Attracting and retaining talented leaders is key to the success of a nonprofit. Without a dedicated workforce, the mission falters and can eventually fail. To prevent this, organizations must evaluate the benefits they offer incoming leaders and the actions they take to maintain a dedicated workforce.

It is important to initially identify what individuals have the power, traits, and characteristics necessary to influence a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. The army identifies leaders as those who demonstrate values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. While leaders are important in any sector, they are critical in providing stability to further a nonprofit’s mission and motivate staff to stay.

Eventually, the pandemic and “Great Resignation” will be a distant memory. While the current labor environment has millions of jobs available, millions of Americans often quit their current positions in search of something more fulfilling. The NonProfit Times, with feedback regarding voluntary turnover in 2021, uncovered six key reasons why nonprofit organizations…

As the world around us becomes more diverse, and equity and inclusion are at the forefront of civil society, many organizations are taking a look at how inclusive their practices are. Paying attention to diversity, especially in fundraising and donor populations, is essential to helping higher education nonprofits grow.

Given the current environment, individual responsibilities and capacities have expanded tremendously offering the nonprofit sector a unique opportunity to bolster the importance of philanthropy in civil society. We have seen demographics at universities and other higher education institutions over time shift dramatically. Between 1980 and 2014, there was a 285% growth in Hispanic enrollment, a 240% growth in Black enrollment and a 375% growth in Asian/Pacific Islander enrollment. This influx of unique student populations sets the tone for alumni who become the primary donor base for universities. Therefore, it becomes imperative that universities focus on the diversity of their students as a means for achieving success. Luckily, higher education nonprofits have a unique advantage in this aspect; a built-in donor base, growing in diversity year-over-year, paired with the special ability to do community work that only universities hold, makes the higher education nonprofit sector unique. It’s time to utilize these advantages to create a brighter future and achieve success. As diversity will only continue to grow, higher education…

Black Americans as donors and contributors have been pillars in nonprofit and philanthropic efforts toward social change for centuries. They continue to ensure the economical, educational and social advancement of their communities by organizing and collaborating. As part of the celebration for Black History Month, it is important to acknowledge the historical and cultural context of their giving to cultivate diversity and inclusion in the nonprofit sector.

Recognize that the culture of giving is not a new practice for Black people

This culture has been around for centuries.

The “traditions of giving, caring, and sharing” that were central in West African cultures trace back to pre-colonial times, according to Tyrone McKinley Freeman, assistant professor of philanthropic studies and director of undergraduate programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, during an interview for the “Giving With Impact” podcast. Enslaved people who were brought across the Atlantic and survived the Middle Passage continued to practice these values in the Southern plantations as a means of survival.

They spread generosity and grew to look after each other as they were coping with separation from family members and withstanding the brutality of slavery. 

Individuals choose to go into the nonprofit sector because of their passion to complete meaningful work. While the sector tends to attract considerate individuals, nonprofits have trouble retaining that uniquely skilled workforce. This in part is due to the work environment produced, which can often be taxing on employees because of understaffing and funding issues.

By adding to existing practices and adopting new strategies, nonprofit leaders have an opportunity to create finer work environments for all, leading to an increase in job satisfaction and a more effective organization. Altering the workplace in ways that show employees they are valued will bring success; by providing opportunities for employees to develop skills, implementing work rewards and recognition programs, and altering leadership structures can increase job satisfaction, thus decreasing turnover rates.

Skill development

Providing opportunities for employees to build onto and enhance their professional knowledge increases job satisfaction while also benefitting the organization by producing a skilled workforce. When leaders prioritize the advancement of employee skills, employees become more engaged in their work for the organization. By investing in these elements, employees are able to build on their capabilities and will continue to provide best practices when working with clients. 

Creating clear opportunities for employees to advance themselves gives…

Scandal is not an occurrence that is isolated to the government or businesses; the nonprofit sector is privy to it as well. When situations like these occurs, they not only affect the organization involved, but they also place every organization under scrutiny, and if not addressed, a rift between nonprofits and their donors, clients and stakeholders can form.

Trust is something that should never be broken. Tory Martin says that without trust, nonprofits cannot survive. It is imperative that stakeholders’ trust is not compromised when an incident occurs – organizations need to have a plan to respond.

Nonprofits may be more susceptible to scandal due to a lack of internal controls. These controls ensure that one person does not hold too much power in an organization. For example, instead of having one person responsible for writing, documenting and depositing a check, split the responsibility among multiple people. The lack of a vetting process which requires thorough background checks can cause scandals as well. While it is difficult to recruit potential employees, the process should not turn into desperation and overlook their background. Unfortunately, a lot of nonprofits fall into this category and sow the seeds of scandal.

In order to gain a…