With 2020 (finally!) behind us, 2021 brings a sense of change and hope possibly greater than ever before. While last year was a difficult year for non-profit organizations and donations, we know the future looks bright for the industry and expect it to bounce back after the year of hardships.

According to a 2020 report from Johns Hopkins University, the nonprofit sector is still the third largest in the economy, with over 12 million jobs. With a rebound in fundraising and private sector spending in 2021, non-profits will continue to be a great industry for placements.

For recruiters, non-profit placements can be tricky considering a candidate would probably want to align more with the organization’s viewpoints and efforts. These types of organizations also don’t have quite the placement power that bigger companies do when seeking top talent, so they can be at a disadvantage.

That said, here are some best practices to follow when hiring non-profit talent:

1. Include the company values and mission in the job description

In order to communicate the role and its responsibilities, the main purpose of the opportunity has to be there. In non-profit specifically, this description may also contain the value in working with the company. The goal is to grab those candidates who share those same value sets.

Including the nonprofit organization’s mission statement and core values, as well as clear expectations for potential hires, can help ensure a smoother hiring process with a more productive workforce.

2. Utilize multiple recruiting channels

When it comes to nonprofit job orders, promoting the open positions across different channels can help expand the reach to find that position’s perfect candidate. Websites like Monster, LinkedIn, CareerBuilder along with nonprofit specific websites such as Idealist, Foundation List, and National Council of Nonprofits are great for spreading the word on a really good opportunity.

The more avenues that are experimented with, the better chance the position can gain some traction and get filled!

3. Recruit with referrals

For non-profit job orders, sometimes the best way to get traction on it is by word of mouth. Or in this case, referral via technology. Creating an effective way to start referrals between candidates can result in better placements and longer employment for jobs.

4. Proactive Recruiting

Oftentimes the best way to get a placement is simply to do some proactive recruiting. Gathering lists or pools of talent can oftentimes help when you find job orders that need filling. Taking the initiative to scout out talent ahead of time can save your clients time in the long run when waiting for positions to be filled.

Using a type of applicant tracking system can help you to store your candidate information can be really beneficial as well, making communication and scheduling times to talk much easier. Equally as helpful during times of proactive and reactive recruiting.

If an Applicant Tracking System offers it, you can also take advantage of their other features such as onboarding that make life easier for bringing on new hires!

5. Streamlined Recruiting

Many candidates won’t want to have their time wasted by a long recruitment process. Rather, having materials, meetings and clear and open communication in place ahead of time is a good way to pursue candidates and save time.

This can be tough for a nonprofit organization that usually wants to match the values and ideals of the candidate and visa versa – however with clear communication throughout, the process can be streamlined.

6. Get nonprofit recruiting Firm help

If nothing else, you can turn to recruiting firms that only specialize in nonprofit placements. These firms often already have pools built up filled with candidates that can be placed into job orders. This is a surefire way to make sure there is an efficient and timely onboarding process.