64 higher average gift.
• Coordinate mail and online. The school's May "Graduation" house appeal received a 3.65 percent response and $20.12 per gift with mail only and 5.7 percent and $29.25 per gift through mail and email. Email brought in $4,000.
• Remember new markets and programs. The school has found fundraising success in Europe, and it launched a stand-alone mail program for Cheyenne River Indian Outreach.
• Test, test, test. The school had success with coupons and “super sized” coupons.

Webinar: Streamlining Finances And Preventing Fraud With Cloud Computing

While we get set to present our latest webinar to you next week, we thought it would be a good time to announce another one that will be upcoming in October.

Along with the American Marketing Association, Intacct Corporation, and Bill.com, The NonProfit Times is inviting you to attend a free webinar on October 5 at 12:00 PM CDT: "How to Streamline Finances and Prevent Fraud with Cloud Computing."

Are you struggling with financial reporting and analysis? Are excel driven manual processes draining your accounting team’s productivity? Learn how organizations like yours are streamlining their finances and preventing fraud by migrating to cloud-based solutions.

Rene Lacerte, founder and CEO of Bill.com, and Vijay Ramakrishnan, director of product marketing at Intacct, will share their expertise on this topic with attendees. Together, they will explain how cloud-based financial systems will:

• Reduce overhead in your finance and IT department;
• Increase transparency and accountability; and,
• Protect your organization from fraud.

All you have to do to attend this webinar is visit the sign-up page and register; there is no fee associated with the event.

Linking An Event To Your Mission

Special events are very popular among nonprofit leaders as they allow them to raise money without actually talking about raising money. That's exactly the wrong approach, according to Jeff Shuck, president and CEO of Event 360, Inc.

Shuck said at a recent DMA Nonprofit Federation New York Nonprofit Conference that organizations need to use events not as a way to avoid fundraising conversations, but as a way to spark them. Following are the areas emphasized by Shuck, and then the key metrics for each:

• Event: Number of events, participant satisfaction, repeat attendance.
• Participants: number of participants, registration time, team participation.
• Donors: Number of donors, donors per participant, percentage of participants with zero donors, percentage of self-donations and goal, number of emails sent per participant.
• Gifts: Number of gifts, amount per gift.
• Revenue: Return on investment (ROI), compound annual growth rate, growth against the national benchmark.

Shuck also suggested the following action steps: Drive team participation (possibly through team captains), consider registration fee incentives, be careful not to undermine the fundraising culture, segment and focus on getting participants with goals off the dime.

Boosting The Effectiveness Of Your Nonprofit's Annual Funds

There is no question that annual giving from donors is the lifeblood of a nonprofit's fiscal health, so it would seem to make no sense to try and improve on it. But according to Aileen Meyer, there are plenty of ways you can boost the effectiveness of an organization's annual funds.

Speaking at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Conference in Chicago, Meyer, director of development at Lourdes College, recommended three tips that will take your annual funds to the next level:

• Using data and analytics, nonprofits can help you tangibly understand where to focus the efforts of your annual fund program. Some key areas to focus in are, your return on investment (ROI), donor segment trends, retention trends, gifting levels, gift source and stewardship.
• Increasing the size of your annual fund would not be possible without acquisition efforts. Costly as it might be, doing acquisition is a surefire way to take your annual fund to the next level. When locating acquisition donors, Meyer said that your organization should pinpoint who to ask, locate the correct solicitation method, estimate an appropriate entry-level ask amount and use giving likelihood scores to indentify the best prospects for donor acquisition. 
• Finally, to convert these donors to repeat donors nonprofits should steward creatively by reporting the use of their gift immediately and enrolling them in a First Time Donor Program. By building on these interests and connections, nonprofits can form a relationship with these donors and fold them into their annual funding file. 

The September 15 Issue Of The NonProfit Times

Want to know all about donor management software? What about the status of workplace giving in the top 10 towns in the United States? The Septmeber 15 issue of The NonProfit Times has that and a lot more within its pages.
Here are the details of the top stories in this newest issue of NPT:
Special Focus

• Donor Management Software: A look at how major gifts officers are increasingly using mobile devices to keep in touch with prospects.

Articles

• Top 10 Towns: Workplace giving, typically a staple of American philanthropy, is in flux. This is especially true in some of the top cities in the U.S., including Austin, TX.
• The YWCA USA Reorganizes Starting With A New CEO, Plan: The YWCA USA will usher in a new era by the end of the year, not only with its first permanent CEO in more than two years, but also a new governance structure for the 250-affiliate organization for women.
• Blackbaud Folding Convio's Common Ground Product: Blackbaud's merger with Convio has bought many changes to the company, including the departure of CEO Gene Austin. Now comes word that Blackbaud will be discontinuing CRM system Common Ground. In addition, the nonprofit software company announced a restructuring plan that would eliminate 51 positions.

Columns

• The Social Media Myth: Here’s a question for you and anyone who slaves away in the dungeons of fundraising: Are social media, as they convert to commercial purposes, competitive with email and direct mail?
• Time Vs. Money: Members of corporate volunteer councils (CVCs), groups of businesses that come together to discuss and share best practices on employee volunteer programs, need to have a shared vision and open lines of communication between the various entities or risk ineffectuality, according to members of HandsOn Network’s Corporate Volunteer Council Advisory Council (CVCAC).

Head over to our website to read these article in their entirety. If you want to view the full version of the issue online, subscribe to our digital edition.

Charity Distances Itself From Anti-Muslim Film

The head of a California-based charity tried to distance his organization from an anti-Muslim film that has sparked protests around the globe, saying he was duped into participating in the movie.

The Los Angeles Times reported today that Joseph Nassralla, president of Media for Christ, wrote in a statement on the blog of anti-Muslim advocate Pamela Geller that he first became involved with the film known as "Innocence of Muslims" when its filmmaker, a fellow Egyptian immigrant named Nakoula B. Nakoula, approached him for help. He allegedly told Nassralla that he was working on a film about Christian persecution, and wanted to use Media for Christ's broadcast studio for filming.

Nassralla insisted in his statement that was all he had to do with the film, and that the final product of the movie was completely different than the movie that was described to him. He accused Nakoula of altering the film "without anyone's knowledge, changing its entire focus and dubbing in new dialogue." He also said he was unaware that Nakoula listed Media for Christ on the government documents for the movie.

Despite distancing himself from the movie, Nassralla placed the blame on the violent reaction against "Innocence of Muslims" not on the filmmakers, but on "those who are murdering and rioting." The film has angered many Muslims by depicting the prophet Muhammad as clumsy and a sexual deviant. Those images and other rhetoric in the movie are being blamed for violent protests across the Middle East, including last week's breach of the American embassy in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, which resulted in the death of U.S. ambassador Chris Stephens and three others.

Media for Christ, which was established in 2005, runs a satellite television network called The Way TV, which airs sermons and hymns as well as anti-Islamic sentiments. The host of one of its shows, Steve Klein, worked as a script consultant for "Innocence of Muslims."

You can read the full story in The Los Angeles Times.

5 Ideas For Financial Growth

Finding ways to achieve financial growth in this tough economy sometimes seems futile. While there has been significant progress since the height of the Great Recession, some nonprofits are still struggling to find their way. The temptation to curl up in a corner until things get better can be very strong, but organizations must resist if this urge if they are to succeed.

During a recent DMA Nonprofit Federation conference, Neoma Harris of St. Joseph's Indian School spoke about steps her organization has taken to strive for growth in the aftermath of the Great Recession. She offered the following advice:

• Bond with your new donor. Use thank you packages and second-gift mailings. Go back with a premium or theme similar to what grabbed them first.
• Add an outsider's voice. The school tested a “mock” newspaper article insert in its Matching Gift house special and got a 40 percent lift and $9.64 higher average gift.
• Coordinate mail and online. The school's May "Graduation" house appeal received a 3.65 percent response and $20.12 per gift with mail only and 5.7 percent and $29.25 per gift through mail and email. Email brought in $4,000.
• Remember new markets and programs. The school has found fundraising success in Europe, and it launched a stand-alone mail program for Cheyenne River Indian Outreach.
• Test, test, test. The school had success with coupons and “super sized” coupons.

Webinar: Streamlining Finances And Preventing Fraud With Cloud Computing

While we get set to present our latest webinar to you next week, we thought it would be a good time to announce another one that will be upcoming in October.

Along with the American Marketing Association, Intacct Corporation, and Bill.com, The NonProfit Times is inviting you to attend a free webinar on October 5 at 12:00 PM CDT: "How to Streamline Finances and Prevent Fraud with Cloud Computing."

Are you struggling with financial reporting and analysis? Are excel driven manual processes draining your accounting team’s productivity? Learn how organizations like yours are streamlining their finances and preventing fraud by migrating to cloud-based solutions.

Rene Lacerte, founder and CEO of Bill.com, and Vijay Ramakrishnan, director of product marketing at Intacct, will share their expertise on this topic with attendees. Together, they will explain how cloud-based financial systems will:

• Reduce overhead in your finance and IT department;
• Increase transparency and accountability; and,
• Protect your organization from fraud.

All you have to do to attend this webinar is visit the sign-up page and register; there is no fee associated with the event.

Linking An Event To Your Mission

Special events are very popular among nonprofit leaders as they allow them to raise money without actually talking about raising money. That's exactly the wrong approach, according to Jeff Shuck, president and CEO of Event 360, Inc.

Shuck said at a recent DMA Nonprofit Federation New York Nonprofit Conference that organizations need to use events not as a way to avoid fundraising conversations, but as a way to spark them. Following are the areas emphasized by Shuck, and then the key metrics for each:

• Event: Number of events, participant satisfaction, repeat attendance.
• Participants: number of participants, registration time, team participation.
• Donors: Number of donors, donors per participant, percentage of participants with zero donors, percentage of self-donations and goal, number of emails sent per participant.
• Gifts: Number of gifts, amount per gift.
• Revenue: Return on investment (ROI), compound annual growth rate, growth against the national benchmark.

Shuck also suggested the following action steps: Drive team participation (possibly through team captains), consider registration fee incentives, be careful not to undermine the fundraising culture, segment and focus on getting participants with goals off the dime.

Director Of Development Wanted

The Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), a health and social welfare nonprofit, is looking to hire a Director of Development to help with the organization's fundraising efforts.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will be responsible for researching potential funding sources for B.E.S.T. from foundations, government agencies, and individual donors. The chosen candidate will also write grant applications, and assist with various projects and events. This is an ideal position for job seekers who already have significant experience in fundraising.

Speaking of qualifications, B.E.S.T. wants all applicants to know that they must meet the following requirements to be considered:

• Five years of experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• Demonstrated success at winning grants from private, public, or individual sources.
• Experience leveraging social media sites as marketing channels for individual donations and creative sources of funding.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Human Services, Public Health, or related field.

Are you interested in this position? Head to our career center to read more about it, including instructions on how to apply.

5 Aspects Of A Good Career Coach

Originally posted on The Nonprofit Job Seeker

***


There are many different options that make the job search a little easier. Whether it's this site or other resources on the Internet, job seekers can get a lot of help for their career these days.

One option that is not discussed as much are career coaches. The fact that they cost money is probably one of the reasons but, if you are able find an affordable one, they can be very helpful. If you have been thinking about hiring a coach, the best place to start is word-of-mouth.

Make use of your networking contacts or other people you know to find out if there are any fairly priced and quality career coaches in your area. As a rule of thumb, you should look for the following five aspects when picking a coach:

• All coaches should undergo a comprehensive assessment of your skills before you start. How else will they know your strengths and weaknesses?
• You should never get the impression that the individual is focused more on their issues than figuring out how to best improve your career skills.
• Psychology plays a big role in getting a job, and many coaches do have backgrounds in this practice. It shouldn't dominate your time together, however, so don't stick with a coach who is only interested in discussing your psychological issues.
• Boundaries are important in any professional relationship. Your discussions together should never spill into anything more personal than your job search.
• Arguably the most important factor in deciding on a career coach is your comfort level with him. If it doesn't feel right, you aren't going to get the most out of your lessons, which is a waste of time for both you and the coach. 

The Pros And Cons Of Setting A Job Search Deadline

Setting goals during your job search is hardly a new phenomenon. Whether it's applying to a certain number of jobs in a week, or making X number of new networking contacts in a day, goal-setting is a good habit for job seekers. But is it a good idea to set a deadline for getting hired?

There is something to be said for setting this kind of deadline for yourself. While it seems arbitrary, a goal of this kind can really help motivate you. There's nothing more satisfying than meeting a goal that you worked really hard to meet and, if you are in the middle of a rut, it could be just the spark you need to kick-start your job search.

On the other hand, setting a deadline to get a job is a lot of pressure to put on yourself, especially in this economy. Missing a goal can also be demoralizing, especially if you did everything you could to make it a reality. Is a little extra motivation really worth potential disappointment?

Setting a specific date to get a job is ultimately something that will do more harm than good. Setting an arbitrary date for something as important as employment is only setting yourself up for disappointment. This doesn't mean you should take your time trying to get a job. On the contrary, you should work everyday on your various job search activities to improve your chances of being hired. Just don't overwhelm yourself by setting goals for thing you can't control.

What do you think? Voice your opinion on this topic by posting in the comments section below.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Regional Director

The PACE Center for Girls, based in Jacksonville, Fl., is looking to hire a Regional Director to help run the overall operations of all the agency's centers in Florida. Applicants may reside in any area in the state.

The Regional Director supports multiple Executive Directors (5-6) and community based Boards of Directors (5-6) in their region, serves as the Chief Executive of the region and is responsible for leadership and management development and support, board and resource development, marketing, and training needs of the assigned team members to ensure all performance goals are exceeded. The chosen candidate will also be responsible for the coordination and collaboration between PACE Centers in the region.

Other duties include:

• Coaching and training to support Executive Directors;
• Building the PACE brand both internally and externally; and,
• Serve as a member of the PACE Center for Girls, Inc. Executive Leadership Team.

This position is ideal for those individuals who have strong leadership skills and are comfortable managing large groups. If you are interested in applying, make sure you meet the following requirements:

• Minimum of 10+year direct work experience in relationship management and managing staff.
• Thorough knowledge of the characteristics and financial needs of education and social service agencies.
• Proven expertise in understanding of financial statements, program operations and policies and procedures; and be current on events and activities in the social service and education fields.
• Management level understanding of education and social service programs with at-risk populations.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal capability.
•  Demonstrated success at resource development and leadership coaching. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

You can ;earn more about this job on our career center, including information on how to apply.

6 Ways To Lose A Job

Originally posted on Nonprofit Job Seeker

***

Your goal as a job seeker is to make employers like you to the extent that you are chosen instead of other qualified candidates. The idea that you would intentionally try and make a recruiter hate you seems farfetched, but that doesn't mean you don't have any habits that are unintentionally rubbing employers the wrong way.

Hiring managers have plenty of pet peeves, but below are the six that will hurt your chances the most:

• Asking Personal Questions: It's one thing to ask how long the interviewer has worked at the organization, it's another to ask personal questions about her family or life.
• Using Slang: Whether it's in your resume or cover letter, slang has no place in a professional environment. You should also avoid any abbreviations that are not well known within the industry.
• Being Overly Aggressive: Employers like to see candidates who are go-getters, but there is a line you need to be careful not to cross. For example, it's not OK to send an e-mail written in all caps just because you are frustrated over to wait to her back about your application.
• Making Up Achievements: It's never a good idea to lie about your skills or an achievement at a previous job. Even if you aren't discovered immediately, it will soon become apparent when you aren't able to do the work you claimed you could.
• Being A Pest: It's very important to follow up shortly after you submitted your job application, but be wary of how many times you contact the employer. Here's a rule of thumb: Wait at least a week before your next message.
• Being Careless: Submitting stock resumes and cover letters is a good way to make the employer believe you aren't serious about the job. Continually writing customized applications for each new job is the only way you will get noticed.

Northeastern Receives Record Donation

To contact us Click HERE
Two Northeastern University graduates who initially dropped out of the school teamed up to give their alma mater a record donation of $60 million.

Richard D’Amore and Alan McKim both dropped out of Northeastern as undergraduates but were encouraged to return by Professor Daniel McCarthy. The two former students’ $60-million donation is now the largest gift to the Boston school since a $20-million donation in 2006. As a result of the gift, Northeastern’s College of Business and Administration will become the D’Amore-McKim School of Business.

Northeastern plans to use the $60 million to launch new programs, attract top faculty, increase financial aid to students, subsidize cooperative education programs, and offer more opportunities for students to study and work abroad. The D’Amore-McKim School of Business is the first college or school to be named at Northeastern, and the $60-million gift is the fourth largest to name a business school in the United States.

A 1976 graduate, D’Amore had previously donated $5 million to the school in 2009 to support innovation and entrepreneurship. McKim, a 1988 graduate and founder and CEO of Clean Harbors, met D’Amore when the two teamed up to endow a professorship currently held by McCarthy. D’Amore is co-founder and general partner at Waltham, Mass.-based North Bridge Venture Partners.

“Once in a generation, history is made in the life of a university. This is one of those moments,” said Northeastern President Joseph Aoun in a statement.

“Northeastern has had a huge impact on me — both personally and professionally,” D’Amore said in a press release. “I hope that what Alan and I are doing will inspire others to do the same.”

Marketing: 3 Promotional Mistakes

To contact us Click HERE
The word "promotion" has a negative connotation these days. Product placements in movies makes audiences' eyes roll, and people don't hesitate to press that "skip ad" button on YouTube when an advertisement plays before a video. Yes, marketing can be quite a challenge today.

While it's true that most people would rather not have to see promotions, marketing your brand or a specific product does not have to be a negative. By avoiding some common promotional mistakes, your campaigns will be more successful and, as an added bonus, people will be less annoyed with your organization.

In his book "Managing a Nonprofit Organization," Thomas Wolf listed three mistakes that some nonprofits make during promotions. Avoiding these are key to ensuring a successful campaign:

• Don’t assume that saying more in a promotional device is better. Short, carefully selected messaging is always more effective.
• Don’t miss easy opportunities to acquire names, addresses, and other pertinent information. Incentivizing people to provide email addresses and other information will be valuable in later sales and fundraising solicitation.
• Don’t oversell your product or service. If customers or constituents have specific expectations about what you are selling and these expectations are not met, they will be disappointed. Promotion based on exaggerated claims will generally lead to unfulfilled expectations.

Nonprofit Arts In Washington A Boon To Economy

To contact us Click HERE
Nonprofit arts organizations and their patrons across Washington spent $1.51 billion in local economic activity during fiscal year 2010 according to a new report released by Americans for the Arts.

According to a report in The Washington Business Journal, the total expenditure generated $120 million in local tax revenue and $21 million in state revenue during the period of July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Of those totals, 63 percent was organizational spending and 37 percent was from the audience.

The nonprofit arts industry is worth $135 billion on a nationwide level and, according to the study, supports 4.1 million jobs and generates $87 billion in household income.

Volunteers also played a big role in the strength of arts and culture in the Washington area. More than 33,000 volunteers donated 1.5 million hours to organizations in the region, with that time representing an estimated worth of more than $33 million.

The data for the Americans for the Arts study was collected from 299 arts and culture organizations and 4,351 in Washington. The study did not include the Smithsonian Institution which, according to the organization's Form 990, accounted for $2.1 billion in total culture spending in 2010, in addition to representing 58 percent of the local industry.

You can read the full story in The Washington Business Journal.

North Texas Giving Day Brings In $14.4 Million

To contact us Click HERE
The fourth annual North Texas Giving Day raised $14.4 million for more than 900 nonprofits yesterday, easily surpassing the $10.7 million raised last year.

This blog covered last year's Giving Day which, at the time, set a record for the event. The 2012 incarnation made sure that record didn't last long, as donors from across the nation and the world submitted 37,858 gifts totaling approximately $14,439,441.

According to a report in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, nonprofits that received donations between 7 a.m. and midnight Thursday on the North Texas Giving Day site also got a partial match from a pool of $1 million in matching and prize funds.

Donations from this year's event came from every U.S. state and 14 countries, including Canada, Austria, Brazil, China, and Finland, according to the Communities Foundation of Texas, which first launched the event in 2009. During last year's Giving Day, participation picked up in Tarrant County, Texas, after the Dallas area dominated donations during the first two years. Dallas was once again in the lead this year, receiving $9,710,961. Meanwhile, Tarrant County received $2,014,992, an increase from the $1.6 million it got last year.

“We are absolutely blown away by the record-breaking generosity and goodwill of North Texans,” said Communities Foundation of Texas president and CEO Brent Christoper in a statement. “This is a testament to the strength of our community and our shared desire to make North Texas the most viable, best place to live. We are humbled to say the least.”

The Salvation Army of Dallas-Fort Worth led all organizations this year with $554,483 raised. It did not, however, win the $10,000 prize for most donors. That honor went to KERA TV Channel 13 which, although it only raised $78,965, had 948 eligible gifts. The PBS affiliate also received another $10,000 for having the largest increase of donors over last year. The two $10,000 prizes were sponsored by the Dallas Foundation and Hoblitzelle Foundation, respectively.

You can see the rest of the statistics on the North Texas Giving Day leaderboard.

4 Ways For Your Nonprofit To Go Viral

To contact us Click HERE
Every nonprofit wants their online content to go viral. It’s practically the Holy Grail of the online world. Of course, something so coveted doesn’t come easy. If you want your content to be the next Internet phenomenon, you are doing to have to do some work.

Whether it's a YouTube video of a recent special event or a blog post about the organization's mission, nonprofits are always looking for ways to enhance the exposure of their content. In "Nonprofit Management 101," Zoetica CEO Beth Kanter wrote that nonprofits need to encourage others to share their work if they want it to go viral. She suggested the following techniques to make this a reality:

• Give permission to share. Tell your audience that you want them to take your content and repurpose, remix, or recreate it. This can be done by using a Creative Commons “Share, Share Alike” license.
• Be explicit. Sometimes people are inspired on their own, but it also helps to reward them for sharing or creating your content. Kanter suggested creating a contest that gives a prize to the user who makes the best use of your content. You’d be amazed at what people will do free stuff.
• Stock the pond. No one likes to be first, so you may need to get staff and other insiders to jumpstart your effort.
• Lift up examples. Encourage and publically recognize people who create content for you. This can be done by highlighting their contribution in a blog post, on your website, or at an event.

4 Ways To Get A Job Interview

To contact us Click HERE
The best way to get a job interview is to have an impressive resume and cover letter, but those aren't the only things in your control. There are plenty of other techniques that will improve your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers. Below are four tips that will help you accomplish this goal:

• Contact the Employer Before Sending Your Application: Unless the job description specifically asks for no phone calls, you should contact the hiring manager before sending your resume and cover letter. The purpose of your call should be to express your interest in the job, and to give a brief elevator pitch explaining why you are qualified.
• Promise a Follow-Up: End your cover letter with a statement that shows your intention to follow-up with the employer within the next few days. This will show that you are proactive, a quality that is very attractive in potential employees. Of course, if you promise to contact them within a certain time frame, make sure you actually do.
• Have a Purpose With Your Subsequent Follow-Ups: Sometimes you will not hear back from the employer after your initial follow-up call. If you don't hear back within a few weeks of your initial message, try calling the individual again but make sure you have a purpose. For example, you could call to ask whether a timeline has been established for potential interviews.
• Keep a Contact Log: Keep track of all the individuals you have contacted. This log should include a copy of the job description, the file names of the resume and cover you used, contact dates, and the name of the hiring manager with whom you talked. 

5 Questions For Career Beginners

To contact us Click HERE
Congratulations, you graduated from college! Now comes the real hard part: Starting your career.

Individuals who are just starting their foray into a serious career have a lot going against them, especially in this competitive job market. There are jobs out there for the taking, and it will probably be tempting to take the first opportunity that comes your way. Before seriously considering the position, however, you should ask these five questions to make sure you are making the right choice:

• Does the job offer enough training? You should ask the employer about initial and ongoing training, and you should be comfortable with their response. If you don't think you will be able to do the job, you should consider looking elsewhere.
• Are there opportunities for growth? It may be your first job, but that doesn't mean you should accept a position that will stunt your career path. Being stuck in one position for a long period of time can seriously hinder your career development.
• Will there be opportunity for you to work independent of close supervision once you are finished with the proper training? You will always be reporting to a superior regardless of the job, but you should also be able to do your work without constant supervision if you are to develop as a professional.
• Are the tasks you will be assigned interesting and challenging? Satisfaction at work often comes from doing jobs that stimulate you mentally. You don't want to be in a situation that only gives you work that can be easily completed. This will only lead to boredom and, inevitably, burnout.
• Finally, will your supervisor be able to develop a relationship with you that will increase your knowledge of the organization and the industry in which you work? When you first start the job, your supervisor should give you direct feedback on your performance, and he should introduce you to the rest of the staff and acclimate you to the organizational culture.

Director Of Development Wanted

To contact us Click HERE
The Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), a health and social welfare nonprofit, is looking to hire a Director of Development to help with the organization's fundraising efforts.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will be responsible for researching potential funding sources for B.E.S.T. from foundations, government agencies, and individual donors. The chosen candidate will also write grant applications, and assist with various projects and events. This is an ideal position for job seekers who already have significant experience in fundraising.

Speaking of qualifications, B.E.S.T. wants all applicants to know that they must meet the following requirements to be considered:

• Five years of experience in nonprofit fundraising.
• Demonstrated success at winning grants from private, public, or individual sources.
• Experience leveraging social media sites as marketing channels for individual donations and creative sources of funding.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Human Services, Public Health, or related field.

Are you interested in this position? Head to our career center to read more about it, including instructions on how to apply.

5 Aspects Of A Good Career Coach

To contact us Click HERE
Originally posted on The Nonprofit Job Seeker

***


There are many different options that make the job search a little easier. Whether it's this site or other resources on the Internet, job seekers can get a lot of help for their career these days.

One option that is not discussed as much are career coaches. The fact that they cost money is probably one of the reasons but, if you are able find an affordable one, they can be very helpful. If you have been thinking about hiring a coach, the best place to start is word-of-mouth.

Make use of your networking contacts or other people you know to find out if there are any fairly priced and quality career coaches in your area. As a rule of thumb, you should look for the following five aspects when picking a coach:

• All coaches should undergo a comprehensive assessment of your skills before you start. How else will they know your strengths and weaknesses?
• You should never get the impression that the individual is focused more on their issues than figuring out how to best improve your career skills.
• Psychology plays a big role in getting a job, and many coaches do have backgrounds in this practice. It shouldn't dominate your time together, however, so don't stick with a coach who is only interested in discussing your psychological issues.
• Boundaries are important in any professional relationship. Your discussions together should never spill into anything more personal than your job search.
• Arguably the most important factor in deciding on a career coach is your comfort level with him. If it doesn't feel right, you aren't going to get the most out of your lessons, which is a waste of time for both you and the coach. 

The Pros And Cons Of Setting A Job Search Deadline

To contact us Click HERE
Setting goals during your job search is hardly a new phenomenon. Whether it's applying to a certain number of jobs in a week, or making X number of new networking contacts in a day, goal-setting is a good habit for job seekers. But is it a good idea to set a deadline for getting hired?

There is something to be said for setting this kind of deadline for yourself. While it seems arbitrary, a goal of this kind can really help motivate you. There's nothing more satisfying than meeting a goal that you worked really hard to meet and, if you are in the middle of a rut, it could be just the spark you need to kick-start your job search.

On the other hand, setting a deadline to get a job is a lot of pressure to put on yourself, especially in this economy. Missing a goal can also be demoralizing, especially if you did everything you could to make it a reality. Is a little extra motivation really worth potential disappointment?

Setting a specific date to get a job is ultimately something that will do more harm than good. Setting an arbitrary date for something as important as employment is only setting yourself up for disappointment. This doesn't mean you should take your time trying to get a job. On the contrary, you should work everyday on your various job search activities to improve your chances of being hired. Just don't overwhelm yourself by setting goals for thing you can't control.

What do you think? Voice your opinion on this topic by posting in the comments section below.

NJ City Asks Nonprofits For Revenue

To contact us Click HERE
The City Council of Lawrence, N.J. is asking nonprofits to "voluntarily" contribute 25 percent of what they would pay in property taxes, in an attempt to generate revenue for the town.

Nonprofits hold more than 90 plots of land in Lawrence Township and account for $287 million of its assessed property value, according to a report in The Times of Trenton. Two of the largest organizations in the town, Lawrenceville School and Rider University, are already making payments to the town, but those fall short of what is now requested.

If the two schools were to agree to a 25 percent contribution, Lawrenceville would have to pay more than $217,852, and Rider University would have to contribute around $141,470. They gave $35,000 and $65,000, respectively, during the last budget year.

"The time has come that we not only seek financial support from Rider University and The Lawrenceville School for voluntary contributions, but, as a matter of equity, we request a voluntary contribution from all tax-exempt organizations in Lawrence Township," said Councilman Greg Puliti in a statement announcing the plan.

While the Lawrence council's plan is voluntary, some experts believe that organizations will see the move as a threat. Linda Czipo, executive director of New Brunswick, N.J.-based Center for Nonprofits, wondered aloud to The Times what will happen when cash-strapped organizations decline to make the payments.

Lawrence is certainly not the first U.S. city to make such a request to local nonprofits. Brown University in Providence, R.I. recently agreed to double its payments to the city, and the Memphis, Tenn. City Council approved a new payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program in the beginning of July.

You can read the full story about Lawrence's payment request in The Times of Trenton.

Choosing Your Nonprofit's Fiscal Year

To contact us Click HERE
The words "fiscal year" always seem to make an appearance when reading reports about nonprofit finance or accounting. Contrary to popular belief, a fiscal year doesn't just begin when the new year starts; it begins whenever the nonprofit wants it to.

Well, almost.

As explained by Thomas Wolf in "Managing a Nonprofit Organization," a nonprofit's fiscal year can begin at any point during the year as long as its end date is specified in the documents in which it is mentioned. These dates are usually not chosen at random. Whether it's to honor the organization's anniversary or the birthday of a high level executive, fiscal years can have a lot of meaning. As such, great care should be taken in choosing a date.

What makes a good beginning and end to a fiscal year? Wolf laid out three considerations to keep in mind:

• It should roughly parallel the organization’s program year. That is, one year’s program activities should not fall into two fiscal years.
• The fiscal year should end, whenever possible, just before a period of relative inactivity.
• The fiscal year-end may be chosen to coincide with a primary funder’s fiscal year-end and resulting reporting requirements. For example, if a major portion of an organization’s support is from the state government, the nonprofit may select the same fiscal year-end as the state to simplify reporting on state grants.

California Considers Nonprofit Mismanagement Bill

To contact us Click HERE
The California state Legislature is considering a bill that would give the state attorney general's office more power to crack down on nonprofits that are found to be mismanaging charitable funds.

California Watch reported today that a bill by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-West Hollywood) would give the attorney general the ability to take legal action against a charity or fundraiser if it fails to provide the required documents or makes a false statement in application or report. Current law requires the state to prove that there was intent to deceive before taking action.

Organizations would be given a penalty of up to $1,000 per violation after a five days' notice. The bill passed the Assembly, and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee today.

According to analysis by staff from the Assembly Judiciary Committee, the attorney general's office is unable to prevent fraud from occurring with its current powers. The report claimed that this is the case even in instances when concerns are raised about a nonprofit before charitable donations are lost.

The state of California has dealt with many cases of alleged fraud in recent years. In 2010, the attorney general's office reached a settlement with the Association for Firefighters and Paramedics Inc. The state accused the Santa Ana-based organization of spending thousands of dollars meant for burn victims on a Caribbean cruise, trips to resorts, and other personal expenses. The nonprofit denied any wrongdoing in the case.

Bill AB 2327 is very similar to laws that are already in place in other states. The one difference is that the law, if passed, would require fiscal sponsors of charities to have directors' and officers' insurance in case they lose the money the are managing.

You can read the full story in California Watch.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Publications And Communications Manager

To contact us Click HERE
Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) in Reston, Va., is looking to hire a Publications and Communications Manager. Think you have what it takes to be successful at this job? Read on for more details.

The chosen candidate for this position will manage and coordinate all aspects of publications and communications. This includes writing, editing, and distributing student and teacher magazines, eNewsletters, press releases, speeches, brochures, and other materials.

In addition to writing and editing skills, applicants must also be proficient in technology. Specifically, the successful candidate must have knowledge of web site content management systems, cloud technologies, and all aspects of social networking. Other requirements for the job include knowledge of production and printing processes, budget management, and expertise in InDesign/QuarkXPress.

If you are interested in this position, head to our career center for instructions on how to apply.

12 Hiring Tips

To contact us Click HERE
Making crucial decisions based on a "gut feeling" is a time-honored tradition that is used in many different fields. Whether it's a baseball manager making a pitching change because he "likes the match-up" or choosing an ice cream flavor based on what it looks like, many people make gut-based decisions.

When it comes to hiring an employee, however, it's best to be a little more careful.
In their book "Being Buddha at Work," Franz Metcalf and B.J. Gallagher wrote that hiring managers pay too little attention to a job applicant's work history, ability to learn and grow, and ability to work well with others. In addition to these skills, Metcalf and Gallagher suggest 12 other tips to enhance your hiring process:

• Don’t limit your search to obvious candidates.
• Be clear about what is required in the job.
• Consider what it takes to be successful in your particular organization and/or department.
• Involve many people in the interview process.
• Ask behavioral questions. The best predictor of future performance is past performance. 
• Don’t use hypothetical questions.
• Hiring is a two-way process. Make sure the candidate has an opportunity to ask lots of questions.
• Don’t be in a hurry to hire. Haste in the beginning can be costly later.
• Use job tests when you can, whether it’s a typing test, a computer simulation, or a role-playing scenario.
• Be sure to consider the candidate’s future potential.
• Be honest with the candidate about the nature of the job as well as future growth potential.
• Look especially careful at someone who interviews well or tries to get away with glib answers to questions. This individual may be good at interviewing, but make sure he/she has other skills to back up those interviewing skills.

Don't Wear Shorts To Job Interviews

[Ljava.lang.String;@3288d039

Featured Nonprofit Job: Fundraising Development Director

[Ljava.lang.String;@63859f52

4 Job Interview Myths

[Ljava.lang.String;@4da587c2

3 Cover Letter Rules

[Ljava.lang.String;@4045f4d9

Can You Be A Stay-At-Home Fundraiser?

[Ljava.lang.String;@3f8c5786

Study: Nonprofit Hospital CEO Pay Doesn't Affect Quality Of Care

.lang.String;@70d9cf0f

7 Ways To Engage Religious Donors

.lang.String;@4da605ee

Businesses Using Nonprofits To Hide Political Donations

.lang.String;@598112f5

The Global Fund Tries New Method Of Solicitation

.lang.String;@75f37fd6

6 Ways To Improve Your Volunteer Recruitment

.lang.String;@3cab843c

3 Things To Remember During Job Interviews

To contact us Click HERE
Job interviews don't always come in bunches, so it's important to put your best face forward should you get called in for one.

Most job seekers know the important things to remember when they are preparing for an interview. They know they need to dress appropriately, have all of their talking points memorized, and bring in an extra copy of their resume. There are, however, some other points that interviewees forget when they walk into that office. Let's take a look at three of them:

• The interview starts when you walk in the building. You need to impress people the minute you enter the waiting room, not just when you are speaking to the hiring manager. That means you shouldn't do anything you wouldn't do during the interview (i.e., chew gum, talk on your cell phone). You should also remember to be friendly to the assistant, even if you don't find her to be so nice herself.
• Don't use the interview as a way to find out about what the organization does. Research of this kind should be done before the interview, not during it. Asking questions about the mission of the nonprofit is a good way to show the interviewer that you didn't do your homework.
• Don't just talk about what you've done, show it. Print out copies of some of the work you have done to give the employer a look at your abilities in action. This is much more effective than just saying you are, for instance, good at writing.

One last thing: When you write your thank-you letter after the interview, make sure to be as original as possible. It should read as if a human being wrote it, not a robot, so avoid clichéd phrases.

Best Nonprofits To Work For: 2013 Edition

To contact us Click HERE
This year, The NonProfit Times unveiled the 2012 edition of its annual Best Nonprofits To Work For study. The report revealed the 50 nonprofits that people felt offered the best work environment, pay, and benefits, among other issues.

The top nonprofit in the 2012 edition of the study was the Wounded Warrior Project -- the second year in a row the organization has won that honor. Will it win again in 2013? Now is your chance to see if WWP will reign again, or if another nonprofit will dethrone it.

NPT, in coordination with the Best Companies Group, is inviting individuals participate in the 2013 Best Nonprofits To Work For survey. Simply go to the Best Companies Group website and register to participate. There is no cost to complete the survey online, so all we require is your time. Although you have a few months to complete the survey (the deadline is October 19), we recommend completing it as soon as possible.

Once registered, participants will receive the following information in their e-mail:

• The Employer Benefits & Policies Questionnaire (employer questionnaire);
• The Employee Engagement & Satisfaction Survey;
• Survey distribution instructions; and,
• Other supporting materials and instructions. 

As an added benefit to completing the survey, all participants will have the opportunity to purchase the Employee Feedback Report, which details the results of their specific survey. These would normally cost thousands of dollars if initiated independently.

Register today to make sure your nonprofit is represented in the 2013 study!

Don't Wear Shorts To Job Interviews

To contact us Click HERE
Let's take a moment to talk about fashion. Don't worry, we're not changing the subject of this blog, it just happens that what you wear has a pretty big impact when it comes to job interviews. One fashion faux pas and you could find yourself out of the running.

When preparing to choose an outfit for your interview, you have to strike a delicate balance between casual and professional. You don't want to come in with shorts and t-shirt, but you also shouldn't overdress, as that can come off as desperate. Here are some general tips to keep in mind:

• Jeans are a no-no in any situation, even if it's a more casual work environment. Guys should always wear khakis of some kind, while girls should choose a long skirt or professional pants.
• Another tip for girls: Don't go overboard on the makeup. You can use some, just make sure you don't use so much that it becomes distracting.
• Interview attire isn't as conservative as it used to be, but that doesn't mean you should wear flip-flops or sneakers. Invest in a pair of low-cost dress shoes.
• Here's a rule of thumb for jewelry: If you can hear it while walking, you have too much. The most you should wear are earrings, necklace, and a ring. Anything else is taking it too far.
• Fashion isn't all about what you wear. Grooming is also important. Plan to get a hair cut a couple of days before your interview. Guys should plan to shave unless they already have a beard. In that case, make sure it is trimmed nicely.

Those are the basic guidelines for dressing up for your job interview. If you have any other tips, feel free to share them with us in the comments section.

Ask For Job References, Not Jobs

To contact us Click HERE
The ultimate goal when you meet up with a networking contact is to get information that will lead you to a nonprofit job.  That doesn't mean you should straight up ask for a job.  Instead, ask for references.

The fact of the matter is that career networking isn't always going to lead you to people who have solid job references to help your job search.  Instead of putting your contacts on the spot about a potential job, mention to them what kind of positions you are most suited for and the ask if you can use them as a reference when you apply for jobs.

There are a couple of good reasons for taking this approach.  First of all, being used as a reference is a pretty high compliment.  It says that you think enough of this person to use them as an accurate judge of your abilities.  It will also make them feel better about themselves knowing they are able to help you out in your quest to get a good job.

All of this sounds like it's better for your contact than for you, but these good feelings will make your contacts more eager to help you.  They will think of you as a friend and will be thinking about other ways they can help you with your search.  This means they will likely be on the lookout for jobs that fit your needs.

It's important to keep in mind that this technique works best with people that you already know fairly well.  If you are just getting to know someone you discovered through LinkedIn, you should wait for a few conversations until you ask to use them as a reference.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Human Resources Manager

To contact us Click HERE
Origins Recovery Centers (ORC), an addiction center located in South Padre Island, Tex., is looking to hire a Human Resources Manager.

The ideal candidate will be able to perform all HR functions including recruiting, employee relations, compensation, performance management, employee orientation, development, and training. This position will work closely with ORC managers on employee relations issues, in addition to developing and administering employment policies, procedures, and best practices.

The HR manager is an extremely important job in any organization, so applicants should be prepared to meet  the following requirements:

• Must have experience with state licensing boards.
• Minimum 2 years experience in HR.
• Bachelor Degree in related field.
• Addiction treatment and professional licenses a plus.

Once you are sure that you meet these qualifications, head over to our career center and apply for the job! 

Don't Wear Shorts To Job Interviews

To contact us Click HERE
Let's take a moment to talk about fashion. Don't worry, we're not changing the subject of this blog, it just happens that what you wear has a pretty big impact when it comes to job interviews. One fashion faux pas and you could find yourself out of the running.

When preparing to choose an outfit for your interview, you have to strike a delicate balance between casual and professional. You don't want to come in with shorts and t-shirt, but you also shouldn't overdress, as that can come off as desperate. Here are some general tips to keep in mind:

• Jeans are a no-no in any situation, even if it's a more casual work environment. Guys should always wear khakis of some kind, while girls should choose a long skirt or professional pants.
• Another tip for girls: Don't go overboard on the makeup. You can use some, just make sure you don't use so much that it becomes distracting.
• Interview attire isn't as conservative as it used to be, but that doesn't mean you should wear flip-flops or sneakers. Invest in a pair of low-cost dress shoes.
• Here's a rule of thumb for jewelry: If you can hear it while walking, you have too much. The most you should wear are earrings, necklace, and a ring. Anything else is taking it too far.
• Fashion isn't all about what you wear. Grooming is also important. Plan to get a hair cut a couple of days before your interview. Guys should plan to shave unless they already have a beard. In that case, make sure it is trimmed nicely.

Those are the basic guidelines for dressing up for your job interview. If you have any other tips, feel free to share them with us in the comments section.

For A Chief Development Officer, Support Is Key

To contact us Click HERE
There's no question that the chief development officer (CDO) of a nonprofit is very important to the fundraising of that organization. This individual is unlikely to have as much of an impact, however, without the assistance of a great support staff.

Steve Klingman wrote in his book, "Fundraising Strategies for Community Colleges," that assistants for CDOs are just as important as the CDO himself. He argued that nonprofits should spend a good deal of energy looking for a great support staff.

So what qualifications should an organization seek for this role? Klingman suggested asking the following questions when assessing candidates:

• Does the assistant understand development?
• Does the assistant know the organization’s donors?
• Are there any underlying performance issues?
• Does the assistant possess the necessary skill sets?
• Does the assistant have command of the hundreds of details for which the CDO will be held responsible?
• Is the assistant proficient in using all of the organization’s software platforms?
• Do acknowledgment letters go out within 24 hours of receiving funds?
• Can the assistant perform data entry into the organization’s database, construct queries and run reports efficiently?
• Are gifts entered daily?
• Are bank deposits made at least once a week?
• Do complex assignments seem to be put off indefinitely?
• What does the assistant need?
• Are the assistant’s duties reflected in an accurate job description?
• Is the assistant responsible for the organization’s accounting? If so, plan to change that.

Networking Events on July 4th

To contact us Click HERE
Tomorrow, people all across America will be celebrating Independence Day.  Our forefathers fought for our freedom all those years ago and as a result, we get to eat burgers, drink beer, and watch fireworks every July 4th. Freedom's a wonderful thing, right?

Unfortunately, many Americans are not free this year. There's no oppressive foreign power trying to impose their will on us, but there are still too many people held back by unemployment. It's been nearly three years since the official end of the Great Recession, but Americans are still dealing with its aftermath. Things are better than they were in 2009, but we still have a long way to go. 

It would be very easy to just halt your job search this holiday weekend. And when it comes to applying to jobs, I would recommend that. Since the majority of organizations are off, you aren't going to be finding many new positions. That doesn't mean you can't do anything to move yourself closer to unemployment independence. It may not seem like it, but there really is no better time to network. Think about it: Presumably you will be attending a July 4th party, which will  give you the opportunity to connect (or re-connect) with a bunch of people. Make it a goal to make some new career contacts by the time the party is over. You will probably have some idea of who these people are, which can make it a lot more relaxing than a normal networking event.

It's highly unlikely you will walk out of an Independence Day party with a job interview lined up. That's hardly a guarantee. What is a guarantee, however, is that you will move one step closer to ridding yourself of unemployment if you do some serious networking. And on a day when America is celebrating freedom from tyranny, you can be closer to that freedom as well.

"Help Me Help You:" Helping Friends With The Job Search

To contact us Click HERE
People tend to think of the job search as an individual endeavor. Job seekers understandably focus on their own needs rather than taking too much time helping others. What they may not know, however, is that assisting people is a big part of the job search process.

You should be more than willing to assist a friend if they need help getting a job. You would expect a networking contact to help you if you asked, so why should you turn down a request from a friend? It's true that you need to spend as much time as possible on your own job search, but you should still find time to be of help. Being a willing helper will also make others more eager to assist you.
Like most things, there's a right and a wrong way to help someone look for a job. Follow these four tips should a friend reach out to you:

• Listen: Does your friend just need to blow off some steam? Instead of trying to convince him that everything will be OK, let him release his frustrations. After he is done, you should express your understanding, and begin to find out what kind of help he needs.
• Know Your Role: Don't assume that the techniques you use for your job hunt are right for your friend. Ask what kind of job he is looking for and what you can do to help. When it comes time to offer suggestions, make them in a way that is not presumptive. For example, you can ask "would it be helpful if I shared your resumé with my contacts?"
• Network: Assuming your friend is also looking for a nonprofit job, you can reach out to your networking contacts and see if they can help your friend. Write a short e-mail asking them if they would like to have lunch with him. Remember that your friend is a direct representation on you, so make sure he is properly prepared should your contact say "yes."
•  Manage Expectations: You should commit to do anything you can to help, but don't make promises you can't keep. For instance, if you don't know anyone in your friend's area of expertise, don't tell him that you will see who you know. Be up-front with him, so that he knows what to expect.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Director Of Administration

To contact us Click HERE
Hope that everyone had a great July 4th holiday! Now that the festivities are over, it's time to get back to the job search. For those looking for a little boost, you're in look: The La Canada Flintridge Educational Foundation (LCFEF) has just posted a featured nonprofit job with us!

Based in La Canada, Calif., the organization is looking to hire a Director of Administration to manage all aspects of its donor database and to run the Foundation's day-to-day activities of the office and its events/programs. All of this work will be done in conjunction with LCFEF's various board committees.

Other responsibilities include:

• Managing the Foundation’s Matching Gifts, Pledge and Acknowledgement Programs;
• Maintaining and updating accuracy of donor and potential donor information;
• Recording all gifts and generating donor receipts and reports;
• Providing marketing, administrative and fundraising support to all Foundation programs/committees/events; and,
• Administering the LCFEF office (answering phones, interacting with donors, etc.).

The ideal candidate for this position will have a working knowledge of Blackbaud's Raiser's Edge software, a four-year college/university degree, and experience with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, and Publisher). Interested? Apply today via our online career center.

5 Questions To Ask Before A Job Interview

To contact us Click HERE
It's always recommended to ask questions when you get called in for a job interview. But did you know it's also a good idea to do that beforehand?
Unlike the actual interview, when you will be asking the questions to a hiring manager, these are questions that you should be asking of yourself so you can get a better idea of what the organization is all about. Think of it as a form of research. These questions will help you be more prepared when it comes time for the interview, and will also help you decide if it's really the job you want.
Here are 5 questions you should ask when researching an organization:

• What is their reputation? A simple Google search will give you an idea of whether the organization in question has had a lot of bad press from scandals. Needless to say, you won't want to be part of an organization that has a spotty ethics history.
• What is the organization's position within the industry? Understanding the company's financial standing is a very important point to consider. You probably don't want to work for a nonprofit that isn't doing too well.
• What unique skills do I bring to the table? Identify the characteristics you have that make you the best fit for the job, and emphasize them as much as possible during the interview. Employers need to know what makes you stand apart from other candidates.
• How much am I willing to sacrifice? Every job has its drawbacks, but you should determine what your line in the sand is when it comes to accepting a job offer. You should be extremely excited about the position if you are willing to accept things like a long commute.
• Is there a lot of turnover? Try to find out how many different employees have worked in the position for which you are applying. High rates of turnover can indicate bad management or a poor working environment.

NPT Editor-In-Chief To Be On Nonprofit Radio

To contact us Click HERE
Based in New York City, Tony Martignetti has been helping nonprofits since 1997 through his work in planned giving and state charity registration. His Nonprofit Radio show has been a big part of that, as he interviews people in the nonprofit sector on topics ranging from fundraising to boards.
On Friday June 29, our editor-in-chief, Paul Clolery, will be joining Tony on Nonprofit Radio for an exclusive interview. Paul will be discussing a variety of topics of interest to listeners, including what is trending in the sector and his concerns about the future of charities.
Nonprofit Radio will also be talking to Gayle Gifford, author of "How to Make Your Board Dramatically More Effective, Today." She will discuss with Tony about how to make sure your charity's mission is relevant, your CEO is supported, and your board is strong.
Tune into Nonprofit Radio Friday at 1 PM to hear the interview with Paul and Gayle. It should be a great show!