At some point in life, most people have a desire to make a difference in the world. For some of us, it can be as simple as giving a homeless person money for food or volunteering at a local shelter. But many people are finding out that they want to spend more time making a contribution to society and that one of the best ways of achieving that goal is to work for a nonprofit organization. But what if you have spent most of your career in a business or corporate setting? What if you feel you are ready to make a difference but aren't sure of where to begin or if you're even ready to make that big career leap? From Making a Profit to Making a Difference: How to Launch Your New Career in Nonprofits will give you an idea of what it is like and how you can begin to make that transition.

A lot of people in a profit-oriented situation may not realize the intricacies involved in making a career change to the nonprofit sector. Author Richard M. King points out that while the business and nonprofit worlds share many similar values in management qualities, they also have substantial differences. He explains that the main priority of a business is obviously to make a profit through sales and services while the nonprofit agenda mainly consists of being proponents of change within a community. Because business people are so used to dealing with decisions that may provide them with measurable profit, it is harder for them to make the adjustment to the nonprofit sphere, where the reward may be in helping a child learn how to read, in getting kids get off the street, or engaging in community activism. Consequently, the measurement of success may be more elusive.

Chapters one through three steer the reader through the challenges of finding significant work in nonprofits. Chapters four and five provide strategies that will help fortify the reader's employment chances in nonprofits, as well as show how to network with individuals in nonprofits who may be willing to provide help. Chapters six and seven help the reader prepare the kind of cover letter and resumé needed to catch the interest of a nonprofit, as well as how to negotiate salary and benefits. The remaining five chapters serve as sources and contacts for those who want to further their research.

As he has served in the nonprofit sector since 1969, Mr. King leaves no stone unturned. He brings his knowledge and comprehensive experience to the table, having also been CEO for three nonprofits and serving on boards of directors for several others.

For additional citations to materials on this topic, consult the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject heading "Nonprofit organizations — employment."