One of the central goals of the Initiative for Nonprofit Sector Careers is to share and promote nonprofit sector workforce research as well as identify gaps in the research.  Below are links to relevant workforce research.  This list is not exhaustive and will continue to grow.  If you would like to suggest a body of work to be linked below, please email us.

Featured and Recent Resources

The Voice of Nonprofit Talent in 2008
Commongood Careers recently developed and distributed a 25-question survey to the 15,000 members of its candidate pool. The survey asked jobseekers to share their attitudes, motivations and challenges in pursuing careers in the social sector. The following report is intended to provide employers with a deeper understanding of what employees prefer and expect from them. This information can help organizations be more effective at recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining talented individuals.

Click here to read our collection of recent scholarly research, resources, articles.
     Research on Workforce Diversity
     Articles on Workforce Diversity
     Research on Student Debt
     Articles on Student Debt
     Research on Nonprofit Frontline Workers
     Articles on Nonprofit Frontline Workers
     Research on Leadership Transition and Pipeline Issues
     Articles on Leadership Transition and Pipeline Issues


Scholarly Research and Resources

Research on Workforce Diversity

Nonprofit Governance in the United States: Findings on Performance and Accountability - June 25, 2007
Francie Ostrower, Urban Institute
Nonprofit boards are increasingly a focus of those interested in greater accountability and transparency, including policymakers, media, and the public. To help inform current policy debates and initiatives to strengthen nonprofit governance, in 2005 the Urban Institute conducted the first ever national representative survey of nonprofit governance, with over 5,100 participants. This report presents survey findings, discussing: relationships between public policy and governance, factors that promote or impede boards' performance of basic stewardship responsibilities, board composition and factors associated with board diversity, and recruitment processes, including the difficulty experienced by many nonprofits in finding members.

Girl Scouts of the USA: Architecture of Inclusion Diversity Brochure - May 2007
By consistently measuring diversity efforts at all levels and actively working to recruit and retain people from all segments of the population, Girl Scouts continues to secure a diverse pool of candidates who possess the talent and skills needed to achieve our mission and serve as a pipeline for future leaders. The impact Girl Scouting has on the lives of girls in this country is positively reinforced by the influx of employees whose individually diverse characteristics add strength and durability to our organization. It is our belief that a multicultural workforce, supported by an inclusive environment, drives us toward the successful fulfillment of our mission. Diversity is critical to our success because our broad-based initiatives cut across all racial, ethnic, ability, religious, socioeconomic, and geographic lines.

Nonprofits Have a Spotty Record on Diversity-- February 26, 2007
Eugene Tempel & Larry Smith, Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
Published in the Nonprofit Times, this poignant article addresses the dissapointing history of nonprofit organizations in promoting diversity within their workforces.  Well thought out, and increasingly relevant, their article highlights this sad history, explains the causes of the dilemma, and highlights a number of possible solutions.

Cultural Competency Resources Pages-- 2006, ongoing updates
Alliance for Nonprofit Management
As part of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management's Cultural Competency Initiative, we invite you to tap into a reservoir of resources here.  These resources are relevant to nonprofit leadership and management, capacity building for nonprofit effectiveness, and the work of transforming the sector to generate large-scale change.  (from website)

The Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative -- 2006
"The Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative (ENII) is a project of The Denver Foundation, led by a steering committee of community leaders from throughout the seven-county Metro Denver area.  The mission of ENII is to enhance the effectiveness of Metro Denver nonprofit organizations by helping them become more inclusive of people of color. While the steering committee and The Denver Foundation recognize that all forms of inclusiveness are essential, the focus of his initiative is on issues of race and ethnicity.

"Race Matters Toolbox -- 2006
The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published a series of document that are "designed to help decision-makers, advocates, and elected officials get better results in their work by providing equitable opportunities for all. The approach described in the toolkit deals specifically with policies and practices that contribute to inequitable outcomes for children, families, and communities. The toolkit presents a specific point of view on addressing unequal opportunities by race and simple, results-oriented steps to help you achieve your goals."

Diversity Issues and Challenges Facing Youth-Related Nonprofit Agencies-- Fall 2001
Dr. Maria T. Allison, Arizona State University
This in depth and well researched academic research project highlights the growing crisis facing nonprofit agencies that predominantly serve youth.  Some of the challenge that Dr. Allison highlights are: rapid demographic changes, diverse constituents, hiring and retaining a pluralistic staff, linguistic barriers, discomfort with differences, stereotypes and discrimination, and ensuring legal and fair organizational practices. To combat these challenges, Dr. Allison then offers a number of though provoking policy recommendations.

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Articles on Workforce Diversity

Wanted: More Black Leaders-January 2008
Bill Alexander, YouthToday
* Posted with permission of Youth Today, www.youthtoday.org.
This article discusses the current leadership deficit in the nonprofit sector, primarily focusing on the shortage of African-American leaders. The article highlights two Coalition members, Michael Watson of Girl Scouts USA and Phyllis Wallace of American Humanics.

Achieving Diversity at Nonprofit Organizations - October 26, 2007
Dialogue, Chronicle of Philanthropy

From the abstract: While many nonprofit leaders say diversity is important, members of minority groups remain scarce on the boards and staffs of the nation's charitable organizations. And this state of affairs can prevent some charities and grant makers from attaining full success in carrying out their missions. To discuss what the nonprofit world is doing -- and should be doing -- to make itself more reflective of the people it serves, three experts will be available online. Share your thoughts about whether nonprofit organizations are paying enough attention to diversity in recruiting executives, staff members, and trustees, and offer your suggestions about how charities and foundations can improve their efforts to be inclusive.

Diversity Guide - October 18, 2007

In this recent issue of the Chronicle on Philanthropy, a majority of the issue was dedicated to the issue of diversity.  Both the Nonprofit Sector Workforce Coalition and Paul Schmitz the newly elected Chair of the Coalition's Board are mentioned.

Boards Lack Diversity, Engagement   - July 17, 2007
Philanthropy Journal
This recent article focuses on the lack of diversity on most Nonprofit boards and recommends possible approaches to promote greater diversity.

California Foundations React Negatively to Proposal That They Collect Diversity Data - May 2007
Foundations in California have reacted negatively to the latest push to improve giving to minority communities: proposed legislation requiring them to disclose their diversity data. The Greenlining Institute held two meetings in the past two months with foundations and others to discuss the purportedly first–of–its–kind "sunshine" bill, which was introduced in the California General Assembly in February. The bill would require foundations with assets greater than $250 million to collect specified race and gender data pertaining to their governance and grantmaking. The bill is an initial legislative response to the institute's recent research reporting a lack of diversity in foundation grantmaking. Legislation requiring similar transparency from corporations has improved their investments and practices affecting minorities and others, according to the institute. But according to a draft summary of the first meeting, in March, foundation representatives were in agreement that legislation pertaining to them was not necessary and that its implementation could be costly, even damaging to the sector.
In the meeting summary, which has not been publicly released, the institute chastised the foundations, warning that they can try "to run from the problem, but it will be hard for them to hide," with growing media attention to the issue as well as the institute's continued advocacy. Also, this legislative proposal is the first of its kind in the nation, and the institute says officials in other states and at the federal level are watching closely what happens in California and may put forward similar legislation elsewhere. The institute said that it and the bill's sponsor, Assembly member Joe Coto, D–San Jose, are looking to compromise with foundations to strengthen the legislation.

Change Needed In Philanthropy – March 19, 2007

Steve Gunderson, CEO of the Council on Foundations

From the Philanthropy Journal Online
In this short article, Steve Gunderson addresses the continued need for diversity within the nonprofit sector.

Diverse Backgrounds and Personalities Can Strengthen Groups-- August 2006
Elizabeth Mannix, Professor of Management, Cornell University / Margaret Neale, Professor of Organization and Dispute Resolution, Stanford Graduate School of Business
"In a recent article disentangling what researchers have learned over the past 50 years, Margaret A. Neale finds that diversity across dimensions, such as functional expertise, education, or personality, can increase performance by enhancing creativity or group problem-solving. In contrast, more visible diversity, such as race, gender, or age, can have negative effects on a group—at least initially." (from article"

United Way Begins Leadership Programs-- July 27, 2006
From topics.com
This brief article highlights the steps that a regional affiliate of an American Humanics National Nonprofit Partner is already taking to promote diversity within the nonprofit sector workforce.

Rochester Diversity Organization Expands to Become the Workforce Diversity Network-- October 13, 2005
Mike Streeter, Nixon Peabody LLP
This article announces the formation of a national coalition of for-profit companies to promote diversity within their organizations.

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Research on Student Debt

Green Lights & Red Tape: Improving Access to Financial Aid at California's Community Colleges
Project on Student Debt
Our report exposes wide variations in financial aid policies and practices at the state’s community colleges, which can have a major impact on students’ access to available aid.

Student Debt and the Class of 2006
Project on Student Debt
Our student debt report for the class of 2006 finds that the average student loan debt for graduating seniors climbed by eight percent in one year, while starting salaries rose by only four percent.

Paying Back, Not Giving Back: Student Debt's Negative Impact on Public Service Career Opportunities --2006
Luke Swarthout, Higher Education Associate for the State PIRGs.
Summary:  This report focus on the ways in which increasing student debt is often serving as an inhibitor to recent college graduates from entering the nonprofit sector.

Addressing Student Loan Repayment Burdens: Strengths and Weaknesses of the Current System -- 2006
Robert Shireman, Lauren J. Asher, Ajita Talwalker, Shu-Ahn Li, Edie Irons, and Rowan Cota:  Project on Student Debt Team.
Executive Summary:  Following a 2005 symposium jointly sponsored by American Enterprise and the Institute and the Project on Student Debt, leading researchers and policy makers explored the implications of rising student debt and drafted several proposals to address the issue.  In response to the interest generated by the symposium, the Project on Student Debt conducted a review of U.S. student loan repayment policies and analyzed the extent to which borrowers are subjected to excessive repayment burdens.  The review and analysis found that existing safeguards are well intentioned but flawed, leaving many borrowers without adequate protection.  This white paper describes the current system, assesses its strengths and weaknesses, and identifies practical ways to achieve a more rational and effective balance of borrower obligations and protections.

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Articles on Student Debt

Push for Student Debt Relief Greets Small Victory-- August 16, 2006
Shreema Mehta, The New Standard
This article found in The New Standard details many of the current difficulties facing student originating from the current student debt policies as well as a number of potential solutions being discussed.  Additionally, Lauren Asher of the Project on Student Debt, a member of the Nonprofit Sector Workforce Coalition, is quoted in the article

Survey: Hispanics Not as Well Informed About College Financial Aid-- July 25, 2006
Stephanie Matlock, Reporter
This article illustrates the lack of knowledge regarding college financial aid within the Hispanic community, and how this adversely affects the community.

Tuition 101: Higher Rates Don't Add Up-- June 27, 2006
Myra Batchelder & Jennifer Wheary, Newsday Inc.
This provocative article illustrates the challenge that continually rising college tuition costs pose to students, and how increasing numbers of students are being forces to rely on student loans at a time when interest rates are beginning to climb.  While the article addresses the New York system of higher education in particular, the opinions and observations of the author's has practical implications at the national level.

Studying the Numbers-- June 16, 2006
Shelly K Schwartz, The Star-Ledger
This article highlights the challenge that many college students will begin to face due to the interest rate increase on July 1, 2006.  Further, Ms. Schwartz offers a number of suggestions to students in order to help them avoid high additional costs from the rising interest rates.

Forgive Us Our Student Debts-- June 11, 2006
Jon Gertner, New York Times
Mr. Gertner explores the increasing difficulties many industries are facing in trying to attract college graduates to their sector.  In particular, he focuses on the medical community and the danger posed by ever increasing levels of student debt.  His expose` discusses many facets of the debate, including the importance of a college education, the difficulties facing recent graduates in trying to pay their skyrocketing debt, and the challenges to the medical community in paying entry-level staff a salary that will enable them to both make their loan payments and still receive a liveable income.

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Research on Nonprofit Frontline Workers

Workforce Planning Portal
Cornerstones for Kids
The Workforce Planning Portal provides hands-on tools and resources for human services agencies looking for solutions to workforce challenges.  We introduce Workforce Plan (WFP) as a comprehensive model agencies can use to address these challenges.

Child Welfare Workforce: Implications for the Private Nonprofit Sector--June 2006
Susan N. Dreyfus, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Alliance for Children and Families
"The following recommendations represent actions that private, public, and academic organizations can undertake individually and collaboratively to create state and national solutions for child welfare workforce issues in the private sector." (from article's abstract)

Child Welfare Workforce: Implications for the Private Nonprofit Sector -- 2006
Susan Dreyfus, COO of the Alliance for Children and Families
"The private sector workforce faces challenges that are at least as difficult as those in the public sphere and are in some cases unique to the private system. At the same time, private agencies are, together with their public partners, held accountable for better outcomes for children and families. In this paper, the Alliance for Children and Families reports on a conference session and focus group on private sector workforce issues held with the Alliance’s membership organizations. The paper identifies some of the major challenges identified at this meeting and provides concrete recommendations for addressing them." (taken from the paper's abstract)

Capturing Promising Practices in Recruitment and Retention of Frontline Youth Workers-- 2006
Joyce (Letner) Hartje, Researcher-University of Nevada, Reno
"Capturing Promising Practices provides strategies used at local organizations to recruit and retain staff who work directly with youth.   The National Collaboration for Youth surveyed, identified and then interviewed local organizations to provide these concrete examples of promising practices." (from website)

Working for Change: Making a Career in International Public Service-- 2005
Derick W. Brinkerhoff, Research Triangle Institute; Jennifer M. Brinkerhoff, George Washington University
Executive Summary: In Working for Change, Derick and Jennifer Brinkerhoff explore career paths in international public service, focusing on development management positions. They offer practical and inspiring guidance on finding the right mix of public service objectives, degree programs, job opportunities, and personal lifestyle choices. The Brinkerhoffs’ concept of career evolution is encapsulated in a framework they call the service-choice spiral. This model rejects standard set-the-goal, plot-the-steps planning and pulls one’s personal values, skills, professional goals, and sense of altruism into a solid career choice. Through profiles of six public service professionals, the Brinkerhoffs illustrate how real people have faced the choices that confronted them in the course of their careers.Working for Change will assuredly become the ideal guide and resource for anyone considering work in public service and mid-career professionals looking for a change in direction. It will also serve as a powerful resource for university career development officers and faculty advisors.

The Health of the Human Services Workforce-- 2003
Paul C. Light,  The Brookings Institution
Summary: Recognizing the importance of the Human Services Workforce in addressing many social issues, such as providing childcare for low-income families, running after-school programs, protecting children from neglect, providing alternatives to troubled youth, and guiding low-income families from the cycle of welfare to work, this report addresses the vitality of the sector's workforce and its future possibilities.

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Articles on Frontline Workers
 
National Youth Development Information Center Newsletter-- Monthly
Pam Garza, Director-National Youth Development Learning Network
Summary: The above link leads to the National Youth Development Information Center, where interested parties can register to receive their monthly newsletter which emphasizes some of the most important and current research and news that addresses Frontline Youth Workers.

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Research on Leadership Transition and Pipeline Issues