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How to Boost Your Business Career

By Clare Kaufman
Learning & Life Columnist

As baby boomers prepare to retire, nonprofits are wondering where the next generation of leaders will come from. One study predicts "a leadership crisis" in the nonprofit world, and calls for training programs "to attract, retain, and develop the workforce it needs in decades ahead."

This is good news for anyone looking to build a career. Resources abound in the nonprofit world for learning crucial management and administration skills. You'll find mentorships with nonprofit executives and program directors, networking events, professional fellowships, and plenty of opportunity to take on leadership roles.

Degrees that Profit from Non-Profit Leadership Positions

Although an associate's or bachelor's degree is sufficient for an entry-level nonprofit job, a master's degree in business (MBA) or public administration (MPA) provides access to the best opportunities. These degree programs include courses in financial management, budgeting, public policy, and more. You'll enter the workplace with a solid foundation on which to build as you gather leadership experience.

Business skills are increasingly important in today's nonprofit world, argues nonprofit consultant Shannon Bond. "As nonprofits run themselves more and more like businesses, there is a growing need for young people whose business know-how is as apparent as their passion to make a difference." David Cohen finds his executive MBA invaluable to his job as the development director of a health nonprofit. The degree "provided me with a new skill set and a better understanding of the business environment."

The Non-Profit to For-Profit Business Career Path

The overlap between business and public administration enables nonprofit workers to transfer their leadership experience to the for-profit sector. Monster.com finds that many business employees "first acquired work experience with nonprofit organizations--nonprofits are excellent stepping stones for jobs in government and business."

Nonprofit managers and administrators can look forward to a strong job market and a salary to match. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported a 4.8% increase in median salary for top executives at the largest non-profits in 2005, to $327,575. Overall, executive directors command around $100,000, and marketing managers average $72,585.

Whether you decide to stay in nonprofit administration or transfer into the business sector, your leadership experience should position you to take advantage of opportunities ahead.

Sources

• The NonProfit Times, "2006 Salary Survey"
• Future Leaders in Philanthropy, "Back to School to Save the World"
• PublicAllies.org, "Building Tomorrow's Nonprofit Workforce"
• Monster.com, "Pros and Cons of Nonprofit Work"
• About: Nonprofits, "Top Five Reasons to Work at a Nonprofit"
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy, "Top Nonprofit Executives See Healthy Pay Raises"
• GuideStar.org, "Where Will the Next Generation of Nonprofit Leaders Come From?"

About the Author
Clare Kaufman is a freelance writer specializing in education and career advice. She has a graduate degree in English.

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