Beyond Passion: Advice for Job Seekers from a Best-Selling Author and Nonprofit CEO Coach

February 4, 2025   |   Season: 3 Episode: 10   |   Transcript

David Rhode

David Rhode founded Dot Dot Org where he mentors nonprofit CEOs and helps nonprofit organizations grow their capacity and impact. David is a nonprofit founder; he scaled and ran the global organization for almost 15 years. David's career began in the for profit sector at blue chip companies like Procter and Gamble, H.J. Heinz and others. David is the author of "Passion Isn't Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders". He is a Wharton MBA and currently teaches non profit branding and nonprofit consulting at the University of Pennsylvania.

Show Notes

Professor David Rhode, author of Passion Isn’t Enough: a practical guide for nonprofit leaders, uses the foundation for nonprofit success outlined in his book to advise job seekers. David has coached hundreds of nonprofit CEOs to grow their organizational capacity and scale. He knows that finding the right people and putting them in the right positions is essential. HIs insights will deepen your understanding of the sector overall and help job seekers artfully navigate the interview process.

 

Listen in as we discuss: 

  • Key distinctions between larger and smaller nonprofits. Job seekers should be aware of the advantages and pitfalls to both. 
  • No matter the organization’s size, job seekers want to show hiring managers that they are passionate, able to problem solve, reliable and can provide strong references. 
  • Nonprofit hiring managers may not be seasoned in hiring. Job seekers can use the interview process to clarify the role including having a clear sense of what success looks like and how their performance will be evaluated.
  • Future fundraisers: David reminds us that many of us are already fundraising be it a bake sale or running a 5k for a cause. Leverage non-professional fundraising experience to showcase and hone your skills. 
  • Looking ahead, the nonprofit sector will need those with skills in social media and AI. 
  • Most nonprofit careers are not easily mapped from the outset, get started on the journey and build from there.

 

Show Notes: 

Stanford Social Innovation Review 

Podcast: How to Hire the Right Person Every Time by Brooke Richie Babbage

Nonprofit Hive

Dot Dot Org

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