Idealist.org, one of the most popular ways for job hunters to connect with jobs throughout the nonprofit world, is reaching out to Washington. The site, which averages one to two million hits per month, was created to provide a virtual connection to the nonprofit life.
It contains profiles of 57,000 nonprofit organizations in more than 180 countries, allowing visitors to learn what they do and choose if they want to either join them or support their work.
New York-based Action Without Borders, which operates the site, is hosting a job fair March 29 at George Washington University. It may also be expanding its small office in D.C.
The efforts in Washington are “a reflection of the importance of D.C. to the nonprofit.”
Despite its global reach, Idealist.org has a community focus.
“It is a virtual meeting space and provides a sense of place for people concerned about local issues and needs,” said Russ Finkelstein, associate director of Action Without Borders.
The nonprofit fair “is a way for us to connect with D.C. youth and for them to give back to their community,” said Andrew Stein of City Year DC.
Each year, City Year hires 1,200 people between the ages of 17 and 24 to serve for 10 months in 17 cities across the United States.
Stein is looking for 75 young people to work in D.C. public schools as tutors and counselors beginning this August.
Students can earn $4,725 toward their college expenses. The 2007 job fair marks the third year the group has been involved with Idealist.org.
“The career fair is a springboard for us to provide our campus community with information about the nonprofit world,” said Marva Gumbs-Jennings, director of career services at George Washington University’s Career Center. Students from other institutions in the metropolitan area, she noted, attend as well.
“For Idealist, our location has been helpful to attendance, and the partnership with three of our on campus departments has ensured a successful fair,” she explained. “For GW it provides an opportunity for the center to connect with organizations who would not traditionally visit our campus.”
Details on the job fair for both applicants and exhibitors can be found at Idealist.org.
NOTE: In last week’s column, I implied that the Community Foundation was a small foundation.
Although it does work with many small and local nonprofits, it is in fact one of the largest foundations of its kind.
Have information about area nonprofits? Contact Frank Sietzen at [email protected].
