Staffing & Human Resources

Having had the opportunity to work with nonprofits that hit huge growth periods and those that wanted to and talked about it but could never achieve that takeoff, I offer the following observations.

In our most recent print issue, Nancy Schwartz, president of GettingAttention.org and member of the FS Editorial Advisory Board, took a cue from Seth Godin to explain that "You Can Change the People That Matter."

Whether you’re new to a development leadership role or a seasoned executive, you must consider personnel issues. Much like a football coach who takes over a team, think about each part of the organization and how the pieces fit together. A fundraising coach knows that success depends on a total team concept. Each fundraising organization has elements of governance through its board of directors and administration with executive leadership and staff. These various individuals must execute strategic and operational plans for success to occur.

If you want to attract and retain someone who will develop a sustainable financial engine for your nonprofit, don’t leave your fundraiser out in the cold. Fully integrate your head fundraiser into your organization, and provide the tools, support and resources necessary to succeed.

Getting the right team around you is one of the most important factors in your fundraising program's success. Here are five guidelines for ensuring that you make the right hire.

The winning formula? Hire smarter + train better + fire faster = grow stronger. And sleep better.

The man who helped bring "Sesame Street" to a global audience for the past 11 years will take over as president and CEO of NPR, the public radio network announced Sunday. Gary Knell, the longtime president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, will start at NPR on Dec. 1.

Knell, 57, told The Associated Press on Sunday that he wanted to "depoliticize" NPR by highlighting its commitment to hard-hitting local, national and international journalism across multiple platforms.

The growth in nonprofit jobs slowed in 2010 compared with other recent years, according to a new analysis of U.S. labor statistics.

The number of nonprofit jobs grew by just under 1 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to a study of figures in 45 states by the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Civil Society Studies, in Baltimore. Year-to-year nonprofit job totals increased by 1.2 percent in 2009 and 2.6 percent in 2008.

However, nonprofits fared better in 2010 than for-profit companies, which saw a 0.9 percent decrease in jobs last year.

Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) has named Antony Bugg-Levine as its new CEO. Bugg-Levine will chart the organization’s course as a leader in social-sector lending and advocate for high-impact philanthropy. His impact investing expertise will inform NFF’s role as a partner to a broad range of organizations that address critical issues and harness compelling opportunities. Bugg-Levine’s selection marks a key moment in NFF’s history as an institution that embraces both traditional and innovative approaches to financing social change. 

Bugg-Levine will assume his role at NFF Oct. 24.

Amid the gloom of the job market, there is a bright spot where openings are up 34 percent over this time last year.

The Colorado Nonprofit Association had 2008 job postings of 3,474. Openings fell by 25 percent, to 2,598, in 2009, but last year rebounded to the 2008 level.

And this year, association president Renny Fagan said, the state's nonprofits are on track to offer 4,000 jobs.