Nonprofit Social Service Directors

Nonprofit social service directors should have proven track records in fund-raising and grant writing. Their backgrounds should include experience in data collection and analysis in order to determine the impact of their organization’s efforts and to identify areas requiring improvement. They should have considerable background in designing, staffing, and maintaining services and programs.

Directors should possess supervisory experience in managing paid workers and volunteers, which could number from a few to hundreds of members. They also must be knowledgeable about financial matters and record keeping. In addition, they should possess public speaking ability as many directors are often invited to community clubs to present information about their organization and to recruit potential donors.

Moreover, nonprofit social service directors must exhibit tact and understanding because they often deal with confidential and private client information. Social services workers and directors also need to be emotionally stable, objective about situations they face, and responsible.

It takes a certain kind of person to succeed in social services. You must be comfortable working with the people who need your services even though they may come from different ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds than yours. Because social services are often understaffed, you must be willing to do day-to-day work like answering the phone and making copies when necessary.