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YNPN Wednesday: Meet Emily Davis, Nonprofit Volunteer Extraordinaire

Published May 27, 2009 @ 07:19AM PT

Welcome to YNPN Wednesday! Today launches a new weekly blog series highlighting stories and advice from members of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapters all over the country. Each week, I'll be sharing an interview or guest post from a young nonprofit professional just like you! You'll hear about how they started their nonprofit careers and get advice from different perspectives of young people who are doing the work of social change right now. Email me at rosetta@change.org or contact me on Twitter @rosettathurman if you're a YNPN member who'd like to be featured here. Also be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss any updates!

To kick us off, let me introduce you to Emily Davis: nonprofit volunteer, consultant, and founder of Young Nonp rofit Professionals Network San Diego. Emily's story is just one example of how you can use your unique talents to volunteer with nonprofits and make a difference even without being a full-time employee.

About Emily: Emily currently consults and trains nonprofit organizations in the areas of nonprofit leadership, communications, social media, and organizational and board development. Emily serves on numerous nonprofit committees and boards nationally, regionally in California and in Colorado where she recently completed her Masters of Nonprofit Management with honors from Regis University. She now lives in San Diego, CA where she continues her consulting work; founded and serves as board chair for YNPN San Diego; and focuses on issues related to emerging leaders.

Rosetta Thurman: How did you make your way into the nonprofit sector?

Emily Davis: I came from a family that was highly engaged in volunteer work and philanthropy. From an early age I was processing registrations for fundraising golf tournaments and volunteering at shelters for battered women. My senior speech in high school was about the child abuse and its affects. I had also been involved in social justice work and found that the nonprofit sector was the best place for me to fulfill those interests. My first job in the nonprofit sector came directly out of volunteer work. I was an escort at Planned Parenthood on Saturday mornings during college and worked my way into working the front desk at the clinic. The staff and I loved working together so I ended up working part time there.

RT: What is your educational background and area of expertise?

ED: I have my BA from Colorado College in Sociology and Women’s Studies and my Masters in Nonprofit Management from Regis University in Denver. My MNM program was fantastic and I had some amazing mentors that still work with me to this day. My previous area of expertise was in ending sexual violence against women. Now I consult in the areas of communications, board development, organizational development, and emerging leaders.

RT: Tell me about your current position. What does a typical day look like for you?

ED: I spend a lot of time connecting with people in the community right now since I have started the local chapter of YNPN in San Diego. I work diligently on making YNPN San Diego one of the best organizations out there by communicating with the committee and board members, developing systems, infrastructure and leadership. I would say I spend about 20 hours per week running YNPN San Diego on a volunteer basis. The other 20 hours per week are working on projects with my clients including everything from strategic planning to board development to nonprofit creation. I also train in person and through webinars every month so I spend a lot of time working on that. It’s a very exciting job to have since I am always working with different interests and causes. I am trying right now to make a diligent effort to exercise and be more healthy too so that I can keep up my work schedule. I find that the area of sustaining activism or self care is highly undervalued and I am making more of an effort to “walk the talk” on my work/life balance.

RT: Where do you want to be in your career 10 years from now?

ED: I’d still like to be consulting with small to mid-size nonprofits or serving as the director of a infrastructure nonprofit such as a community resource center or nonprofit association. I LOVE to train, so teaching would be great too. Ultimately though, I want to have both a personal life and professional career – something that is very challenging to do right now, but I do see a shift happening as a result of the next generations’ needs for a new work model.

RT: What one piece of advice would you give to young professionals just starting their nonprofit careers?

ED: Volunteer! This was how I found so many of my jobs. I found the organizations I loved and found a way to volunteer. I tried to take on more responsibility and demonstrate how much of an asset I could be to the organization. It is a great strategy because you and the organization are able to “try each other on” without any legal commitment. It’s still a strategy I use today.

You can follow Emily on Twitter @edaconsulting

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YNPN Wednesday: How to Build the Support System You Need to Thrive in the Nonprofit Sector

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Networking, YNPN Wednesday

Published June 03, 2009 @ 03:26AM PT

Welcome to YNPN Wednesday, my weekly blog series highlighting stories and advice from members of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapters all over the country. Each week, I'm sharing an interview or guest post from a young nonprofit professional just like you! Today's post is from Allison Jones, a member of YNPN NYC. Check out her advice for connecting with your nonprofit peers after the jump.

About Allison: Allison Jones is a Brooklyn girl who left home at age 17 to attend Haverford College in suburbs of Philly. In college she was able to travel, connect, and learn from a variety of people and places that shaped her view of social justice. She lived in Philly for a year after college and moved back to NYC in June 2008. Allison is a blogger, entrepreneur, advocate, sister, daughter, and wanna be comedian. Allison is a blogger at Entry Level Living, Project Coordinator of Onlyup.org, and Director of Development and Marketing at St. James Elementary School.

Connecting with Your Peers: Building the Support System You Need to Thrive in the Non-Profit Sector

by Allison Jones

As a young non-profit professional I have found it helpful to develop a strong support system of like-minded young people to share my aspirations, frustrations, and to grow with. However, reaching out is not always easy, especially if you are living in a new city. The resources and advice below can help you reach out so you can connect with your peers and develop your own support system.

Harness social media: Many of us use websites like Facebook and Myspace to keep in touch with friends. However there are other websites and social media that allow you to both connect with people you know and expand your network.

Start a blog: Through blogging you can share your experiences while connecting with others in the blogosphere. Brazen Careerist syndicates over 300 bloggers under the age of 30 who live around the world and have meetups. You can also meet fellow bloggers through groups like ChangeBloggers/ChangeMakers.

Go to a Meetup: Meetup.com is a great place to look for clubs that meet regularly around a certain issue. Just put in your zip code and your interest and a list of great opportunities to meet others pops up. Or, if you don't see one that has what you are looking for, start your own!

Get LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com is a professional networking site that allows you to connect with people in your field, join groups, and ask/answer career related questions. You can bring your peers offline by inviting people out or going to events posted in groups.

Tap into your alumni network: Alumni chapters are a great way to meet people. Not only will you have something in common but also you will be able to stay connected with your alma mater. It is also a great way to highlight public service careers for current students. Contact the alumni office of your college to see if there is an alumni chapter near you or if they would be willing to one.

Join a young professionals group: Many nonprofits have young professionals groups that allow young professionals with a variety of interests, talents, and backgrounds to come together and work for a great cause. You can also look for a Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapter in your city. Each chapter is different, however they all provide workshops, happy hours, and a list-serv that provides general information about events/programs in the city that are of interest to young nonprofit professionals.

You can follow Allison on Twitter @ajlovesya.

Email me at rosetta@change.org or contact me on Twitter @rosettathurman if you're a YNPN member who'd like to be featured here. Also be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss any updates!

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YNPN Wednesday: 4 Ways to Take Your Nonprofit Career From 0 to 60

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Leadership, YNPN Wednesday

Published June 10, 2009 @ 10:56AM PT

Welcome to YNPN Wednesday, my weekly blog series highlighting stories and advice from members of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapters all over the country. Each week, I'm sharing an interview or guest post from a young nonprofit professional just like you! Today's post is from Naomi Christine Leapheart, president of Philadelphia's Young Nonprofit Leaders. Check out Naomi's insightful nonprofit career advice below!

4 WAYS TO TAKE YOUR NONPROFIT CAREER FROM 0 TO 60
(in half the time)

by Naomi Christine Leapheart

I admit it. I'm a little impatient.

I was the kid who took a college course in high school. I rarely read the chapters of a book in chronological order. I left my most recent full-time job in April after a whopping 8 months. Recession, shmession.

Ok, so I'm a lot more than a little impatient. I'm considering adding the title Grindhopper to my email siggy.

I'm not alone, though. Most of my peers are, like me, ready to grow to the next level. We want more - more responsibility, more accountability, and ultimately more reward.

But how long should young professionals wait to be "granted" access to the promised land of work autonomy and leadership?

Many of us are bored with stuffy notions of career ladders and dues.

What's even more frustrating to a young nonprofit leader like me is that our sector is particularly susceptible to these arbitrary rules of promotion. The only consistent thing we can find among the careers of our leaders is stark inconsistency. Consequently, we have trouble anticipating clear advancement paths and our bosses have trouble creating them. Relying on tradition can feel like climbing up a sabotaged ladder that gets shorter with each rung and somehow leans against the wrong building.

Thankfully, I've been able to make some sophisticated career moves by participating in meaningful extracurricular activities that have quickly multiplied my value. If you're ready for more responsibility but you're too impatient to wait for on-the-job training that may never happen, consider these 4 ways to get what you need to speed up your career:

Apply to a Leadership or Fellowship Program - Long-term leadership and fellowship programs are the best way to beef up your career in a short period of time. I've found that these interactive courses are triple-treats - you can learn practical skills, expand your theoretical knowledge, and join a cohort of allies. You can go local or global; I'm an alumna of the Pennsylvania Political Leaders Fellowship and the Starting Bloc Global Institute for Social Innovation. Pricetags vary widely, but as a general rule, highly prestigious/competitive programs cost more. Still, given the rising expense of degree programs, my dollars have been well spent.

Go to a Conference - I've met several important industry players at conferences all over the country. Sure, my past employers sent me to a few work-related ones, but I attend several conferences on my own dime. I recently went to a symposium for graduate women of color at Princeton University (I am not even a grad student!) and in June I'll be at a bloggers' conference in Chicago. These two seemingly disparate conferences make total sense for me, given my interests and ambitions. The network you can build doing this is priceless, and will come in handy when you're ready to make your next career move.

Take an Oddball Workshop - Every once in a while, go to that workshop on a subject completely unrelated to your current position but helpful to your career vision. After I was invited to join the grantmaking committee of a local social justice funder, I decided I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of venture capitalism so I could broaden my thinking about philanthropic investment. I showed up at a 7:30am breakfast for entrepreneurs and venture capital firms and left armed with new knowledge and contacts in those fields. Try an op-ed writing seminar or a class on effective negotiation. Don't worry about being uncomfortable in oddball situations - trust that you too bring an expertise that can add to someone else's toolbox.

Fill a Volunteer Role - Corporate professionals aren't the only ones who can build new competencies by volunteering. If your role at work is in program management, join a board and get involved strategic planning. If you've always wanted to learn fundraising, serve on the planning committee of a special event at a nonprofit in your community. You'll face fewer barriers to entry since volunteers are in such high demand. Remember to quantify the value of your volunteer work, so you can leverage it later.

As you get clear about the career you want, make a short list of the knowledge, skills, and relationships you'll need to get there. Then, find the activity that offers those opportunities, even if that activity has little to do with your current job. Especially during shaky economic times like these, it's important that you stock your toolbox with as much as you can so you can command the professional respect you're worth.

Instead of spending 10 years learning the ropes at a couple of full-time gigs, you can conquer the ambiguity of this journey by going to get the experience you need in quick, bite-sized pieces. An impatient person's dream.

Naomi Christine Leapheart is the president of Philadelphia's Young Nonprofit Leaders (PYNL). PYNL expands the knowledge, skills, and network of professionals engaged in and committed to the work of the nonprofit sector.

You can follow Naomi on Twitter @nachristine.

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YNPN Wednesday: Meet Adeeb Khan, Director at American Red Cross Mile High Chapter

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Leadership, YNPN Wednesday

Published June 17, 2009 @ 08:51AM PT

Welcome to YNPN Wednesday, my weekly blog series highlighting stories and advice from members of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapters all over the country. Each week, I'm sharing an interview or guest post from a young nonprofit professional just like you! Today's interview is with Adeeb Khan, a member of YNPN Denver and Director of Health & Safety and Community Services at the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter. Check out Adeeb's story about his nonprofit career below!

How did you make your way into the nonprofit sector?

From the time I was young, I thought I wanted to become a sports journalist. So I went to school at the University of Southern California, majored in journalism and covered one of the greatest college football teams of all time. Soon after I graduated, I knew that I had to do something more meaningful with the thousands of hours I was planning on devoting to my career. So, I started volunteering with the Red Cross while looking for work and a position opened up for a grant writer a few months later.

What is your educational background and area of expertise?

I was a Journalism and Communication major at the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California. I have participated in various leadership and nonprofit management programs. I currently work in the areas of program development and management.

Tell me about your current position. What does a typical day look like for you?

Currently I am the Director of Health & Safety and Community Services at the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross. I manage 12 full-time and 5 part-time staff. The programs I manage provide first aid, CPR, AED and babysitters training to over 60,000 individuals in the state of Colorado and 23,000 rides for elderly, ill and disabled individuals per year. A typical day involves one or two meetings with employees to discuss individual programs. I am usually working with other organizations and companies developing partnerships with the Red Cross. Working with senior staff to resolve some organization-wide planning and changes. Checking revenue streams, budgets, expense reports, and constantly re-examining programs in search of new opportunities.

Where do you want to be in your career 10 years from now?

I cannot say that there is a specific position or job area that I see myself in 10 years from now. No matter what I want to be involved in work that is benefitting others, and whose mission is virtuous. Ultimately I want to build my skills to be able to make significant changes to develop a community with a greater perspective and sense of philanthropy.

What one piece of advice would you give to young professionals just starting their nonprofit careers?

You must view a nonprofit as a business in order to be successful. Too often there is an incorrect perception that nonprofits are a place where the culture is never stressful and the rewards are frequent. However, the approach young professionals should take is to constantly, and thoroughly evaluate every practice of your areas of expertise. Look to where to cut expenses and always push your organizations to collect all the low-lying fruit. One of the great things about nonprofits vs. corporations is that we have the ability to utilize unique resources like volunteers. These resources should be strategically managed, and never overlooked. The great thing about nonprofits is how much can be accomplished when an organization is able to correctly facilitate the desires of those who wish to contribute to a cause.

You can follow YNPN Denver on Twitter @YNPNDenver

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YNPN Wednesday: How to Identify Your Dream Nonprofit Job

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Job Searching, YNPN Wednesday

Published June 24, 2009 @ 06:49AM PT

Welcome to YNPN Wednesday, my weekly blog series highlighting stories and advice from members of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapters all over the country. Each week, I'm sharing an interview or guest post from a young nonprofit professional just like you! Today's guest blog is the first of two posts from Heather Carpenter, a member of YNPN San Diego and a blogger at Nonprofit Leadership 601. Heather recently attended a nonprofit career conference and is graciously sharing all of the insider information with you below!

How to Identify Your Dream Nonprofit Job

by Heather Carpenter, MMNA

Last week I was in beautiful Atlanta Georgia attending and presenting at the Opportunity Knocks Career Conference. Miranda Austin, Vice President of Development of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Opportunity Knocks presented the first session about the "Third Sector" and provided a lot of resources and statistics about the types of jobs and work that is available in the nonprofit sector.

Types of organizations and jobs available in the nonprofit sector

Health care organizations have the most jobs, followed by higher education organizations.

Although human service organizations make up the majority of nonprofits, they tend to be small organizations.

For a full list of the types of nonprofits check out the National Taxonomy of Exempt Organizations (http://nccs.urban.org/classification/NTEE.cfm)

Workers or types of work in the nonprofit sector
Overall, there are three types of nonprofit jobs or people working in the sector.

Professionals - e.g social workers, doctors, nurses, psychologists, artists.

Subject/issue specific experts - e.g historic preservation, water conservation, health policy

Sector specific specialists - e.g development directors, volunteer managers, advocacy experts.

Identifying the right nonprofit job

Use your knowledge of the nonprofit sector to inform your search (e.g. small versus large nonprofits; limited staff)

Research potential organizations on Guidestar. See Rosetta's post about using Guidestar to negotiate your salary.

Evaluate the financial health of the organization that you are interested in working for. (Look at the organization's IRS Form 990 or Annual Report.)

Schedule informational interviews with the organization. Ask someone to do a warm introduction for you (possibly through your LinkedIn network).

Find out how the organization is regarded in the community.

Volunteer for those nonprofits that are of interest to you (will allow you to get an insiders view of the organization and what it would be like to work there). Find a balance between volunteering and looking for employment.

The more you know about the nonprofit sector, the better nonprofit employee you'll be. Professional development is key, attend nonprofit workshops to learn more about the nonprofit sector (e.g. nonprofit sector speak, nonprofit culture).

You can connect with Heather on Twitter @heathercarpente

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YNPN Wednesday: The Key to Writing Amazing Cover Letters and Resumes

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Job Searching, YNPN Wednesday

Published July 01, 2009 @ 11:30AM PT

Welcome to YNPN Wednesday, my weekly blog series highlighting stories and advice from members of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapters all over the country. Each week, I'm sharing an interview or guest post from a young nonprofit professional just like you! Today's guest blog is the second of two posts from Heather Carpenter, a member of YNPN San Diego and a blogger at Nonprofit Leadership 601. Heather recently attended the Opportunity Knocks Career Conference and graciously shares all of the insider information with you below!

The Key to Writing Amazing Cover Letters and Resumes

by Heather Carpenter, MMNA

I've known Dalya Massachi of Writing for Community Success for the past few years, however I had never attended one of her writing workshops until now. Wow! Dalya provided helpful information pertinent to anyone looking for a job!

Purposes of a Cover Letter

Pique your reader's interest

Clarify your unique skill set

Show that you've done your homework

Encourage a wise investment with a promising return: you!

Relate to your reader with shared values and concerns

Demonstrate your proficiency

Even if they don't ask for a writing sample, your cover letter is a writing sample. It's your key in the door. Be specific to your skills and detail about the organization.

Purposes of a Resume

Summarize experience and volunteer work

Show increasing levels of responsibility: within a single organization or across several organizations

Show potential: success breeds success

Impress your reader

I really wish I had taken Dalya's workshop when I was looking for my first job!

Other helpful advice from Dalya:

Your resume and cover letter needs needs to be tailored to the reader.

Put key words that the organization wants in your cover letter.

Pull out key items from resume and put those into your cover letter.

Highlight leadership experience, technology skills, and direct ways your improved the organization.

Have someone read through and proof read your resume and cover letter.

Here are a few more posts with writing tips for cover letters and resumes.

Is Your Cover Letter Sabotaging Your Chances at a Great Nonprofit Job?

So I didn't get the job -- what I'd do differently next time

Why Most Nonprofit Resumes Suck

Dalya has these tips and many more in her new book: Writing to Make a Difference which I think everyone should read.

You can connect with Heather on Twitter @heathercarpente

Photo credit: Hidden Shadow Walker

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YNPN Wednesday: 4 Ways to Connect With Other Young Nonprofit Professionals in Your City

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Networking, Professional Development, YNPN Wednesday

Published July 08, 2009 @ 09:11AM PT

Welcome to YNPN Wednesday, my weekly blog series highlighting stories and advice from members of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapters all over the country. I've blogged before about the benefits of joining YNPN as a way to expand your nonprofit network and access free or low-cost professional development. This week, I'm sharing just a few specific opportunities for how you can get connected to YNPN events and meet other young nonprofit professionals in your city. To join a YNPN chapter in your area, sign-up here with your contact information. Please feel free to add other opportunities you know about in the comments!

♣YNPN San Diego (follow on Twitter @ynpnsandiego)

Professional Development Workshop: Advocating for Yourself
July 16, 2009 from 5:30-8:30pm
Register online for free: http://ynpnsdadvocatingforyourself.eventbrite.com

Do you have brilliant ideas you want to share with your Executive Director or Leadership Team but don't have the nerve to start the dialogue? How do you even start the conversation with your supervisor about a raise or development in your current position? Once you begin the exchange, how do you make sure you are clear and precise about your needs? Whether you're currently employed, actively searching or determining your next move - its obvious we could all use new tips and confidence while advocating for our professional selves. During our July Professional Development Workshop, you will leave with...

Confidence in asking for what you want in the workplace

An ability to clearly communicate your professional needs

Ideas and tactics on how to persuade change in your organization

♣YNPN Austin

Work/Life Balance Workshop: Part II
July 21, 2009 from 5:30-7:00pm
More event information and location online

Everyone knows a well-balanced diet is essential for a healthy life-style, right? But, what about a well-balanced life? This specific workshop has been designed to provide a more intimate discussion about the subject. The last work/life balance workshop focused on balancing work with family life. Part II of this workshop will be geared toward finding time for personal interests like volunteering and seeing friends. In the end, we hope you will walk away knowing what work-life balance is, what it means to you and how you can develop it in your own life.

♣YNPN Cleveland

Conversations Series at Visible Voice Books in Tremont
July 22, 2009 from 7-9pm
More event information and location online

Relax with coffee or a glass of wine for an informal program that gives you a chance to meet other young nonprofit professionals and talk about the issues that matter to you. Our first Conversations meeting on Wednesday the 22nd will focus on what you love (or hate) about living and working in the Cleveland area.

♣YNPNdc

Social Media for Social Good
July 23, 2009 from 9:30am-3:30pm
More event information, location and registration online

Attend this day-long seminar to: