The goal of every nonprofit, regardless of mission, is to benefit the public. Whether by preserving natural land, bringing cultural opportunities to the area or guiding children, families and seniors in need to resources like food, legal aid and health care, hundreds of local nonprofits work to better our community in ways both big and small. But regardless of a nonprofit’s size, the most important decision it needs to make is finding the right people to deliver on its purpose.
That’s not always easy. We know that employee turnover in the nonprofit sector is higher than in other industries—roughly 19 percent compared to 12 percent—and that can make it challenging for nonprofits to accomplish their goals. When nonprofits can more effectively attract and retain talent, their teams can devote more of their time to helping others and fulfilling their missions.
Like all businesses, nonprofits invest in their professional staff, recognizing that in addition to identifying people with passion for a cause, they must retain skilled employees so that their organizations can remain sustainable. So how do nonprofits take care of their people? Strong boards and executive leaders examining their organizations’ operations have a lot to consider when it comes to salaries, benefits and culture.…