MAKE THE JUMP

A guide offers advice to readers interested in joining the nonprofit world.

Drawing on her long experience reviewing tens of thousands of resumes and interviewing thousands of professionals, executive recruiter Ballinger kicks off her book with what she refers to as “the compelling question”: “I’m a corporate executive and I would like to move into the nonprofit sector. How do I make the jump?” She lays out the definition and characteristics of the nonprofit world and its allure in the increasingly profit-driven 21st century, an appeal that “resonates with a workforce that wants more than a paycheck from its investment of knowledge and skills.” And as she expands on the very different natures of the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, she cautions her readers against making impulsive changes. When people say “I want to do that!” she responds with “You better start making different choices now”—because passion alone isn’t enough. There’s a different set of expectations and limitations in the nonprofit sector. To help illustrate some of her points, she includes regular “Spotlight” features, where she interviews various people in the nonprofit world—like Don Ness, executive director of the Ordean Foundation in Minnesota. “Whether I’m working at city hall or in a nonprofit,” Ness reflects, “the community” is still the canvas. Ballinger is a clear, straightforward writer with a kind but no-nonsense approach to her subject, which is particularly refreshing when she’s dispelling persistent myths about the nonprofit sector. She’s heard it all before: that the nonprofit world is easier to impress, easier to learn, or just plain easier. “If the nonprofit sector is new to you, double the learning curve,” she writes, trying to counter these myths. “If the job is a new type of job, triple the challenge.” Her “can I talk you out of this” tone is ultimately extremely effective—both in singing the praises of the nonprofit world and gently discouraging the wannabes who may not be ideal candidates.

A clear-eyed and helpful look at the pros and cons of the nonprofit sector.