Finding the right people can be the difference between success and failure when it comes to nonprofit recruiting.

Many organizations make the mistake of thinking that quantity is more important than quality. And it’s certainly important to cast a wide net and bring on as many talented individuals as possible. But it’s just as crucial to ensuring everyone joining your team shares your nonprofit’s purpose. If you’re looking to make a real impact with your nonprofit, you want a team of people who are passionate about your cause and share your vision.

Try these tips to find highly qualified candidates.

Six Nonprofit Recruiting Best Practices and Tips

1. Define Your Nonprofit’s Purpose and What You Are Looking For in a New Hire

Nonprofit organizations have a unique set of needs when it comes to recruiting new employees. In order to find the best nonprofit talent, you first want to define your nonprofit’s purpose and what you are looking for in a new hire.

By defining your nonprofit’s purpose and what you are looking for in a new hire, you will be able to more effectively identify nonprofit professionals who are the best fit for your organization.

Nonprofit organizations are typically mission-driven, so you want a candidate aligned with your organization’s values and goals that would fit in with your current employees.

Additionally, nonprofits often have limited resources, so you may want to prioritize a candidate who is a self-starter and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

2. Research Different Methods of Recruiting Talent

If your nonprofit needs recruitment help, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Job boards, social media, and networking events are all great places to start your search for top talent. However, with so many recruitment strategies out there, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Job boards can be a great way to reach a large number of qualified candidates. However, they can also be costly and time-consuming. Social media can be a more cost-effective option, but it may take some trial and error to find the right platform and strategy for your nonprofit.

Networking events can be a great way to meet potential candidates in person, but they can also be logistics-heavy. You can reach out to educational institutions in your area to see if they have any career fairs coming up. This is a great way to network with potential candidates without the need to organize an event yourself.

There’s no one perfect recruiting method. You’ll want to experiment and see what works best for your nonprofit. You’re sure to find the perfect candidate for the job with a little effort.

3. Create an Attractive Job Description That Will Stand Out To Qualified Candidates

When you’re recruiting for a nonprofit organization, you’ll want to craft a job description that stands out to candidates who’d be a good fit.

Use these tips to create an attractive posting for your job opening:

• Use compelling language that speaks to your mission. Instead of simply listing the job requirements, take the opportunity to explain how the role furthers your nonprofit’s goals. This will help attract candidates who are passionate about your cause.
• Highlight your nonprofit’s unique culture. Let potential candidates know what makes your nonprofit special, whether it’s your commitment to social justice or your collaborative work environment.
• Include compensation information. Being transparent upfront about compensation can facilitate identifying if you will be able to adequately compensate potential candidates for their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Evaluate your budget and current market to understand what you can sustainably afford to pay your new hire.
• Use social media to reach a wider audience. Utilize hashtags and post your job listing on relevant LinkedIn groups. You may also want to consider running targeted ads on Facebook or Twitter.

By following these tips, you can create a job posting that will attract top talent to your nonprofit organization.

4. Screen Candidates Thoroughly To Ensure They Are a Good Fit for Your Organization

The nonprofit sector is becoming increasingly competitive. So it is more important than ever to find ways to attract and retain top talent. One way to ensure that your nonprofit is attracting the best candidates is that the hiring manager screens applicants thoroughly.

This means taking the time to review resumes, conducting phone and in-person interviews, and checking references. A thorough screening process allows you to learn about their values, motivations, and goals and ensure that these align with your nonprofit’s mission and culture.

Taking a careful and thoughtful approach to screening candidates can ensure that your nonprofit makes the best possible hiring decisions.

5. Follow Up With Candidates After They Have Been Interviewed or Rejected by Hiring Managers

One way to improve your recruitment process is by following up with candidates after they have been interviewed or rejected by hiring managers. This shows that you are interested in their well-being and are willing to invest in their development. It also helps to build relationships with potential candidates, which can make them more likely to consider working for your organization in the future.

Of course, following up with every candidate is not always possible. But reaching out to the most qualified candidates can make a big difference in your recruitment process.

6. Keep Track of Your Recruitment and Hiring Process and Revise Your Recruitment Efforts as Needed

The recruiting process for a nonprofit can be complex and time-consuming. There are a number of factors to consider, from the type of position you’re recruiting for to the pool of potential candidates. And once you’ve made a hire, you’ll need to assess how the recruitment and hiring process went and make necessary revisions.

Use these tips to keep track of your recruitment and hiring process:

• Create a recruitment plan. This should include the position you’re recruiting for, the qualifications you’re looking for, and your recruitment strategy.
• Keep track of your recruitment sources. This will help you assess where you’re finding most of your job seekers and whether or not you need to explore new recruitment sources.
• Keep track of your applicants. This includes their contact information, resume, and cover letter.
• Use an applicant tracking system (ATS). Softwares like BambooHR and ClearCompany can help you keep track of all your applicants in one place and streamline your recruitment process.
• Evaluate your recruitment efforts regularly. This will help you identify areas that need improvement and make necessary changes to your recruitment plan.

Follow these tips to develop a more efficient and effective recruitment process, leading to a better candidate experience and ultimately finding the best talent for the role.

Recruit Top Talent for Your Organization

By following these tips, you can improve your nonprofit’s recruitment process and attract top talent. By taking the time to screen candidates thoroughly, follow up with candidates after they have been interviewed or rejected, and keep track of your recruitment process, you can make your nonprofit a more attractive employer and improve your chances of making great hires.

If your organization’s HR department could use some help in their recruiting efforts, check out our consulting services today.