Path With A Heart

“Many people will say to me that they could never do what I have done. That is utter nonsense, because I’ve met many people who have committed themselves to service and are just as unlikely as I was . . . It was an odd quirk of fate that I was lost before I found what truly matters—being of benefit to others.” 

Prelude by Greg Mortenson

Preface by Desmond Tutu

Path With A Heart invites people of all generations to join those who have found joy and fulfillment working within nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, providing the reader with a compelling narrative about the value and challenges of this vocation, and the inspiration to begin a journey that will ultimately rejuvenate and sustain the nonprofit (NPO) and non-governmental (NGO) sector. This book is not intended to replace the many books on the job search and application process. Rather, its focus is transformative—designed to let the reader better understand the importance of linking passion and strategy in the pursuit of meaningful career endeavors. 

Nonprofit organizations have had an immense economic and cultural impact on the world. In the U.S. alone, they employ one in eighteen workers, and their visionary leaders have launched many of the country’s most remarkable accomplishments in civil rights, social justice, animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and the arts. Yet there is an urgent need to recruit, develop, and retain talented new leaders. A recent 2,000-person survey found that three out of four U.S. nonprofit executive directors are planning to leave their jobs in the next five years. Another study said that the sector needs to hire half a million senior managers in the next decade. So recruitment of high-caliber leadership is essential to advance the important work under way and address the  challenges of tomorrow. 

Unfortunately, NPOs and NGOs are ill equipped to cultivate new leadership. The vast majority of American youth has no clue about jobs in the field, and career guidance counselors rarely mention work in this sector—only 2 percent of current nonprofit workers say they were encouraged to explore these careers. And 70 percent of nonprofits have no succession plans, no intentional recruitment strategies, and few professional development opportunities. 

The purpose of the book is to inspire individuals to join the NPO/NGO workforce, and ultimately to raise the capacity of the sector itself. The invitation to a Path With A Heart is largely based on interviews with the CEOs and staff of the world’s top nonprofits; influential personalities such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, author Greg Mortenson, President Bill Clinton, actor Robert Redford, Teach for America’s Wendy Kopp, Nobel Peace Prize winner Hans Blix, and former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; and lesser well-known individuals who daily dedicate their hearts to creating a better world. 

Path With A Heart discusses the personal motivations, challenges, and rewards that people involved in the NPO/NGO sector have experienced, and chronicles how previous life experiences prepare them for their new world, and what strategies others might employ to successfully navigate their own paths. The goal is to link the passion for making a difference with key strategies gleaned from those who have “been down the path before us.” And while acknowledging significant challenges, the core message remains grounded in optimism and opportunity. 

This book is the starting point for people seeking more significance in their work, and it will serve as a basis on which to build understanding of the requirements for success. The voices of people interviewed for Path With A Heart will inspire the reader searching out opportunities as the voices combine compassion with urgency and pragmatic recommendations.

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