Sharing Knowledge: Looking for Talent? Avoid These Common Pitfalls!


Sharing Knowledge

A newsletter dedicated to increasing the capacity of nonprofits · January 2010


Quick Links Recently Closed Searches Advocacy, Policy, Research Vice President of Policy Center for Clean Air Policy Washington, DC Director of Development The Tobin Project Cambridge, Massachusetts Arts and Culture Executive Director Northeast Document Conservation Center Andover, Massachusetts Executive Director The House of the Seven Gables Salem, Massachusetts Community Service Chief Executive Officer Experience Corps Washington, DC Chief Executive Officer Hands On Hartford Hartford, Connecticut Education (Colleges and Universities) Director of Marketing and Communications Colby College Waterville, Maine Dean of Admissions Massachusetts College of Art + Design Boston, Massachusetts Education (K-12) Executive Director LAYC YouthBuild Public Charter School Washington, DC Foundations Vice President of Programs Director of Communications Research and Policy Associate Nellie Mae Education Foundation Quincy (Boston), Massachusetts Director Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors New York, New York International Chief Financial Officer Special Olympics International Washington, DC Chief Marketing and Development Officer Special Olympics International Washington, DC Public Sector Executive Director State-Boston Retirement System Boston, Massachusetts Social Service Executive Director Parents Against Childhood Epilepsy New York, New York Executive Director The Tiny Miracles Foundation Darien, Connecticut Current Searches These are just a few of our current searches... Education (K-12) Board Member and Treasurer Higher Achievement Washington, DC Board Member At Large Higher Achievement Washington, DC Education (Higher Education) Controller The School for Field Studies Salem, Massachusetts Vice President for Resource Development American Indian College Fund Denver, Colorado Foundations Executive Director Private Family Foundation Boston, Massachusetts Government Capital Planning Director City of Newton Newton, Massachusetts International Senior Director, Partnerships Special Olympics International Washington, D.C. Regional Outreach Manager Partners in Health Boston, Massachusetts Development Manager Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Washington, DC Coming Soon! Director of Development The Education Trust Washington, DC Major Gifts Officer The School for Field Studies Salem, Massachusetts Research Manager The School for Field Studies Salem, Massachusetts Director of Development National Organization on Disability New York, New York Director of Finance and Administration National Organization on Disability New York, New York The Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group is constantly launching new searches. To hear about them first, sign up for our newsletter here. Services for Nonprofits We offer unbundled search services to those nonprofits that need highly tailored services or cannot afford fully retained search. Most of our clients choose a la carte from our offerings as their needs demand. We provide packaged or hourly consulting in: job description preparation, outreach, resume screening, interviewing, reference checking, search committee management, and negotiation. We are also available to train board and staff in any or all of these areas. Our Commitment to Diversity We make every effort to present diverse pools of qualified candidates for each search. Since 2007, we closed more than two thirds of our searches with women or minorities and close to a quarter with female minorities. Learn More About Our Search Services. Join Us on Facebook! Become a fan and stay on top of the latest news from the NPAG team. Check out information on our new searches, read our monthly spotlight articles, keep up with NPAGU webinar series updates, and post your thoughts to our "Just Fans" section about hot topics in nonprofit search. Join Us on Facebook!

Hello!

Thank you for your interest in our employer newsletter.

In this edition, you'll find helpful tips, a feature article covering a topic central to hiring for nonprofits, as well as information regarding our consulting services. This newsletter is meant to help you in your hiring processes.

To that end, your feedback is appreciated so that we may continue to improve what we offer.

Looking for Talent?
Avoid These Common Pitfalls!

Leadership transitions in organizations both large and small typically spark waves of panic, sending even logical managers into mad races to fill open positions as quickly as possible. Whether you are losing a beloved executive director or terminating a chief development officer, you can expect that these temporary gaps in leadership can leave an institution feeling debilitated. Yet, leadership transitions are also important natural catalysts for organizational change and advancement and, if orchestrated correctly, can help institutions reach new heights. During our more than 40 years of combined search experience, we have had many clients come to us with searches that have unfortunately collapsed due to very avoidable missteps or oversights. These blunders seriously and negatively impact morale and can lead to feelings of mistrust in organizational decision making, both internally in the staff and externally in the community.

While many of these pitfalls can sneak up on you right away, others can simmer beneath the surface benignly until they explode. Either way, most of them can be avoided with a little foresight and planning.

Click here to learn about pitfall themes that we have identified, tools we have used to fix searches which have been brought to us already collapsed, and strategies we have used to help our clients avoid them in the future.

Don't Get Left at the Altar.
Getting to a Favorite Candidate, and Getting Them to Yes!
Tune in to Our Next NPAG-U Webinar on February 3 to Learn More!

Ever gotten to the end of a search only to have your favorite candidate turn down your offer? Ever get tripped up by a late entry of an internal and unqualified candidate? Ever find yourself throwing a life jacket to a candidate drowning in third party reference gossip? Executive searches are landmines ready to explode; with candidate pools larger than ever, search committees need to work harder to navigate the minefields. Join Laura Gassner Otting, President, and Alison Falk, Vice President, on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 1:00pm (EST) for a can't miss webinar filled with stories and solutions for when good searches go bad.

This webinar will be hosted for free for participants but will have limited seats. Advance RSVPs will be required.

Click here to RSVP for one of our free upcoming webinars.

NPAG Partners with Encore!Hartford

Nonprofit Professionals is thrilled to announce a partnership with Encore!Hartford, an initiative of the University of Connecticut's Nonprofit Leadership Program and several key Connecticut agencies, including Capital Workforce Partners, CTWorks, the Connecticut Department of Labor, Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, and Leadership Greater Hartford.

Our team will join an esteemed faculty which includes Robert Egger of the D.C. Central Kitchen and 2006 Civic Venture's Purpose Prize Winner Robert Chambers. The program, beginning March 2, is now accepting applications.

Applications for 20 Encore Fellowships available through the program are being accepted through February 12. Fellowships will be awarded through a competitive selection process based on applicant's skills and potential for success in the nonprofit sector.

Click here to learn more about Encore!Hartford or to fill out an application.

Laura Gassner Otting to Speak on
Boston Club Panel:
Leadership Development and
Succession for Nonprofits

The most important role of the nonprofit board-accentuated during this time of economic distress-is to select and maintain a superbly functioning executive team, one that is up to this difficult challenge. At the same time, it is in this role that board members face their thorniest responsibilities, especially when changes in leadership are called for.

At this session, we will be exploring how boards can better anticipate the skills and capabilities that will be needed by their leadership team to meet future challenges. In addition, we will also discuss handling transitions when they are required. We have good paradigms to draw on: the "for profit" sector is experiencing a renaissance in managing talent, developing leadership, and planning for succession- all recognized parts of a company's strategic planning process.

Panelists will include Greg Schneider, Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder International; Laura Gassner Otting, Founder & President, Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group; Juliette Mayers, Board Chair, ABCD; Margaret Butteriss, SVP, Right Management; and Moderator Cynthia Maltbie, PPLogic.

DATE: Thursday, February 4, 2010

TIME: 5:30 - 8:00pm

PLACE: Bank, Brigham Room, 53 State St, Boston

CHARGE: Boston Club Members $50; Guests $50.00*

Please click here for more information or to register.

NPAG Client Carroll Center to Host New Enterprise Factory Workshop

The New Enterprise Factory's Mission is to help organizations - usually non-profits - take their under-realized assets and turn them into mission-driven earned revenue. Tomorrow, they are delivering a high-energy workshop complete with specific tools and loads of inspiration to help you pursue revenue generating opportunities within your nonprofit.

NPAG is please to announce that one of its clients, the Carroll Center for the Blind, will be hosting this event. Come to the event, and see the Carroll Center in action while you are there.

Click here to register, and use our friend of NPAG discount code ("Ent_NonProfit_Network")to get 50% off.

The Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of nonprofits and their staff, and is available for search consulting projects on an hourly or per project basis for nonprofits, or to discuss the individual resumes, cover letters, and job search strategies of job seekers.

Sincerely,

Laura Gassner Otting, President

Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group LLC

email: lgo@nonprofitprofessionals.com
phone: 617-527-9661
web: http://www.NonprofitProfessionals.com