A Conversation About Nonprofit Leadership with AFP Yosemite and a Tour of Modesto, California

February 7, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Last week, I had the very good fortune of being invited to speak to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Yosemite Chapter in Modesto, California. That photo up top is me with the direct mail legend himself, David Barnes, who has been in the fundraising profession for 40 years. Much love to Jennifer Svihus for inviting me and many thanks to Deena for suggesting me as a speaker!

The Tour

Past AFP Yosemite President Lynn Traver was so kind to take me on a neat tour of Modesto, which I learned was the scene for the movie American Graffiti directed by George Lucas. I always enjoy learning about the landscape of the particular communities I visit – I always ask questions like: What are the main social issues being addressed by nonprofits here? What are the main industries that support philanthropy? In Modesto, a huge moneymaker is agriculture – with tomatoes, dairy and wine being top producers for the economy and local philanthropy. A social problem that many organizations address in the community are gangs and homelessness. I was told that the Salvation Army in Modesto is the only Salvation Army in the country with a transitional housing center.

As part of our little tour, I also got to meet with Amber Wallen, Development Manager at the Gallo Center for the Arts. She gave us a nice walk-through of their beautiful space that hosts most of the city’s arts events and performances. The Gallo Center is named after the family behind the E&J Gallo Winery, who make significant contributions to the arts and philanthropy in Modesto. We even took a brief ride up to the corporation headquarters, where I got to see the most beautiful peacocks (yes, real peacocks!) roaming the property. I so wish I’d been able to do a full wine tour during my trip – hopefully there will be another opportunity to do something wine-related when I get back to California at some point. My life just won’t be complete until I do.

The Conversation

The topic of my talk there was New Leadership for a New Nonprofit Sector. Given the high-profile nonprofit scandal that had rocked the Modesto Bee just that morning, it was a timely conversation indeed. In the audience were various nonprofit leaders – fundraising professionals, communications staff, board members and CEOs.

The session was the kick-off of a new format for the AFP Yosemite’s quarterly meetings for their members. It was sponsored by DirectLine Technologies, represented by the lovely Martha Connor, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting. Martha is the kind of person who makes everyone she meets feel like a superstar and her energy for the nonprofit sector is contagious!

I love that AFP Yosemite is experimenting with new models of education, professional development and support for the nonprofit leaders in their community. Their board understands that fundraising training is only one part of the equation; leadership in the development profession is important, too! Led by “ruthless innovator” Jennifer Svihus in the role of VP Education/Program, they are making great strides to connect the philanthropic community and support strong leadership for all nonprofit professionals.

What struck me about being in community with AFP Yosemite in Modesto was the conversation we were able to have during the session. When asked to commit to doing one thing differently after the session, I heard:

  • I’m going to stop going to all the meetings myself, and let some of my younger staff attend for me instead so they can have the opportunity to lead.
  • I will formalize the now-informal program that my nonprofit has in place to train emerging leaders to learn different areas of the organization’s work.
  • I will innovate our fundraising department by trying out a new idea to create “ambassadors” within the organization who will be deemed a special group of leaders responsible for cultivating donors for the university.
  • I will reconsider our hiring parameters to ensure that we are not missing out on talent just because they do not have the “required” credentials or number of years of experience.
I loved being able to spark a conversation about nonprofit leadership in a community that seeks to walk their talk and commit to doing better, to doing more. Thanks again to AFP Yosemite for having me!

Interested in inviting me to speak to your organization? Click here to learn more about my speaking topics, fees and previous clients. My goal as a speaker is to spark real conversations around today’s most important leadership and organizational issues and empower attendees to make positive changes in their work and life. I have worked successfully with young professionals groups, associations, nonprofit organizations, fellowship programs, universities, foundations, libraries and chambers of commerce. Contact me here with more information about your event.

Filed Under: Leadership, Where's Rosetta · Tagged With: ,

Where I’m Speaking This Spring (and How We Can Work Together)

February 1, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Happy February! I just landed in Sacramento, California. I’m writing you as I grab some lunch in the airport lounge, overlooking the tarmac. I’m back on the west coast to speak to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Yosemite Chapter in Modesto on the topic of ”New Leadership for a New Nonprofit Sector.” I love AFP and the support they provide to fundraisers, development staff and nonprofit leaders all over the world. I’ve worked with several chapters around the country now, and it’s always an honor to be in community with them.

As I’ve been traveling across the country today, I realized that I haven’t been sharing as much as I would like about my upcoming speaking engagements, so I thought I’d list where I’ve been this winter and what’s coming up for me this spring.

My hope is that this listing of the types of organizations I work with and topics I cover will give you an idea of how I might work with YOU, especially if you’re in the midst of planning a conference, retreat, or meeting on leadership, nonprofits or social media. As always, I’d love to connect with you or your organization while I’m in town if we can make it happen. Feel free to contact me here.

January 24, 2012: Invited Speaker, National Human Services Assembly Field Services Council, DC. ”Developing the Next Generation Network: How to Develop and Retain Next Gen Professionals in the Field”

February 2, 2012: Speaker, Association of Fundraising Professionals Yosemite Chapter, Modesto, California. ”New Leadership for a New Nonprofit Sector”

February 9, 2012: Speaker, Princeton AlumniCorps Emerging Leaders Program, DC. “Demystifying Diversity in the Nonprofit Sector”

February 13, 2012: Panelist, Council on Foundations 2012 Family Philanthropy Conference, Miami. “Tools of Engagement: Family Dynamics and Social Networking”

February 16, 2012:  Speaker, First Leadership Institute for Women hosted by Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MSCASA), Biloxi. “Defining Your Own Leadership: How to Develop a Personal Mission Statement”

March 13, 2012: Keynote Speaker, Taste of Philanthropy Conference hosted by Women in Philanthropy of Western Massachusetts (WiP). “New Leadership for a New Nonprofit Sector”

April 4, 2012: Speaker, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, Women’s Executive Forum, DC. “Six Ways to Rock Your Association Career”

May 4, 2012: Speaker, American Academy of Family Physicians’ Annual Leadership Forum, Kansas City, Missouri. ”Cultivating Leadership Across Generations”

How We Can Work Together

Invite Me to Speak at Your Next Conference or Event

Wanna learn more about my speaking and training? Click here to learn more about my speaking topics, fees and previous clients. My goal as a speaker is to spark real conversations around today’s most important leadership and organizational issues and empower attendees to make positive changes in their work and life. I have worked successfully with young professionals groups, associations, nonprofit organizations, fellowship programs, universities, foundations, libraries and chambers of commerce. Contact me here with more information about your event.

Piggyback on a Pre-Scheduled Event

If you have ideas for piggybacking on when I’m already in your town for an event or meetup for your organization, staff or young professionals group, contact me ASAP since my travel planning tends to move fast! If there are opportunities to work together, I would like to add it to my itinerary sooner than later. Feel free to contact me here.

Filed Under: Where's Rosetta ·

Why It’s Time to Rethink the Language of Nonprofit Leadership Development

January 27, 2012 by · 3 Comments

Earlier this week, I gave a presentation for the National Human Services Assembly’s Field Services Council about how to develop a new generation of nonprofit leaders. We talked about some of the new research about what Generation X and Y nonprofit professionals need as well as ideas for how managers, organizations and associations might experiment with different strategies.

What I wanted to share here today is part of the conversation we had about the language we use in nonprofit leadership development as it relates to young people in the sector.

Develop vs. Support

The conventional wisdom in nonprofit leadership development is inherent in the term itself. It can be seen as the idea that nonprofit professionals need to be “developed” from what they are to what they should be. Like tadpoles. Or, it could be interpreted as a continuum of support systems that are required for professionals to reach their full potential in life and work.

I like the latter much better.

That’s why I wonder if now is the time to explore using the term ‘support’ more than we say ‘develop.’ When organizations hear that they need to develop their younger staff, they often go immediately into, “Oh, we don’t have money to develop our staff. It’s expensive to send them off to training or conferences.”

Sure, it is. But there are so many other ways to support young nonprofit professionals that cost little to no money. And the problem is that these opportunities are being grossly underutilized. Maybe because the language we’re using sounds a bit daunting for the average organization.

In contrast, the word support can refer to a wide range of activities from something as simple as saying YES when a young staff member asks to sit in on an important board meeting to giving permission for a group of interns to attend a free nonprofit panel discussion during the day.

Next vs. Now

Another thing we discussed was the language we use when we talk about younger nonprofit leaders. Whenever organizations talk about under-40 professionals, they tend to use the problematic term “next generation” or the more hip “next gen.” While it’s extremely important for groups to have programs geared toward this age demographic in the sector, the term implies that these young people will ONLY become leaders once they get older, over 40. Beyond that, it’s not clear who or what determines when (or if) a “next gen” professional actually transitions into a NOW generation leader.

See the problem here? The very programs that seek to help young nonprofit professionals can, by their very name, defer – or worse – belittle, the leadership they are already exhibiting within their communities, day after day.

In a previous post, I’ve written about The Normative Problem with the Term ‘Next Generation’ Leaders. I invite you to read it and then consider whether that term is really appropriate or useful for the field of nonprofit leadership development and where it needs to go.

My hope is that in 2012, we start thinking beyond who’s “next” and focus on who’s “now,” standing right in front of us with the courage and capacity to lead in a bigger way.

What do you think about the language we use in the field of nonprofit leadership development? What else, if anything, needs to change?

Filed Under: Leadership, Leadership Development Programs · Tagged With: ,

Young Business Professionals: Applications Open for ProInspire Nonprofit Fellowship Program

January 25, 2012 by · 1 Comment

I’m excited to share that applications are now open for the 2012 ProInspire Fellowship! ProInspire is a program founded by the fabulous Monisha Kapila for outstanding young business professionals who want to have a life changing experience – spending one year using their skills working for a leading nonprofit. I have worked with Monisha in the past and had a chance to meet and speak to some of the amazing Fellows that were chosen for a previous class. This year, they will have TWO classes of Fellows in Washington D.C. – Spring Fellows starting in April and Fall Fellows starting in August. If you apply and get accepted into the program, I know that it will be time well spent!

I’ve pasted more information below about the program. Please forward this post and spread the word to anyone who might be interested!

***

ProInspire is building the next generation of nonprofit leaders by expanding the talent pipeline, developing professionals, and increasing diversity in the sector. We are passionate about accelerating social impact and being catalysts of outstanding performance.

Our flagship program, the ProInspire Fellowship, recruits top business professionals with 2-5 years of business experience who want to use their skills for social impact and to invest in a growing community of ProInspire fellows.  Fellows spend one year working in an analytical or strategic role at a nonprofit organization. After the Fellowship, Fellows engage with our community of alumni to continue investing in the sector.

This highly competitive program offers targeted positions with leading nonprofits, monthly trainings with a cohort of peers, a coach, and a network to support career growth. Previous ProInspire Fellows come from across the U.S. with experience at Bain, Credit Suisse, General Mills, J.P. Morgan, Microsoft, Parthenon Capital, and other leading companies. Fellows work with top nonprofits based in the Washington D.C. area.

Learn More

Program Overview

The Fellowship program runs for 12 months, with start dates in April 2012 and August 2012. Hiring partners include organizations focused on community development, education, international development, health, microfinance, social investing, and youth development. Roles for 2011 ProInspire Fellows included:

  • ACCION International: Impact Investing Analyst
  • Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy: Marketing Manager
  • City First Enterprises: Program Manager

Fellows participate in a 2-day Orientation, a mandatory Fellows retreat, monthly workshops, coaching, and leadership development projects.  Fellows also receive career/graduate school support. After the program, Fellows stay in the social sector, find other career opportunities, or attend graduate school.  Annual compensation of $42,000 and health benefits are provided by the hiring organization.

Selection Criteria

ProInspire conducts a rigorous selection process based on the selection criteria and needs of hiring organizations.  Successful candidates will have:

  • A minimum of two years of business experience by August 2012
  • Passion for using their business skills to have a positive impact on society
  • Humility and eagerness to learn
  • Demonstrated initiative, self-direction and a “can-do” attitude
  • Adaptability in ambiguous situations and demonstrated ability to learn quickly
  • Strong analytical, problem solving, and project management skills
  • Willingness to live in Washington D.C. for the program

To Apply
Candidates applying for April 1st start dates or priority consideration for the August start dates should submit their resume and cover letter through our website by Wednesday, February 8th, 2012.  Apply online at http://www.proinspire.org/fellows/apply/.

Filed Under: Leadership Development Programs · Tagged With:

11 Tips for a Successful Nonprofit Job Search

January 19, 2012 by · 1 Comment

Now that you have your 2012 nonprofit career plan, you may have realized that it’s time to start looking for a new nonprofit job. If you’re planning to transition to a new position this year, it can be daunting to know where to start, especially if you’re coming from the corporate world or changing roles after a few years. Yes, the doom and gloom monsters are all over the place talking about how bad the economy and the job market is, but keep in mind that nonprofits are still hiring, even more than for-profits are. And there is still turnover in the sector – people leave jobs all the time to move on to something else. So your dream nonprofit job could be open right now!

Here are a few ideas for how you might go about launching a successful search if you’re seeking a nonprofit job right now or in the near future.

1. Get Clear on What You’re Good At

What unique value would you bring to the organizations you want to work for? Once you are clear on what your strengths are, the easier it is to sell yourself during the application and interview process. Here are some tools to use:

  • VIA Character Strengths Assessment (it’s free to take the survey with email registration). It’s a long questionnaire (240 questions) but it will help clarify your top five signature strengths that you should be using in your work as much as possible.
  • StrengthsFinder 2.0 is an assessment tool to that aims to uncover what your true talents are. I believe you have to buy the book to access the tool, but many nonprofit professionals I have worked with have found the process helpful.
Once you determine your strengths, you can begin to outline what sort of work you’d really be good at and what skills you still want to learn to help you reach your long-term nonprofit career goals. Hint: The ideal position would probably be a mix of those two things.

2. Figure Out What Kind of Organization You Want to Work For

The key is to seek out organizations whose work you’re passionate about and whose mission aligns with your personal mission in life. That may mean sticking to particular causes that you have a personal interest in or a strong affinity with. Because when the going gets tough (and it will, believe me), the one thing that will save you from going completely bonkers is your connection to the work. Restrict your job search to work that matters to you. Your passion will shine through even before you get the position.

Start by making a list of organizations whose mission you can get behind. These can be groups you’ve collaborated or partnered with in your current or previous position, nonprofits your colleagues recommend or agencies you come across through an online search. Then, do your research. Are there similar organizations? What sets this one apart? How do people talk about the organization? What is the culture like?

Once you know what sort of organization you would like to work for, it becomes a different ball game in terms of positioning yourself for a place in that organization. You goal is to do what it takes to make yourself the inside candidate.

3. Update Your Resume

What jobs or volunteer roles have you held in the past year? Add your experiences as bullet points on your resume. Also list any leadership roles you’ve held as a board member or as part of a professional association. If you have a job now, be sure to add or revise your position description under your current job experience, especially if your responsibilities have changed. Did your job title change? Be sure to update that, too!

Just don’t make the mistake of simply listing everything you’ve ever done in your previous positions, all the way down to making copies as an intern and mopping the floors as a restaurant worker in college. You may think you have to fill in space on your resume if you don’t have much experience, but take comfort in the fact that it’s not so much about how many years of experience you’ve had, but what you’ve accomplished in each particular position you’ve held. Don’t focus on duties; focus on accomplishments instead.

4. Create a LinkedIn Profile

If you’re looking for a new job in the nonprofit world and you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re missing out on a TON of openings, leads, connections and opportunities. It’s an easy way to get your name ranked favorably in Google search as well as an avenue to meet other nonprofit leaders in your community. LinkedIn is also great for getting the attention of hiring managers and headhunters as 86% of recruiters use social media to research applicants.

Once you join LinkedIn, be sure to fill in your profile completely with a picture, your resume and a brief bio. You want to let potential employers know who you are, what you’ve done and what you’re looking for as the next step in your career.

5. Always Carry Business Cards

Business cards are still the numero uno way of marketing yourself and exchanging information when you’re in an in-person networking situation. Especially if you’re currently unemployed, you want people to have a way to contact you if they come across any job leads. My favorite place for business cards is Vistaprint. I’ve used them for the past 10 years because of their low cost, easy-to-use website and quick delivery. And when I say low cost, I mean low cost. New customers get 250 premium quality, color business cards free! You just pay for shipping.  Click here to order yours. They also have a ton of professional business card templates, but I always keep mine very simple. Other people swear by MOO Business Cards. I’ve heard good things about people using them, especially their mini cards. And the people who love them really love them. They’re more expensive, but the designs they have are beautiful and more sophisticated than anything Vistaprint offers.

You never know when you’re going to be at a happy hour or conference and find yourself chatting up the CEO of a nonprofit you would die to work for. In the worst case scenario that you forget your cards, be sure to ask for THEIR business card so that you can follow-up. And, please DO follow-up within 24-48 hours, while the memory of your remarkable presence is still fresh in their minds.

6. Explicitly Ask Your Network for Leads

I’ve heard of people getting nonprofit jobs in all sorts of ways – through volunteering, attending events, their dad’s best friend on Facebook – the list goes on and on. But what many people don’t realize is the simple power of asking people you already know for help.

When I first came to DC as a recent college grad, I was desperately seeking a nonprofit job that paid enough so I didn’t have to live with a roommate. I sent emails to my family, friends, and professors asking them to help me if they could. In the process, I found out that one of my cousins worked for one of the largest nonprofit associations in the city (and just happened to have an Executive Assistant opening) and that one of my professors had a contact at the United Way, one of the places I wanted to work. You may find that you have dozens of “hidden” connections like this within your own “inner circle” of people that you know. The point is to open the doors of opportunity for yourself by letting people know you need help finding a nonprofit job. Especially if they already know you and what an amazing person you are, they will be more than happy to assist you in your search if they are able.

If you don’t want to announce to the whole world that you’re looking for a new gig, it’s best to contact a group of select colleagues via email. You should definitely use your work contacts (excluding your boss) as resources for your job search. Let them know that you’re exploring new career opportunities and you would love their help if they come across any positions that fit your expertise and interests. Be sure to also attach a copy of your resume so they can pass it along to folks who may be interested in hiring you. Your network can be your most powerful ally in job searching before you leave your current job.

7. Have Relevant Writing Samples Ready

You know the drill. Often when you’re applying to a nonprofit job, the organization will ask you to provide a writing sample as part of your application. Why do they want a sample of your writing? To ensure that you don’t write like an 8-year old and they can trust you to pump out basic correspondence on behalf of the organization. Nonprofits also like to see writing samples from applicants to see if shows that you’ve done anything remotely related to the job you’re applying for. How do you make yours stand out from the pack? Send a relevant writing sample, like a grant proposal you’ve written for another organization in the past, a newsletter you wrote and designed, or a planning document you developed.

Nonprofit hiring managers really do read the writing samples you send in with your applications. Believe me, I’ve read through hundreds of them over the years. Most of them are a waste of paper. Purely unremarkable. You have a great opportunity to make yours stand out from the rest. Think twice before you send in your senior thesis on the Armenian government as a writing sample. It’s much better to send something that’s more relevant to the job you’re applying for.

8. Volunteer with an Ulterior Motive

There is always a wonderfully rewarding feeling in giving your time and talents to a worthy cause. Feeding the homeless, tutoring children, or playing games with senior citizens can all give you a sense of community as well as help you grow as a person in the process. But if you’re actively seeking a new nonprofit job, it’s important that you use every chance you get to further your job search process. If you’re going to volunteer, try to choose opportunities that allow you to build your resume, make new contacts, or learn a new skill.

I mean, there’s only so much time in the day, so if you’re actively seeking a new nonprofit job, it’s important that you use every chance you get to further your job search process. If you’re going to volunteer, take on opportunities that allow you to build your resume by using your professional skills to help the organization instead of merely ladling soup into bowls for the homeless. You can even ask people in your network if they know of any nonprofits that could use a volunteer bookkeeper or someone to design their new brochure for free. 99% of the time, the answer will be an enthusiastic YES, and a win/win for both you and the organization. They get free labor and you get to put on your resume that you helped the nonprofit achieve XYZ outcome through volunteering your professional skills. Resume tip: call it “pro bono consulting.” Sounds fancier.

If you choose a volunteer position that allows you to lead in some capacity, it looks a lot better on your resume than simply “volunteered to clean the local dog park.” If your goal is to obtain a job in the environmental field, for instance, you want to show that you can play a leadership role in the organization if they decide to hire you. If you want to go ahead and clean up the dog park or the river, step up and be the one to be the organizer or rally other volunteers so you can state your accomplishments on your resume as “recruited 100 volunteers to clean the dog park, the largest turnout ever.” Much more impressive, yes?

9. Use Nonprofit Job Boards

Many nonprofits look to the Internet to help them attract candidates to open positions. Here are some of the best, tried-and-true online job boards that have been recommended by nonprofit jobseekers. Of course, if you run out of leads, here’s a list of 97 nonprofit job boards that you can use!

10. Connect with Nonprofit Search Firms

If you’re looking to take the next step in your nonprofit career, you may want to get on the radar of a few search firms to expand your exposure to job openings. Search firms have teams of recruiters that are retained by organizations looking to hire employees with exceptional talent for a particular position. Their job is to use their networks to find the perfect candidate without going through the typical process of posting a job online and taking in applications from any old person who wishes to apply. There are many recruiting firms out there now that specialize in nonprofit positions and could be looking for you!

If you don’t already have a connection to a nonprofit search firm, it may be time for you to introduce yourself and let them know you’d like to be included in their network of candidates. Ask a trusted colleague to recommend a search organization consultant to you – or even better, have that colleague recommend you to the consultant. Even if you don’t have a personal introduction, you can still send the recruiter your resume with a cover letter describing your interest, experience and expertise.

If you don’t yet have a connection to a recruiting firm in your area, here are just a few that work locally and nationally: Dewey & Kaye, Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, Issacson Miller, Keystone Search, Transition Guides, Nonprofit HR Solutions.

I’ve been told by my search consultant friends that about 15% of positions are placed by a search firm. If you have the kind of talent that is in demand by nonprofit organizations, they would love to hear from you. It’s worth it to work with a search firm as part of your job search strategy.

11. Start Temping

If you’re unemployed right now and in the midst of a job search, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a temporary job to bring in the Benjamins while you look for your next permanent gig. Especially if you are a recent grad who needs nonprofit experience for your resume, I would encourage you to consider temping, short-term jobs found through a staffing agency, instead of spending a month working at Starbucks. Why? Well, most assignments last from only a few hours to days or weeks, making it flexible for you to interview elsewhere and accept a full-time job as soon as you find one. You can use your temp work to enhance your experience in the field as well as expand your nonprofit network by meeting lots of different people through your various assignments. Best of all, it is very possible that one of your short-term assignments could turn into a full-time job! Many nonprofits will end up hiring a temp on permanently if they really like you and your work. So, always do a great job.

Here are a few temp agencies that are specifically targeted to nonprofit jobs: Professionals for Nonprofits, Careers in Nonprofits, Nonprofit Staffing Solutions, Jobs in Nonprofits. There are probably more in your area like Randstad or Kelly Services that do not necessarily specialize in filling nonprofit jobs, but still offer those kinds of openings as well.

Additional Resources

Filed Under: Career Advice · Tagged With:
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