Top 10 tips for transitioning from the corporate to nonprofit sector

1. Find the right fit. Look for an organization that aligns with your interests, values, priorities and work style, one that needs and wants the expertise you most want to share. This search will help you find work that energizes you and will ease your transition to a nonprofit environment.
2. Deeply understand the organization’s mission and stakeholders. Go beyond the mission statement to understand the nonprofit’s constituencies. Although you may not immediately feel the same level of passion for the mission as the organization’s staff, it is critical to deeply appreciate the importance of the work to society and the level of commitment the staff brings. At least start with a commitment to excellence and a sincere appreciation for staff efforts.
3. Be humble, and listen carefully. Listen, ask, consider and offer your opinion – in that order. Take time to understand the context before judging. Don’t be afraid to bring your corporate skills, but remember they are new to this audience.
4. Make a plan, and be flexible when it needs to change. Work with your nonprofit to provide context; get introduced to key employees and stakeholders; clarify work objectives; set milestones; establish measures of success to make a valuable and lasting contribution; and schedule regular check-ins for feedback and adjustments. It's likely that your work will evolve. Be flexible and responsive to those changes.
5. Roll up your sleeves, and dive into a new culture. Nonprofits typically don't have the infrastructure and support you are used to in the corporate environment. Be ready to pitch in to ease the workload on others. Expect significant differences in environment and culture. Not all of your corporate experiences will be useful in your new organization, but this is a great opportunity to learn and grow.
6. Think before you speak. Do your best to allay the staff's concerns that you pose a threat. Early and thoughtful communication from your director is important, and regular communication and openness from you is essential. Your questions show a thought process and insight that can be helpful.
7. Report to the director, but also connect with staff across the nonprofit. Use the correct resume when introducing yourself to staff. A quick overview of your corporate qualifications is helpful, but focus on what's important to them. If needed, make a special resume that highlights experience relevant to the nonprofit’s mission. Take time to understand the staff structure and expertise, and be cognizant of any turf issues. (Yes, they can also exist in the nonprofit world.)
8. Expect different approaches to decisions, tactics and strategies. Be open to new approaches and different thought patterns. Recognize the decision-making process and tailor your business tools, frameworks and processes to this context. It may be apparent that decision-making can be improved, but changes require a gradual process rather than an immediate overhaul. Nonprofits are often understaffed and may find little time for true strategy. The urgent drives out the important, and tactical solutions are what's needed day to day. It can be hard to carve out room for thinking ahead, especially if the organization depends highly on volunteers, part-time employees and low-wage earners.
9. Plan for shifting deadlines. If a deadline has been established for a project or deliverable, build in more of a cushion than you might have done in the corporate world. With small staffs and diverse stakeholders, the unexpected can cause schedules to slip. It’s best to have contingency plans.
10. Educate yourself about differences between the nonprofit and corporate worlds. Start by reading Good to Great and the Social Sectors, by Jim Collins. It’s a short, insightful book comparing nonprofit and corporate environments.