Featured Nonprofit Job -- New Year's Eve Edition

We hope that everybody enjoyed the Holidays last week, and that it provided a much needed break from the stress of the job search. It's likely that one of your New Year's resolutions is to get work and, with 2013 coming in less than 24 hours, you have one last chance to add a job possibility to your list. Luckily for you, a new featured nonprofit job was recently added to the Nonprofit Job Seeker.

Interested? Read on for more details.

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl., is looking to hire an Executive Director to help advance its mission: Providing support for people with paralysis and preventing spinal cord injuries. The chosen candidate will serve as a liaison to partners, sponsors, funders and other constituents, with special attention given to:

• Advancing the mission through enhanced and new program offerings;
• Elevating the visibility of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation;
• Identifying, securing and stewarding major sponsors, underwriters, donors and other potential funders;
• Creating strong partnerships while continuing to build momentum with current partners; and,
• Supervising staff while serving as an Ex Officio member to the board.

The ideal candidate for the Executive Director position will have a minimum of eight years of demonstrated experience in the nonprofit sector and/or public administration. Other requirements include:

• Demonstrated leadership in a medium-sized social service organization;
• Appreciation of educating people about paralysis, spinal cord injuries and their prevention;
• A demonstrated ability to strategically manage program operations, media, volunteers, staff and fundraising efforts;
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (a Master's or advanced degree is preferred); and,
• Supervisory experience and team building expertise.

If you think you have what it takes to be an Executive Director, head to our career center to find out more information on how you can apply. 

5 Tips For The Job Search Over The Holidays

With Christmas just four days away, chances are you're going to be spending the holidays with family and friends, putting the daily grind of your job search on hold for a little bit.  That's exactly the right thing to do, but don't forget about it entirely.

There are a number of things you can do over the holidays to help your job hunting efforts.  Just because you won't be spending as much time on job boards or LinkedIn doesn't mean you can't improve your prospects.  Here are some tips for you:

• Network: Make sure to tell people at holiday parties that you are currently looking for work in the nonprofit sector.  You never know who will be able to help you out.
• Keep Up The Search: It's true that you aren't going to be seeing too many new jobs posted during the holidays.  But you should schedule some time to browse for recent positions.  This will make it easier to get back into the routine when vacation is over.
• Holiday Cards: Send holiday greeting cards to everybody that has helped you with your job search..  This includes networking contacts and hiring managers whom you have recently interviewed with.  Make sure to enclose a business card with the letter.

Have a happy holidays everyone!

Job Interview Jargon

Even the most experienced job candidate can say or do the wrong thing during a job interview. That risk is even greater for individuals from for-profit corporations who are interested in transitioning to the nonprofit sector, as there are distinct differences in language used in the two sectors.

A past issue of "Leadership Matters," published by Bridgestar, addresses this topic.  The featured article, “Lost in Translation: Common Language Pitfalls for Bridgers” is based on discussions with 11 senior executives at nonprofit organizations, some of whom themselves were executives who moved  from for-profit to nonprofit.

These executives shared five insights for job seekers who are looking to follow that same path:

• Avoid referring to the organization as “the company” or similar words such as “corporation.”
• Don’t use business jargon, such as “ROI” (return on investment), “EBITDA” (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization), “CAGR” (compounded annual growth rate), or “net profits.” Instead of “income statement” or “profit and loss statement,” say “statement of activities.”
• Be familiar with nonprofit buzzwords, including, “outputs,” “outcomes,” “major donors,” and “development.” 
• Don’t assume that those in the nonprofit sector don’t know business terms. That can be just as bad (and totally condescending) as using jargon blindly without stopping to see if it’s registering with anyone. 
• Research the organization’s website and print materials to see what words they use. Some words that started out in the business world have been embraced by the nonprofit sector.  

Wanted: Vice President Of Development

Environmental sustainability is a big topic these days, especially after the devastating effects of Superstorm Sandy. Many people want to get involved in this field so they can make a difference for future generations. There are plenty of opportunities available in organizations committed to the environment, including our most recent featured nonprofit job.

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is looking to hire a Vice President of Development to design and implement the development programs that will provide a steady source of revenue to support the AFF mission and programs. Reporting directly to the President/CEO and serving on the executive team, this position will develop goals and strategies for fundraising programs incorporating major gifts, annual funds, government grants, corporate & foundation relations and planned giving.

The VP of Development will also have the following duties:

• Evaluate the effect of internal and external forces on the organization and its fundraising, and lead short- and long-range fund development plans and programs that support the organization's values, mission, and general objectives;
• Identify potential sources of corporate, foundation, government and individual major donor support, including the ongoing development and maintenance of a prospect database;
• Develop proposals and sponsorship agreements, in conjunction with program staff, to solicit funding for Foundation programs;
• Provide strategic focus and tactical direction on the engagement of the President & CEO and Senior Staff in fundraising activities;
• Stay abreast of philanthropic, economic, and social trends that may impact the organization and keep senior staff informed about these issues; and,
• Provide strategic development advice to senior management and program staff and identify and resolve fundraising challenges.

To find out more information, including the necessary qualifications, visit our career center. Good luck!

Featured Nonprofit Job: Senior Director Foundation Relations

What's your motivation when you look for a nonprofit job? Fundraising? Contribution to a cause for which you care? You can get both of these things and more by applying to our latest featured position, from the American Heart Association (AHA).

The San Francisco, Calif.-based organization is looking to hire a Senior Director of Foundation Relations. This position, serving the areas of Northern California, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington, will build relationships between top foundations in order to secure increased revenue for AHA's mission. Special emphasis will be placed on six-figure gifts, as the organization has a fundraising goal of $785,200 for the fiscal year.

Does this sound like a job you in which you would be interested? If so, make sure you meet the following requirements as laid out by AHA:

• Bachelor’s Degree in English, Communications, Journalism or related field.
• 5+ years’ development experience in the non-profit sector with a successful track record in developing and maintaining high-level foundation relationships, securing foundation grants, stewardship, reporting impactful outcomes, etc.
• Ability to deal professionally in a corporate and non-profit environment and assume responsibility for guiding grants and programs from inception through completion.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, goal- and deadline-oriented environment with high expectations.
• Ability to work outside standard business hours as needed.

Head to our career center for more details on what it takes to be a Senior Director of Foundation Relations.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Director Of Peer To Peer Fundraising

Interested in fundraising positions? Our newest featured nonprofit job offers the opportunity to work in that field with an organization that is known around the country: Save the Children.

The Westport, Conn.-based nonprofit is looking to hire a Director of Peer to Peer Fundraising (P2P) to develop and execute its strategy in that area. This strategy will focus on empowering individuals and groups to raise funds on behalf of the agency by allowing them to communicate and solicit prospective donors from their own networks and communities. The Director of Peer to Peer will be responsible for development P2P campaigns that incorporate both offline and online strategies for individuals, schools and community organizations.

Other responsibilities include:

• Developing integrated P2P annual strategy with Signature Events, Gift Catalog, and other campaigns including emergency opportunities when applicable;
• Developing retention and communication strategy for P2P program and specific campaigns utilizing both offline and online communications including mobile and social media;
• Identifying most favorable markets/verticals to implement P2P strategy and review current schools and community organizations strategy for optimization;
• Researching (in collaboration with ICM team) and determine most effective tools including but not limited to online P2P fundraising platforms, widgets, fundraising pages, etc; and,
• Continuing to assess industry for trends and best practices.

All applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Minimum of five to seven years experience in direct response marketing.
• Previous management of direct reports.
• Strong interpersonal and motivational skills.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Strong team building and leadership skills.
• Strong organization and follow-up skills.

You can find out more about this job by visiting our career center.

Director Of Development Wanted: Featured Nonprofit Job

Shaker Village in Harrodsburg, Ky., a nonprofit devoted to the architecture of the Shakers, is looking to hire a Director of Development. Interested in learning more about this featured nonprofit job? Read on for more details.

Whoever is chosen to be the Director of Development for Shaker Village will be the first person to hold such a position full-time for the organization. The chosen applicant will establish and lead a major gift campaign, and will plan and execute a multi-million dollar capital campaign. This position reports directly to the President/CEO of the organization and will serve as a member of the senior management staff.

The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:

• Three to five years experience successfully soliciting major gifts;
• Experience in creating approaches to major donors;
• A personal interest in the mission of Shaker Village;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Bachelor's degree or higher in related field;
• Ability to work both independently and in a team; and,
• Strong organizational skills.

You can find out more information, including information on how to apply for this job, by visiting our career center.

10 Red Flags For Employers

Stop me if this sounds familiar: You've submitted one job application after another yet, for all of your hard work, you don't have any positive results. This is an experience that many job seekers are very familiar with and while it can be partially blamed on the poor job market, there are times when the problem rests with you.

It's a hard thing to admit sometimes, but applicants often inadvertently set themselves up for failure by having huge red flags throughout their application. Even things that don't seem like that big of a deal can scream "Don't hire me!" to prospective employers.

While there are plenty of potential red flags that can alert hiring managers, here are the 10 of which you should be most aware:

• There's no contact information on your resume.
• There are long, unexplained gaps between your previous jobs.
• You didn't prepare enough for the job interview.
• You didn't provide any references.
• You don't have anything positive to say about your previous employers.
• You've held multiple jobs in the past six months.
• Your interview answers are inconsistent.
• You don't show any flexibility.
• There doesn't appear to be any effort put into your application (i.e., your resume was clearly a copy-paste job).
• You don't have any clearly defined career goals.

4 Ways To Mishandle Salary Negotiations

Job interviews are tough, but salary negotiations can make them look like a walk in the park. One small misstep in the process and you could find yourself without that job offer.

Many job seekers know what they want in terms of salary and benefits, but are hesitant to say it for fear of pricing themselves out of the job. That is certainly a legitimate concern, but it's one that can be easily erased simply be doing your homework. Do some research to determine what the standard pay rates and perks are for the position so you know if what you are asking for is too much.

If you don't do your homework, you leave yourself at risk of mishandling the negotiations. Here are four other things to avoid:

• Not Thinking About Yourself: If you don't think seriously about the income you need, you may end up taking a job that will leave you struggling to pay for everyday items. If the salary you need is out of line with the standard rates, look for a position that will pay you what you need.
• Laying All Your Cards On The Table: Job interviewers will often ask you to name a specific number you have in mind, but you should always try to avoid this. Use answers such as "If I do receive an offer, I want it to be reasonable" or "I will consider any offer that fits my needs." If you are pressed for a number, give a range rather than a specific answer.
• Neglecting To Ask About Benefits: Salary is important but you shouldn't forget to ask about what benefits you would be getting. Healthcare is especially important, given that the Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires all individuals to have coverage.
• Not Giving A Counter-Offer: Most organizations are not going to offer you the highest salary right off the bat; that's simply not the way negotiations work. Using the knowledge you have acquired from your research, you should present a counter-offer that is fair for both you and the company.

Subscribe To The Nonprofit Jobs eNewsletter

The nature of the nonprofit jobs market is always changing. According to a study earlier this year by Johns Hopkins University, the jobs in the sector expanded for the 10 years that positions in the general workforce shrunk. Specifically, nonprofit jobs increased an average of 2.1 percent each year from 2000 to 2010.

It's important to keep up-to-date with the latest employment news from the sector, and there's no better way to do this than by signing up for our free nonprofit jobs eNewsletter. Delivered every Wednesday, it presents the latest featured positions from our career center, a list of the current jobs available in each state, and an article designed to help you advance your career.

You can view a sample of the latest edition of the NPT Jobs eNewsletter here.

In addition to jobs, you can also sign up for our other weekly and monthly eNewsletters:

• NPT Weekly-Delivered every Monday, focuses on Management.
• NPT Instant Fundraising: Delivered every Tuesday, focuses on fundraising.
• NPT TechnoBuzz: Delivered second Thursday of every month, focuses on technology.
• NPT Exempt: Delivered third Thursday of every month, focuses on finance.

8 Ways To Get Your Resume Seen

Some job seekers believe like they are sending their resume into a black hole when they submit them to an organization. More often than not your application will get to the recipient but there are times when that feeling about black holes is legitimate, all because of a new technology some employers use.

More organizations are making use of what are called an applicant tracking systems to filter out resumes that don't match what they want from applicants. These devices will automatically reject applications that don't contain certain keywords, but they will also affect resumes that aren't formatted properly. Below are eight steps to ensure your document is seen by human eyes:

• Save your resume as a "text only" or plain "plain text" file.
• Re-open your file. All graphics should have been removed but, if they haven't, delete them. Use equal signs instead of lines or borders, and replace bullet points with asterisks (*) or hyphens (-).
• Limit your margins to no more than 65 characters wide.
• Use an easy-to-scan font such as Courier, Arial, or Helvectica.
• Eliminate any bold, italics, or underlining.
• Introduce major sections in all caps rather than using special fonts.
• Keep all text aligned to the left.
• Use the space bar to indent text rather than using tab.

New Grant Opportunities From NPT

Cross-Posted From The NonProfit Times Blog

We are continuing to post new opportunities to our grant page, with three more being added today from the IEEE Foundation. Two of those three grants fall under newly added categories: Technology and Human Services.

While both categories are important, we're going to feature the Human Services posting here. Take a look: 

Type of Grant: Human Services
Grant Name: Applying Technology for Humanitarian Causes
Agency(s): IEEE Foundation Closing Date for Applications: Two deadlines – March 15, 2013 or August 6, 2013 

Description: 

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Foundation is offering grant opportunities for organizations seeking ways to improve the lives of others using technology. The IEEE Foundation supports projects that implement or disseminate replicable, sustainable, technology-based solutions for humanitarian issues in underserved and underprivileged areas.

Eligible Organizations:

All nonprofits are eligible to apply for a grant as long as they meet the following requirements:

• The organization in question must be an IEEE unit or a charitable organization;
• It must agree to IEEE’s Grant Reporting Guidelines (https://www.ieee.org/organizations/foundation/guidelines.html);
• It must accept the Foundation’s Grant Payment Terms & Conditions (https://www.ieee.org/organizations/foundation/requestgrantpayment.html);
• The project must be five years or less in duration; and, 
• It must fit within one or more of IEEE’s focus areas (in this case, humanitarian). 

Grant payments depend on the length of the project. For example, programs that are 12 months or less in duration will receive 50 percent of the initial award payment after the Grantee has completed an IRS Form W-9. The remaining 50 percent will be paid after the final Grant Report has been submitted along with a financial statement.

You can find out more information at https://www.ieee.org/organizations/foundation/grants.html 

***
You can take a look at the other opportunities by visiting the NPT Grant Finder.

Handling A Termination Meeting

Firing an employee is one of the hardest things a manager has to do and, with jobs hard to come by, it has become even more difficult. With the job market still sluggish, a firing can cause employees to react in ways they will later regret.

Keeping in mind that no one will never react to the news of his termination with a smile, it's important to handle the final employee meeting with care.

According to Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem in “The Big Book of HR,” two other people should always be present at the termination meeting to avoid disagreements about what was communicated: The employee's direct supervisor and a human resources representative. In addition, they wrote that the manager should plan out in advance what he wants to say, so that the message is clear.

Other essential topics are:

• That a decision has been made to terminate employment;
• The reason(s) and key facts supporting the decision;
• The effective date of separation;
• Separation package and benefits;
• A review of the policy and procedures for giving references;
• A review of applicable post-termination restrictions, such as non-compete or non-disclosure agreements;
• What will happen immediately following the meeting (i.e. cleaning out the employee’s office);
• Other activities such as an exit interview survey or outplacement meetings; and,
• Whom to contact about post-termination issues.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Foundation Officer

Healthcare is one of the more popular fields in employment these days, and it's no different in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit hospitals are always looking for new employees to help their cause. If you've always wanted to work at one of these organizations, our newest featured nonprofit job should be of interest to you.

Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego, Calif., is looking to hire a Foundation Officer to help with fundraising activities. Specifically, the chosen candidate will be responsible for  the identification and qualification of prospective individual, private foundation, and corporate funding sources to support the planning, development, coordination and administration of a comprehensive major and planned gift fundraising program. The individual will also develop, implement and fulfill specific and targeted research and data-mining strategies for major gift and corporate donors and prospects.

To be considered for this position, applicants must have a Bachelor's Degree in a related field, 2 years of experience, and effective written and oral communication skills. In addition, Rady's Children's Hospital prefers candidates to have the following qualifications:

• 5 years of experience to include non-profit, prospect management, information access and research;
• Proven background in the knowledge and use of computer systems including online databases, internet and public records;
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive materials; and,
• Must work well as a team lead, team participant or independently, with minimal supervision.

You can find out more about what it takes to be a Foundation Officer by visiting our career center.

12 Telecommuting Challenges

Telecommuting is gaining in popularity among employees and even some employers, but workplace issues can still be issues, even if the workplace is home.

Jeff Tenenbaum, who chairs the Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group at Venable LLP, notes that federal and state labor laws still apply, even for telecommuters. There are other considerations that should be heeded when contemplating telecommuting.

• The suitability of certain positions to telecommuting?
• Wage and hour requirements. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state counterparts raise issues for how nonprofits monitor telecommuter work schedules.
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) issues.
• Workers’ compensation laws.
• Implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). An employer is not necessarily required to permit telecommuting merely because it is the employee’s preferred reasonable accommodation.
• Anti-discrimination. Telecommuting typically raises concerns about disparate impact claims, which arise not from intentional discrimination but inadvertent problems arising from company policy.
• Medical leave needs. The most common problem arises when employers use telecommuting to pressure employees not to take medical leave.
• Privacy issues. These can conflict with an employer’s need to monitor the employee’s performance.
• Protection of confidential and proprietary information. Home office equipment such as computers and other devices containing work product and sensitive information should be dedicated to work-related activities only.
• Income taxes. Complications can arise when an employee telecommutes from a different state.
• Tort liability. Liability insurance should cover the telecommuting employee’s home.
• Zoning laws.

Explaining Your Nonprofit's Hiring Policy

When writing a job description for your organization, it is important to hit all the key points job seekers want to know. That means explaining the salary and benefits they will earn, the culture of the nonprofit, and the skills required for the job.

Yet hiring managers shouldn't neglect to explain one other thing about their organization: Its hiring policy.

Most candidates want to know as much as they can about how an organization hires employees. This allows them to set reasonable expectations about when they should hear back. In his book "Managing a Nonprofit Organization," Thomas Wolf wrote that the clearer your policies are, the less chance there is for misunderstandings.

Wolf recommended organizations answer the following questions about their hiring policies:

• How are employees hired and is there a formal process with public notice required?
• Are current employees given first preference for a job vacancy?
• Is there an affirmative action policy?
• Is hiring done solely on the basis of competency and qualifications?
• Is every prospective employee allowed to see a job description?
• Is there an official training period?
• Do temporary or permanent part-time employees enjoy the same rights and benefits as full-time employees?
• How often are salary ranges and job classifications reviewed and by whom?

7 Professional Development Tips

Just because you've finally got the job of your dreams doesn't mean you can relax. On the contrary, you should always be working as hard as you can to impress your superiors so they not only know they made the right choice in hiring you, but also to improve your chance of moving up the ladder.

You should always be thinking about your professional development so you are not stuck doing the same job for an extended period of time. It's not good for your confidence to be working on the same task year after year and getting a promotion will look better on your resume should you ever leave the organization.

The key to climbing up the professional ladder is to make a positive impression on your boss. There are many ways to do this, but here are the seven best tips to make your superior notice your work:

• Go the extra mile by helping your co-workers if they are stuck on a task, or volunteer to take up new responsibilities.
• Have a good attitude. This seems obvious, but it is easy to react negatively when you are given constructive criticism or are assigned work about which you are not excited.
• Be prepared for anything that comes your way.
• When you are done with a task, ask for something new to do without your boss coming to you first.
• Come up with creative solutions for problems that are affecting the organization. This shows you are ready to take initiative on issues that don't necessarily affect you.
• Take constructive criticism seriously. There is no better way to impress your superiors than by actually applying the suggestions they made.
• Try your hardest to be on-time for work every day, and personally phone your boss if you know you are going to be late.

Why Choose A Nonprofit Job?

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.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Interim Chief Development Officer

Today's featured nonprofit job is a little different than the ones we usually post. While the majority of the jobs posted on the Nonprofit Job Seeker are full-time, this posting is for a position on an interim basis. Specifically, Orr Associates, Inc., is looking to hire an Interim Chief Development Officer.

This renewable one-year contracted position will work primarily with Orr Associates' client, the American Nicaraguan Foundation (ANF), though other clients will also be involved. Working closely with Senior Managers at OAI, this position will develop and implement strategies for ANF in Board Development, Board Management, Major Gifts, Corporate Giving, Development Infrastructure, and Event Fundraising Management.

Other major responsibilities for this job include the following:

• Participate in direct fundraising support and counsel to Orr Associate clients;
• Communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences, including board members, staff, donors, and outside advisors;
• Manage event and campaign fundraising planning and execution to include leadership development, committee management, major gifts, and corporate sponsorship;
• Oversee day-to-day operations and fulfillment of contracted projects;
• Manage project teams and coordinate project work for rest of team; serve as mentor and coach to team members;
• Find solutions and implement new ideas for clients;
• Conduct strategic development planning as necessary and work with boards to implement development plans;
• Collaborate with/participate in strategy, fundraising and event management functions as necessary;
• Work with clients to recruit, train and manage their board of directors; and,
• Manage independent contractors as necessary.

It should be noted that this job may require up to 75 percent of time per week spent at ANF's locations in Miami, Florida, or Nicaragua. You may also have to travel across the United States visiting partners and donors.

If you think you have what it takes to fulfill the role of Interim CDO, visit our career center for full details on the job, including application instructions.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Communications Director

Public relations is an important part of any nonprofit. If an organization is not able to effectively get its message out to the public in a cohesive manner, the mission has little chance of success. That's why Community Action Services and Food Bank (CASFB) in Provo, Utah, is looking to hire a Communications Director.

The Communications Director sets and guides the strategy for all communications, websites, and public relations messages and collateral to consistently articulate CASFB's mission. The chosen candidate will support the agency’s goal to be viewed as the primary local source, disseminator and conduit of information within its diverse network and constituent base.

This position also has a host of other responsibilities. These include but are not limited to the following:

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and the Leadership Team to develop communications strategies that will broaden programmatic reach and deepen impact.
• Develop and refine the agency’s “core” messages to ensure organizational consistency.
• Identify significant media and public policy issues that can be leveraged to support the agency’s work, and create and implement plans to exploit them.
• Serve as the editor for the CASFB's websites.
• Oversee organizational response to inquiries about the agency.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the annual communications plan with the Leadership Team and constituents.
• Lead the generation of online content that engages audience segments and leads to measurable action. Decide who, where, and when to disseminate.
• Put communications vehicles in place to create momentum and awareness as well as to test the effectiveness of communications activities.
• Manage the relationship with the agency’s direct mail campaign company.
• Oversee and approve the content of the direct mailers and regularly review results.

There are many other duties the Communications Director must undertake. You can read the rest of them on our career center, where you can also find instructions on how to apply for the job.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Fundraising And Development Director

We've had a number of fundraising opportunities pop up over the last week or so, but they have mostly been on the East Coast of the country. Today's featured nonprofit job is for those job seekers who live near the West Coast.

CARC, Inc., located in Carlsbad, N.M., is looking to hire a Fundraising and Development Director to develop and coordinate the organization's annual giving, donor stewardship, and campaigns to secure other forms of funding. The chosen candidate will report to the Chief Executive Officer of CARC, and will be paid a salary consummate with experience.

The successful applicant will ideally have a strong background in securing both individual and major gifts. A particular focus will be put on major donors, special events development, and implementation of projects and programs. Other responsibilities include:

• Work with the Finance Director to streamline donation processing and gift entry, and to implement best practices and top-notch customer service for donors;
• Ensure timely and accurate gift entry and generation of acknowledgement letters and other donor recognition;
• Build queries and generate reports and mailing lists;
• Uphold and communicate our shared responsibility for ethical fundraising and development practices and client/donor confidentiality;
• Empower a donor-centered approach;
• Conduct prospect/donor research and wealth screenings;
• Play an active role in the creation and implementation of donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; and,
• Work with the CEO to build and launch a signature fundraising event(s) and other vehicles for donor engagement.

As with any job, there are some requirements candidates must meet to be considered. Here are the qualifications CARC wants from applicants:

• Bachelor's degree or comparable experience;
• 4+ years in a fundraising and development specific role;
• Computer literate and Microsoft Office proficient;
• Flexible and willing to work evenings and weekends, as needed;
• Website and social media savvy a plus;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and,
• Mature problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

Read more about this job by visiting our career center.

10 Words To Leave Out Of Your Resume

It's easy enough to say that you are "hard working" or a "team player" in your resume. It's a little bit harder to actually give meaning to these words by proving it.

When writing your resume, it's important to include as many keywords as possible so that your document will make it past any filter systems the organization has in place. While these terms are important, there are other words that job seekers scatter throughout their resumes that have less meaning.

Proving to hiring managers that you are fit for the job is important, but you should do this by using brief, specific examples of your skills. That means you should leave out generic terms that don't speak enough to how you would help the organization. Below are 10 words that don't do enough to explain why you are the best fit for the organization:

• Aggressive
• Ambitious
• Competent
• Goal-oriented
• Motivated
• Creative
• Self-starter
• Independent
• Meticulous
• Professional

Wanted: Executive Director

There are many important roles at a nonprofit, whether it's the Chief Executive Officer or the Development Officer. One of the other major positions of power is one for which San Juan Safe Communities Initiative, Inc is currently hiring: the Executive Director.

The Farmington, N.M.-based organization is looking for candidates who are organized and have excellent written and oral communication skills to fill the important role of Executive Director. The positions major role at the organization will be to direct and implement all organizational and day to day activities which are aimed at developing a comprehensive, sensible approach to San Juan Safe's mission: Ending substance abuse and criminal activity in the community. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of San Juan County demographics and systems of government, law enforcement and human services.

Other duties include:

• Overseeing all communication between the Board, other committees, task forces, media and the membership;
• Coordinating meetings, including preparation of agendas, minutes and notices;
•  Coordinating with community groups, agencies, and local governments on initiative goals and activities;
• Organizing marketing activities including the creation of multimedia programs to promote awareness and prevention;
• Monitoring the budget; and,
• Negotiating agreements with outside agencies and contractors for services.

A bachelors degree in Sociology or a related field is preferred for this job, but San Juan Safe will consider an equivalent combination of education and experience. All candidates must have office management and supervisory experience.

Read more about how to apply for this job on our career center. Good luck!

Featured Nonprofit Job: Development Manager

The newest featured nonprofit job on the Nonprofit Job Seeker comes from the American Lung Association (ALA) in Georgia, which is looking to hire a Development Manager. Interested? More details are below.

The chosen candidate for this position will lead fundraising activities for ALA in the Metro Atlanta, Ga., area.  This position is responsible for obtaining local development goals through collaboration with local volunteers and community and corporate leaders. The development manager will also assist in recruiting and supporting volunteers for area specific fundraising/subcommittee assignments, assisting  in promoting ALA to local community and training volunteers in fundraising techniques.

Applicants for the position of Development Manager should meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor degree in a related field;
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years experience in nonprofit special event fundraising, community outreach, and committee development;
• Experience in corporate development and third party fundraising;
• Self starter with excellent verbal, writing and computer skills; 
• Extensive local and occasional overnight travel required and must have reliable transportation; and,
• Must be a non-smoker.

If you meet all of these qualifications, head to our career center to learn more about the job and to find out how to apply.

Job Interview Body Language Do's And Don'ts

The day of your job interview has finally arrived and you walk into the building feeling confident. Then something happens when you enter the hiring manager's office: You start to feel nervous. All that confidence seems to disappear and it starts to show in your body language.

What was described above is a nightmare scenario for any job seeker but it's one that happens more often than you think. Anxiety often manifests itself through nervous body language -- crossed arms, constantly fidgeting -- which in turn creates a negative impression on the interviewer.

Bad body language can also haunt interviewees who are not nervous simply because they do not know what constitutes poor posture. Below are some do's and don'ts to inform job seekers what is and what is not appropriate to do during a job interview:

Do:

• Sit up straight and lean slightly forward in your chair.
• Show your enthusiasm by maintaining an interested expression.
• Create appropriate personal space between you and the interviewer. Anything more than 20 inches can make for an uncomfortable situation.
• Don't wear too much perfume or cologne.
• Refrain from staring at the interviewer should an interruption concern, and show your willingness to leave the room if they desire.

Don't:

• Rub the back of your head or neck.
• Rub or touch your nose.
• Fold your arms across your chest.
• Slouch in your chair.
• Stare at the interviewer with a blank expression.
• Fidget with your fingers or shake your legs.

Chief Financial Officer -- Featured Nonprofit Job

When people heard the word "education," the first thing that comes to mind is usually schools. In reality, education can also includes activities such as camps, after-school programs, senior centers, and recovery programs. New York City-based Educational Alliance represents all the different sides of education and the organization is now looking to hire a Chief Financial Officer to ensure it can continue its mission.

The CFO will provide both strategic and tactical, hands-on leadership in the entire range of financial management, from planning and forecasting to budgeting, audit & control, and cash management functions. Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, this position will oversee a team of 15 employees and will frequently interact with the chairs and individual members of the Audit, Finance, Investment and Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

It goes without saying that one of the key qualifications of an effective CFO is a strong background in finance. This is not, however, the only requirement applicants must meet. The Educational Alliance also wants applicants who meet the following criteria:

• CPA is strongly desired, but not required;
• Advanced business degree is desirable;
• Financial leadership experience in a complex not-for-profit organization, ideally in the human service or healthcare communities;
• Familiarity with government funding sources and protocols;
• Experience working effectively with volunteer board leadership;
• Well-versed in information technology operations;
• Extensive management experience with a demonstrated ability to train, motivate and develop staff; track record of leading change; and,
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

There are other requirements you must meet before applying, which you can view by visiting our career center. Once you are sure you fit what the organization is looking for, you are free to apply.

4 Tips For Executive Job Seekers

Searching for executive jobs is a whole different ball game than the typical job search. Job seekers who want these positions must have extensive résumés and cover letters tailored to the executive suite. Typical applications simply will not cut it for these highly sought after jobs.

Job hunters should also update their tactics if they want the best chance of success. Louise Kursmark and Jan Melnik, co-authors of "Executive's Pocket Guide to ROI Résumés and Job Search," wrote that candidates should use the following four strategies to get a leg up on the competition:

• Elevator Speeches: An elevator speech is a brief (usually 30 seconds) summary that is given as introduction to individuals who may be able to help you in your job search. Kursmark and Melink explained that a successful speech will include these four elements: Who you are, what you do, what you're seeking, and any other relevant information.
• Networking Scripts: Always have specific questions at the ready when you attend networking events. You never want to be caught hesitating when asking questions to those who could help your cause. The perception of being unprepared can be a real killer to your hopes of landing an executive position.  An example of a good question to ask would be "Who in your network would be interested in someone with my experience?"
• Leadership Initiative Document: This is something that is unique to the executive level job search. It is a one- or two-page document that will list three to five career-defining stories that describe specific challenges you have encountered, and what steps you took to solve them. You should bring this to your job interviews or leave it behind at any meetings you attend.
• Professional Biography: As the title suggests, this document is used to provide more extensive information about you to the organization. The professional biography has use even after the job search, as it can be the basis for your bio on the company website and press releases.

Two Nonprofit Jobs For The Price Of One

It's not often that we list two featured nonprofit jobs in one blog post, but that is exactly what is going to happen today. Save the Children, based in Westport, Conn., has openings for two positions that will be of interest to those interested in fundraising and marketing: Associate Director of Donor Engagement and Associate Director of Telemarketing.

Let's take a look at the Associate Director, Donor Engagement position first. The chosen applicant for this job will coordinate and execute on outbound communications and fundraising campaigns to increase retention and engagement to sponsors/donors. Working with the Director and Senior Director, this individual will develop effective retention strategies to help continue the growth and success of the retention of existing sponsors & donors and to ensure integration and optimization in multi-channel campaigns.

Other responsibilities include managing donor engagement campaigns and program analysis and evaluation. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in marketing or degree in related field, and a minimum of 3-5 years experience in direct response fundraising and/or marketing.

Save the Children's other open position, Associate Director of Telemarketing, is an ideal job for those individuals who have a passion for marketing. The successful candidate working in this position will be responsible for developing and managing the outbound telemarketing campaigns. The Associate Director will coordinate and execute on outbound communications and fundraising campaigns to increase retention and engagement to sponsors/donors.

A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in telemarketing is required to be considered for this job, as well as a Bachelor's Degree in marketing or a related field.

Interested in one or both of these positions? The Donor Engagement and Telemarketing jobs can be found visiting our career center.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Family Consultants

Not all nonprofit jobs are at the fundraising or executive level; some deal with things that are a little more personal, such as are latest featured nonprofit job.

Elks Aidmore, Inc., a 74-year old family services nonprofit located in Conyers, Ga., is looking to hire Family Consultants after expanding its programs to include therapeutic foster care. These individuals will work with foster families and children to ensure academic, therapeutic and medical needs are met. The chosen candidate will also conduct home visits on a weekly or biweekly basis.

Unlike most of the jobs posted on our site, this position has a strict age limit: All applicants must be at least 21-years old. A Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field is also required, though a Master's Degree of 2-3 years is preferred.

Interested applicants should head to our career center to find out more about this job and to apply.

Find Grants For Your Nonprofit

Looking for grant opportunities? The NonProfit Times is pleased to announce a new addition to our site: The NPT Grant Finder. This new feature allows our readers to browse the latest grants from around the web. We will be adding more in the coming weeks and months.

Here's how it works: There are a number of different grant categories available (i.e. "Conference Funding"). Grants that match those categories will be posted within those categories, with links to the application at the end of each description. From there, you can decide whether or not your nonprofit would be a good match. Here's one of the many grants we already have available:

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Type of Grant: Health, HIV Research
Grant Name: Advancing Exceptional Research on HIV/AIDS
Agency(s): National Institutes on Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse
Closing Date for Applications: Dec. 17, 2012


Description:

The National Institutes on Health along with the National Institute on Drug Abuse is seeking grant proposals for a research project on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. Applicants must have an exceptional track record of conducting groundbreaking, innovative, and/or unconventional investigations on this subject. Examples of a successful application would be a study using populations with significant numbers of drug users; samples from drug using populations; model systems, including in vitro systems and animal models, to test effects of drugs of abuse on pathogenesis, progression, treatment; and developing interventions or treatments that are tailored to drug using populations.

This award will complement NIDA’s Avant-Garde Program (http://ww2.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/arp/AVGP.htm), which supports individuals who conduct high-risk, high-reward research. In contrast with that program, this grant opportunity requires applicants do submit a detailed research plan and preliminary data.

Eligible Organizations:

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• For profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

The NIDA intends to fund an estimate of 2-3 proposals for a total of $1.5 million for Fiscal Year 2013. The maximum period for the proposal is five years, and should be determined by the scope of the project. You can find out more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-13-008.html

Chief Financial Officer Needed: Featured Job

Lutheran Family Services of Virginia, a faith-based social services organization offering a variety of programs to the public, is looking to hire a Chief Financial Officer. Interested? Read on for more details.

Reporting to and partnering with the President & CEO, the CFO will lead all financial administration, business planning and budgeting for Lutheran Family Services of Virginia and serve as a member of the senior leadership team. The CFO will work closely with the finance committee and serve as an advisor to division directors, assisting them with financial planning, economic modeling and evaluating results.

This is an ideal position for those job seekers who have a strong background as a leader with a history of working in an organization that is committed to the social sector. Lutheran Family Services also requests applicants meet the following requirements:

• BA or BS in accounting or finance.
• At least five years experience as CFO or equivalent, preferably in a complex, nonprofit social service or healthcare organization with a budget of at least $15M. If coming from a for-profit environment, nonprofit board experience is preferred.
• Minimum five years (5) years demonstrated experience successfully leading and managing teams with a commitment to developing team members.
• Demonstrated experience and interest in examining, developing, streamlining and re-engineering financial and operational policies and processes for a growing organization.
• Demonstrated understanding of nonprofit financial management, generally accepted accounting principles and regulatory guidelines.
• Ability and willingness to communicate effectively and clearly at all levels in the organization and with external stakeholders, with strong oral, written and presentation skills.

Find out more about this position by visiting our career center. Happy job hunting!

Featured Nonprofit Job: Marketing Specialist

Marketing is an important aspect of any business or nonprofit that wants to make sure the public is aware of its products and services. If you are a job seeker who is interested in this field, you are sure to be interested in our latest featured nonprofit job.

The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, based in Cortez, Colo., is looking to hire a Marketing Specialist to develop and implement marketing strategies and create high-quality communications that engage new audiences, increase participation in its archaeology and travel programs, and meet program-revenue goals. The successful candidate will also work with numerous program developers and content providers and is the project manager, writer, and editor for print and electronic materials that target a variety of audiences and are disseminated in a number of electronic and print venues.

This job will likely appeal to you if you have a strong background in marketing but, before you apply, make sure that you meet the following qualifications laid out by the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center:

• B.S. or B.A. degree in marketing, communications, English, or related field of study;
• Minimum of two years’ experience in market research/strategy and five years’ experience managing projects and producing a wide range of marketing communications; and,
• Must have professional writing experience or experience in a marketing function with writing as a primary responsibility.

Head to our career center to find out more about what it takes to be a Marketing Specialist, and to find out how to apply.

Think Before Accepting A Salary Offer

The good thing about a salary offer is it means you are getting closer to a job. The bad thing is, if you are too quick to accept, you could be costing yourself thousands of dollars.

Some job seekers are so anxious to work that they will accept any dollar amount thrown at them without thinking. This is understandable given the current economic climate, but the desire to have a job doesn't mean you have to settle. You need to make sure you do the proper research into typical salary data for positions to ensure you are being offered a fair deal.

A good tactic to practice in any salary negotiation is to think a little before saying anything. This will indicate to the hiring manager that you aren't entirely sold. If you're lucky, he will up the offer without you having to do anything.

More than likely, however, you will be in for a more protracted negotiation, but your initial hesitation should be enough to show that you are not overwhelmed by the offer. This will give you the opportunity to share the number you had in mind. Assuming you did the proper research, the salary you mention should be in line with industry standards, but that doesn't mean the employer will bend immediately. In fact, there's a good chance they will say "take it or leave it" if they don't have the budget to offer you more. 

If the job is too good to pass up, you could always ask if there will be a chance to have a salary review. If the answer to that question is yes, you should probably take the offer. Otherwise, you should consider looking for another job that will pay you the salary you had in mind.

3 Ways To Negotiate Non-Salary Benefits

Job seekers have a number of priorities when looking for a job, but salary usually ranks highest. While being paid well is important, applicants should also consider the benefits that are offered by the organization for which they applied.

Nonprofits offer a wide range of benefits to their employees, many of which are listed in The NonProfit Times' 2012 Nonprofit Organizations Benefits Report. Job hunters should take a look at the benefits that are usually given to specific positions to ensure they are being offered a fair deal.

With that in mind, here are three ways to negotiate benefits should you get a job offer:

• Research: As was mentioned above, you should research the standard benefits for specific nonprofit jobs. You should also investigate the organization in question; find out how it's doing financially, and only ask for benefits you know it can afford.
• Focus on the Future: There are certain job offers that are just too good to turn down despite the lack of benefits. If this is the case, consider revisiting the situation in a few months after you have shown your worth to the organization. Your superiors could be more inclined to offer you better perks if you have shown yourself to be valuable.
• Prioritize: What benefits are most important to you? You shouldn't hand the employer a laundry list of items you require, but you should be strategic about what you ask for to increase your chances of success. If you have a long commute, for example, it would make sense to ask for flex time.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Senior Director, Foundation Relations

Looking for a nonprofit job? The NonProfit Times' career center, the Nonprofit Job Seeker, has a couple of featured positions online today, including an opening for a Senior Director of Foundation Relations. Interested? Read on for more details.

The American Heart Association (AHA) in San Francisco, Calif., is hiring for this position, which involves building high-level relationships between top foundations that will increase giving to support the organization's mission. The successful candidate will work with volunteers and staff throughout AHA's Western States Affiliates to reach this goal.

AHA has a fundraising goal for this year of $785,200, so an emphasis will be placed on obtaining six-figure gifts.

Think you have what it takes for this job? Before you click that "apply now" button, make sure you meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in English, Communications, Journalism or related field;
• 5+ years’ development experience in the non-profit sector with a successful track record in developing and maintaining high-level foundation relationships, securing foundation grants, stewardship, reporting impactful outcomes, etc.;
• Ability to deal professionally in a corporate and non-profit environment and assume responsibility for guiding grants and programs from inception through completion;
• Exceptional communication skills;
• Ability to work in a fast paced, goal- and deadline-oriented environment with high expectations; and,
• Ability to work outside standard business hours as needed.

Apply today via our career center if you are interested.

Featured Nonprofit Job: VP Of Development

Hurricane Sandy has finally passed us by, but not without inflicting some major damage. Many people on the east coast are still without power, and we at The NonProfit Times wish the best to those who are still suffering through the aftermath of Sandy.

For those of you that are lucky enough to still have power, we have a new featured nonprofit job for you to consider.

Operation Blessing International (OBI) is looking to hire a Vice President of Development to expand and implement the organization's overall fundraising strategies. This position will also be in charge of the planning and execution of all development activities to include setting and achieving specific fundraising goals designed to advance OBI’s mission and programs. Other responsibilities include:

• Driving growth in major gifts, direct marketing, call programs, and internet fundraising;
• Designing new name acquisition initiatives and lapsed donor campaigns;
• Expanding foundation grant funding and planned giving;
• Ensuring sufficient levels of cultivation and solicitation activity to result in achievement of revenue goals; and,
• Assuming responsibility for  development reporting.

Interested in this job? Make sure you meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree or professional certification preferred.
• Minimum of ten years related work experience in development; experience as a chief development officer preferred.
• Proven fundraising track record of achieving revenue targets.
• Proven results-driven management and strategic leadership capabilities.
• Advanced skills in project management, budget development and fiscal accountability.
• Strong communicator with ability to write and speak persuasively to increase fundraising.
• Ability to manage a productive and efficient development team.
• Proficiency with MS Office software and knowledge of fundraising databases.
• Must possess integrity, excellent judgment, and diplomacy.

All interested candidates should apply via our career center. Good luck!

Ask For Job References, Not Jobs

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

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

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

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

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

4 Reasons Happy Employees Are Better

Who is the ideal employee? If you talk to some managers, it would be an individual who has a healthy fear of their boss and will do everything asked of them without question. Basically, organizations would like to have automatons as workers.

While these are the kind of employees that are desired, there are very real benefits to be gained from having happy workers rather than grouchy robots.

Erin Teter, a senior human resource business partner for Sage North America, explained that research into workplace contentment shows that happy employees are much more productive than unhappy ones. Teter cited the following examples to support this idea:

• Studies show that happy people are more productive, take fewer sick days and get along with others better.
• Happy employees are better equipped to handle workplace relationships, stress and change.
• Happy employees will stay with you. Rather than looking for a new job, they will be looking to grow with the organization to which they already belong. The cost of hiring and training new employees can vary from 25 percent to 200 percent of annual compensation.
• In the nonprofit sector, happy employees lead to donor loyalty. They treat donors and clients well because they are engaged in the organization and want to see it succeed.

8 Things To Explain About Your Nonprofit's Hiring Policies

Pay and the quality of the organization remain high job seekers' wish lists, but those aren't the only factors that drive them; the hiring policies of an organization also play a large role in determining their interest in the job.

Why do applicants want to know about hiring policies? According to Thomas Wolf, in his book "Managing a Nonprofit Organization," candidates can use this information to set reasonable expectations about when they should hear back after applying. This not only will help them, but will also allow you, the hiring manager, to take your time knowing that your applicants have an idea of when they are going to hear back.

Wolf also wrote that the clearer your policies are, the less chance there is for misunderstandings. He recommended making sure that the following eight questions are answered in your job description:

• How are employees hired and is there a formal process with public notice required?
• Are current employees given first preference for a job vacancy?
• Is there an affirmative action policy?
• Is hiring done solely on the basis of competency and qualifications?
• Is every prospective employee allowed to see a job description?
• Is there an official training period?
• Do temporary or permanent part-time employees enjoy the same rights and benefits as full-time employees?
• How often are salary ranges and job classifications reviewed and by whom?

Featured Nonprofit Job: Director Of Direct Marketing

The Priests of the Sacred Heart, located in Franklin, Wisc., is currently looking to hire a Director of Direct Marketing to coordinate and oversee execution of fundraising campaigns. Interested in this featured nonprofit job? Read on for more details.

As the title of this positions suggests, the Director will develop a direct marketing strategy and team to support and achieve the organization's goals and objectives, and will work with other departments to develop effective direct marketing campaigns. Other responsibilities include:

• Establish close and strategic advisory partnerships with key department managers;
• Grow revenue and increase net income from direct marketing programs;
• Create direct marketing strategies and messages to support and achieve our goals and objectives;
• Leads direct marketing efforts for new strategic marketing programs;
• Collaborate with key department managers to deliver solutions that maximize ROI on the marketing investment;
• Identify and create ways to utilize data to streamline various marketing efforts and organization processes; and,
• Work with management to develop direct marketing strategies to continue the growth and success of donor retention.

Priests of the Sacred Heart requires all applicants to have a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or Business. You must all meet these other qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant direct marketing, operations planning, and/or supply chain management.
• Non-profit experience and CFRE preferred.
• Proven record of success in developing, championing and stewarding fully integrated direct marketing programs and teams.
• Balanced leadership style that allows for both highly strategic leadership skills with the ability to be hands-on and lead by example.
• Prior experience in leading or management of direct mail programs and marketing initiatives.  Contribute to overall strategic planning as it relates to direct marketing.
• Ability to manage ambiguity effectively and prioritize/negotiate with business partners.
• Ability to work well in a multi-task environment under pressure and tight time constraints.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the changing economics of the direct mail marketing business model.
• Demonstrate ability to synthesize, prioritize and drive results with a strong sense of urgency.
• Outstanding people leadership skills.

If you are interested in other featured nonprofit jobs, you can also look at the American Board of Addiction Medicine Foundation's Director of Development position.

The 2012 Nonprofit Salary And Benefits Report

The NonProfit Times, the leading business publication for nonprofit management, has released the 2012 editions of its annual Nonprofit Salary and Benefits Reports. In partnership with Bluewater Nonprofit Solutions, these five reports will give managers the most up-to-date information on current trends in nonprofit salaries and benefits so they can properly fill out their IRS Form 990s.

This year brings the introduction of a new report to the standard four that were available in previous years: The 2012 Nonprofit Organizations New York State Salary and Benefits Report. All of NPT’s reports are based on responses from around the United States, but this is the publication’s first report to collect information based on a specific state. The New York Salary and Benefits Report contains information on mid-level salary information, complete benefits coverage, and key benchmarking information, including base salary and total cash compensation data with percentile rankings for each position.

The other reports released by NPT today are:

• 2012 Nonprofit Organizations Salary and Benefits Report: The information in this report will give you the salary range for nearly 252 positions in the nonprofit sector.
• 2012 Nonprofit Organizations Salary Report: This is useful for organizations that already have a handle on their benefits packages, but need information to create competitive salary structures.
• 2012 Nonprofit Organizations Benefits Report: Similar to the report above, this is the one to purchase if your nonprofit only needs help with creating competitive benefits packages for its employees.
• 2012 Nonprofit Organizations Top Executive Positions and Special Perks Report: Nonprofit executive compensation is so important to understand thoroughly. In order to attract the best people to be a part of a nonprofit organization, a very competitive environment, you need to make sure that you offer appealing compensation packages for hiring individuals who you wish to play an important role in your organization.

All five of the reports are available for purchase immediately on The NonProfit Times’online store. Purchase one, or more, today so that your organization can attract the best and brightest employees, and stay on top of those Form 990s.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Program Director

The Coordinating Center, located in Baltimore, Md., is beginning a program that will see the nonprofit work with several West Baltimore hospitals to reduce readmissions for fee for service Medicare beneficiaries. The organization is now looking to hire a Program Director to help run this new service.

This position will ultimately be responsible for the overall delivery and oversight of the program, including promotion and development of a community coalition, internal staff,  program processes and documentation tools. The successful candidate will also be in charge of analyzing data to evaluate the overall performance of the program components as well as the outcomes of care coordination resulting from the care transition intervention.

It should be noted that telecommuting is allowed, so those who are not located in the Baltimore area should feel free to apply.

Interested in applying for this featured nonprofit job? Make sure you meet the following requirements before submitting your resume and cover letter:

• Experience in care transition, care coordination, hospital discharge planning is desirable as well as knowledge of Medicare system and services.
• Must be capable of taking a program lead role and comfortable in a changing environment.
• Must have demonstrated project management skills.
• Must be able to manage multiple tasks to meet timelines.
• Masters Degree in related field.
• Must possess excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability for creative thinking.
• Possess education and or experience with persons who are over 65 years of age and understand the unique challenges of this age group

How To Find Out Why You Didn't Get The Job

Getting rejected for a job is bad enough, but it's even worse when you aren't given a specific reason. Is there a way to find out why an organization passed you over without seeming nosy? As a matter of fact, there is.

If you decide to ask why you have been rejected, the most important thing is to do it right after you are notified. Waiting too long to ask will give the appearance that you have been brooding over the decision, which is far from the impression you want to give.

So how do you phrase your response without offending the employer? You should start by saying that, while you are disappointed, you respect their decision and wish them well in the future. According to an article on CBS News, your phrasing should go something like this:

"I am working on improving my interview skills and am also interested in finding out areas that I'm lacking, so I can work to improve those as well. Could I ask you to tell me three areas that you think I could improve? I would really appreciate the feedback."

The reason this is a good response is because it shows the employer that you are truly interested in getting feedback about your performance. Even though you were passed over this time, showing that you are willing to listen to advice could help if you apply to the organization again in the future.

If you thought simply asking why you were passed over was hard, dealing with the feedback can be even worse. Nobody likes to be told what you are bad at, but it's all part of the process of growing as a job seeker. Here are some of the comments you are likely to receive from hiring managers:

• You did not have enough experience in crucial areas.
• Not enough education.
• You did not show enough enthusiasm or assertiveness during the interview.
• You did not ask enough questions about the organization, showing a lack of preparation.

Receiving criticism can leave you feeling deflated, but it's important not take it personally. Listening to this feedback and adjusting accordingly will only improve your chances the next time you apply for a job.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Director Of Corporate Relations

The nonprofit sector attracts people from all walks of life, including those who formerly worked for major corporations. Those individuals' business experience can be very useful in an industry that is increasingly running more like traditional businesses. If you are someone with that kind of experience, our newest featured nonprofit job will appeal to you.

Easter Seals Bay Area, in Oakland, Calif., is looking to hire a Director of Corporate Relations to increase donor acquisition by managing and growing key relations in the business world. Other responsibilities include:

• Expanding corporate and individual donor involvement in an annual event.
• Working closely with the Board of Directors on strategy and contacts solicitation.
• Working with appropriate staff to build city, state, and regional donor or prospect visits.
• Working in collaboration with program and finance staff to develop creative and powerful presentations and proposals for corporate partnership opportunities.
• Creating and maintaining a development plan to include short and long term fundraising goals to include projections, progress and status tracking reports.
• Managing database processes and internal reporting protocols to ensure meaningful and accurate donor identification, prospect management, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Ensuring prompt acknowledgement of all gifts related to corporate giving.
• Serving as liaison to national staff to implement corporate marketing, direct marketing and other nationwide initiative.

As was mentioned in the beginning of this post, having some kind of corporate background would be a major boost to your chances of getting this job. Easter Seals also requires candidates to meet the following qualifications:

• College degree with 4 plus years of relevant work experience.
• Familiarity with management by objectives.
• Must possess excellent communication, strategic thinking, organizational, writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Ability to consistently demonstrate good judgment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to remain focused and flexible while shifting/changing priorities.
• Ability to travel, reliable transportation.
• Must be comfortable working within a team structure.

If you meet all of those requirements then, congratulations, you are qualified to be a Director of Corporate Relations. Head to our career center to read more about the job, and to apply. 

5 Traits That Will Help You Get You Hired

A lot of job search articles, including some on this blog, focus a lot on the things you shouldn't do when looking for work. These kinds of tips are very useful as a big part of the job hunt is avoiding things that will make you look bad to employers. We shouldn't forget, however, that it's also useful to know the things that will make you look good.

Part of being a successful job seeker is being proactive. That means showing employers not why you want the job, but why the organization needs you. Below are five traits that will show that you are the employee that will not only help the nonprofit in the present, but also in the future.

• Contact organizations that aren't actively hiring. Send organizations that are in the middle of sustained growth a resume and cover letter explaining why you could be of help to them in the future. All organizations eventually need new employees eventually, and this proactive approach could save you effort when that time comes.
• Make a phone call. The world is dominated by e-mail these days and, in most cases, it's a very useful tool. Yet there is something to be said about hearing an actual voice that can tell you a lot about a person. That's why you should take the time to call the organization's hiring manager after you submit your resume, just to introduce yourself.
• Personalize your cover letter: Ditch the "To Whom it May Concern" opening and use the hiring manager's real name.
• Get to the point: There's no need to explain in your cover letter that you are writing in regards to their job posting. Chances are, they already know this, so cut to the chase and start explaining why you would be a good fit for the job. A good idea is to open with an anecdote that explains your passion for the organization's line of work.
• One size doesn't fit all: Make sure your resume fits the position and organization where you are seeking work. Just because it's similar to another job for which you applied doesn't mean you can copy-paste your application for that position.

Executive Jobs: President Wanted

Do you like chimpanzees? And what about executive jobs; do you like those? If you answered "yes" to both of these questions, then you will definitely want to read about our newest featured nonprofit job.

Chimp Haven, Inc., in Keithville, LA, is looking for a President to help lead the organization into the future. The ideal candidate will possess proven leadership abilities, including strategic implementation, fundraising, dealing with the public as well as governmental entities and excellent management skills.

Below are some of the other duties and responsibilities that the President of Chimp Haven will have:

• Work with Board of Directors to achieve organizational goals.
• Assist in recruiting new Board of Directors, Trustees and Committee Members. 
• Align staff effort with goals of strategic plan and organizational mission.
• Evaluate organization and external environment to capitalize on opportunities and reduce threats.
• Serve as Institutional Official for animal care and use.
• Appoint members to the Sanctuary Chimpanzee Care Committee.
• Assure compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations and standards in regard to animal care, financial management, human resources.
• Monitor and provide input to the Compensation Plan annually or as needed.
• Represent organization to media, professionals, donors and public.
• Oversight of Development Program (fundraising and communications), including creation and assessment of annual development plan, coordination of annual fund, major donor work, grants, events, direct mail programs, and ensure compliance with gift acknowledgement procedures.
• Write or edit materials produced by organization, including newsletter, email communications, website posts, direct mail, donor correspondence, reports, government communications and reporting requirements.

There are a lot more listed in the job description, so be sure to read the rest on our career center, as well as the requirements you must meet in order to be considered. Good luck!

Featured Nonprofit Job: Director Of Advancement

Looking for a great nonprofit job? The Purnell School, located in Pottersville, NJ, is looking to hire a Director of Advancement, so fire up those resumes and cover letters.

The Director of Advancement will be focusing primarily on major gifts for the School's 50th anniversary in 2015. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Advancement will take primary responsibility for planning and executing Purnell’s capital and endowment fundraising strategies. The chosen candidate will also work to improve the School's unrestricted and field of interest endowment.

Other responsibilities include:

• Conducting in-person meetings as well as telephone conversations with constituents and will manage prospects from identification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship;
• Overseeing research and information management, maintain database files and records in Raiser’s Edge to ensure proper tracking of gifts, actions, and solicitations for all constituents; and,
•  Preparing reports on prospects for further cultivation and solicitation with the Head of School on special writing projects including solicitations, proposals, newsletters and brochures and provide additional support on events including cultivation, alumnae relations, and all-school programs.

If you are interested in this job, we recommend you apply as soon as you can. But before you do, make sure that you meet the following requirements laid out by the Purnell School:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies.
• Well organized and task-oriented.
• Able to work closely with volunteers and students.
• Have an understanding of basic database programs and computer software; be willing to work flexible hours and travel.
• Bachelor’s degree and 2-3 years experience in a school or other non-profit setting.