Subscribe to Blog RSS (What is RSS?)



James in the Boston Globe

January 28, 2008

Our very own James Weinberg was quoted in Maggie Jackson’s Balancing Acts column in last Sunday’s Boston Globe. Here’s a snippet:

Will portfolio work turn epidemic? Probably not, although its incidence is growing, according to recruiters, career coaches, and others who follow trends in work culture. James Weinberg, a recruiter for nonprofits, sees an uptick in those willing to work this way - and those willing to hire them.

More job candidates are asking Weinberg for part-time work, saying, “ ‘I’m trying to knit together a career’, or ‘I’d like to have multiple roles that will allow me flexibility,’ “ observes Weinberg, chief executive of Commongood Careers in Boston. Sometimes, executives work on a shared basis for several groups, splitting their time between jobs, he says.

Read the full article.

Comments (0)

Best Practices, Hiring Advice, In the News, Talent Issues

Good Reads: Forces of Good

January 28, 2008

Kevin “I like to read” Kovaleski here with a literature review. If I could make a diorama on this blog, I would.

There is an ongoing debate in the nonprofit sector on what makes an organization a social entrepreneur. Forces for Good, a recent voice on the subject, provides a fresh approach to this topic.

To make the distinction between social entrepreneurs and traditional nonprofits, authors Crutchfield and McLeod-Grant spent four years researching the management techniques of hundreds of nonprofits.  Their findings target the management techniques of twelve nonprofits that they conclude are examples of high-impact, socially entrepreneurial change agents.  In their analysis of these organizations, Crutchfield and McLeod-Grant posit that these groups do not measure success through revenue increases, brand recognition or organizational chart sophistication.  Instead these twelve social trailblazers measure success by the change they are affecting in the piece of the world that they are attempting to improve. 

While old-school nonprofit management looks to governance, organizational structure, fundraising and other internally facing strategies to build a strong organization, social entrepreneurs focus their energy externally through six creative techniques.  These techniques (such as one that advises nonprofit groups to cross sectors and include for-profit partners into the execution of the mission) challenge traditional nonprofits to rethink goals and strategies in the execution of their mission. By exposing limitations and even flaws in traditional thinking, Forces for Good identifies commonly held myths about nonprofit management that are indicative of an outdated system of thought.

The authors conclude that the twelve nonprofits in study focus on the end-goals of creating impact and improving society rather than focusing on building a secure, fiscally sound organization, as their traditional counterparts so often obsess.  The authors offer well researched and thought out examples of innovative approaches to management employed by these groups. The case for innovation and out-of-the-box thinking is also supported by the authors’ warning against reckless management based on wild idealism.  The success of the organizations featured in Forces for Good is instead a product of an unwavering management philosophy that postures mission above tradition.

Comments (1)

What We're Reading, Best Practices, Hiring Advice, Social Entrepreneurism, Talent Issues

Congratulations to the 2008 Social Capitalist Award Winners

January 14, 2008

Fast Company published its 5th annual Social Capitalist Awards, and we are so proud of our client organizations on this year’s list. A very warm and well-deserved congratulations to our clients:

BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life)
Citizen Schools
Civic Builders
College Summit
DonorsChoose.org
New Leaders for New Schools
Points of Light Foundation & HandsOn Network
Reach Out and Read
Room to Read
Year Up

We are honored to help each of these organizations build stronger teams, scale operations, and ultimately create deeper impacts in the communities they serve.

Read the full list of winners.

Comments (0)

Fast Company Social Capitalists Award, Sector Reports, Social Entrepreneurism, Talent Issues

Commongood in The Boston Globe

January 14, 2008

In today’s Boston Globe, Sacha Pfeiffer writes about Commongood Careers as addressing a sector-wide need by matching up top talent and nonprofits.

From the article:

“...Commongood Careers, helps nonprofit organizations recruit, screen, and hire for jobs ranging from support staff to senior managers. It also provides career advice to job seekers, keeps a database of about 20,000 job candidates, and maintains online listings of job postings across the country.

Those services are filling a gap that has long hindered the nonprofit sector, which often struggles to fill vacant positions. Commongood specializes in working with rapidly expanding, high-impact, socially entrepreneurial organizations. And its low-cost, flat-fee search model is designed to make it affordable to even the smallest nonprofits, whether they need to fill a $20,000-a-year job or a six-figure executive position.”

Read the full article.

Comments (0)

In the News

Livingood on a Nonprofit Salary

January 04, 2008

image

There are two irrefutable truths about nonprofit employment. First, it’s not the salary that attracts us to work in the nonprofit sector. Second, these wonderful nonprofit job opportunities often take us to cities that boast expensive living costs.  Being fully aware of this, every month Commongood Careers will pick a city in which one of our clients operates and we will hunt down the “nonprofit-salary-friendly” neighborhoods, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, cultural events and yes, even hair salons. These spots will be sure to keep you living the exciting urban lifestyle that your lawyer and banker friends enjoy while keeping your finances afloat. First stop, Boston … home of Commongood Careers!

Good Eating

A Russo and Sons – Located in Watertown, Russo’s is a grocery store that offers the selection of Whole Foods at a fraction of the price. Highlights include fresh produce, rare cheeses and a wide selection of gourmet groceries.

Volle Nolle – The historic North End in Boston is famed for its quality and quantity of Italian eateries that will fill your stomach while emptying your wallet. Volle Nolle breaks the mold by offering great pasta salads and delicious soups and panini sandwiches (try the Cubano). The quaint interior and low prices make Volle Nolle perfect for a quick lunch stop or a small dinner. 351 Hanover Street Boston, MA 02113

Good Culture

Institute of Contemporary Arts – Boston’s newest art museum by award winning architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Located on the waterfront, the design of the building rivals the artwork it houses. Enjoy the museum free of charge every Thursdays from 5pm-9pm. If you have kids under the age of 12, bring the whole family for free on the last Saturday of every month.

Museum of Fine Arts ­– With a permanent collection of over 1,400 European paintings and 1,900 pieces of decorative art and sculpture, the MFA, Boston never disappoints. Every Wednesday from 4pm-9:45pm, peruse the galleries and enjoy classics from Matisse, Monet, Renoir, van Gogh and Rembrandt at no cost.

Free Shakespeare on the Common – Summers in Boston are legendary for free outdoor events held in the Boston Commons and the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. One highlight is the weeklong Shakespeare on the Common held in July. Free plays acted by professionals on a warm midsummer night prove that the Bard himself was right when he wrote that “all that glisters is not gold”.

Good Looking

Filene’s Basement – Though the famed Downtown Crossing shop is currently closed due to construction on the T that runs near it, Filene’s Basement, with stores on Boylston Street & in nearby Newton, MA still offers designer styles at Target prices. Though selection can be “hit or miss”, the “hits” make a visit worth its while. ()

Liquid Hair Studios – I’m no hair expert (my brother-in-law cuts mine in his basement), but Liquid is known for keeping other Bostonians looking sharp. Located on Tremont Street in the South End, this colorful and hip hair salon cuts costs as well as bangs. Though the décor is funky the stylists work to match your hair cut with your personality and lifestyle. With hair cuts and styles running from $25-60 you will have money left over to buy some shampoo.

Are you a Bostonian who thinks we may have missed some great-deal places? Please leave a comment on this blog and advertise your favorite places and events. Let the discussion begin!

(Please note: On our staff we have someone who scored a perfect 800 on the verbal SAT. Thus, we are well aware of the grammatically incorrect nature of slogans such as “livingood”. However we are also aware that sometimes cheesy catchiness beats proper grammar.)

Comments (1)

City Guides for Nonprofit Salaries