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 

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