Why Non Profit Blogs Are Important

I've been on a roll with technology subjects, so I figured I would continue down that path.  Way back when, I suggested that it would be a good idea for job seekers to create their own non profit blogs, as it could be a helpful thing to put in a resume.  Blogging isn't for everybody, though, so it isn't something that everybody is going to want to do.  This doesn't mean you should ignore non profit blogs, however.  On the contrary, reading these blogs should be a big part of your research on nonprofit organizations.  And luckily for you, there are plenty of non profit blogs to check out.  Here are some of the best nonprofit blogs out there:

• Allison Fine's Blog
• Katya's Nonprofit Marketing Blog
• Getting Attention
• Get Fully Funded

There are plenty more, of course, but this post isn't about which ones you should check out; it's about why reading a non profit blog is so important.  And why is that?  Even if you consider yourself an expert in all things nonprofit, it always helps to get more information about the latest happenings in the nonprofit sector.  And if you are new to the field, it is even more important to learn all you can from these blogs. 

What's more is that, more often than not, an individual running a blog about nonprofits is usually working at one themselves.  I wouldn't recommend immediately e-mailing this person and asking about any job openings, but there is no harm in asking them for any tips they could give you.   Although nonprofit bloggers are very busy, they will be more than happy to eventually answer your e-mail and help you out; after all, they were in the same position as you at one point.  And who knows, this blogger could eventually become a valuable networking contact for you after some point. 

And though I mentioned this is in the past, it's worth repeating again: having an extensive knowledge of the many nonprofit blogs out there is a good way to impress at job interviews.  If these are popular enough blogs, it is likely that nonprofit employees often look at them.  So if there is an opportunity to bring these blogs up (this is key; don't just randomly mention them), feel free to name drop them at interviews.

So even if you were never a big fan of blogs to begin with, it is a good idea to start reading these non profit blogs.  When it comes to your job search, you really do need to expand your horizon.

Can Blogging Get You a Job?

Although blogging is thought of as a relatively new phenomenon, it has actually been around for quite some time.  Indeed, the first blog can be traced back as early as the mid 1990s.  It was only around 2000, however, that blogs really began to rise in popularity.  Nowadays, you can find a blog about almost anything.  Heck, would anyone think years ago there would be a whole blog dedicated to how to get a nonprofit job?  But I digress...

So what does all this relate to getting a non-profit job?  Well now that blogs are so popular, every organization wants their own company blog.  By creating your own blog, you are getting valuable experience in a skill that all companies, especially non profits, desire.  Even if you never had a particular interest in writing, now is a good time to start a blog to add to your resume.  If you are reading this blog, chances are you want to join a nonprofit organization, so I would recommend creating a blog that has to do with that industry.  One suggestion is to make a nonprofit news blog.  Now of course, you can't just copy/paste the latest news about not-for-profits and expect that to impress anybody.  What you should do is summarize the news and then add your own opinion to the piece.  It dosn't have to be groundbreaking; you just have to show that you have solid opinions, can be coherent, and keep the attention of the reader.

Even if you don't want to end up getting a job as a nonprofit blogger, just writing about nonprofits will sow potential employers that you are serious about the industry.  And that alone will make all the work you put into your nonprofit blog worth it.