With the prospect of an economic downturn looming ― and the number of nonprofit layoffs on the rise ― many leaders are coping with a jittery workforce and new pressures to keep staff members motivated.

These new developments come on top of one of the most challenging staff recruitment landscapes in recent memory, after the Covid pandemic changed how and where work gets done.

In search of solutions, Chronicle CEO Stacy Palmer talked to two leaders who have found ways to attract and retain outstanding employees.

Jordan Shenker is CEO of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, in Foster City, California, and Keena Friday is COO of the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee. 

Among their suggestions:

• Don’t rush to fill open positions.
• Salary isn’t the only lure.
• Remote work options matter.
• As the economy and federal policy shift, communicate what you know as often as possible. 

Connect with Friday and Shenker on LinkedIn.

 Further Reading:

• “6 Ways Nonprofit Leaders Can Boost Morale in Chaotic Time” by Rasheeda Childress
• “How to Lead Well in Uncertain Times” by Lisa Schohl
• “For Nonprofits, Remote Work Offers a Competitive Edge” by Eden Stiffman
• “How to Attract Employees — Simple Strategies Work Better Than New Benefits” by Ben Gose
• “Leaders’ Advice for Other Leaders” by Ben Gose
• “Smart Ways to Show You’re Ready for a Promotion — and a Few Things to Avoid” by Lisa Schohl
• “How to Manage Up — and Reach Your Career Goals” by Lisa Schohl
• “Q&A: Bad Bosses, Big Dreams, and Broken Philanthropy” by Nandita Raghuram
• “A Really Tough Job: Nonprofit CEOs Work to Make Their Roles More Manageable” by Ben Gose
• “Leadership at the Crossroads” by George Anders

We welcome your thoughts on how the Chronicle can help you build your leadership superpowers. Write us at [email protected].

You can find a video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDndlWcRXEM

Nonprofits Now: Leading Today is hosted by Stacy Palmer. It’s produced by Emily Haynes at the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from Reasonable Volume, Mary Dooe is the producer, Mark Bush is our engineer, and Rachel Swaby and Elise Hu are executive producers. Additional support comes from Margie Fleming Glennon, Andrew Simon, Nick Adams, Krista Niles, Amaya Beltran, and Kyle Johnson.

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