The demographic shifts in the nonprofit sector, coupled with the sector’s increasing scope of activities (including a reliance on organizations to take over government responsibilities), signal an imminent boom in nonprofit hiring. As a mid-career transitioner, you have the opportunity to take advantage of this boom and to share your transferable skills, new perspectives, and varied experiences with the nonprofit community.
Keep in mind that, while the end goal of a successful nonprofit career search is rewarding, the process can be complex, time- consuming, and stressful. Because you are switching sectors you have the added element of entering into a new world where you need to be aware of different vocabulary, job titles, and expectations. This Center is intended to ease your transition. Special thanks to Kim Lisenby for her help in making this resource center a reality.
The Idealist.org Mid-Career Transitions Program (MCTP) supports job seekers and the career development professionals who counsel them by developing online and real-world resources to help efficiently conduct a successful nonprofit job search. The MCTP also works with strategic partners in the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors to train hiring professionals on the benefits of employing the mid-career workforce, as well as ways to recruit and retain these professionals.
The MCTP supports mid-career professionals coming from a wide range of backgrounds. The most established work to date is with the aging workforce and the baby boomer demographic. In 2008, the MCTP will build on this work while continuing to work with other demographics looking to transition into meaningful careers: military, entertainment professionals, women, athletes, displaced workers, alumni networks of schools and companies, outplacement firms, and one-stop career centers.
Email us here if you are an organization that works with any of these demographics and would like to collaborate with Idealist.
The Mid-Career Transitions Advisory Board consists of:
Jay C. Bloom, President of Bloom Anew, a consulting group that provides executive and personal coaching and nonprofit consultation services. He recently served as interim CEO of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and was the CEO of Morrison Child and Family Services for 13 years. He also staffed a Task Force on Vital Aging and completed the final report. (Portland, OR)
Jackee Engles, Employer Relations/Career Counselor at Claremont Graduate University Office of Career Management. (Claremont, CA)
Judy Goggin, Vice President of Civic Ventures. Former Vice-President for Elderhostel. She serves in an advisory capacity for several national organizations and initiatives including AARP, The American Society on Aging, The National Council on the Aging, The Transition Network, and The American Libraries Council. (Boston, MA)
Lauren Gordon, Career Counselor for Career Transitions for Dancers with an extensive background in the field of athletes in transition. She has a private psychotherapy/consulting practice in New York City and is a Coaching Candidate for the FiveO'Clock Club. (New York, NY)
Gary Prehn, Career Management Solutions Trainer and former minister with a connection to the national faith-based community movement to civic engagement. (Portland, OR)
David Schachter, Assistant Dean for Career Services and Experiential Learning at the NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where he oversees all career-related services and programs to Wagner’s students and alumni. (New York, NY)
Lynne Schuman, Director of Student and Career Services at the University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. (Minneapolis, MN)
Phyllis Snyder, Vice-President, The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). (Philadelphia, PA)
Colleen M. Soto, Assistant Director in the Office of Alumni Relations at DePaul University, overseeing Alumni Career Services and Volunteer Opportunities for the 130,000+ alumni community. She also serves on the Alumni Career Services Network (ACSN) Board of Directors as the Vice President of Communications. (Chicago, IL)
Dee Thompson, Director of the Portland State University Career Center. (Portland, OR)
Linda Wiener, Age Issues Expert for Monster.com and Principal of Exploring Careers in Aging. Nationally recognized as an aging and workforce consultant she is frequently interviewed by the media, a popular speaker, and regular contributor to business and professional publications on these issues. (Vancouver, WA)
