Research and recommendations for effective, day-to-day nonprofit practice from ASU faculty, staff, students, and the nonprofit and philanthropic community.
Mission-driven talent encompasses individuals who are intrinsically motivated; they prioritize meaningful work over compensation and recognition. They seek to align themselves with organizations that hold similar values. However, these same individuals have families, bills, and career aspirations. To establish a long-term, sustainable employment relationship, these needs must be addressed.
Recruiting and retaining staff is critical to accomplishing the missions of nonprofit organizations. A lack of available and qualified staff limits the ability to provide goods and services, putting organizational impact, growth, and sustainability at risk. Nonprofit organizations face a persistent challenge in recruiting and retaining mission-aligned, skilled staff due to salary limitations, resource constraints, and high rates of burnout. While public service motivation can attract individuals to the sector, it is not enough to ensure long-term engagement and organizational stability on its own. High turnover has a significant impact on program delivery, institutional knowledge retention, and donor confidence.
The post-pandemic workforce is changing. Potential employees seek purpose, flexibility, and a better work-life balance. Younger generations value social responsibility and an inclusive organizational culture. Nonprofits are well-positioned to meet these challenges. However, to remain relevant and…
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Faith-based nonprofits face an exclusive obstacle in recruiting volunteers from various age groups. These age groups, Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, Millennials, and Generation Zers, exhibit separate motivating factors. These factors include varying communication preferences and distinct expectations. Organizing effective strategies to support sustained volunteer involvement depends heavily on understanding these differences between each age group.
Understanding generational motivations
The generation known as Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) feels driven to support causes while pursuing meaningful service activities. Research shows that Baby Boomers usually choose structured assignments because they value direct human contact, while Gen X members value versatility because they must manage their personal and professional responsibilities alongside their volunteer activities.
Social impact and authenticity drive both Millennials (born 1981–1996) and Generation Zers (born 1997–2012) to take action. These younger cohorts seek meaningful engagement through digital platforms and want to see tangible results from their efforts. Their core values emphasize social justice and inclusivity, and they select initiatives that match their principles.
Strategies for improving engagement
Organizations should utilize multiple communication channels, including traditional methods alongside digital…
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One of the essential conversations to effective business strategizing is consideration to disruptive times. For nonprofit organizations, disruption can be a defining line between success and failure, and if not appropriately acknowledged, leaders and their organizations can be left without the proper resources to address the disruptions head on and successfully navigate through the disruptive times. While it is not possible to plan for every possible disruption that could present for an organization, it is essential to have effective resources and strategies to turn to when they do present; when an organization is able to establish these, as staff and executive leadership turnover occurs there are trusted strategies to turn to and rely on.
The National Center for Family Philanthropy and S.D. Bechtel presents one of the strongest arguments for how to equip an organization with the ability to navigate through disruption is by building up their ideal characteristics of a resilient organization. The NCFP lays out 7 characteristics that make for a solid foundation for a resilient organization “purpose driven, clear eyed, future oriented, open [in their communication], empowered, committed to self-renewal, connected” (Bechtel 2020). With these characteristics in mind, an organization can build strong grounds to support themselves through disruption.
On a similar point Michael Tomlinson speaks on the benefits of having not…
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Much of the nonprofit sector utilizes volunteer efforts to achieve their missions. Volunteers give so much more than time; they also bring skills, experience, networks, and money to organizations making them an important resource. While volunteer numbers are rebounding from the national low caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S Census Bureau, numbers are not quite back to pre-pandemic levels. Therefore, nonprofits must still focus on recruitment and retainment of volunteers by creating volunteer management programs that encourage engagement.
Effective recruitment strategies
Nonprofits need to clearly communicate what they want to accomplish with volunteer support and how that work impacts the mission. Information technologies such as social media and networking forums are no- to low-cost ways to connect with volunteers in the community seeking to match their skills with an organization’s needs. Encouraging existing volunteers to act as spokespeople for the organization is another method of recruiting. This not only gains new volunteers but increases retainment of those currently engaged by demonstrating trust and a supportive culture.
Onboarding and training
Orientation programs are where good first impressions are created. Organizations can clearly define expectations, roles, needs, and mission for new volunteers, creating a sense of connection and confidence before their service even…
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In a time marked by economic uncertainty and shifting philanthropic landscapes, many nonprofits are grappling with a sobering reality: donor contributions are declining. According to the Center for Effective Philanthropy, over 80% of nonprofits report experiencing financial stress, with many noting a decrease in individual giving and rising competition for limited funds. Financial instability can hinder a nonprofit's ability to deliver consistent services, invest in staff, and plan for the future, ultimately threatening its long-term impact.
However, all is not lost. While the financial challenges are real, they are not insurmountable. Nonprofits can build resilience and sustainability by embracing a multi-pronged approach: diversifying revenue streams, managing costs strategically, strengthening donor engagement, and cultivating impactful partnerships.
Understanding why contributions are declining
To navigate today’s challenges, nonprofits must first understand the factors driving declining contributions. Economic downturns and inflation have decreased donors’ disposable income, while “donor fatigue”—especially following crisis-driven fundraising efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic—has reduced giving frequency. Additionally, generational shifts in philanthropy are reshaping the donor landscape. According to the Giving USA 2024 Report, younger donors are more likely to give to causes that demonstrate…
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