Bridgestar article: Cultural Fit in the Nonprofit Sector

Bridgestar recently spoke with Brian O’Connell about the role of cultural fit in the nonprofit sector. Brian is the author of Fifty Years in Public Causes: Stories From a Road Less Traveled, and co-founder and president emeritus of Independent Sector.

Brian shared his perspectives about cultural fit:
– Candidates who are successful in voluntary organizations get along well with people, have patience, tolerance, and maturity: “There is so very much to be done, the dedication of volunteers is so high, and the number of forces to be dealt with so great that the only way to achieve success is by working awfully hard.”

– People who want to work in the nonprofit sector should be prepared for the amount of time it takes to get results: “Most nonprofit goals are long range and require persistent, dogged pursuit through all kinds of difficulties. The satisfactions are rarely found on a weekly or even monthly basis.”

– Nonprofits should be sure about cultural fit before bringing on a candidate: “If I were not sure of a person’s fit with the organization, I would rate that piece as about 50 percent negative. It would take almost an unbelievable rating on all the other items to overcome that negative on culture. That’s how strongly I feel about the cultural aspects.”

Brian’s comments reiterate the importance for business professionals to demonstrate they can work in nonprofit culture in order to provide a compelling case for their transition.