As a member of Gen Y working in the nonprofit sector who did not attend this year's Young Nonprofit Professionals Network conference in Washington, D.C. last week, I was thrilled to read Caroline Preston's coverage on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's conference blog. Each year, national YNPN members meet to discuss how young nonprofit professionals can move up and work more effectively with other generations; however, this year's event "took on a darker hue because of the economy." As Preston writes:
The economic crisis is shaking up the nonprofit world in ways that are making it more difficult for young workers to find jobs but could also present them with new and unusual opportunities to advance, said speakers and participants....
"Business as usual is out," said Diana Aviv, president of Independent Sector. "You may have thought that long before the economic crisis, but now you’ll have a lot of executives who will be interested in the kinds of solutions you have in mind. This is the time for creativity and innovation...."
Preston shares a number of tips and advice from conference speakers and participants for keeping young employees motivated. Here are a few of her takeaways:
- The economic crisis offers an opportunity for young people to:
- move up, because a lot of executives are looking for creativity and innovation
- help their bosses discover new technology and make an impression
- get "cool new jobs" because seasoned employees are leaving their positions or have been laid off
- Young workers should look for nonprofit work now, because:
- when the economy rebounds, the opportunities for growth will be big
- the nonprofit world needs good, connected leaders to make the world a better place
- Organizations should:
- invest more in professional development as they give existing employees new responsibilities
- restructure their organizations to cultivate young leadership
Along with this good advice, speakers at the conference urged young professionals not to give up on the sector while the recession strains resources across the board. Writes Preston:
People in their 20s and 30s are often considered "sector hoppers," unwilling or uninterested in staying in one job or one type of organization for too long.
Speakers said they were concerned that the economic crisis and the strain it is putting on workers will accelerate that trend. But never before has the nonprofit world needed good leaders as much as it does today, said Independent Sector's Ms. Aviv.
"We need smart, connected people who are interested in making the world a better place," she said. Ms. Aviv said she understands just how challenging the work is, ending her speech with a poem entitled, "I’m Tired, I’m Whipped."
But as young people think about career options, Ms. Aviv said, "Think about the difference you’re making."
What advice can you offer young nonprofit professionals to keep them from leaving the sector? And if you're a young nonprofit employee, what is keeping you motivated and engaged in your work?
-- Regina Mahone
