Keep Talented Leaders

The issue of recruiting and retaining talented and committed individuals for nonprofit work is a daunting one that will have long-range and serious repercussions.

In its report “The Next Generation of Nonprofit Sector Leadership,” authored by Shelly Cryer, The Initiative for Nonprofit Sector Careers of New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service offers the following recommendations for getting and keeping young, able people.

*Make the job challenging and rewarding. Give recruits the tools they need to succeed. Nonprofits are considered to offer little room for advancement, but use creativity to nurture talented staff.
*Review salaries and bring them as close to market rates as possible. Young workers need a “livable” salary if not a competitive one.
*Be creative with other benefits. Flexible work schedules, telecommuting, job sharing and tuition remission incentives are often coveted.
*Professionalize human resource activities and collaborate with other organizations.

*Organizations should budget for recruitment but should not consider “unspent salaries” of vacant positions as recruitment budgets.
*When appropriate, use the Internet to recruit. Technology allows for reaching a large and diverse applicant pool.
*Build internship programs and participate in work-study programs.
*Develop relationships with faculty members at area colleges. Individual faculty members can be a vital resource.
*Connect with offices of career services. Career services offices can help identify skilled young workers who have appropriate academic and work experience.

Source: Nptimes.com

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