Nuts and Bolts of the Nonprofit Sector: Idealist Portland
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
6 - 7:30 p.m., Vollum Lounge 

Saying "I want to make a difference!" isn't enough.

This presentation explores three key aspects of finding meaningful nonprofit opportunities. First, we explore the nuts and bolts of the nonprofit sector and its hiring process. We will discuss the resource barriers (financial and human resource constraints) and the ways in which nonprofits hire and recruit through their internal network. Secondly, we discuss ways for job seekers to get involved and strengthen their candidacy by creating intentional opportunities. Aspiring nonprofit professionals need to do more than search for opportunities available right now. Instead, they need to find needs they can address and create opportunities to engage. Thirdly, attendees with receive tools and tips for making the most of the Idealist.org Nonprofit Career Fair at Portland State University on October 14th.

Steven Joiner is a Director of the Career Transitions Program at Idealist.org where he creates online and real-time resources for professionals looking to transition into a meaningful nonprofit job opportunity. In this role he gets to work both with individuals and with organizations looking to create a dynamic and age-diverse workplace. Steven’s professional history includes long stints as a teacher and writer. One of the reasons he loves his work at Idealist so much is that he can now do both on a regular basis. As a lifelong volunteer and longtime nonprofit professional, Steven can’t remember a time when social-impact work wasn’t a part of his life. Currently, Steven is on the board of the Friends of the Multnomah County Library (where he heads the Development Committee) as well as a board member with Multnomah County’s Citizen Involvement Committee.