Resources to Jump Start your Nonprofit Career

Posted by Tera Wozniak Qualls, Program Coordinator in the Nonprofit Leadership Institute at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy in Grand Rapids, MI. See more nonprofit career resources on our NCM Career Resources page. Read more from Tera Qualls and Sam Davidson on Sam Davidson's blog.

A bachelor’s degree may have prepared you for the systems within a nonprofit organization. You may have actually had an internship and found out a little bit about the culture of the sector, but until you start your first job it is hard to know exactly what your place in the sector is.

Once you get your first job it is imperative you continue to learn and develop the skills you need to boost your career. In tough economic times it isn’t easy to get money for professional development, but don’t fret, there are free or inexpensive resources available to you. Check out these resources for help with your professional development in the nonprofit sector.

Membership Organizations and Associations

These three are just a short list of the organizations and associations providing inexpensive professional development. Ask colleagues in your community what associations they are a part of and join. These organizations will not only provide you with tailored professional development and networking opportunities, volunteering on the board of one will help you build a well-rounded list of skills, and provide you with the connections you need to expand your career. You can find an extended list of professional organizations at npgoodpractice.org and another list on Idealist.org.

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) - AFP is a good example of a specialized association for nonprofit professionals. Organizations like AFP are in every major city, with focuses on marketing and communications, event planning, and volunteer management, among others. AFP is “the professional association of individuals and organizations that generate philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable institutions”. AFP provides professional development opportunities, conferences, publications, and certificates for fundraising professionals across the country. See other professional associations based on role on Idealist.org and on NPGoodPractice.org.

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) - A lot like YNPN, EPIP is a professional development organization for young foundation professionals. EPIP is a unique organization for young foundation professionals and provides professional development support with an emphasis in social justice philanthropy. With chapters now in a handful of locations across the country, EPIP is ever expanding their reach to foundation professionals across the country. Check out EPIP's website for more information about chapters across the country. If there isn’t a chapter near you, inquire about starting one, they are always looking for motivated young professionals to expand their chapter reach across the country.

Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) - YNPN provides professional development and networking opportunities to young nonprofit professionals nationwide. With chapters in 30 cities across the country tailoring their opportunities for young professionals, it’s important to get involved in your area. If there isn’t a YNPN in your area yet, start one! Bringing together colleagues to begin an organization is a learning opportunity you can’t get anywhere else. Before you know it, whether you are starting a chapter or on the board of another, you will be dealing with budgets, managing volunteers, and strategic planning.

Online Resources

For quick reference and daily reading, check out these online resources for research, opportunities, and helpful hints for boosting your career.

Brazen Careerist isn’t focused on the nonprofit professional, but it brings together young professionals from across the country to discuss challenges they have overcome and opportunities they have had to expand their careers. Brazen Careerist is a social network for young professional bloggers, bloggers include individuals from all over the country, including young nonprofit professionals.

Idealist.org has a long history of helping people make the change they wish to see. More recently they have begun expanding their work with targeted professional development opportunities and resources for those at the beginning of their career or in school. Check out the site for resources on your career search, as well as opportunities around the country to get involved outside of your career. Getting involved in your community is a great way to build new skills to expand your career.

New on the scene, Jobs for Change is a resource of Change.org with a focus on career development for nonprofit professionals and those with a passion for their cause. Check out the site for job listings, career Q&A, and career advice from their Career Advisors.

Npgoodpractice.org provides resources for nonprofit professional, grantmakers, college students, and emerging leaders. Check out Emerging Leaders for resources on career and professional development, nonprofit basics, generational dynamics, and the leadership deficit. While you’re on the site, also check out the nonprofit and grantmaking resources for quick reference materials on projects you are working on daily. There is also an option to “Ask the Expert” if you can’t find the resources you need on the site.