Non-profit

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As a lifelong member of Greenpeace, an avid recycler, owner of two EVs, and a solar-powered home, I do all I can to make the planet a better place. As a recruiter, I enjoy engaging with companies who also are improving our Mother Earth. With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, I am sharing my top four favorite ways to engage my team and show respect to the planet we call home.

Volunteer Work


Employees volunteer on Earth Day

Companies can organize volunteer events to clean litter in a park, beach, or any other public place—even sponsor a roadway litter collection and be recognized with a municipal sign. They can encourage their employees, customers, and communities to participate in these events. The EPA also has a “how-to guide” on its website.

Some employers choose to pay their employees a few hours to one day a year to volunteer for their community. Most employees would love to step outside in the sunshine and spruce up their community.

Education


Woman learns about eco-friendly and sustainable practices at work

Companies can educate their employees, customers, and communities about the importance of environmental sustainability, climate change, and how they can reduce their ecological footprint.

Before you start educating your employees, it's important to assess the current level of sustainability and recycling. Armed with this information, you will know what to teach your employees.

Create a sustainability policy with details of your goals, expectations, and procedures. Possible topics to cover could include reducing waste, conserving energy, and using eco-friendly products.

Provide employees with training and resources on sustainability. This can include workshops, presentations, videos, and handouts. You can also create an online Earth-friendly resource center with information on best practices, recycling guidelines, and eco-friendly products.

Sustainability Initiatives


Sustainability, Earth Day, eco-friendly concept

Encourage your employees to participate in sustainability and recycling efforts. You can do this by setting up recycling bins, providing incentives for eco-friendly behavior, and recognizing employees who make an effort to reduce waste.

Companies can provide incentives for their employees to use public transportation, carpool, or bike to work, reduce the use of paper, energy, and water in their facilities, and implement recycling programs.

Publicly reward one employee per quarter or month for their recycling efforts—a social media shout-out, a reusable water thermos, or a gift card to a garden center.

Partnerships


Earth Day concept

Companies can partner with other organizations that share their environmental values, such as non-profit groups, local universities, and other businesses, to promote environmental conservation. Some non-profit partners could include Habitat for Humanity using recycled building materials, a Goodwill clothing drive, and a Soles4Souls shoe donation.

Many universities have already embraced recycling and sustainable use policies. You might be able to support their recycling drives or fundraising events to support their colleges that are making technological advances in these areas.

Finally, you’ve likely heard of the World Wildlife Fund, Oceana, and the Nature Conservancy. Conservation groups can use business partners to spread their message and encourage sustainable and respectful use of our planet’s resources.

I hope these few ideas spark some Earth-friendly, employer-sponsored initiatives for your team!

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Recognizing Earth Day From A Recruiting Perspective

7 Things I’ve Learned About Recruiting Non-Profit CEOs



Over the past several years, I’ve had the honor to lead the recruitment process for 22 non-profit CEOs and have learned a thing or two about what a successful search process entails.

1. Start With A Strategy


Non-profit graphic

When recruiting for non-profit CEOs, it’s critical to have a well-defined strategy put in place before beginning the search. The strategy is typically created by the search consultant leading the search and that person must gain the buy-in from all stakeholders including the search committee and board of directors. The strategy will include, whether it’s a local, regional, or national search, the must-haves versus the preferred qualifications of the ideal candidate. The strategy will also outline the target audience, including industries, specific companies, and specific roles/positions/people at those companies.

2. Mission Matters


Non-profit employees collaborate on their mission

When recruiting for a non-profit CEO, connection to the mission is critical! For example, when recruiting for a CEO of a non-profit that serves families with disabilities, we targeted people with the skill set to do the job but also uncovered their connection to the mission by finding out if they had direct ties to either serving families with disabilities or had a child with a disability and had the lived experience, or both.

Another example is when recruiting for the CEO of a non-profit that serves families who receive a Catholic education, we uncovered whether or not the candidates received a similar Catholic education or if their children had, therefore providing them with the lived experience and direct tie to the mission.

3. Search Committees Are Necessary


Recruiters search for the right job candidate

I’ve had the privilege of working with many different search committees and have found that, for the most part, these individuals are talented and dedicated business leaders who take their commitment to the organization very seriously and dedicate a lot of time to ensuring the search process goes smoothly.

The chair of the search committee is typically my main point of contact and the person who dedicates the most time to the process and is also the final decision-maker in certain situations. My job is to make the search as seamless as possible and to take as much off their plate as possible.

4. Non-Profits Need Strong Business Leaders


Business leader says something during a work meeting

After recruiting in the for-profit world for many years before switching to the non-profit sector, I have found that many non-profits are in need of business leaders who are just as strong in their business acumen as their for-profit counterparts. In fact, many leaders from the for-profit sector welcome a change into the non-profit sector, bringing in a fresh perspective, while having the opportunity to use their many skills to help their community.

5. Non-Profits Need To Ensure Fiscal Responsibility Towards Their Mission


non profit calculator

It’s so important for the money to go towards the mission, and not towards unnecessary or wasteful spending. Uncovering how a CEO has grown the reach of their organization and how they’ve grown the budget, while staying true to the mission, is important information.

6. Fundraising Is A Critical Skill Set Needed


Fundraising, donation concept

For small non-profits, the CEO is oftentimes the primary fundraiser. As an agency grows, so does the need for a development department. No matter what the size is, fundraising is always a critical component and although many non-profits receive government funding, diversifying funding streams and bringing in revenue to support the mission is so important!

7. Non-Profit CEOs Are Some Of The Most Brilliant, Compassionate People On The Planet!


People volunteering at a non-profit organization

One of the best parts of my job is getting the opportunity to work with people who have used their time and talents to make our world a better place. Whether they are helping people experiencing homelessness, hunger, or violence, or helping people who have disabilities or critical illnesses, many of these leaders are angels on earth making our world a better place!

If you need to recruit for this type of position, please contact me at [email protected] or (602) 802-8329 or on LinkedIn.

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7 Things I’ve Learned About Recruiting Non-Profit …