ProInspire Partner Spotlight: National 4-H Council

National 4-H Council, President and CEO
Jennifer Sirangelo

ProInspire Partnership Focus: National 4-H Council CEO Jennifer Sirangelo’s take on the growing partnership. 

ProInspire Fellow Carolyn Kent sits down with National 4-H Council’s CEO, Jennifer Sirangelo to ask about the organization’s experience partnering with ProInspire and advice for new talent coming into the nonprofit industry.

1. 4-H Council is one of ProInspire’s largest hiring partners; how have you seen ProInspire as a value-add to Council’s workforce?

ProInspire is a valuable partner to us in two ways. First, it serves as a welcome mat to the nonprofit sector and to the youth development sector (and specifically 4-H). For us, finding pathways to recruit new talent has been a huge benefit for our business. Second, the process and the investment that ProInspire makes in its fellows is a model for us. We learn from the business model but we also learn from the talent that ProInspire is able to attract and develop and we are a beneficiary of that.

2. Often, there’s a misconception that business acumen isn’t relevant for nonprofits or that it dilutes the mission, could you share how Council’s business-oriented culture has helped the mission?

I learned early on that you have to know how to run a business and earn revenue in order to impact and change people’s lives through a nonprofit. At my first job as an executive director for a homeless shelter, we had high demand for housing because we allowed the families to stay together. One day when I was working from my office (which was a garage!), a homeless family drove up to my office needing shelter and I had to turn them away. That was when I found my passion about knowing how to run a business and how to raise resources so that I would be able to make an impact on people’s lives.

For us at National 4-H Council, the same way that a business would be generating profit to enrich the lives of its shareholders, Council is raising revenue to invest in local impact.

3. What advice do you have for people who are thinking about switching into the nonprofit sector?

When I was reflecting about our ProInspire fellows, they have all brought their best game, the fellows we’ve had weren’t just waiting to get a paycheck, they’re here to learn, make an impact and work on meaningful projects. That’s really welcome in a nonprofit environment – coming in and meaning business. They’ve also been courageous enough to bring up new ideas and creatively add to the discussion. So as I think about people who are entering the nonprofit sector, I would say to have those same characteristics is vitally important.

4. According to an annual study from the White House Project, 73 percent of the workers in the nonprofit sector are women but men hold the majority of top leadership positions. What does it mean to you to be Council’s first female CEO?

Although I’m Council’s first female CEO, 4-H actually has a long history of strong female leaders with our United States Department of Agriculture partners and in the 4-H field. But for me, I think about the population of kids in 4-H and other youth organizations and half of them are girls, I’m really happy if I can let them see themselves in a leader. Last fall I was doing a photo shoot with young people and I’ll never forget when I was standing in the lobby and overheard a young girl say “Mommy, mommy, the CEO is a girl!” I think they probably just assumed that it was going to be a man since they didn’t know me. It’s great that they can see a woman as a CEO and it can reinforce the fact that girls have no limitations.

5. What excites you most about this new position as CEO?

There’s definitely the mission, it’s so important. For example, when I meet the kids of migrant workers and they tell me that 4-H is their refuge because they’re treated fairly, it is incredibly meaningful. These stories speak to the changing demographics and changing needs of youth so I’m excited to think about how we can give more kids access to 4-H.

6. What are some tips and strategies you’ve used to achieve success that you can share with future leaders of the nonprofit industry?

As you think about your careers, I would really suggest that you be patient with yourselves. If you do what you love and if you’re authentic with it, you will naturally create relationships with people around you. Take the opportunities that come your way but also be patient with yourself and know that every step you take, you learn so many things and you build from that.

The next thing is to never be afraid of taking that next big step. There have been times that I’ve been offered to take on a new role and I remember wondering “will I really be able to do this?” and I’ve just always said “yes!” That’s why I mentioned what I’ve seen with ProInspire fellows, they’re looking for those big opportunities to make their mark. I may give an assignment or a project to a ProInspire fellow and they take it to the next level, they make it better than I ever dreamed as a leader.

Also, if you’re interested in the nonprofit sector, make sure you take the time and the steps to really learn at the local level about what it means to impact lives. You’ll get more opportunities that way. For example, when I was with the homeless shelter I’d write the grants, worked with the board, I got to learn it all. I don’t think I would be quite as good of a fundraiser or a leader today if I hadn’t had that experience. Don’t feel like you have to work somewhere big, understanding what it looks like to make a difference locally first is an important career step.

To learn more about National 4-H Council and CEO Jennifer Sirangelo visit www.4-h.org.