Nonprofit Job Search Resources

• Nonprofit Job Search Strategies
• Job Postings by telephone
• Job Posting Locations
• Periodicals with Job Announcements
• Public Libraries
• Additional Resources
• Additional Reading

Nonprofit Job Search Strategies

Ten Standard Strategies for Job Seekers

1. Scan the daily paper for want ads
2. Obtain an advanced degree
3. Network with friends to get job leads
4. Initiate informational interviews
5. Go to a state job service office for job referrals
6. Research organizations where you would like to work
7. Send resumes and cover letters to “ideal” organizations where you would like to work
8. See a career counselor for strategy advice
9. Visit your college placement office
10. Volunteer, intern or participate with an organization that interests you

Ten non-traditional strategies for nonprofit job seekers

1. Scan community newspaper job listings
2. Negotiate with an existing organization to write a grant and start a project inside a nonprofit
3. Attend nonprofit meetings such as the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits' Annual Conference
4. Join a nonprofit board to gain governance experience and expand network contacts
5. Use the Minnesota Nonprofit Directory to develop a target list of employers
6. Spend half a day at a public library foundation center studying nonprofits
7. Review lists of recent large grant recipients to see which organizations may be expanding
8. Use on-line computer services
9. Use available job lines
10. Start a nonprofit yourself based on an issue you care about

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Job Postings Available by Telephone or Website

Following is a sample of institutions which offer job postings by telephone or website. Joblines are becoming increasingly popular, especially among larger nonprofits with many position to fill. There are more counties, cities, colleges and other organizations which may use a job line service or website. The recordings usually include a job description, application information, qualifications, and salary range.

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Job Posting Locations

This list includes organization which have job postings organized in a notebook available in their offices for job seekers to view.

HIRED: This is a nonprofit organization which provides employment counseling to various populations in the community. They have a program called Job Link which sends out job postings to various organizations. Minneapolis 612/529-3342 1200 Plymouth Avenue North

Project SOAR: Located in Duluth, Project SOAR has a job board with local job listings.  218/722-3126 205 West Second Street, #101

Springboard for the Arts: has a notebook with job postings for arts administration positions available in the Twin Cities. This resource is available at the RCA office on Prince Street and at Springboard for the Arts website at www.springboardforthearts.org.  651/292-4381 308 Prince Street, #230 St. Paul

Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Programs: Rural Minnesota CEP has nine locations throughout central, western, and northern Minnesota. They have local job listings. Locations include:

Bemidji 218/751-8012 1008 Washington Avenue
Brainerd 218/829-2856 1919 South Sixth Street
Moorhead 218/233-1541 810 Fourth Avenue South
Morris 218/589-3900 10 East Sixth Street

Twin Cities Men's Center: TMC is a support center with a job notebook available to job seekers.  612/822-5892 3255 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis

Women Venture: A job service with a job notebook available to job seekers.  651/646-3808 2324 University Avenue West, #200, St. Paul

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Periodicals with Job Announcements

This is a listing of papers which regularly contain postings for nonprofit jobs. Larger nonprofit organizations tend to advertise in the daily papers more frequently. The smaller community-based papers may have postings from small nonprofits because the space is more affordable, because it is part of an equal opportunity employment plan, or because these papers are read by an audience which is attracted to employment in nonprofits. The community papers are distributed free in a variety of locations, including libraries, restaurants, and community centers.

• Asian American Press: A free weekly newspaper for the Asian-American community.
• City Pages or Twin Cities Reader: Free weekly papers published every Wednesday in the Twin Cities.
• Lavendar: A free bi-weekly newspaper geared toward the GLBT community.
• La Presna De Minnesota: A free newsweekly for the Hispanic community, published Thursdays.
• Minneapolis Star Tribune/St. Paul Pioneer Press: Daily newspapers distributed statewide.
• The Circle: A free monthly newspaper geared toward the Native American community.
• Minnesota Women's Press: A free bi-weekly newspaper published every other Wednesday.
• Minneapolis Spokesman/St. Paul Recorder: Weekly newspaper for the metro-area African-American community.

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Public Libraries

Public libraries should not be overlooked as a resource for you in your job search. Five libraries in the state (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, and Southwest State University in Marshall) have Foundation Center Collections which hold documents related to fundraising, and many other publications pertaining to the nonprofit sector. Libraries also contain other job search and career planning materials.

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Additional Resources

Center for Nonprofit Management, University of St. Thomas: The Center offers a Master's program in nonprofit management as well as workshops and classes open to the general public. 612/962-4290 52 Tenth Street South, Minneapolis.

Management Assistance Project (MAP): MAP offers two volunteer programs, one for professionals with specific skills to contribute to nonprofits, and the other which matches volunteers with organizations that need board members.  651/647-1216 2233 University Avenue West, #360, St. Paul.

Minnesota Association of Volunteer Directors (MAVD): MAVD is a membership-based organization for people interested in volunteer management. Members receive job posting announcements when paid positions oven in the field of volunteer management.  612/871-7676 c/o American Red Cross, 11 Dell Place, Minneapolis.

Minnesota Council on Foundations: A professional organization of foundations and corporate giving programs, conducts grantwriting workshops and periodic informational meetings on jobs in the field of philanthropy.  612/338-1989 706 Second Avenue South, #800, Minneapolis.

National Society for Fundraising Executives (NSFRE): The NSFRE is a membership organization of employees in the development field. Their newsletter includes information about positions opening in the fundraising area.  612/476-7373 7630 West 145th Street, #202, Apple Valley

Women in Transition (WIT): WIT offers vocational counseling, job exploration, and job search techniques for women in the metro area. They build on current skills and encourage women to develop new skill to gain job satisfaction.  612/924-1266 7715 Minnetonka Boulevard, St. Louis Park

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Additional Reading

Chronicle of Philanthropy, available at the public library.

First Call for Help, produced by the United Way of the Twin Cities, is a comprehensive guide to human services, emergency resources, government programs and health care providers in the Metropolitan area.

Minnesota Nonprofit Directory, published by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, lists 4,600 Minnesota nonprofits and their activities and other structural information.

Finding a Job in the Nonprofit Sector, William Wade, Ed., 1991. A useful resource in the nonprofit job search. Available at the public library.

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