Don't Lie In Your Resume

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There's sometimes a distinction made between lying and stretching the truth. This is never the case when it comes to your resume, however. Whether you are just embellishing a little bit or telling a real whopper, it's never appropriate to misrepresent yourself to an employer.

Aside from the obvious reason that it's just not right to lie about something you know is wrong, stretching the truth about your employment history can come back to haunt you. Telling an organization that you are capable of doing something you are not can lead to a quick exit from the job when it is discovered you can't do the work. This is not only bad for you short-term, but can also impact your ability to get jobs in the future.

It's not good to embellish about anything, but here are some of the worst items to lie about in your resume:

• Job Duration: It's better to address frequent turnover in employment rather than hide it by only listing the years you worked rather than the months. There are plenty of reasons that you might have had multiple jobs in a short period of time, and employers will appreciate your honesty.
• Skills: There's nothing more embarrassing than claiming you are an expert at something only to have your co-workers find out you are far from that. Word of this kind of lie can spread pretty quickly around the industry, making it hard for you to get jobs in the future.
• Education: If you didn't graduate for whatever reason, list the amount of credits you received and your class standing. Include a parenthetical note explaining why you didn't complete your degree.
• Residence: Don't use your friend's address in Florida if there is absolutely no way you can get there by the next day for interview. This is only appropriate if you are staying at this person's house for the weekend and in that case, you need to mention that in your application.

Human Resources: When It's Appropriate To Use E-Mail

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Technology has bought us a world of convenience, and there's no better example of that than electronic mail. E-mail has made life in the business world a lot easier. No longer do organizations have to wait a day or more for an important message to arrive.
Yet, as with most things, this technology can have its downsides. A message that is meant to be a harmless joke could end up having the opposite effect because of lack of vocal context and, the next thing you know, you have a major office controversy on your hands. That’s why it’s important to know when it’s appropriate to use e-mail or other digital means when communicating with employees.
A good human resources officer should clearly communicate to employees the appropriate times to use digital communication. In their book "The Big Book of HR," Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem wrote about five situations when you should consider talking rather than typing. Avoid e-mail when:

• An immediate response is needed. Even though we all have access to e-mail, not everyone checks it regularly. And, let’s face it, some people like to procrastinate.
• The message might be misunderstood. Sometimes things just don’t come out the right way without vocal context.
• Face-to-face dialogue is needed.
• The information is sensitive (bad news, confidential, proprietary information).
• You are agitated.

You should also confirm situations where e-mail is appropriate. Use it when:

• Your audience must get the message.
• Your audience is at a distance.
• A record of communication is required.
• Multiple people must receive the message.
• A quick but not instant response is needed.
• Time is needed to compose the message.

Nonprofit's Organizational Issues To Cost City Thousands

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Organizational issues within a Durham, N.C. nonprofit have forced the city to transfer $366,323 into a housing program that is on pace to lose the same amount of federal funds.

Rebuild Durham, Inc. received a loan of $460,000 from the city in 2000 so the organization could rehab 12 low-income houses, according to a story in The Herald Sun. Only eight of those houses were completed three years into the contract, but the city council agreed to increase their loan to $810,000 so Rebuild Durham could complete 13 houses before moving on to another 15.

That's when the real trouble started.

The organization completed the 13 houses in July 2007 -- three months after the city had agreed to provide $138,000 to get to work on the next 15 houses. That money never went to work, however, as Rebuild Durham got rid of its interim executive director, and the deadline to using the loans passed by that time.

Durham's Community Development Department (CDD) urged the organization in 2009 to sell off its properties or give them to another nonprofit after the group ran into trouble paying back city loans and housing violations were found in its properties. Instead, the organization hired yet another executive director, Edythe Thompson, in fall 2010.

Four of the 13 homes that Rebuild Durham completed are in no shape to be rented out to low-income tenants, meaning the city will have to reimburse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $366,323 in federal Home-program grants.

Rebuild Durham has already re-worked a deal it had with SunTrust Bank -- which holds mortgages on most of the properties -- in an effort to restructure its debts. The interim head of the CDD, Reginald Johnson, said it's not likely another nonprofit will step in to help without concessions from Rebuild Durham.

You can read the full story in The Herald Sun.

3 Necessities For Nonprofit Scaling

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With the economy still floundering along, the demand for nonprofit services are high. Yet these same organizations are experiencing a lack of resources to fund important programs. How are nonprofits expected to make do? According to a recent post on Huffington Post Impact, the answer lies in scaling.

In the article, Ventureneer founder Geri Stengle wrote that organizations must scale if they are to continue to provide programs that solve social issues. This was a topic that was discussed in detail at the Social Impact Exchange in New York City. According to Stengle, the overarching theme of this year's conference was that scaling must be accompanied by appropriate investment in an organization's capacity.

Here are three methods of support that were discussed at the conference:

• Business Planning: Business plans are an opportunity to think things through on paper before putting the plan to the test. Nicole Farmer Hurd from the National College Advising Corps, Lisa Jackson from New Profit Inc., and Meghan Duffy, Manager of Special Initiatives at Grantmakers for Effective Organizations made this point during their panel.
• Leadership Development: Richard Brown of American Express Philanthropy told audiences that new leaders must get training when first beginning. Brown said that the leaders he has coached said that the advice they got from coaches transformed the way they thought.
• Peer Advisory Groups: During her panel, United Way of Long Island President/CEO Theresa Regnante espoused the benefits of being part of a group of decision makers. She shared the benefits she received while working with a group of executive directors who met regularly with a facilitator to solve problems.

There were four other methods discussed at the conference. You can read the rest in Stengle's article on Huffington Post Impact.

Major Gifts: 5 Tips To Boost Your Success

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The strict nonprofit manager's first instinct when staff doesn't meet major gift goals is to fire them. That's not necessarily the right move, according to fundraising expert Laura Fredricks.

In her book "The Ask: How To Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose," Fredricks wrote that there are other steps you can take to boost the results of your major gifts campaigns. Rather than give your hard-working staff the ax, she suggested implementing the following five tips:

• Time Management: They say that time is money, so don't waste it with too many meetings. Try to limit the ones you have to only the essentials. Fredricks also cautions against multitasking. While it sounds good in theory, it is really better to focus on one task at a time.
• Make Clear and Measurable Goals: Give your staff goals they can actually obtain. Do this by letting them know exactly what you expect and do reviews every few months to check on their progress. Remember that goals don't just have to be measured in dollar signs. You can easily measure success in face-to-face donor contact, meetings, and special event attendance.
• Be Cross-Functional: Is one of your key fundraisers out of the office? Make sure to teach members of your staff their skills so they can perform their job if needed. Something unexpected always happens, so you need people who can pick up the slack.
• Risk Management: You don't want to be pessimistic, but you should always have a plan in case the worst happens.Think about events that could hinder your operations (i.e., law changes, natural disasters) and come up with ways to manage those risks.
• Communicate and Demonstrate Your Staff's Worth: You should treat your staff like a team. All of the players are needed for your program to be a success -- and you should make sure they know that. There is no better way to boost employee morale than by showing that their opinions matter.

Nonprofit's Organizational Issues To Cost City Thousands

To contact us Click HERE
Organizational issues within a Durham, N.C. nonprofit have forced the city to transfer $366,323 into a housing program that is on pace to lose the same amount of federal funds.

Rebuild Durham, Inc. received a loan of $460,000 from the city in 2000 so the organization could rehab 12 low-income houses, according to a story in The Herald Sun. Only eight of those houses were completed three years into the contract, but the city council agreed to increase their loan to $810,000 so Rebuild Durham could complete 13 houses before moving on to another 15.

That's when the real trouble started.

The organization completed the 13 houses in July 2007 -- three months after the city had agreed to provide $138,000 to get to work on the next 15 houses. That money never went to work, however, as Rebuild Durham got rid of its interim executive director, and the deadline to using the loans passed by that time.

Durham's Community Development Department (CDD) urged the organization in 2009 to sell off its properties or give them to another nonprofit after the group ran into trouble paying back city loans and housing violations were found in its properties. Instead, the organization hired yet another executive director, Edythe Thompson, in fall 2010.

Four of the 13 homes that Rebuild Durham completed are in no shape to be rented out to low-income tenants, meaning the city will have to reimburse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $366,323 in federal Home-program grants.

Rebuild Durham has already re-worked a deal it had with SunTrust Bank -- which holds mortgages on most of the properties -- in an effort to restructure its debts. The interim head of the CDD, Reginald Johnson, said it's not likely another nonprofit will step in to help without concessions from Rebuild Durham.

You can read the full story in The Herald Sun.

Advocacy: Five Ways To Highlight Your Mission

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It's easy for nonprofit managers to lose focus of their mission with the day-to-day concerns of running an organization, but that doesn't mean it's alright for advocacy to be thrown aside.

The truth of the matter is that it is crucial that constituents, donors, and anybody else you meet are constantly aware of what your mission is. Thanks to things like social media (and the Internet in general), there are many different sources organizations can use you promote their cause.

So now that you have the means to get the word out, what's the best way to go about doing it? Dalya F. Massachi wrote in her book, "Writing to Make a Difference," that nonprofits shouldn't be afraid to repeatedly highlight their mission to an audience. She provided the following five tips to do just that:

• Highlight the outstanding strengths of your mission, not of the organization, of the mission. Continually remind people of what is innovative about your mission. Show that you play a special and essential role in your field.
• Describe how your work embodies your guiding principles. Back away from practical specifics and take a bit of a philosophical approach. Ask yourself what fundamental values or concerns lead your readers to your organization and its mission.
• Evoke a vision of what your community will be like once your organization has fulfilled its mission. Mission is not only about short-term results. It is also about your long-term vision.
• Connect the dots over time. Show donors how they create an ongoing story for accomplishing your mission.
• Use your mission and vision as overarching themes. Over time, organizations often develop programs, products and services that can be quite diverse. If this describes your organization, help readers keep track of how your mission and vision provide the unifying theme for your various projects.

Don't Judge A Job By Its Title

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You're probably well aware of the expression "don't judge a book by its cover." It means that you shouldn't decide whether you like something before you try it. This same philosophy also applies to the job search.

What I mean is you shouldn't completely dismiss a job based on its title. A lot of job seekers are often put off or intimidated by the names of the positions they find online. Words like "senior" or "assistant" can paint preconceived notions of what the work will be like, and whether they are qualified. The first instinct in these instances would be to not waste any time and move on to the next position. This would be a mistake.

Just as you wouldn't judge a book by its cover you also shouldn't judge a job by its title. Before deciding you are too good/not good enough for the employment, take a look at the job description. The names given to positions are not always indicative of seniority. For example, HR policies can dictate that less impressive titles are not doled as often, leaving pretty important jobs with less than important names.

At the end of the day, the words at the top of the wanted aren't what is important -- it's the work you will be doing that matters.

The NonProfit Times' 2012 Salary And Benefits Survey

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Every year, The NonProfit Times andBlueWaterNonprofit Solutions team up for the the most comprehensive salaryand benefits report in the sector. Last year's efforts resulted in the 2011 Salary and Benefits Report.

The deadline to complete the 2012 Salary and Benefits is June 15, only three days away. If you haven't already started yours, now is your chance toparticipate in the only survey for nonprofits that will provide you withthe comprehensive information needed to make key hiring and employmentdecisions.  Plus, you’ll have access to information that can be used tosave money on salary and benefit costs.
All participants will receive a freeExecutive Summary of the results with salary data for all positions.
So what will the 2012 Salary Surveyhelp you do? Here are some of the advantages:

• Make sound decisions on staff salaries and benefits. Give your board and managers the data they need.
• Get current salary and bonus pay data on 300 + nonprofit jobs from entry-level to the executive office.
• Check YES when the IRS asks you on your Form 990 if salaries for your chief executive and key employees were set using comparability data for similar positions.
• Learn about 94 employee benefits - health insurance, retirement, and more.
• Track changes and trends from 2011 to 2012 for ALL Salary & Benefits information. 
• Get data by nonprofit field, budget size, number of employees, and region throughout the U.S.A. 
• Discover what special benefits are being offered to 15 executive level positions.
• Stay competitive.

You can read more about the surveyby clicking here.

Don't Lie In Your Resume

To contact us Click HERE
There's sometimes a distinction made between lying and stretching the truth. This is never the case when it comes to your resume, however. Whether you are just embellishing a little bit or telling a real whopper, it's never appropriate to misrepresent yourself to an employer.

Aside from the obvious reason that it's just not right to lie about something you know is wrong, stretching the truth about your employment history can come back to haunt you. Telling an organization that you are capable of doing something you are not can lead to a quick exit from the job when it is discovered you can't do the work. This is not only bad for you short-term, but can also impact your ability to get jobs in the future.

It's not good to embellish about anything, but here are some of the worst items to lie about in your resume:

• Job Duration: It's better to address frequent turnover in employment rather than hide it by only listing the years you worked rather than the months. There are plenty of reasons that you might have had multiple jobs in a short period of time, and employers will appreciate your honesty.
• Skills: There's nothing more embarrassing than claiming you are an expert at something only to have your co-workers find out you are far from that. Word of this kind of lie can spread pretty quickly around the industry, making it hard for you to get jobs in the future.
• Education: If you didn't graduate for whatever reason, list the amount of credits you received and your class standing. Include a parenthetical note explaining why you didn't complete your degree.
• Residence: Don't use your friend's address in Florida if there is absolutely no way you can get there by the next day for interview. This is only appropriate if you are staying at this person's house for the weekend and in that case, you need to mention that in your application.

Don't Judge A Job By Its Title

To contact us Click HERE
You're probably well aware of the expression "don't judge a book by its cover." It means that you shouldn't decide whether you like something before you try it. This same philosophy also applies to the job search.

What I mean is you shouldn't completely dismiss a job based on its title. A lot of job seekers are often put off or intimidated by the names of the positions they find online. Words like "senior" or "assistant" can paint preconceived notions of what the work will be like, and whether they are qualified. The first instinct in these instances would be to not waste any time and move on to the next position. This would be a mistake.

Just as you wouldn't judge a book by its cover you also shouldn't judge a job by its title. Before deciding you are too good/not good enough for the employment, take a look at the job description. The names given to positions are not always indicative of seniority. For example, HR policies can dictate that less impressive titles are not doled as often, leaving pretty important jobs with less than important names.

At the end of the day, the words at the top of the wanted aren't what is important -- it's the work you will be doing that matters.

The NonProfit Times' 2012 Salary And Benefits Survey

To contact us Click HERE
Every year, The NonProfit Times andBlueWaterNonprofit Solutions team up for the the most comprehensive salaryand benefits report in the sector. Last year's efforts resulted in the 2011 Salary and Benefits Report.

The deadline to complete the 2012 Salary and Benefits is June 15, only three days away. If you haven't already started yours, now is your chance toparticipate in the only survey for nonprofits that will provide you withthe comprehensive information needed to make key hiring and employmentdecisions.  Plus, you’ll have access to information that can be used tosave money on salary and benefit costs.
All participants will receive a freeExecutive Summary of the results with salary data for all positions.
So what will the 2012 Salary Surveyhelp you do? Here are some of the advantages:

• Make sound decisions on staff salaries and benefits. Give your board and managers the data they need.
• Get current salary and bonus pay data on 300 + nonprofit jobs from entry-level to the executive office.
• Check YES when the IRS asks you on your Form 990 if salaries for your chief executive and key employees were set using comparability data for similar positions.
• Learn about 94 employee benefits - health insurance, retirement, and more.
• Track changes and trends from 2011 to 2012 for ALL Salary & Benefits information. 
• Get data by nonprofit field, budget size, number of employees, and region throughout the U.S.A. 
• Discover what special benefits are being offered to 15 executive level positions.
• Stay competitive.

You can read more about the surveyby clicking here.

Don't Lie In Your Resume

To contact us Click HERE
There's sometimes a distinction made between lying and stretching the truth. This is never the case when it comes to your resume, however. Whether you are just embellishing a little bit or telling a real whopper, it's never appropriate to misrepresent yourself to an employer.

Aside from the obvious reason that it's just not right to lie about something you know is wrong, stretching the truth about your employment history can come back to haunt you. Telling an organization that you are capable of doing something you are not can lead to a quick exit from the job when it is discovered you can't do the work. This is not only bad for you short-term, but can also impact your ability to get jobs in the future.

It's not good to embellish about anything, but here are some of the worst items to lie about in your resume:

• Job Duration: It's better to address frequent turnover in employment rather than hide it by only listing the years you worked rather than the months. There are plenty of reasons that you might have had multiple jobs in a short period of time, and employers will appreciate your honesty.
• Skills: There's nothing more embarrassing than claiming you are an expert at something only to have your co-workers find out you are far from that. Word of this kind of lie can spread pretty quickly around the industry, making it hard for you to get jobs in the future.
• Education: If you didn't graduate for whatever reason, list the amount of credits you received and your class standing. Include a parenthetical note explaining why you didn't complete your degree.
• Residence: Don't use your friend's address in Florida if there is absolutely no way you can get there by the next day for interview. This is only appropriate if you are staying at this person's house for the weekend and in that case, you need to mention that in your application.

Wanted: Vice President Of Strategic Development

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Community Connections, Inc. in South Yarmouth, Mass. is seeking to hire a Vice President of Strategic Development to help the disabilities services nonprofit develop a new plan for business development. Interested in this position? Read on for more details.
It goes without saying that this is a pretty high-end position, requiring candidates to be proficient in multiple roles. In addition to the main goal of developing a new direction for the organization, VP of Strategic Development will also be responsible for maximizing current service provision while creating and maintaining business partnerships. Finally, the position will also work to improve services so that Community Connections becomes the provider of choice in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Make sure you meet the following qualifications before applying for this job:

• 10 years of upper level management experience and a Master’s degree (preferred).
• Proven track record of business strategy implementation.
•  Solid leadership and facilitation skills, with the ability to multi-task and carry projects through to successful completion.
• Strategic, visionary thinker with the ability to collaborate and “build bridges”; inspirational innovator in creating new ventures.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, go to our career center and apply today.

4 Creative Additions To Your Resume

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Everyone knows the standard things to include in a resume: Relevant work experience, skills, and education. But did you know there are some other additions you can add? Below are four of them, along with explanations of why they are important:

• Volunteer Work: This is especially relevant for nonprofit jobs. It shows that you have a passion for a cause and are willing to put in hard work to get the job done. Long-term volunteer work is the most impressive, but you can list short-term projects.
• Professional Hobbies: The word "professional" is key here. You shouldn't list "Dungeons and Dragons" in your resume, but you can mention activities that are relevant to the job for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for an IT position, you could list computer programming as a hobby.
• Experiences: Feel free to list experiences that have shaped your life, such as a study abroad. This is important as it gives the employer an idea of the kind of things you do with extended periods of free time. These types of experiences are ideal if you need to fill gaps in your employment.
• Interests: This will show that you are an individual who is well-rounded and has a fresh prospective. Organizations want people who have a broad range of interests, not someone who is one-dimensional.

Have any other ideas of things you can include in a resume? Feel free to list them in our comments section.

How To Enjoy Career Networking

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Let's face it: Career networking is not exactly the funnest thing in the world. Putting yourself out there can be a very stressful thing, which makes many job seekers want to do all they can to avoid it. This is ultimately to their detriment, as networking is a vital part of the job search.

The first thing you need to do to reduce the pressure is to remember you go to networking events not only to receive help but also to give it. Too many job hunters go to these events thinking it's their one opportunity to make new contacts, which sets the stakes at an unreasonably high level. If you change your mindset so that you recognize you are there to contribute and get any help that is available, you will feel less stressed, which will ultimately boost your chances of making solid contacts.

On a similar note, you should not appear desperate when talking to attendees. People have different definitions of this, but one thing to look out for is making the main purpose of your conversations to get something. You should be getting to know the other attendees with talk about work flowing naturally from the conversation. People don't like to feel like they are only being talked to because the other person wants something.

Finally, act naturally. You definitely need to prepare before you attend events, but you don't want to come off as scripted. Being real is the key to getting the best responses from other attendees, as people have a tendency to want to help others who they think are being straightforward.

None of these tips are guaranteed to make you absolutely love career networking if you already don't enjoy it. But hopefully they will make you tolerate more than you did before.

Why Enthusiasm Matters In The Job Search

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Job seekers look for any advantage they can get during the job search. Whether it's highlighting a unique skill or taking advantage of great contacts, they need all they can help in this job market. What if I told you the best trick you can use is something everybody has?

You'd be surprised at how much of a difference enthusiasm can make in your search for a job, especially in the nonprofit sector. Having a clear passion for an organization's mission can be key in the eyes of the employer. There's a belief among some job seekers that showing enthusiasm will make them come off as desperate. This is an understandable concern, and it can be true if you go overboard (i.e., "this is the greatest job I have ever seen" or something along those lines).

So what are the best ways to show your excitement for the position without seeming fake? Here are some quick tips:

• Tell a story in your cover letter that illustrates how the nonprofit's mission has played a big part in your life.
• Explain how your skills would make a big difference in the organization's goals.
• Do extensive research about the history of the organization and display this knowledge in your interview. This shows that you were excited enough to do your homework.
• Choose your adjectives carefully when describing the position. Use words like motivated and passionate.

Nonprofit's Organizational Issues To Cost City Thousands

To contact us Click HERE
Organizational issues within a Durham, N.C. nonprofit have forced the city to transfer $366,323 into a housing program that is on pace to lose the same amount of federal funds.

Rebuild Durham, Inc. received a loan of $460,000 from the city in 2000 so the organization could rehab 12 low-income houses, according to a story in The Herald Sun. Only eight of those houses were completed three years into the contract, but the city council agreed to increase their loan to $810,000 so Rebuild Durham could complete 13 houses before moving on to another 15.

That's when the real trouble started.

The organization completed the 13 houses in July 2007 -- three months after the city had agreed to provide $138,000 to get to work on the next 15 houses. That money never went to work, however, as Rebuild Durham got rid of its interim executive director, and the deadline to using the loans passed by that time.

Durham's Community Development Department (CDD) urged the organization in 2009 to sell off its properties or give them to another nonprofit after the group ran into trouble paying back city loans and housing violations were found in its properties. Instead, the organization hired yet another executive director, Edythe Thompson, in fall 2010.

Four of the 13 homes that Rebuild Durham completed are in no shape to be rented out to low-income tenants, meaning the city will have to reimburse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $366,323 in federal Home-program grants.

Rebuild Durham has already re-worked a deal it had with SunTrust Bank -- which holds mortgages on most of the properties -- in an effort to restructure its debts. The interim head of the CDD, Reginald Johnson, said it's not likely another nonprofit will step in to help without concessions from Rebuild Durham.

You can read the full story in The Herald Sun.

Why Us: Three Questions About Your Brand

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A common question donors or potential funders usually ask when approached for money by a nonprofit is "Why should I give to you?" According to two fundraising experts, that question can be answered by asking questions about your brand.

At the Association of Fundraising Professionals' (AFP) 49th International Conference on Fundraising, Bobi Bellows of Bobi Bellows Consulting and Todd W. Ruopp of Unleashing Performance Inc., said that nonprofits shouldn't expect people to know what they do just by looking at their name. To build a case of support for the organization, leaders must come up with answers to these three main questions:

Why Us?

• Are we really worth investing in?
• What is our special promise?
• What makes us unique?
• What opportunities are unfolding?
• What problem(s) do we solve.
• What miracle(s) do we deliver?
• What are we doing to change the world?
• What have we accomplished that someone other than staff and board would think worthwhile?

Why Now?

• What’s the hurry?
• Why can’t we wait?
• If funding were delayed, what bad things would happen and what opportunities would be lost?

Why the Donor?

• How will donors benefit emotionally?
• Why will this make them feel better?
• What do they hope for?
• How is heir fear or anger eased?
• How is something that they care about either healed, preserved or improved?

Webinar: Is It Time For A New Accounting Software?

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Accounting plays a big role in the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit. If you are finding your methods of this important practice are a little behind on the times, it may be time to consider a new accounting software for your organization.

Join The NonProfit Times and Intacct Corporation on July 19 at 1:00 PM EST for a free webinar on how to select accounting systems. Attendees will hear from two experts in this field: Taylor Macdonald of Intacct and Bob Blake, founder of Xanergy. With their years of experience in the accounting software industry and the nonprofit sector, Macdonald and Blake will show you how to simplify the process for your organization. Here are some of the topics they will discuss:

• How to determine what you need from a new accounting system.
• Best practices for finding the right vendor.
• Making sure the system you select maximizes financial transparency and accountability to the board.
• New options made available by cloud computing.
• Calculating the return on investment (ROI) you can expect from a new cloud financial management and accounting system.

We encourage everyone who wants to attend this webinar to register today. Hope to see you there on July 19!

Featured Nonprofit Job: President Of The Foundation

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Have you ever wanted to become the president of a major foundation? The Nonprofit Job Seeker has just the position for you if you have the drive and ambition to qualify for this important role.

The New Mexico Conference Methodist Foundation is looking to hire a new President of the Foundation, a position that carries a great deal of responsibility. Duties include oversight of existing services and programs and the development of new and enlarged services to strengthen the ministires of local churches, districts, the New Mexico Annual Conference, and the general ministries of The United Methodist Church. The chosen candidate will also be in charge of planning the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the Foundation.

As you might expect, there are a number of requirements for this job. They include:

• Passion for and commitment to the mission of The United Methodist Church;
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage steady organizational growth;
• High-level budget, investment and financial management experience;
• Experience working with non-profit Boards of Directors and ability to partner with the Board;
• Personnel and supervisory experience;
• Knowledge about, membership in and commitment to the mission of The United Methodist Church and familiarity with the organization, polity, and structure of the denomination; and,
• Minimum educational degree at Bachelor level and preferred advanced degree in a field related to the mission of the Foundation.

If you meet all of these qualifications and are interested in applying for this job, we invite you to read the full job description on our website.

Why Choose A Nonprofit Job?

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Cross-Posted From The Nonprofit Job Seeker


It's one of the most commonly asked job search questions out there: “Why should I choose a nonprofit job?” The general perception among a lot of people is that nonprofit work pays very little and requires more work than it's worth.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

While there's no question that nonprofits demand a lot from their employees, most of them pay just as much as for-profit jobs. A quick glance at some statistics in The NonProfit Times´ Salary and Benefits Reports will confirm that you can make very respectable salaries working in the sector. In fact, the average salary for fundraisers in 2011 was $75,595.

Now that we've established that money will not be an issue it's time to move on to another aspect of nonprofit jobs, one that really makes them unique. We live in a country that is placing more and more emphasis on giving back, so the idea of getting paid working for a cause you are passionate for can be very appealing. Being passionate about your work is a great way to reduce burn-out, which in turn will reduce your stress.

Not every nonprofit job you apply to will be great. The truth of the matter is that, like any profession, there will be some less than quality jobs out there. That's why it's helpful to know the characteristics of great nonprofit employers. The following are some that are shared by the organizations listed in The NonProfit Times ' 2012 Best Nonprofits to Work For:

• An open and transparent culture;
• Employees have confidence in organizational leadership;
• Employees feel they have a stake in the goals of the organization;
• An environment that fosters a sense of mutual respect;
• A work environment that is challenging but fun;
• Enough opportunities to relax and socialize with other employees;
• An emphasis on advancing employees' skills; and,
• New ideas are encouraged.

We highly recommend you do enough research before applying to a nonprofit to make sure it meets these characteristics. A good place to start would be the organization's social media pages, as these tend to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of the organization.

Are you convinced that a nonprofit job is right for you? We have plenty of nonprofit jobs listed in our career center, so check it out and see if the right opportunity is out there for you.

Nonprofit's Organizational Issues To Cost City Thousands

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Organizational issues within a Durham, N.C. nonprofit have forced the city to transfer $366,323 into a housing program that is on pace to lose the same amount of federal funds.

Rebuild Durham, Inc. received a loan of $460,000 from the city in 2000 so the organization could rehab 12 low-income houses, according to a story in The Herald Sun. Only eight of those houses were completed three years into the contract, but the city council agreed to increase their loan to $810,000 so Rebuild Durham could complete 13 houses before moving on to another 15.

That's when the real trouble started.

The organization completed the 13 houses in July 2007 -- three months after the city had agreed to provide $138,000 to get to work on the next 15 houses. That money never went to work, however, as Rebuild Durham got rid of its interim executive director, and the deadline to using the loans passed by that time.

Durham's Community Development Department (CDD) urged the organization in 2009 to sell off its properties or give them to another nonprofit after the group ran into trouble paying back city loans and housing violations were found in its properties. Instead, the organization hired yet another executive director, Edythe Thompson, in fall 2010.

Four of the 13 homes that Rebuild Durham completed are in no shape to be rented out to low-income tenants, meaning the city will have to reimburse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $366,323 in federal Home-program grants.

Rebuild Durham has already re-worked a deal it had with SunTrust Bank -- which holds mortgages on most of the properties -- in an effort to restructure its debts. The interim head of the CDD, Reginald Johnson, said it's not likely another nonprofit will step in to help without concessions from Rebuild Durham.

You can read the full story in The Herald Sun.

Bike Nonprofit To Oppose Potential NYPD Fees

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The CEO of Bike New York, an organization that runs New York City's annual TD Boro Bike Tour, is expected to speak out against a proposed $930,000 fee by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Kenneth Podziba is scheduled to make the announcement at a hearing on the issue today at 1 Police Plaza, NYPD's headquarters, according to a report in Crain's New York Business. He will make the case that the fee will have a negative impact on the nonprofit which, aside from the Bike Tour, provides free education programs to children and adults in parks and schools.

The fee is the result of a proposed amendment to a rule that the NYPD adopted last year. It would pay for police coverage of the Bike Tour and would also apply to other big events and parades. Podziba is expected to say that the fee, if approved, would put many of its programs at risk, including bike education for NYC's new bike share program.

You can read the full story in Crain's New York Business.

Executive Director Arrested For Alleged Embezzlement

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The executive director at a Myrtle Beach, S.C. nonprofit was arrested on charges of embezzlement after a state investigation into whether the organization misused federal funds.

JoAnne Patterson, executive director of Citizens Against Spousal Abuse (CASA), was charged with embezzlement of public funds greater than $5,000 according to a report in The Sun News. Patterson denies the allegations, and CASA board chairwoman Sissy Rutherford told The Sun News that, while the $32,000 grant wasn't used for its expressed purpose (purchasing vans to transport victims), there was nothing criminal about the organization's actions. She explained that the money was used so they could pay employees and keep the organization running. Rutherford blamed the organization's problems on the financial downturn.

Former assistant director Alicia Rahiem disagreed with that assessment, saying that employees at CASA had been concerned for a while about how money was being spent. She accused board members of not paying enough attention. CASA eventually purchased the vans after officials began questioning, and Rahiem said she was told to lie about how long they had owned them when asked by investigators.

While the state investigation continues, many of CASA's largest contributors are withholding funding until the the matter is resolved. That includes the city of Myrtle Beach, which had given the organization between $40,000 and $50,000 per year since 2007. The City Council said in a statement that no more money would be given until new board members were elected. Most of the current board has already made plans to step aside to make room for a replacement organization that would fill the gap in services left by CASA.

To read the full story, head on over to The Sun News' website.

Nonprofit's Organizational Issues To Cost City Thousands

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Organizational issues within a Durham, N.C. nonprofit have forced the city to transfer $366,323 into a housing program that is on pace to lose the same amount of federal funds.

Rebuild Durham, Inc. received a loan of $460,000 from the city in 2000 so the organization could rehab 12 low-income houses, according to a story in The Herald Sun. Only eight of those houses were completed three years into the contract, but the city council agreed to increase their loan to $810,000 so Rebuild Durham could complete 13 houses before moving on to another 15.

That's when the real trouble started.

The organization completed the 13 houses in July 2007 -- three months after the city had agreed to provide $138,000 to get to work on the next 15 houses. That money never went to work, however, as Rebuild Durham got rid of its interim executive director, and the deadline to using the loans passed by that time.

Durham's Community Development Department (CDD) urged the organization in 2009 to sell off its properties or give them to another nonprofit after the group ran into trouble paying back city loans and housing violations were found in its properties. Instead, the organization hired yet another executive director, Edythe Thompson, in fall 2010.

Four of the 13 homes that Rebuild Durham completed are in no shape to be rented out to low-income tenants, meaning the city will have to reimburse the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $366,323 in federal Home-program grants.

Rebuild Durham has already re-worked a deal it had with SunTrust Bank -- which holds mortgages on most of the properties -- in an effort to restructure its debts. The interim head of the CDD, Reginald Johnson, said it's not likely another nonprofit will step in to help without concessions from Rebuild Durham.

You can read the full story in The Herald Sun.

$6.1 Million Damage Awarded In Defamation Case

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A Texas District Court judgeruled that a former intern defamed a bat sanctuary nonprofit and its president,and awarded the organization $6.1 million in damages.
After a four-day trial, JudgeWilliam Brigham found that Mary Cummins had committed defamation against BatWorld Sanctuary president Amanda Lollar and breached her internship contractwith the organization. She was ordered to pay $3.0 million in punitive damages,$10,000 for her breach of contract, and $176,000 in attorney’s fees.
Cummins was accepted for aninternship at the Mineral Wells, Texas, organization in 2010, but left earlyafter becoming dissatisfied with the program. Lollar and her attorneys thenclaim she went back to her home in California posted allegations of animalcruelty against her and the organization on the Internet.
“This judgment sends apowerful message to cyber-stalkers and others who use the Internet to harasspeople or to harm their reputations,” said Randy Turner, Lollar’s attorney.“Innocent victims like Amanda Lollar often don’t have the resources, expertise,or ability to defend themselves against such vicious Internet attacks.Hopefully this judgment will make someone think twice before engaging in anInternet smear campaign.”
Among many allegations,Cummins accused Lollar of performing surgeries on bats without anesthesia,possessing and distributing controlled substances without a license, andthrowing dead bats in the trash. Along with posting these complaints on theInternet, she also filed numerous complaints with animal cruelty organizations,including a foundation that had been funding Bat World Sanctuary but stoppeddoing so after receiving the complaints. Every agency that Cummins filedcomplaints with eventually found them to be without merit after furtherinvestigation.
“I would like to thankeveryone who stood by us during this ordeal and never, ever lost faith in us,”Lollar said via a statement. “Mr. Turner and his paralegal, Kelly Bozeman,worked tirelessly for us and we couldn’t have won without them. I will beforever grateful.”
Cummins is the president ofAnimal Advocates, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles, Calif. that works toprevent cruelty to animals. She plans to appeal the ruling, claiming a conflictof interest.
“On onehand I'm shocked because Plaintiffs did not show the essential elements for aclaim of defamation or breach of contract. On the other hand I'm not reallythat shocked. Before one hearing Plaintiffs' attorney Randy Turner of Bailey& Galyen told me that he's known this Judge for years. He insinuated thatthe Judge will automatically rule in his favor, and it appears that he has. Ibelieve there was a conflict of interest and a new trial by a new Judge is inorder.”
On her website, animaladvocates.us, Cummins postedinformation documenting other complaints made against Lollar. Judge Brigham orderedher to remove that information, a ruling that she also plans to challenge onthe basis of the Freedom of Information Act.

The Spring 2012 Edition Of Exempt Magazine

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Every quarter, we release a new issue of the sister publication of The NonProfit Times. It's called Exempt Magazine and it focuses on nonprofit finance issues. Now that we are about to enter into summer, we have released the Spring 2012 edition of Exempt.

Here are the articles you will find in this new issue:

Articles:

• Bankrupt But Endowed: Nonprofits rarely file for bankruptcy, but there are some exceptions. Read about some of these in this piece by our staff writer, Patrick Sullivan.
• 10 Things To Ask Your Banker Right Now: There are lots of banks with cash. You shouldn’t just walk into any old savings and loan. Find out the tops things you should ask your banks from contributing editor Michele Donohue.
• Telecommuting Employees: Jeff Tenenbaum, chair of the Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group at Venable LLP, writes about the pros and cons of telecommuting to your place of employment.

Column:

• Inspiration Zone: Melanie Lockwood Herman of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center writes about the keys to promoting a risk-aware culture at your nonprofit.

Head on over to our website to view all of the articles in the Spring 2012 edition of Exempt.

Giving USA Numbers A Cause For Optimism

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For more than 50 years Giving USA has given what amounts to an annual state of the nonprofit sector. With the uncertain economy we have been living through, the 2012 report was even more anticipated. It was with great relief, then, that giving numbers were found to be pretty healthy last year.

The NonProfit Times analyzed the numbers in this year's report in an exclusive piece online. According to the piece, giving in the U.S. reached an estimated $298.42 billion in 2011, an increase of around 4 percent from 2010 (when giving was estimated at around $290 billion). Individual giving represented the biggest contributions, at 73 percent or $217.79 billion?
The smallest contributors? Corporations. Corporate giving represented just 5 percent of total giving in the country, or $14.55 billion. This shouldn't come as too big of a surprise, as a report by the Council on Foundations last month showed that corporate philanthropy had fallen among large companies like Starbucks, Dove, and Cisco.
Of the different sub-sectors of giving, human services and religious giving came out on top. In fact, religiong retained its spot from last year as the largest recipient of giving, at 32 percent or $95.88 billion. Yet, interestingly enough, that number was actually a decline of 1.7 percent when measured in current dollars.
“Viewed another way, giving to religion, along with membership in certain mainline Protestant denominations, is declining, while the American population grows, on average, 1.0 percent every year,” said Thomas W. Mesaros, CFRE, Chair, The Giving Institute and president and CEO, The Alford Group.
Here is the complete breakdown of giving to each sector:

• Religion, $95.88 billion or 32 percent;
• Education, $38.87 billion or 13 percent;
• Human Services, $35.39 billion or 12 percent;
• Foundations, $25.83 billion or 9 percent;
• Health, $24.75 billion or 8 percent;
• International Affairs, $22.68 billion or 8 percent;
• Public-Benefit Society, $21.37 billion or 7 percent;
• Arts, Culture and Humanities, $13.12 billion or 4 percent;
• Environment/animals, $7.81 billion or 3 percent;
• Individuals, $3.75 billion or 1 percent;
• Unallocated giving was $8.97 billion or 3 percent.

Want to read more about the Giving USA numbers for 2012? Head on over to our website for more analysis, and be sure to keep an eye out for our July 1 issue for even more details on this important report.

Nonprofits, Not Super PACs, Spent More In 2010 Election

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So-called Super PACs (Political Action Committees) have received a lot of attention in today's politics. The 2010 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, opened the door for these groups to splurge on political campaigns. But according to a new study, nonprofit groups actually spent more than Super PACs, at least during the 2010 elections.

An investigation released yesterday by the Center for Public Integrity and the Center for Responsive Politics showed that nonprofit groups spent $3 for every $2 spent by Super PACs, according to CBS News. These groups actually have a bit of an advantage over the PACs, as they are not required to release the names of their donors as outlined by section 501(c)(4) of the U.S. tax code.

In total, nonprofit "social welfare" organizations spent a total of $95 million during the 2010 midterm elections, compared to $65 million by Super PACs. Much of the spending by nonprofits came from conservative groups, outspending their liberal counterparts $78 million to $16 million. Given the results of that election, those numbers aren't too surprising.

Things are a little different so far in the 2012 election season. The report states that Super PACs are currently outspending nonprofits, though it noted there is a possibility that could change now that there are clearly defined candidates for both the presidency and Congress.

You can read the full story on CBS News' website.

Job Interview Do's And Don'ts

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It can be easy to relax after you finally get called in for a job interview. Crafting the perfect resume and cover letter was the hard part -- surely things will get easier now, right? Not so, according to Bruce A. Hurwitz.

Hurwitz, vice president of New York City-based Joel H. Paul & Associates, Inc., a national executive search firm for the nonprofit sector, told an audience at a recent Fundraising Day in New York that preparing for an interview can be the hardest part of the job search. He explained that while a job interview can get you in the door, your behavior or appearance can kick you out just as fast.

Hurwitz offered the following do's and don'ts to help you prepare:

Do...

• Research the employer. You don't have to memorize the mission statement, but at least know some key facts about the organization.
• Prepare for multiple interviews. Sometimes one interview isn't enough. There are many employers who will use multiple job interviews to see how you fit in the organization as a whole.
• Dress professionally. When in doubt, err on the side of conservative. Avoid wearing perfume or aftershave.
• Ask for business cards. You want to remember the person who interviewed you to make it easier to call them back in the future.
• Make eye contact. Be friendly without forcing chumminess.
• Immediately send a thank-you letter. This can be the difference between getting and not getting the job.
• Be aware of what's said on the Internet about you.

Don't...

• Be late. This seems obvious but there are many unexpected factors that can cause this. To give yourself time, leave earlier than you need to.
• Bring coffee or other beverages.
• Speak ill of your previous or current employers.
• Bring up salary or benefits. If the employer mentions it, be honest about what you've made and what you want to make.
• Be modest. This is your time to shine. Emphasize both what you've done personally and what you've done in a team.
• Say how you would fix their problems.
• Bring notes. Prepare beforehand for questions but don't sound rehearsed.

Don't Judge A Job By Its Title

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You're probably well aware of the expression "don't judge a book by its cover." It means that you shouldn't decide whether you like something before you try it. This same philosophy also applies to the job search.

What I mean is you shouldn't completely dismiss a job based on its title. A lot of job seekers are often put off or intimidated by the names of the positions they find online. Words like "senior" or "assistant" can paint preconceived notions of what the work will be like, and whether they are qualified. The first instinct in these instances would be to not waste any time and move on to the next position. This would be a mistake.

Just as you wouldn't judge a book by its cover you also shouldn't judge a job by its title. Before deciding you are too good/not good enough for the employment, take a look at the job description. The names given to positions are not always indicative of seniority. For example, HR policies can dictate that less impressive titles are not doled as often, leaving pretty important jobs with less than important names.

At the end of the day, the words at the top of the wanted aren't what is important -- it's the work you will be doing that matters.

The NonProfit Times' 2012 Salary And Benefits Survey

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Every year, The NonProfit Times andBlueWaterNonprofit Solutions team up for the the most comprehensive salaryand benefits report in the sector. Last year's efforts resulted in the 2011 Salary and Benefits Report.

The deadline to complete the 2012 Salary and Benefits is June 15, only three days away. If you haven't already started yours, now is your chance toparticipate in the only survey for nonprofits that will provide you withthe comprehensive information needed to make key hiring and employmentdecisions.  Plus, you’ll have access to information that can be used tosave money on salary and benefit costs.
All participants will receive a freeExecutive Summary of the results with salary data for all positions.
So what will the 2012 Salary Surveyhelp you do? Here are some of the advantages:

• Make sound decisions on staff salaries and benefits. Give your board and managers the data they need.
• Get current salary and bonus pay data on 300 + nonprofit jobs from entry-level to the executive office.
• Check YES when the IRS asks you on your Form 990 if salaries for your chief executive and key employees were set using comparability data for similar positions.
• Learn about 94 employee benefits - health insurance, retirement, and more.
• Track changes and trends from 2011 to 2012 for ALL Salary & Benefits information. 
• Get data by nonprofit field, budget size, number of employees, and region throughout the U.S.A. 
• Discover what special benefits are being offered to 15 executive level positions.
• Stay competitive.

You can read more about the surveyby clicking here.