It's no secret that having the right leadership talent can positively influence the effectiveness of a nonprofit organization. But how does a nonprofit find and attract the right talent? How can individuals best prepare themselves to lead nonprofit organizations? And what can nonprofit leaders do to strengthen their leadership skills, and ultimately, their organizations?
Career Opportunities
Leadership and Career Advice
Designed with these questions in mind, the following resources from the Bridgespan and Bridgestar websites (Bridgestar is a Bridgespan Group website that provides nonprofit leadership and career advice, and a nonprofit job board) offer advice on, among other topics, recruiting and attracting the right talent, managing one’s nonprofit career, and succeeding in nonprofit leadership roles.
Featured Articles
NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP
The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit
(The Bridgespan Group; Thomas J. Tierney)
Many nonprofits struggle to attract and retain the senior talent they need to fulfill their missions. This summary introduces and provides a link to "The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit," outlining recruiting challenges and three critical imperatives that nonprofits face to build leadership capacity.
Strongly Led, Under-managed: How can visionary nonprofits make the critical transition to stronger management?
(The Bridgespan Group; Daniel Stid, Jeffrey L. Bradach)
Nonprofit leaders are under increasing pressure to strengthen their organizations' management capabilities. Yet doing so can be difficult for many. This article investigates the steps necessary to create a successful transition to stronger management.
Leadership Priorities: What Facets of Management Shouldn’t You Delegate?
(The Bridgespan Group; Jeffrey L. Bradach, Kirk Kramer)
Delegating some responsibilities can help nonprofit leaders manage a daunting managerial load, but Bridgespan research points to two critical areas that uniquely require the top manager's attention: aligning staff and other stakeholders around a common set of priorities and developing the organization's leaders.
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BECOME A NONPROFIT LEADER
James O’S Morton: Life as a Nonprofit CEO
(Bridgestar)
The day-to-day responsibilities for nonprofit chief executive officers (CEOs) can vary greatly. To help would-be nonprofit CEOs better understand the role, we interviewed James O’S Morton, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, about the challenges he first faced when joining the Y, and his ongoing responsibilities as CEO.
Top 10 Nonprofit Job Hunting Tips for 2011
(Bridgestar)
If a job change is on your horizon, especially one within the nonprofit sector, it’s important to take a step back to understand what your motivations are for seeking a new nonprofit role, where your skills and experiences might be most beneficial, and which roles might suit you best.
Read more articles on becoming a nonprofit leader on Bridgestar >>
RECRUIT NONPROFIT LEADERS
Finding Leaders for America’s Nonprofits
(The Bridgespan Group; David Simms, Carol Trager)
Despite the economic downturn, nonprofit organizations in 2009 anticipated challenges in finding candidates who are both qualified for the roles and who are cultural fits with their organizations. This report provides results of a broad survey of nonprofits, identifying and analyzing specific challenges, and offering guidance for nonprofits filling leadership roles.
The Nonprofit Hiring Toolkit
(Bridgestar)
Developing and implementing a thoughtful hiring strategy helps ensure the right match between an organization’s needs and potential employees. The resources in this toolkit outline an effective hiring process, and offer guidance for nonprofit leaders seeking to build an effective, engaged team.
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