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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Originally posted on The Nonprofit Job Seeker

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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

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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.