Women’s Bean Project launches new jewelry line

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

The Women's Bean Project was chosen as this year's official charity of the NCAA Women's Final Four tournament. JVA's Sarah Hidey is seen here with Women's Bean Project Marketing Manager, Sammy Emerson.

While widely known for its delectable gourmet foods such as soups and baking mixes, Women’s Bean Project has also run a successful jewelry line since 2009. Set up as a social enterprise, the jewelry is made by women who are part of the project’s job readiness and life skills training program, which provides the women with job skills and brings in revenue to support the organization. Each year the organization releases two seasonal jewelry lines, one in the spring and one in the fall, complete with earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Each piece is a limited edition item with a fun and creative name like “Twilight,” “Cherish” or “Good Karma.”

Ask Amber: How to quantify your resume when you have little formal work experience

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

These days, resumes need to be more detailed and more professional than ever to stand out from the pack. One of the ways job seekers are setting themselves apart is by quantifying their resumes, showing employers just how successful their endeavors have been. However, this can be tough for a recent graduate or someone changing careers. Don’t fret, there are ways to accomplish this no matter what stage you’re at in your career. For examples of how to quantify accomplishments and the advantages of doing so, click here.

Montana Attorney General releases findings from investigation of Three Cups of Tea charity—nonprofit takeaways

By Katy Snyder, JVA Consulting

We first wrote about Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson nearly a year ago, when he and his organization, the Central Asia Institute (CAI) became embroiled in a scandal concerning the organization’s finances and Mortenson’s promotion of the book (and his second book, Stones Into Schools) using CAI funds. While accusations were also made that stated that Mortenson may have fabricated the story about the founding of the organization and his supposed brush with Taliban kidnappers, these accusations were determined to be outside the parameters of the Attorney General’s investigation; the finances and the practices of the directors and officers of CAI were investigated.

Ask Amber: Using social media to advance your job hunt and career

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

JVA now has a Pinterest page! Find us at http://pinterest.com/jvaconsulting/

Did you know that social media can be more than just a place to connect with friends? When used correctly, it can also help you advance your job hunt and your nonprofit career. Blogs can keep you up to date on trends in the nonprofit sector, liking your favorite nonprofits on Facebook can help you learn more about different organizations and Pinterest can help you save images that inspire you.

Ask Amber: Steps to joining a nonprofit board

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

As you work to gain experience in the nonprofit sector, there are many roads you can take. Internships, volunteer positions and entry level positions are wonderful learning opportunities, but if you are still looking for a level of responsibility not found in other positions a board position might be right for you.

How does your leader affect your business—lessons from TOMS shoes

By Katy Snyder, JVA Consulting

Many nonprofits have very visible, charismatic leaders. In the wake of the Komen debacle, and the public scrutiny of leader Nancy G. Brinker’s personal life, it seems that increased scrutiny of charity leaders and their personal lives will become the new normal. A recent Chronicle of Philanthropy profile of TOMS shoes founder, Blake Mycoskie, delves into the personal life of the very visible founder and his One for One shoe campaign. Read on for some takeaways from the TOMS case, and to find out how to make sure your personal beliefs don’t interfere with your brand. 

Ask Amber: How to lead a meeting

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

Developing organizational, leadership and speaking skills is essential to leading meetings, an event we will all likely face someday as professionals (if we haven’t already). Whether the group you are leading is two or three colleagues, or a large gathering of people from various organizations, it is important to be prepared. By using these simple steps, you can begin leading meetings with ease.

Ask Amber: Organizations you should be following on LinkedIn

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

As I’ve said before, LinkedIn can be an invaluable resource for your job search or in your general networking efforts. Sure you remember to connect with your friends and coworkers, but have you joined any groups? If not, here are some types of groups you should be looking into.

Ask Amber: Continuing education

By Amber Alarid, JVA Consulting

If continuing education of some sort is on your radar (and I personally feel it should be on everyone’s!) you may be faced with the decision of what program is right for you and how you will pay for it. There are a number of opportunities to continue your personal and professional growth, but make sure to examine the program for how it fits your needs and budget. For a list of continuing education programs, see the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Continuing Education Guide, and keep reading below to find out about some of your options:

Hiring process tips for success

By Wendy Steinway, JVA Consulting

At JVA Consulting LLC, our hiring process has been defined as thoughtful, intense, enlightening and torturous by both the job applicants and the staff selected to participate in the hiring process. But all I can say is that it works! The latest applicant that went through it but didn’t get the job thanked me for the process and said that, by the end, it felt like there was a door opened where one was once closed.