Leadership is critical to every non-profit’s performance, which means recruiting top-tier talent must be an organizational priority. This article provides four key elements that your non-profit needs to secure visionary leaders.

1. Communicate Company Culture

Today’s leadership candidates are increasingly mission driven; they want to know that they’re making a difference through their work. That’s why it’s important to effectively communicate your ethics and values to find the talent that fits and can further your non-profit’s mission. Using social media and your website to highlight your organization’s social responsibility is a crucial part of your overall hiring strategy.

2. Define Employer Brand & Make It Visible

Another key to today’s recruiting environment is “find and be found.” So, what does that mean? As an employer, you are a product. You’re selling your organization and competing with other “products” every day. Make sure job seekers know and have a positive impression of your brand. They must know about the features and benefits of your organization and how you’re different from the competition.

Candidates are turning to social media to gain insights into the non-profits at which they’re seeking employment. That’s why it’s critical to maintain a positive and regularly updated online presence that gives them a glimpse of what their employee experience will be like at your organization.

3. Seamless Onboarding Process

It’s essential to have a well-developed onboarding strategy to mitigate risk and culture shock, especially for leadership transitioning from for-profit companies. This might include allocating a greater amount of time for a leader to build relationships with colleagues and the board before proceeding with assigned job duties.

4. Partner with an Executive Search Firm

Non-profits may be resistant to using a search firm to meet growing talent needs, perhaps as a result of restricted budgets or maintaining a grassroots approach to hiring. However, the cost of a bad hire could be more significant than the cost of investing in a firm that will assist you in mitigating hiring risks. Many funders and partners realize this and will help find the funds to ensure the organization gets the hire right.

A quality executive search firm can also help you expand your diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts, which is increasingly important to today’s candidates. Further, the firm can market your accomplishments to new donors and partners as they source for potential candidates. Be sure to select a firm with expertise in the non-profit sector.

Connect with a Non-Profit Executive Search Practice Leader

To see more tips for recruiting visionary leaders for your non-profit organization, download The Non-Profit's Guide to Attracting & Retaining Mission-Driven Leaders or get in touch with our non-profit executive search practice leader directly.