Pride In No Profit
If the infrastructure and management challenges of Not For Profit and commercial CEOs can be similar, their pay is not, and belief in the work of their organisation is a key motivation for many according to a recent newspaper article in the NZ Herald, 30/10/2004 by Vikki Bland.
No career progression, poor pay and funding and management challenges - the life of a chief executive doesn't sound like a good deal. But Bob Kerridge SPCA CEO says it's all worth it when they win a battle.
"Running a charity is running a business with heart. People are beginning to realise the beneficial effects that animals can have on their lives and, as people treat animals well, they begin to treat each other well," according to Kerridge.
Some of skills required of NFP senior staff are as follows:
- Multi-tasking: if the organisation is small, the CEO can be required to do anything from carrying out the rubbish to deciding where the money goes.
- Top people skills: not-for-profit CEOs have to find ways to value and encourage staff, volunteers, donors, sponsors and suppliers and engage them in a mutually satisfying partnerships to build loyalty for the cause.
- Administrative and organisational skills: IRD compliance; donor information; PR and communications; fundraising, sponsorship and marketing initiatives - and finance.
- Project management skills.
- Strategy and planning skills: ability to work with professionals such as solicitors, planners, local government officials, boards and trustees.
- Knowledge, interest and passion for the organisation: its culture, aims and history.
- Flexibility: a Grant Thornton survey carried out last year of not-for-profit organisations revealed that 36 per cent did not have a formal health and safety programme.
- Self-promotion and marketing skills: a high CEO profile is important.
- Training: many tertiary organisations offer qualifications in not-for-profit leadership, management and marketing.
- Motivation: this is not a well-paid sector. Enter if you want to make a difference, not if you want to make money.
Full article : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=59&objectid=3605354