Many nonprofits rely on the incredibly valuable assistance provided by volunteers and interns. But do you have processes in place to ensure that you can support them, while ensuring that your beneficiaries are protected too? Are you maximising the benefits and experience that these volunteers could bring to your programme? The resources in this section explore these questions in more detail.
Using external support: how nonprofits can work effectively with consultants
Despite consultants to government having a bad reputation due to excessive costs, external advisers/service providers to the non-profit sector play a vital role and don’t (or should not) charge exorbitant rates.
One ongoing confusion in the field of resource mobilisation is the term ‘fundr…
Unpopular Opinion: I Don’t Do Meetings. And It’s Working
📷 Pixabay
When I first stepped into a management role in my team, I followed the textbook approach. Weekly one-on-one meetings were scheduled with each report, neatly slotted into our diaries like tiny check-ins of care and productivity. It looked great on paper.
But here's the thing: eve…
Empowering women leaders through mentorship
I believe I would have been a more confident and capable leader if I had someone to hold my hand, or had spaces to connect with other women in leadership roles who faced similar challenges....
I became the Director of a nonprofit organisation at a relatively young age. Unfortunately, that was d…
Charity Careers Africa’s top ten tips for giving excellent job interviews
By Jennifer Ritchie | Charity Careers Africa
As experienced recruiters our candidates often tell us that their experience of being interviewed for some other positions is so poor that it left them wondering if they want the job at all. After doing the hard bit and managing to g…
Why delegation is the key to organisational success
Do important tasks “slip through the cracks” in your organisation? Do individuals or teams duplicate work, or resent each other because “someone is doing my job”? Are there people sitting around waiting to be told what to do? Are others frustrated because they know what they should be doing, but ne…
The tightrope walk: Leading with empathy while holding teams accountable
In recent years, empathetic leadership has emerged as a popular trend in business management circles. Empathetic leadership involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, allowing leaders to see workplace issues from their employees' perspectives.
This approach helps supervisors addres…
When should NPOs use a specialist recruitment agency?
In South Africa, the landscape for individuals seeking to join a non-profit organisation (NPO) is increasingly competitive. Despite the growing pool of active candidates, the hiring process remains complex and demanding. At Charity Careers Africa, we recognise that while some NPOs might possess the…
The deceptive reality of commission-only "full-time" positions
Challenging the Norms of Commission-Based Employment in the Non-Profit sector
Recently, my LinkedIn feed and inbox have been inundated with new business development and fundraising opportunities on a commission-only basis at both new and established non-profit organisations. As a professional free…
UK volunteers for South African NPOs
The 21st century has seen an unprecedented boom in the popularity of school leavers travelling before starting university or working – AKA the gap year. A large percentage of British youngsters, generally aged about 18, delay starting careers or tertiary study to travel.
Many do so for up…
How to answer the salary question
The question that most candidates dread, usually comes close to the end of an interview:
“So, what is your expected salary?”. . . .
Best practice tells us that disclosing the salary before candidates reach interview is the fairest and most effective way to recruit. Most non-profits ar…
Crafting a great CV for a nonprofit job
Have you ever wondered why you apply for lots of roles, but don’t hear back or miss out on shortlisting? It might be that you’ve got some excellent skills and experience and you know that you would be a great candidate for a role. But that’s just where there may be an issue – YOU know you would be…
How to write a great cover letter
A cover letter can make or break your chances of getting shortlisted for your dream job; however, it’s the area that many candidates fall down on. While CVs are carefully considered and crafted, all too often the cover letter is written in haste and half-heartedly. This does not go unnoticed by pro…
[Watch] Volunteers and the law - what to know
This video deals with the legal implications of having volunteers.
Laws related to NPOs and volunteers working with children
Many organisations in South Africa are focused on providing care to children. The provisions of the Children’s Act of 2005 are of significant importance when making use of the services of volunteers in caring for children. Section 9 of the Children’s Act provides that; “In all matters concerning th…