A new campaign highlights professional opportunities in the nonprofit sector.

Whether you are just starting to think about working in the nonprofit sector professionally after your term ends, or you are a seasoned nonprofit leader, Nonprofit Career Month is a new, pilot opportunity for you to discover ways to act on your passions through professional opportunities in the nonprofit (or independent, or nongovernmental, or third…) sector.

You can connect with the month of activities — and create your own! — in a variety of ways. Driven by the collective contributions of the nonprofit community, the campaign dispels common myths about nonprofit work, provides individuals with entry points to the sector, and allows current and aspiring nonprofit professionals to share expertise.

The brand new website NonprofitCareerMonth.org features:

• Career resources
• A blog with insights from nonprofit leaders around the country
• Employment profiles of the nonprofit sector in each of its 2009 pilot states: — MN, NJ, NM, OR, and SC
• And coming soon: nonprofit staff speaker profiles, and library of stories submitted by people working in all areas of the nonprofit sector (if you’re already working in the sector, add your own content to these databases)

We’re looking for your help to make this a great site!

• Submit your own Best Practice on searching for a job, professional development, finding a mentor, or any other career-related topic
  
• Have a local, state, or national resource about nonprofit careers?  Send an email to resources [at] nonprofitcareermonth.org
  
• Want to talk with others about your career experience in a nonprofit organization?  Create your own Speaker Profile!

And check out this video about Nonprofit Career Month:

Want more?
The first Nonprofit Career Month Podcast episode just launched!  The new series will feature nonprofit leaders from our five pilot states, who share their career/life journeys, and offer advice for people thinking about entering nonprofit work. The inaugural show features Mac Bennett, a lifelong public servant who leads the United Way of the Midlands in Columbia, SC.

Next Thursday, October 8th at noon ET, Nonprofit Career Month will partner with the Chronicle of Philanthropy for an online chat “Breaking into the Sector”, when career transition gurus Meg Busse, Steve Joiner (authors of the Idealist.org Guides to Nonprofit Careers) and nonprofit leader Rosetta Thurman will take your questions and offer advice.

National and international service corps participants can learn about the transition to social impact careers through the new guide Service Corps to Social Impact Career — it’s free, and available for download here.

Want to go to grad school to help you transition into the sector? Check out the Idealist Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good, graduate admissions events making their way around the country this fall.

If you’re currently looking for a nonprofit job or volunteering opportunity, check out the upcoming Idealist.org Nonprofit Career Fairs.

Finally, throughout the month of October Nonprofit Career Month be offering simulcast presentations for college and national service groups within our five pilot states that explore nonprofit careers and ways to prepare for the career transition. Separately, a limited number of job seekers can join us free simulcast workshops — What You Need to Know to Find a Nonprofit Job. Read more about the simulcasts or contact simulcast [at] nonprofitcareermonth.org for more details.

As the month rolls on, there will be other ways to get involved, so stay tuned!

• Follow Nonprofit Career Month on Twitter
• Become of fan of Nonprofit Career Month on Facebook, and
• Subscribe to our Nonprofit Career Month blog feed through your favorite blog reader.

According to the 2008 study of former AmeriCorps members, two-thirds were engaged in public service careers. If that is also where you are heading, Nonprofit Career Month may have some resources to help you.