Finding Career Opportunities for Women and People of ColorPosted by Grantham Hove on June 2nd, 2021 There are many nonprofit and for-profit organizations that work to make the world a better place, but not all of them employ people who are skilled in strategic planning. Some nonprofits might put a person in charge of the strategic planning process, while others might leave it up to the professionals. The skills required by strategic planners are not just learned in the classroom or in the office; they must be developed on the job through interaction with real live people. A social change agency might not have someone on staff who has strategic planning experience, but it is likely that other nonprofit organizations have people who are skilled at strategic thinking. In the nonprofit world, a "social change" consultant can fill the role of the "trusted advisor." The "trusted advisor" would serve as an informal advisor who brings together nonprofits with different perspectives to find creative solutions to pressing issues. An "insider" may be included on the "cooperation team" as well as serving as a convener or a facilitator. The "insider" would draw upon their background expertise in strategic planning to serve as an informal sounding board for the diverse group of stakeholders. If you are thinking about becoming a trusted advisor, there are a few steps you can take to prepare yourself. First, you need to learn about the roles and responsibilities of the position. Although you may have been trained in a particular sector, such as criminal justice, you will find that there are many different areas of the social change business you can focus on. You may be asked to serve as a communications coordinator for a nonprofit organization, a grant writer, or a youth organizer. You will need to understand the vision of the nonprofit organizations you serve and develop strategies to support their mission and vision. Second, you should familiarize yourself with the emerging trends in strategic planning. There are currently multiple books, blogs, and websites that teach people how to build influence by socially changing their organizations. These informational tools are helpful for those who are trying to understand the emerging trends in the nonprofit world. The more knowledgeable you are about strategic planning, the more likely you will be to be included in conversations about the future of nonprofits and how they impact the mission-driven causes they serve. Third, you should attend conferences, engage in thought leadership training, and read books on public relations. A social change agency often sponsors conferences and thought leadership training events. You may also want to participate in these events. At a conference, you will likely be able to network with people who can help you build influence and develop strategies to advance the work of your nonprofit's. You will also be able to meet people who are already successful at engaging nonprofits in the community. Once you have become familiar with the various aspects of strategic planning and thought leadership training, you should start looking for nonprofit positions. The first job, you should look for is a community organizer. A community organizer develops strategies for promoting social justice and is an important part of strategic planning for nonprofits. A community organizer works with nonprofits that have an urgent need for funding, attention, and other resources. Another great career opportunity for you is in the technology department. Technology has become an integral part of most nonprofit endeavors. There are a variety of positions available in the technology department, including consultants, developers, managers, information technology assistants, computer professionals, and technologists. As a social change agency , you should look for nonprofit positions that allow you to apply technology and strategic planning into the organization's current work. Finally, you should consider developing your own website. Many nonprofit organizations host web sites for the people inside the organization, including the staff and the board of directors. If you want to be one of the "game changers," you should consider creating your own website to promote your career. Your website can introduce and provide resources for your audience. You can also show potential donors how you are working to make the world a more equitable place. By using your website and blogging to communicate important information about your work, you can help to develop nonprofit sector leadership, which can lead to jobs like ceos, executive directors, and tech policy experts.Like it? Share it! More by this author |