This issue’s Newsbytes summarizes a study that finds nonprofit employment has returned to pre-Covid-19 levels, highlights a report finding professional fundraisers plan to leave their current employers within two years, and looks at a free comprehensive tool nonprofits can use to analyze their technology practices and procedures.
Nonprofit employment returns to pre-COVID-19 levels
Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, nonprofits appear to be in a significantly better place in terms of overall employment than they were at the end of 2021. That’s according to the Nonprofit Employment Data Project at George Mason University.
It reports that the industry lost about 1.64 million jobs as of May 2020 and was still down by nearly 500,000 workers in December 2021. But the sector recovered the job losses by October 2022 and may have added new jobs in the final months of last year. The nonprofit workforce as of December 2022 was estimated to include about 107,000 more jobs than in 2017 — an increase of 0.86%. The researchers caution, though, that their estimates are based on the assumption that nonprofits kept pace with the overall private economy, and that’s far from a certainty.
How to stop fundraisers from heading for the door
Forty-six percent of professional fundraisers plan to leave their current employers within two years — and 9% plan to leave the field altogether within that same time period. These numbers were shared in the new report “What Makes Fundraisers Tick,” based on research conducted for Revolutionise International and the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy.
The report digs into fundraisers’ motivations, with an eye toward boosting retention. Among the most common motivations are well-being, competence, autonomy and connection, as well as the ability to make a difference for a cause they’re passionate about. For example, being treated with respect as professionals and receiving support from leaders and boards rank high as motivators. Lack of professional growth, autonomy and board support are cited as “draining,” or de-motivating, factors. Notably, salary and benefits don’t figure prominently in either list of factors.
Tech nonprofit releases free assessment tool
Nonprofit technology organization NTEN has launched a free comprehensive tool other nonprofits can use to analyze their technology practices and procedures. The tool, known as Tech Accelerate, is intended to help nonprofits with decisions, planning and investments, through data and benchmarks.
NTEN has conducted research into nonprofits’ technology investments — from staffing levels to budgets — for more than a decade. Through this research, it has identified key indicators of the practices and procedures correlated with organizations utilizing technology effectively. Based on these indicators, Tech Accelerate provides users with both a “tech adoption” score (on a scale of struggling, functioning, operating or leading) and a risk assessment (low, medium or significant). NTEN says organizations already have used the tool to apply for grants or support fundraising, inform strategic planning or budgeting, and build technology roadmaps.