Nonprofits compete with corporations for talented and skilled staff. But as our regional 2017 Compensation and Benefits Report suggests, nonprofits are not competitive in compensation. The sector has relied on recruiting mission-focused employees, but with the growth of for-profit social enterprise, this competitive edge has begun to erode. Additional shifts within corporate human resources practice that emphasize caring for employees as people may also increase nonprofit hiring challenges.
In response, nonprofits need work on equitable hiring practices while also thinking creatively about compensation. What perks or flexibility can you offer? One option that CNE has explored are staff sabbaticals. Sabbaticals can reinvigorate staff and bring unexpected value and energy to a nonprofit organization. Recent research indicates that offering a sabbatical can bring significant benefits such as staff loyalty, opportunity to explore specialized projects, leadership development, and new energy for the mission.
To help you address issues of equity in the workplace, CNE will be offering a new training series. Equitable Human Resource Practices will explore approaches to culture, hiring, and compensation with an eye towards increasing diversity and retaining staff.
We are also excited to offer a discount on our 2017 Regional Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Report. Through to January 31, 2019, organizations with smaller operating budgets will have access to our tiered pricing model. Consider downloading the accompanying (and completely free) discussion guide to get your board and staff talking about compensation.