National Voice Research and Advocacy
Current Project
In 2011, National Voice is focusing its efforts on the publishing a state-of-the-sector report.
YNPN’s National Voice Report
In fall 2011, YNPN will publish a report that provides young professionals’ insight into key issues facing the sector and recommendations frequently put forth towards addressing those issues.
The recommendations YNPN investigated are:
- Nonprofits Should Offer More Competitive Compensation
- Nonprofits Should Invest in Building “Bench Strength” (Internal leadership development)
- Nonprofits Should Engage in Inclusive Succession Planning
- Nonprofits Should Prioritize Diversity
- Nonprofits Should Move Away from Traditional Organizational Structures & Chief Executive Role
In a survey of over 1,000 individuals in the nonprofit sector, National Voice tested the strength of these recommendations and uncovered the issues most impacting the young nonprofit workforce today. This information has provided key insights into how YNPN should prioritize its advocacy efforts and professional development services.
The National Voice Report will reflect these insights and highlight the issues that will drive YNPN’s advocacy work in the coming years.
Preview of National Voice Survey’s Findings
Our respondents are on board with our recommendations
- Overwhelming agreement that recommendations have the potential to positively impact the nonprofit sector
- There was a much larger number of organizations reported to be implementing these recommendations than those that are implementing the recommendations effectively
Our respondents are committed to work with a social mission
- A third of respondents reported to be 100% committed to the nonprofit sector
- Respondents that were open to jobs in other sectors, a majority of them still required that their job had an explicit social mission
Our respondents have great managers but poor professional development opportunities
- Young nonprofit leaders feel they have great managers
- Only 15.3% of respondents’ organizations received funding for their leadership development efforts
- Only 38% of respondents had received a performance-based salary increase
Our respondents are undecided about whether the sector should restructure the Executive Director role
- Only a small majority of 52.3% felt restructuring this role would have a positive impact
Project Timeline
Finalize Survey Data Analysis March – July 2011
Write National Voice Report July – August 2011
Launch National Voice Report September – December 2011
Questions? Please Contact: Dan Dobin, National Voice Chair, dandobin@gmail.com
Past Projects
Stepping up or Stepping Out Report
In 2007, YNPN surveyed its then 10,000 members around the country to find out whether young potential leaders were leaving or remaining in their jobs, what preparations and support they needed to take on greater leadership roles, and how to best develop the next generation of leaders to replace the baby boomers. Some 1,657 people completed the survey.
YNPN’s Stepping Up or Stepping Out report identified the following key findings:
- Forty-five percent of the most skilled and experienced respondents plan to leave the nonprofit sector, although many intend to return.
- Forty-eight percent consider lack of management experience a barrier to reaching an executive position.
- Many consider the ED role too stressful and hard to balance with a personal life. This may be the result of negative modeling by current EDs.
- Despite this, one-third consider it highly likely that they will become executive directors (EDs) in the future (although only eight percent think this will be at their current nonprofit).
