4 Strengths To Look For When Hiring For A Nonprofit

Finding and building a great staff for your non-profit can be a daunting task. Hiring someone who has the qualifications along with the heart to support your mission can feel impossible after months of searching. 

Coming from a large non-profit background before working here at Vanderbloemen Search Group, I know first hand about the challenges you face when trying to hire a staff full of Unicorns. After conducting 3,000 searches, you start to see some common elements or traits possessed by your star employees. Here are four key strengths to look for in your next all-star staff member.

1. Is this candidate a solver and purpose-driven?

Many non-profits do not have extensive training programs, and many positions will be a “learn as you go” type of role. The best employees I’ve worked with and trained are the ones who are eager to learn and figure things out for themselves. A candidate has to have an intrinsic motivation to embrace the new so whole-heartedly. If they show me they are eager to learn and explore our systems and ways of doing things independently, I’m more likely to trust them once I’ve cut the cord and left them on their own after training. 

You’ll want to find a curious candidate who tends to ask questions. If they desire to learn the ins and outs of your organization early on, they can embrace changes and challenges when given the opportunity. This type of candidate is one who you can trust to improve the team as you let go of the reins.

2. Is this candidate agile and able to wear “multiple hats”?

Non-profits tend to have scaled down versions of corporate staff structures so that they can run a leaner operation. As a result, various roles tend to morph and change along with the needs of the organization as a whole. Agility is a hot commodity in the staffing world right now because systems and technologies are changing so rapidly. It’s crucial to have a staff that is willing to consistently sharpen their skills, expand their area of expertise, and keep up with trends. Look for candidates who like the idea of working outside the bubble of their background knowledge.

3. Does this candidate share the same vision with where the organization is and where it wants to go?

This one should go without saying, but you would be surprised by the amount of people who work for non-profits that don’t necessarily believe in the cause of their organization – it’s just a job to them. If your staff isn’t invested and excited about what you are doing, it’s going to be hard for them to work to their fullest potential and not get burned out. Non-profit careers tend to require high commitment levels. Without that connection to a greater purpose, even the highest-capacity employees can quickly burn out. Candidates who believe in your mission to their core will be the most dedicated and hardest working employees; they view the success of your ministry as personally restful and rewarding.

4. Is this candidate bottom-line oriented and fiscally aware?

As well as visioin-oriented, you’ll need productive and prepared employees who are especially oriented toward business elements of your non-profit. Depending on the role, either one of these mindsets can be a win for your team. It’s easy to spend money when it’s for a good cause, especially when it’s company money and not their own personal income. A great non-profit employee will understand the value of budgeting and not spending frivolously. They will view each dollar as a resource to steward well toward your mission, and they will have the skills to make it happen.

These are just a few things we suggest looking for when you are hiring your next non-profit all-star. There are a total of distinct 12 traits that separate the best leaders from the rest. To learn more about how to find these rare employees, and how to become one yourself, read Be the Unicorn, available to order your own copy now.