Nonprofit Spotlight, 4/25/13 Edition: Reserve, Inc.
So far, 2013 is looking up for nonprofit hiring, with 44% of nonprofits planning to hire new staff, according to a study by Nonprofit HR. While this is encouraging news, many organizations still struggle to fulfill their mission with limited staff and resources. More ominously for the nonprofit sector, in a few short years the workforce will begin to lose its most experienced members – baby boomers – as they reach retirement age and the sector is not attracting the workers to replace them.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. The Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2013 State of the Nonprofit Sector suggests that the most stable nonprofits, the ones that are really adapting and surviving in this financial environment, are those that are getting creative about managing their finances. One organization working with some very creative ideas is ReServe, Inc., and they’ve brought their “Give Back, Fill the Gap” program to Boston.
ReServe works with both nonprofit organizations and skilled individuals over the age of 55. Its mission is twofold: give retired professionals, including nonprofit professionals, opportunities to continue using their skills to help others, and in doing so, help build the capacity of small nonprofits. Founded in New York in 2005, the organization began as the brainchild of a small group of over-60 social entrepreneurs who weren’t quite ready to hang up their hats, so to speak. Realizing that opportunities to continue to use their professional skills in meaningful ways were limited, and that the number of over-55 professionals was ever increasing, they decided to create a program that would bridge these two needs.
From its early days as a pilot program of the Blue Ridge Foundation, ReServe has grown to seven sites in six states, with plans to expand to three more states in the near future. Its newest location, Greater Boston, is funded in part by Tufts Health Plan Foundation and operates in partnership with the Jewish Vocational Service’s Career Moves program.
“There’s a growing body of research showing that people [over 55] continue to be interested in being meaningfully engaged, and work in the social sector is one of those ways, ” says ReServe Greater Boston’s Director, Carol Greenfield. ReServe’s “Give Back, Fill the Gap” program works to serve both of its target populations by matching nonprofits with skilled individuals called ReServists. “The primary reason that people become ReServists,” Greenfield says, “is that they want to give back, to make a difference.”
The ideal ReServist is over 55 with a professional background and either looking for a way to contribute after leaving their primary career or for a bridge between a first and second career. Some positions matched by ReServe include Marketing Strategist, Fundraising Program Designer, and Researcher/Advocate. Even ReServe, Inc. itself counts a few ReServists among its ranks.
The ideal nonprofit opportunity for ReServe’s services is a position that builds capacity, is part-time and relatively short-term, and cannot be adequately filled by a permanent position, temporary worker or staffing agency. “We’re not trying to replace market-rate positions,” Greenfield stresses, adding that she will refer organizations to other programs, such as Executive Service Corps, where appropriate.
A unique aspect of ReServe’s model, and one that contributes to its sustainability, is that once established, the program, which must initially be supported largely via philanthropy, will eventually begin to pay for itself. ReServists make a minimum 3-month commitment to the work, and work 10-20 hours a week. Nonprofits pay an affordable hourly rate for a ReServist, the ReServist gets a modest stipend, and ReServe receives a small percentage.
The model has proven successful; so many people have shown interest in becoming ReServists in Greater Boston, in fact, that ReServe’s informational sessions are booked through May. “It’s been extremely easy to recruit very talented people over the age of 55,” says Greenfield. “The harder part is reaching out to organizations and telling them about this talent.” She regularly visits nonprofits to talk about ReServe as a resource, and about the types of projects that are a good match for their services. “It’s about building capacity – enabling that small organization to fill that position, which it otherwise couldn’t afford, that allows them to be more effective.”
If you think ReServe-Greater Boston is a good match for your non-profit organization, they’d love to hear from you. Please contact Carol Greenfield at 617.795.1943 or email [email protected].
Interested in becoming a Greater Boston ReServist? Information sessions are full through May 2013; email your contact information to [email protected] to be notified about upcoming sessions.
To learn about ReServe opportunities in other parts of the country – New York City, Newark NJ, Southeastern Wisconsin, Miami FL, Maryland or Westchester County NY - visit www.reserveinc.org/locations.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. The Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2013 State of the Nonprofit Sector suggests that the most stable nonprofits, the ones that are really adapting and surviving in this financial environment, are those that are getting creative about managing their finances. One organization working with some very creative ideas is ReServe, Inc., and they’ve brought their “Give Back, Fill the Gap” program to Boston.
ReServe works with both nonprofit organizations and skilled individuals over the age of 55. Its mission is twofold: give retired professionals, including nonprofit professionals, opportunities to continue using their skills to help others, and in doing so, help build the capacity of small nonprofits. Founded in New York in 2005, the organization began as the brainchild of a small group of over-60 social entrepreneurs who weren’t quite ready to hang up their hats, so to speak. Realizing that opportunities to continue to use their professional skills in meaningful ways were limited, and that the number of over-55 professionals was ever increasing, they decided to create a program that would bridge these two needs.
From its early days as a pilot program of the Blue Ridge Foundation, ReServe has grown to seven sites in six states, with plans to expand to three more states in the near future. Its newest location, Greater Boston, is funded in part by Tufts Health Plan Foundation and operates in partnership with the Jewish Vocational Service’s Career Moves program.
“There’s a growing body of research showing that people [over 55] continue to be interested in being meaningfully engaged, and work in the social sector is one of those ways, ” says ReServe Greater Boston’s Director, Carol Greenfield. ReServe’s “Give Back, Fill the Gap” program works to serve both of its target populations by matching nonprofits with skilled individuals called ReServists. “The primary reason that people become ReServists,” Greenfield says, “is that they want to give back, to make a difference.”
The ideal ReServist is over 55 with a professional background and either looking for a way to contribute after leaving their primary career or for a bridge between a first and second career. Some positions matched by ReServe include Marketing Strategist, Fundraising Program Designer, and Researcher/Advocate. Even ReServe, Inc. itself counts a few ReServists among its ranks.
The ideal nonprofit opportunity for ReServe’s services is a position that builds capacity, is part-time and relatively short-term, and cannot be adequately filled by a permanent position, temporary worker or staffing agency. “We’re not trying to replace market-rate positions,” Greenfield stresses, adding that she will refer organizations to other programs, such as Executive Service Corps, where appropriate.
A unique aspect of ReServe’s model, and one that contributes to its sustainability, is that once established, the program, which must initially be supported largely via philanthropy, will eventually begin to pay for itself. ReServists make a minimum 3-month commitment to the work, and work 10-20 hours a week. Nonprofits pay an affordable hourly rate for a ReServist, the ReServist gets a modest stipend, and ReServe receives a small percentage.
The model has proven successful; so many people have shown interest in becoming ReServists in Greater Boston, in fact, that ReServe’s informational sessions are booked through May. “It’s been extremely easy to recruit very talented people over the age of 55,” says Greenfield. “The harder part is reaching out to organizations and telling them about this talent.” She regularly visits nonprofits to talk about ReServe as a resource, and about the types of projects that are a good match for their services. “It’s about building capacity – enabling that small organization to fill that position, which it otherwise couldn’t afford, that allows them to be more effective.”
If you think ReServe-Greater Boston is a good match for your non-profit organization, they’d love to hear from you. Please contact Carol Greenfield at 617.795.1943 or email [email protected].
Interested in becoming a Greater Boston ReServist? Information sessions are full through May 2013; email your contact information to [email protected] to be notified about upcoming sessions.
To learn about ReServe opportunities in other parts of the country – New York City, Newark NJ, Southeastern Wisconsin, Miami FL, Maryland or Westchester County NY - visit www.reserveinc.org/locations.
