A solid workforce is a necessity for any type of business to be successful. Even though many nonprofits rely heavily on the kindness of volunteers, employees are crucial for daily operations. Using a preplanned outline, hiring employees for your nonprofit organization does not need to be a challenging experience.
Finding the Right Employees for Your Nonprofit Organization
Being honest about your needs is a great way to attract the right staff to your organization. Many individuals will choose to work for a nonprofit due to the mission of the organization.
Know Your Needs
Do not be in a rush. Finding the right person requires patience. Consider the type of employee you want for your nonprofit. Go over education requirements, work experience, certifications, and other vital aspects.
Incorporating all your needs for the vacancy, write out a detailed job description. Include the following details:
- Job Title
- Work Hours: Clearly state the hours you may need the new hire to work, including shifts, weekend, and holiday requirements.
- Compensation: A range of pay for the job title or grade within the nonprofit.
- Responsibilities: Summary of the job, tasks, and other potential work-related demands.
- Qualifications: Summarize the requirements for the job, including education, technical skills, background check, training, and other necessary requirements for performing the job.
- Special Demands: Lifting requirements, ability to stand for long periods of time or travel needs.
Use the job description as a stepping stone for your hiring process.
Find the Right Candidate
After reviewing the job description, utilize available resources to help find the right candidates to fit your needs.
- Ask current employees
- Reach out to your donors through your newsletter or website
- Ask friends or clients
- Use social media platforms
- Post job requirements on employment sites or boards
- Reach out through your blog
- Place a classified ad
Creating a large pool of potential employees will help your nonprofit organization find the right candidate.
Review Your Budget
Working with a strict budget, most nonprofits organizations are exempt from paying income, sales, and property taxes. Nonprofits must still pay employee taxes. Reviewing your budget allows you to set the compensation range for your new hires. Staying within budget keeps your overhead low.
Compensation and Benefits
When discussing compensation and benefits with a potential new hire, put an emphasis on the positive attributes of working for your nonprofit organization.
- Flexible work schedule
- No or limited weekend and holiday work
- Health insurance benefits
- Chance for travel
- Paid vacations
- Paid family leave
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid training
- Retirement fund
For the right candidate, the extra benefits often outweigh the lower compensation rate. Many job seekers will opt for nonprofits due to nature of the organization.
Promote From Within
Promoting a current employee or hiring a volunteer for a job vacancy creates a loyal workforce. Knowing the individual understands your nonprofit’s mission helps make the transition smooth.
Finding the right candidate for an open position in your nonprofit does require planning, time to implement, and effort. Working toward your vision of the future for your nonprofit, the new hire should fit easily into the company’s culture. At the same time, staying flexible about the vacancy provides you with the opportunity to change the job description and requirements to bring the right person into your nonprofit.
While you handle the hiring of new employees for your organization, let the CPAs at Ernst Wintter & Associates help your nonprofit with its accounting needs. Our staff have over 25 years of experience, focusing on assisting nonprofits follow best practices. Schedule an appointment with us today!
