Jon Shields’ Post

I’m applying! Are you a nonprofit organization looking for an authentic philanthropic facilitator to join your team?  Are you ready to bring on a leader with almost twenty-five years of philanthropy experience, including building annual fund programs, major gift solicitation, grant writing and reporting, instilling a culture of philanthropy, and leading teams with an empowering and asset-based mindset? If so, I may be the candidate for you. Organization qualifications: A national or local Indianapolis organization with a goal of building long-term, transformational relationships with those whose values align with your cause.  I am looking for those ready for a team member who stays for five to ten years because relationships take time to build. Ability to hire for remote or hybrid (up to 3 days for Indianapolis locations) with occasional travel positions. Occasional travel is defined as less than 40%. Unable to relocate so remote roles with some travel preferred. Employees at all levels are empowered to lead from where they sit and think critically, develop new ideas, and take calculated risks to improve the organization's philanthropic culture. Models organizational values in day-to-day team interactions. Values are not just words on the website.  Collaboration, integrity, respect, innovation, equity, and accountability are some values that would align well with the ideal organization. The organization's mission is education, health, community development, equity, racial justice, workforce development, and more.  Higher education-related organizations are great, but not interested in returning to higher education. Would you happen to know the organization for me? Not sure? Studies show that sharing and commenting on LinkedIn posts help those searching for a job. I encourage my network to share and comment so the right organization can thank you when they hire me. This is a little play on the many job descriptions out there…but in all seriousness, I am eager to find the proper role for me and would be honored to have your support through a repost, sharing your thoughts on my expertise and character, or a comment and like. #opentowork #jobsearch #nonprofits #philanthropy #leadership

This Week’s Sizzling Job Search Strategy: Do you Volunteer? Volunteering can be more than just a way to give back to your community; it can also be a powerful tool in your job search strategy. By leveraging the connections you make through volunteering, you can uncover hidden job opportunities and strengthen your professional network. How To: When volunteering, be yourself! Engage and build genuine relationships with fellow volunteers and organizers by demonstrating your skills, work ethic, and passion. This could be as a member of a board or committee, or at an event. Let your peers know about your career goals - they might have insider knowledge about job openings or valuable connections. Leverage LinkedIn to connect with your new volunteer-contacts, sending personalized messages to maintain professional ties. Highlight your volunteer work on your LinkedIn profile and resume to find additional like-minded connections. #volunteer #opentowork #jobs

Seen a LinkedIn job you liked? 1000s applied too. > My take: LinkedIn isn't best for new jobs. I know others list job sites. But many are too long. I'll share my favorites for #remotework. Hunting jobs is a job itself... Not big names like Upwork My 9 Under-the-Radar Job Sites: 1) Contra - meet cool companies. 2) Remotive - Tons of online job openings. 3) PowerToFly - More than jobs for creatives 4) CreativeMornings - Creative jobs comm. 5) Talentpair - They find your dream job. 6) Swooped - Startups hiring. 7) Sonara - AI matches you to better jobs. 8) The Mom Project - for moms. 9) ilovecreatives - Gigs for creative peeps. 💞Bonus: Idealist.org for non-profit passions New quarter, new job hunt! P.S. The shortest version of Jenny Neal latest viral post. #remotejobs #freelancework #upworkfreelancers

How fundraisers find jobs (100% fictional ;-): ^ Annual gift officer "I targeted all the nonprofit managers in my state with a personalized Facebook ad. I applied to 300 jobs." ^ Major gift officer "A board member I knew from a past position was on the board of this other organization… plus my cousin’s third uncle plays golf with the CEO. I applied to 3 jobs." ^ Planned giving officer "I discovered a tax loophole where they would save so many taxes that they made money by hiring me. I spoke with the CFO over drinks. Never applied for a job." What is your job search strategy?

Your #nonprofit website is likely a prospective employee's first interaction with your organization. It must provide employee-focused information and inspiration that connects them to your mission. Here’s a list of content to include: ⭐ Success stories of employees making a difference 🤲 Showcase how different types of jobs contribute to the organization's mission ↗ Highlight professional development opportunities (What does a career look like at your organization?) ❤️ Communicate the organization's culture, values and vision 💬 Feature testimonials from current employees  💕 Offer volunteer and advocacy opportunities as a gateway to employment Also, make sure your application process is user-friendly and accessible to all candidates. Test the process with internal team members before launching and use accessibility audit tools like accessiBe. What content would you add for prospective employees at your nonprofit? #hiring #websitedesign #employeerecruitment

4 reasons you need a community job bank for your local non-profit organization... 1️⃣ Strengthen local economy and community A community-based job board prioritizes localized job postings and helps connect local talent with employers that are invested in the success of the community. When individuals work and spend money within their own communities, it creates a cycle of economic growth and development. 2️⃣ Providing equal opportunities Break down barriers to employment for traditionally marginalized groups.By prioritizing job postings from local employers who value diversity, community job boards can create more inclusive and equitable hiring practices. 3️⃣ Localized and personalized job search experience Making it simpler for job seekers to connect with local companies = relevant and accessible job opportunities. 4️⃣ Networking and Collaboration Help build relationships between job seekers and employers, community-driven job boards can help create a stronger sense of community and collaboration. That’s it! Want to start your own job board for your community? Try Niceboard for free.

Hello LinkedIn community! As many of you know, I founded The Disciple Project to revolutionize the job-seeking journey, turning the challenges of unemployment into opportunities for personal growth and community engagement. Our mission is deeply personal and incredibly important to me. It’s about more than just finding jobs; it's about creating a supportive, empowering space for individuals navigating the often isolating path of unemployment. Today, I'm reaching out to you with a heartfelt request. We are in need of passionate volunteers who can help us with grant writing. Our vision is ambitious, and to bring it to life, we need resources and funding that only grants can provide. Your expertise and dedication can help us secure these vital funds, enabling us to expand our programs and reach even more people in need. If you have experience in grant writing and a desire to make a meaningful impact, please consider joining our mission. Your skills can help us provide: Skill Development: Offering upskilling opportunities to enhance employability. Mental Health Support: Providing counseling and peer support to foster emotional resilience. Career Counseling: Tailoring personalized career plans to guide individuals through their job search journey. Financial Literacy: Educating participants on managing personal finances during periods of unemployment. Volunteer Matching: Connecting job seekers with meaningful volunteer opportunities that enrich their lives and resumes. Every grant we secure brings us closer to transforming lives and strengthening our community. This is not just about funding; it’s about hope, resilience, and creating a future where no one has to face the uncertainties of job searching alone. Please DM me if you’re interested in helping or if you have any questions. Your support can make a world of difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering this opportunity to give back and create positive change. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

Help me help you Yes I’m looking for a job. The green banner kinda gives that away. So often the narrative with outreach as a #jobseeker is that “what can people do for me?” But I’m spinning the narrative. Not asking what you can do for me, but what can I do for you? - What are you doing in the space? - What are you succeeding/struggling with? - Do I know anybody in my network you need to talk to? - Is there anything you need help with? How can I help you? Not once was it about what I’m asking someone to do for me. But only how I can help YOU! Help me help you! Spinning the jobseeker narrative Believe #opentowork #jobsearch #helpingothers

It’s Friday, and time for my post for the day. Except today I am making the announcement that I no longer need to have the green #opentowork banner posted! I am fortunate to have received not one but two job offers. And I accepted both job offers! More on these organizations in a later post. These offers didn’t just fall into my lap. I believe that being patient, maintaining a good mind-set, having a strategic plan when things go wrong, and taking action are the keys to withstanding a difficult, dry unemployment spell. I had a plan of action: I got up every single morning, made my coffee and then sat down at the computer and reviewed hundreds of job openings. I applied to at least job opening per day. I would re-draft my resume each and every time I wanted to apply to a job. I’d read the job description and figure out how my previous experience aligned with the job description, and tweaked my resume for that role before submitting. It was time-consuming. It could be frustrating at times. The workforce is way too competitive, the computer eye is always on, and there’s literally no room to allow personal feelings to interfere with the process. Hunting for a job is a process. Be prepared to hear a lot of ‘no’s’ or more commonly, no response. For loads of fabulous tips on the job hunt process, check out Al Smith "the HIRED guy", here’s his link: https://lnkd.in/ef-yP5Ai. During the down-times, I would have loved to just stay in my pajamas and watch Netflix. I literally had to fight the inertia because it’s so easy to give in. To keep busy and to meet people, I signed up for VolunteerMatch.com and looked for roles that would help others. Through this website, I found organizations to volunteer. I purposely surrounded myself with people vastly different than me. Their passion, their interests, and their stories motivated me. More often than not, laughter would be a factor during the volunteering opportunities. Who doesn't like to laugh, right? So, let’s revisit - three components: a patient mindset, a strategic plan, and taking action. These three became the trifecta that helped me get my new roles after many months of applying on the job boards. I firmly believe that the process works. If one way doesn’t work, try another way. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable! It’s Friday, I’m wishing you a terrific day!

Nonprofit nerd that I am, a few years ago, I created a mission statement for myself. It reads: I am the curious, joyful, and purposefully exuberant gatherer who sparks deep connection and authenticity. I believe talented people, when gathered together and properly supported, can do transformational work. As I continue exploring my next professional opportunity, this mission statement has served as a north star, a bouncer and a reminder of who I am at my core. Have you written a mission statement for yourself? How have you used it? How has it helped you connect with the work that's most meaningful to you? #missionstatement #personalmission #opentowork