Talent recruitment giant McKinley Marketing Partners has released its inaugural report on Marketing Hiring Trends for Nonprofits and Trade Associations. This marks the staffing firm’s first survey and report focused solely on the hiring trends shaping marketing in the nonprofit sector.
The outlook for the nonprofit marketing function is a promising one, according to the study, which reports nearly half of all nonprofits and trade associations plan to hire marketing staff this year. The study polled directors, vice presidents, C-suite executives, and hiring managers in the marketing function about their hiring plans for 2017.
The greatest need for talent is found in digital marketing and creative services where the majority of projected hires are expected. Filling these roles may prove challenging in part due to competition in other industries and unfavorable perceptions among marketers about working in this sector. Additionally, only 10 percent of those working in nonprofits/trades are actively searching for a new role.
“Digital marketers who work in nonprofits and associations have a chance to make an indelible impact on an organization’s bottom line,” said Michelle J. Boggs, president and CEO of McKinley Marketing Partners, in a news release. “Marketers who have a thorough understanding of traditional marketing principles with a mind for digital marketing will go far.”
Key findings of the 2017 report include:
- Thirty-eight percent of nonprofits are hiring for growth
- Higher job satisfaction for nonprofit marketers
- Seventy-six percent of nonprofits will utilize marketing automation platforms by year’s end
- Digital advertising, display marketing, and content creation rank highest among digital marketing needs
- Passion for the cause matters in hiring at nonprofits and trade associations
