HOTLINE

Answering Readers' Questions About Relocating Without a Job, the 'Glass Ceiling' for Minorities, and More

The Chronicle's Philanthropy Careers asks its readers to submit questions about job hunting, recruiting, and management challenges in the nonprofit world. In our monthly advice column, we respond to some of your inquiries with tips about resources and wisdom from experts in the field.

Q. I am an experienced senior program officer, with about 10 years of foundation experience. Recently my foundation has undergone some changes, and I am ready to find a new position and relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area. But despite applying for other grant-making jobs, I haven't yet made it to the interview stage. I am getting restless and am thinking about just quitting and relocating without securing a new job. Is this is a good idea?

A. No. Regardless of the current state of the job market, it is always very risky to relocate without a good employment prospect, says Julia Hirsh, a recruiter at Boyden, in San Francisco, who specializes in filling nonprofit slots. "Potential employers, employment agencies, and search firms find candidates who are employed much more desirable than those who are unemployed," she says.

In any case, few grant-making jobs are available, and those that are open aren't always advertised, so your best bet is to reconnect with professional contacts you already have in the Bay Area, says Ms. Hirsh. Let them know of your interest in moving, so they will think of you when they hear of an open position. And because sometimes foundations have needs that sit unfulfilled because they haven't yet found the right person to lead those efforts, you might try writing your own job description.

"If you have developed an area of expertise that is the focus of a particular Bay Area foundation, contact them with a specific proposal that explains how your skills could help enhance their program," Ms. Hirsh suggests.

If you don't already have professional contacts in the area, however, it's time to start making some, says Susan Himmelfarb, a recruiter in Oak Park, Ill., who works exclusively with nonprofit clients. Ask your current contacts if they will introduce you to any contacts they may have in San Francisco, she says.

"It's critical that people in the area begin to know you in person if you're to connect with the right next job, so plan to spend substantial periods of time in the Bay Area," she says.

Use a week of your vacation time or arrange some long weekends so that you can meet with foundation executives on Fridays and Mondays. Remember, although you should always bring a résumé with you, these initial meetings are simply a means to make acquaintances and gather information about them and about their work in the Bay Area.

Because the number of people who want to work at foundations far outstrips the number of jobs, you might also take the time to think more broadly about your career goals and be more flexible in your search, suggests Ms. Himmelfarb. Make a full assessment of your interests. What do you like about your current work? What are you best at -- working with grant recipients? Analyzing the program or financial pieces of a proposal? Helping shape an innovative project that could lead to social changes? The traits you list may be found in other jobs within the nonprofit or even for-profit arenas, she says.

"Maybe you could run a program at a not-for-profit whose mission you support. In fact, many foundations are looking for this in-the-trenches program experience from their program officers, and it can only help you later if you decide you want to go back to a foundation career," she says. "Or you might join a for-profit corporation's cause-related, marketing-program department. There are many possibilities, and it's only through a sustained networking effort that you'll get a sense of what those are."

Lastly, if you've been sending out cover letters and résumés but not seeing any interest, have a professional take a look at your materials to make sure that your solid background and experience clearly stand out, suggests Kevin Berchelmann, a recruiter at Triangle Performance, in Bellaire, Tex., who works with nonprofit clients. Be sure to note in your letter that you can quickly learn about local issues, he advises. And if you do not own your home and do not need full relocation support, make sure to say so, he adds: "Because, believe me, the hiring manager is certainly thinking the worst."

Q. I am an art librarian at a major university who has successfully acquired collections. I've recently discovered that I am good at asking for money from donors. I recently attended an Association of Fundraising Professionals conference and felt as though I fit in. I think I'm ready to move into fund raising full time, and am wondering: Would it be better for me to build on the area I'm already in (fund raising for libraries) or seek a position at a museum or cultural group? In addition, I'm a person of color, and would appreciate any advice you can give about dealing with the glass ceiling in the fund-raising field.

A. Whether it is better for you to start your career as a full-time fund raiser for libraries, museums, or some other cultural groups really depends on where your passion is, says Susan Avila, vice president of advancement at the California College of the Arts, in San Francisco.

"Development officers articulate the mission and ambition of an organization, and you'll be most effective where the program inspires you," she says.

The skills that you've picked up as a fund raiser at the university art library will certainly be transferable if you decide you want to work at a museum. Says Ms. Avila: "When I was director of development at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, I hired fund raisers with a variety of nonprofit backgrounds. It was much more important to me that they could speak and write effectively about the museum's programs, than where they were previously employed."

Paulette Maehara, president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, in Alexandria, Va., agrees that you shouldn't have any problem transferring your skills, should you choose to.

"The techniques of fund raising -- direct mail, major gifts, etc. -- stay the same no matter what type of organization you work for," she says. "Given that art libraries and museums are, in a sense, both 'fine arts,' I would think the transition would be simple for you."

Ms. Maehara says that your race will be helpful. "Many organizations would love to have a more diverse staff, and there are very few minorities in the fund-raising profession right now," she says. Indeed, just 8 percent of Association of Fundraising Professionals members classify themselves as "non-Caucasian." And those who are in the profession tend to work for race-specific type organizations, such as black colleges or charities that focus on Hispanics, says Ms. Maehara. Attracting more minorities to fund raising, especially for more mainstream charities, has been a challenge and goal of her organization for years, she says. "So," she says, "I would say you can probably write your own ticket."

Q. I'm a native New Yorker with a background in finance who's been working for a nonprofit organization in the Middle East for the past three years. I'm working in program development and training now, but would eventually like to return to New York and work for a multinational for-profit company. I'd like some advice on how I can ease the transition back to the business world. Should I look for a job in nonprofit operations or human resources?

A. Easing into the business world after a stint with a nonprofit organization can certainly be a challenge, says Rosemarie Jaszka, who was in a similar position as you just a few years ago. After working as a fund raiser for an international nonprofit organization, she decided to switch gears and try her hand at for-profit public relations. She sent her résumé out to recruiters in New York, hoping to land a job at a large public-relations firm, but was snubbed over and over again.

"Everyone I approached told me that it would be 'nearly impossible' for me to move into the for-profit-agency realm with my nonprofit background," says Ms. Jaszka. "I had run million-dollar departments and handled numerous levels of client service, from major donors to media to board members to senior staff, but somehow I wasn't qualified for for-profit jobs because I didn't actually have 'business-to-business' experience.'" It took several years of networking "with whoever would listen to me," she says, before she learned about an opening at a book-publicity company. Even then, Ms. Jaszka had to prove herself first as a freelancer before being offered a full-time job.

Even though she had a negative experience, she still suggests that you go ahead and pursue the corporate route, but be prepared that you may need to take a lower-ranking position than you think you deserve to get your foot in the door. While you're still in your current job, begin reworking your résumé to highlight your most transferable skills and make copies of reports or other exceptional work you have done to provide to potential employers as evidence of your competency (assuming such work is not proprietary, of course).

If your current employer knows about your plan to return to New York, ask your boss, colleagues, even donors and board members, to write you letters of recommendation specifically outlining your help with a recent project.

Even though it may be hard at first to break back into the corporate world, don't give up. Not many companies will be put off by an applicant's nonprofit background, says Alison Talbot, vice president of human resources at Safeco Insurance, a national company with headquarters in Seattle whose community-relations manager is a former nonprofit veteran.

For example, says Ms. Talbot, your background in finance, training, and program development would be valued in her field. "We have found that people who have worked at nonprofit organizations have often been exposed to people from a variety of diverse backgrounds and, because of this, many have strong interpersonal skills and a high levels of experience with and understanding of the communities where we do business," she says. "In fact, we encourage our current employees to volunteer for nonprofit organizations in order to gain such skills and experiences."

Got a question about job hunting, recruiting, or managing in the nonprofit world? Send it to us at hotline@philanthropy.com.