Most nonprofit executives will tell you that the number one challenge in staffing their organizations is not having the budget to offer competitive salaries. This can cause problems with recruiting talent, as well as retaining talent. However, with a little creativity, a lot of hiring challenges can be overcome, allowing you to build a staff made up of skilled, dedicated, and passionate people who can help your organization accomplish its mission.
Here are a few tips for overcoming some of the challenges that nonprofit organizations tend to face in hiring and retaining staff members:
Supplement Staff with Volunteers
One way to have the ability to offer staff members salaries that are more in line with the broader marketplace is to hire fewer employees. If possible, hire only a few key employees and then fill in the gaps with volunteers. Volunteers are great at completing tasks such as taking and making phone calls, stuffing envelopes, data entry, organizing supplies, or any other number of administrative tasks. If you’re fortunate, you may also be able to find volunteers who will serve in more skilled roles as well, such as in the areas of accounting, legal, fundraising, or web development.
Get to know your volunteers! Some of them may have the exact skills your team needs and would also be willing to donate their services to your organization if asked.
The downside of using volunteers to help run your organization is that volunteers can be unreliable. There is nothing requiring them to get the job done, or even show up! You’ll likely want to have someone on your staff who is responsible for volunteer management in order to make things work.
Offer More Flexibility
A great way to attract and retain great employees is to offer some flexibility in their jobs as a way to compensate for a lower salary. Offering your staff members flexible working hours or the ability to work from home will cost your organization little (and maybe nothing at all) but will likely be appreciated by employees. Every parent with young children would love the opportunity to attend school events that fall during working hours without penalty. Others would appreciate being able to work from home or from the road, or simply work nontraditional hours.
Show Appreciation to Staff Members
Nonprofit organizations tend to be great at thanking their large donors. They make announcements recognizing major gifts and will even name things after those who are generous with their dollars. But are you also thanking your staff members who make the sacrifice to work for smaller salaries? Think about it this way: if you have ten staff members who are all working for $20,000 per year less than they could make elsewhere, that is akin to a $200,000 donation every year! Thank your staff members accordingly. Highlight them in your newsletters and emails. Recognize them at fundraising and other events. Make sure they know that you recognize and appreciate their sacrifice.
How to Find the Right Employees for Your Nonprofit
Not everyone applying to work at your organization will have the perfect resume, and that’s OK! Focus on hiring the right person, rather than looking for the perfect resume. Someone who embraces your organization’s mission is a great place to start. Look for enthusiastic volunteers, or even regular donors, who might want to pursue a career with your organization. They may not currently have the skills or experience you need, but with some training, they could become some of your best employees. Dedication and enthusiasm go a long way when working at nonprofits!
Keep an open mind when searching for new staff members. Recent college graduates, people looking to re-enter the workforce after an extended time away, or those looking to make a career change can all make great employees, even if they don’t necessarily look great on paper.
At the nonprofit organization I work for, VitalChurch Ministry, we employ interim pastors who go into churches and serve temporarily while the churches are looking for a new lead pastor. Many of our employees are retired pastors who still have a lot to offer churches, but no longer want to serve in full-time ministry. We’ve also found some great staff members through an annual interim pastor training event we conduct. If your organization holds volunteer training events, keep an eye out for individuals who could make great employees at some point. Don’t be afraid to approach individuals directly. You don’t have to wait for them to submit a resume or fill out an application. Instead, be proactive.
At our organization, we also have a “Career Opportunities” page on our website at all times. We are always looking to connect with pastors who may be interested in pursuing interim pastor ministry. The page outlines the types of people we are looking for and invites them to contact us if they think they would be a good fit. Even if we aren’t hiring at the moment, it’s always good to make new connections with those who are interested in the type of work we do. If they are a particularly good candidate, but we don’t have a position available at the time, we will keep their information on file for when we do have an open spot.
You can also utilize search firms to find employees. There are agencies that work specifically with nonprofits organizations, helping them find people to fill positions—typically executive positions. You will pay a fee for this type of service, but it can be well worth the cost for a nonprofit organization that is looking for a specific type of person to fill a key role.
Just because you operate a nonprofit organization doesn’t mean you have to settle for less than the best when it comes to employees. With a little work and creativity, you can assemble a staff made up of great people who will help grow your organization and advance its mission!
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