How to … Get More College Graduates to Choose a Nonprofit Career Track

Never underestimate the power of the ask.

That thought went through my head when I read that a recent Gallup survey revealed that a "a third of young Americans would give a ‘great deal of consideration’ to entering government service if asked by their parents, a teacher or … the next president of the United States … ." The problem is that

for the most part, no one is urging them to think about public service. Sixty percent of the survey respondents under age 30 said they had never been asked to consider working for Uncle Sam.

Substitute "the nonprofit sector" for "government service," and I’d bet that those numbers would be similar. For a sector looking desperately to begin finding and grooming tomorrow’s leaders, it’s time to reach out to those who influence young people. High school assemblies and college career fairs would be a start; connecting with parents and teachers and explaining the benefits of nonprofit work — for society and for those doing the work — is another tactic to try.

And dare we hope that Senator Clinton, Senator McCain, or Senator Obama might use a paragraph or two of the next inaugural address to issue a call for both nonprofit and government service as a way for young people to put their talents and passion to use in strengthening the country? Somebody needs to ask them to ask. | 501(c)