Wanted: Grant Writer

Grant writers are important for all nonprofits. The ability to write in a coherent manner why an organization deserves funding for a specific program is a skill that is highly sought after. If you are one of those that has that ability, NPT Jobs has just the job for you.

Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio is looking to hire a Grant Writer. The chosen candidate will be responsible for identifying and pursuing grant opportunities that support the organization's fundraising and program priorities. The position will also work with program leadership to come up with grant strategies and ensure that goals are being met.

Being able to write in a coherent and convincing manner is obviously one of the main requirements of this job, but there are some other important qualifications. These include:

• Bachelor's degree in communications or related field;
• Five years of grant writing experience with government or grants upwards of $1 million;
• Strong computer skills, especially with Microsoft Office programs and fundraising databases like Raiser's Edge;
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team; and,
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

If you are interested in this job, visit our career center for instruction for instructions on how to apply.

6 Resume Misrepresentations

If you press most job seekers, they would probably admit that they've at least thought about stretching the truth on their resumes. The temptation can be really great when there is a nonprofit job available for which you don't meet the qualifications.

Even though it's understandable why some applicants would want to lie on their applications, it's never worth the risk. Most organizations do background checks on candidates so the damage to your reputation could be beyond repair if you are discovered.

While you shouldn't misrepresent yourself at all in your resume, not all lies are created equal. Here are six items that will get you in the most trouble:

• Job Title: Not only can this damage your reputation, it can also harm you even if you aren't discovered. For instance, if you apply for a senior fundraiser position but list your previous job as an executive director, it's possible you could be considered overqualified.
• Time At a Job: It's much better to address gaps in employment head-on rather than dancing around the subject.
• Skills: You're going to feel really nervous if you exaggerate your skills and find that you can't do the job you are assigned.
• Education: If you didn't graduate college, specify the year you ended and the number of credits you earned.
• Achievements: Don't take all the credit for accomplishments you've accomplished as a team. Organizations actually like it when candidates express their achievements with "we" rather than "I."
• Residence: It's true that employers prefer local candidates, but you'll find yourself in a bind if you list your friend in California's address on your resume even though you live in New York.

Making Career Networking Fun

If you are like a lot of job seekers, you probably groan a little when you hear the words "career networking." Making small talk about jobs isn't exactly what most people consider a good time.

The goal of networking is to meet new people and grow your list of contacts. While this would indicate you have to attend a lot of conferences and industry events, these don't have to be your only options. With a little bit of imagination, you can turn networking into a fun activity rather than one you dread.

Here are five ideas you should consider:

• Shake-up the normal meet and greets. Instead of heading to that local job fair or networking event, why not take up an activity that you truly enjoy? That way you can have some fun while also making new contacts.
• Find the right hang-outs. Professionals in every industry have favorite places to relax during free-time. Do a little research to find out where nonprofit executives like to frequent.
• Take up a cause. Volunteering is a great way to spruce up your resume and meet people who can help you with your job search. Even if you aren't bought on full time after your service is done, your supervisor will surely have no problem assisting you as long as you did a good job.
• Offer to help at events. Call your favorite nonprofit and find out if they need anyone to assist at an upcoming special event. Even if they say no, you will at least be putting yourself out there.
• Reconnect with the past. College and high school reunions or alumni events are a great place to do some networking. They offer all the benefits of a traditional industry without the anxiety of making small talk with people you don't know.

Job Interview Anxiety Fighting Techniques

There's nothing more normal than having a little anxiety before a job interview. As a job seeker, you spend a lot of time and effort trying to get work, so it's understandable that there will be some nerves before presenting your case to an employer.

That doesn't mean you have to live with it.

Anxiety manifests itself in many aspects of the job search, but the interview is the most common culprit. An abundance of nerves can lead to a poor showing, which is the last thing you want when trying to prove you are the best candidate for the job. Here are eight techniques you can use to lessen the anxiety before your big day:

• Get plenty of rest. Think twice about seeing that late-night movie with your friends before your interview. You want at least eight hours of sleep, but it doesn't hurt to even have a little more than that. This will help you be calm and relaxed when it comes time to meet the hiring manager.
• Do a mock interview with friends or family. Practice interviews will never match the real one, but they can still be helpful in honing your responses. Make sure you do it with someone who won't hesitate to tell you if you need improvements in certain areas.
• Remember you were asked in for an interview. The employer obviously felt your qualifications were impressive enough to bring you in for a chat. Don't feel you have to be more than what you showed in your resume to impress the hiring manager.
• Prepare the night before, not at the last minute. This means picking out your interview wardrobe and making sure you have the correct directions to the office.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early. This doesn't mean you should go into the office early. Just make sure you are in the area with plenty of time to spare for parking, etc.
• Practice steady breathing if you are feeling panicked. This is a common technique that usually helps calm yourself down.
• Keep things in perspective. The worst thing that can come from this interview is you won't get the job. While this would obviously be disappointing, it likely won't be your last opportunity for an interview.
• Remind yourself that you've done everything you can do. There's no sense in worrying about things that are out of your control.

Balance Your Job Search

They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Therefore, using the same job search resources over and over could be considered insane.

Relying solely on one method of job hunting -- whether it's online job boards or career fairs -- is just not going to get it done in this difficult job market. You should use multiple sources in to get the best results. Here are five other resources that you can use in conjunction with traditional means to really boost your job search:

• Let every one in your network know you are looking for a job. Organizations sometimes let their employees know when they are hiring for a new position. Your contacts would surely want to share that with you, but they won't know to if they don't know you are looking for work.
• Contact recruiters to tap into their unique connections. They will also be able to offer you more advice on how to best go about applying for work.
• Follow the nonprofits that you are passionate about joining on their Facebook or Twitter pages. That way you will be one of the first to know when they are hiring.
• Remember when people used to look in newspapers for wanted ads? Organizations still use this resource from time to time, so it can still be a great place to look for open positions.
• Finally, make use of Craigslist. People generally think of the popular online-classified site as a place to buy cheap furniture or find apartments, but employers often place jobs ads there as well. There are Craigslist pages for most of the major cities in the U.S., so it's  very easy to narrow down your search by location.

8 Incentives You Can Offer Nonprofit Employees

There used to be a time when nonprofits could not offer their employees bonuses. This was the case until 1980, when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) made the decision to lift those restrictions. Despite this, there are still some nonprofit managers who believe cannot offer financial incentives to employees.

Employers who decide to offer such bonuses need to follow certain protocol. According to Carol L. Barbeito in "Human Resource Policies and Procedures for Nonprofit Organizations," they must include this policy in the organization's overall compensation plan. Details included will be who is eligible, how the bonus is earned, and who administers it.

Managers can give out bonuses for many different accomplishments. Barbeito listed eight milestone-based rewards that can be used to increase employee morale:

• Individual Incentives: These are cash awards to recognize achievement of predetermined performance objectives.
• Team or Group Incentives: These are the same as individual incentives, except awards are based on a team or group’s achievement of predetermined performance objectives.
• Gain Sharing: These awards represent the employees’ share of the gains of actual results achieved against specific operational goals. When these are exceeded, the “gains” are paid in the form of short-term cash incentive awards.
• Spot Awards: These cash payment provide immediate recognition of accomplishments by staff below the managerial level. They are intended to reward risk taking, creativity, and productivity.
• Special Noncash Recognition: These may be merchandise, such as a gift certificate. They are usually awarded to those below management level.
• Lump Sum Increases: Cash payments are made in a single lump sum to recognize performance achievements. They are not added to the base salary.
• Skill-Based Pay/Pay for Knowledge: This pay is given to award acquisition of additional job-related skills and capabilities.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Director Of Development And Marketing

Active readers of this blog will remember that, back in April, the Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) posted a featured nonprofit job with us for a Development Director. PACE is back with yet another job today. This time, they are looking for a Director of Development and Marketing.

PACE, based in Santa Clara, Calif., is an organization that seeks to provide high quality programs for individuals with autism. The Director of Development and Marketing will be primarily responsible for aligning fundraising goals with institutional planning and strategy. This includes agency fundraising as it applies to grants, corporate foundations, personal donations and any source of ancillary income or gifts in kind not attributed to standard operational income.

As the title suggests, this is a hybrid position. PACE's fundraising efforts have a big impact on the organization's public image, so the chosen candidate will have to be involved in all external marketing and public relations activities.

PACE has outlined a detailed list of requirements that applicants must meet to be considered for this position. Here are some of those qualifications:

• Baccalaureate degree required. Advanced degree in relevant field such as Business Administration, Fundraising or Nonprofit Administration preferred.
• Must have a minimum of 6 to 8 years director-level experience in fundraising or a relevant field: marketing/sales, communications, public relations. Previous experience working in nonprofit agencies preferred. 
• Must be proficient in Word, Excel, Power-Point. Experience with fundraising software(Salesforce) and graphic design software highly desirable.
• Possess a valid California driver’s license with a good driving record and proof of insurance.

Want to learn more? Head on over to our career center to get more details on the other qualifications you need, and how to apply.