Does Continuing Education Matter? What Headhunters Think

By Holly Hall

Executive recruiters who help charities hire chief executives, fund raisers,

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and other key employees have differing views about the certificate and graduate-degree programs for nonprofit leaders being offered by a growing number of colleges and universities nationwide. At issue are questions about the quality of the educational programs, whether they help students advance in their careers, how they are viewed by prospective employers, and whether they are helping the nonprofit world as a whole.

The Chronicle spoke with five executive recruiters for their views. Here are excerpts from the conversations:

Richard Murray

Paschal Murray, Indio, Calif.

"A lot of local universities have an extension course on philanthropy or a specialty within a master's program, and they bring in local fund raisers and nonprofit officials to be their instructors. The teaching often isn't up to par. We see people teaching who couldn't get a job and know nothing about education. I have seen the ones they hire; so often they are just not experts."

"These degrees help — it sets a person apart and shows an interest in the field. We would prefer candidates with a course of study in fund raising and philanthropy, and I do think employers look at this. But the bottom line is the chemistry that you generate with the search committee. Getting to that interview is the important part, and if you have those skills on paper, it helps you get in the door. Nobody ever hires anyone just because you have a degree. There is more to it than that."

Susan Egmont

Egmont Associates, Boston

"Graduate school is particularly valuable for people in nonprofit-leadership roles. Courses on volunteer management, fund-raising management, and board management are so important, especially board management. Board management is the reason that nonprofit CEO's fail and the reason they succeed. It is the key thing that nonprofit executives need to know. So a program with a strong board-management course is critical, along with fund-raising management and volunteer management, because you will not get these with an M.B.A. I have an M.B.A., and I know."

"These degree programs are seen as a plus by the boards I work with. These board members are not nonprofit-management specialists, and they are thrilled to find a candidate who is. It is a dynamite combination if you have both experience and the management degree. Candidates who have a degree in nonprofit management offer a high degree of commitment and professionalism. Before these programs, people thought that anyone could be a nonprofit manager, and many people kind of fell into nonprofit management. People with these degrees are not here by accident. They are here by choice."

Kate Hartnick Elliott

Hartnick Consulting, New York

"Nobody has ever asked me to put in the job requirements that someone have a nonprofit certificate or degree. But because we are in a succession crisis and the industry is going through changes where you need more accountability, transparency, and board oversight, the skills taught in these programs are becoming more important."

Lynda McKay

Campbell & Company, Chicago

"Credentials can be helpful in terms of getting people's attention, but wisdom and the ability and a track record of execution will always trump credentials. When I interview, I want someone who has faced challenge and addressed it. Yes, knowledge helps you do that, but it's the ability to take that knowledge and do something with it that makes people successful. These graduate degrees in nonprofit management will get my attention if we have a lot of interested individuals, particularly if the person is from a known, high-quality institution. That person will get moved to the top of the list. But whether or not they get presented to our client will be based on their ability to demonstrate success."

"Some individuals don't see their career going anywhere, and it is not because of lack of knowledge, it is because of a lack of ability to accomplish results. Sometimes those individuals think that another degree will help. That is not what they need. What they really need is the ability to face challenges and see them not as a brick wall, but as a challenge in which they ask, 'How do I get around this and become successful regardless?' Maybe you have a lousy relationship with the boss and the resources are not adequate. Well, that is just part of the game — you have to figure out how to be successful in spite of those challenges. When people are hiring CEO's or even a direct report to the CEO, they are really looking for this type of track record, not a degree."

Henry Maly

Maly Executive Search, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

"Our clients are not enamored of these programs. However, what we've found is that when people are graduates, they are well trained and their mind-set is stronger relative to best practices. They are more aware of what's happening in the industry. Graduates of these programs are on the fast track. These programs are speeding up their on-the-job learning curve. They are better prepared and better professionals. I am all for these programs because they put a better group of trained professionals in our industry."