From Air Force Captain to Nonprofit Fundraiser

One person’s transition from the rigid structure of the military to the nonprofit sector.

Keira Havens went from the Air Force to an education nonprofit. She has an enlightening First Person Nonprofit story, tips on hiring and integrating veterans, and at the end of this article, a link to a wonderful, wacky 1-minute video about her.

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I spent four years in the Air Force working with nuclear missiles at F.E. Warren Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This is not your typical beginning to a career in the nonprofit sector. But on the other hand, I don’t have a typical set of skills.

After I left the military, I decided to take an internship at a local nonprofit. Global Explorers, a nonprofit student travel company that promotes global citizenship, has been a great way for me to transition from the rigid structure of the military to the much more fluid network of nonprofits. (For tips on making that transition, see Advice for Servicemembers and Veterans Looking at Nonprofit Jobs.)

I love working for a company that inspires its staff and its community to build a better world. It has also given me time to come to terms with the fact that I am no longer “Captain Havens.”

Veterans’ commitment to mission, work and service

Like many veterans, I bring a lot to the nonprofit table. It is not my expert knowledge of missile systems or my understanding of military strategy that made me the best choice for Global Explorers’ outreach program. Regardless of our former specialties, veterans like me are an asset to the nonprofit world because of our attitudes towards mission, work ethic and service.

Furthermore, military personnel understand the importance of giving back to the community. Bases support holiday toy drives and encourage servicemembers to tutor at local schools. Soldiers run marathons and organize food drives. Veterans have been involved in community service beyond their commitment to defend the Constitution for the entirety of their careers. Should a retired military member apply for a position with your nonprofit, he or she is applying because your mission speaks to them.

Look beyond the military title

Like me, most military personnel have had countless hours of on-the-job training. We’ve developed highly specialized expertise in fields that are easily recognizable to civilian employers, such as personnel and finance. On the other hand, many other titles (say, Missile Combat Crew Commander!) might be more difficult for nonprofits trying to understand how our skills might translate. When you consider hiring a veteran, it is important to look beyond the specifics of our previous careers.

Service stamps military personnel in many ways – some less useful than others. The positive tendency to appreciate a clearly defined goal and move in that direction may also reveal itself in blindness to activities with less-obvious outcomes such as networking. Rank may rear its ugly head, frustrating employees working under an ex-colonel with good intentions but overbearing tones.

A brief functional report from a veteran may sound abrupt to the civilian ear, while the soft words of a donation request might seem patronizing to the veteran. Take the time to work through the inevitable differences of opinion. Your organization will gain a skilled employee dedicated to your cause and passionate about your future.

Orientation to cause

Military personnel have always known they were not going to get rich doing what they do. They did it anyway, because they believed in the cause they supported. Similarly in the nonprofit world, your passion for your nonprofit surpasses pay and prestige in a way that may not make sense to everyone. In both the military and the nonprofit world, self-motivation is a huge part of the experience.  When you hire a veteran, you are hiring someone who understands the meaning of hard work for hard work’s sake.

Reaching out to retired and ex-military is as simple as contacting your local Veterans Affairs office. It will be easier to attract veterans if your organization works for military families or somehow supports the troops, but the military, like any institution, is composed of individuals from across the political and ideological spectrum. Simply including “veteran preferred” in your job posting will encourage ex-military to apply for a position they may not have thought they were cut out for.

Veteran or civilian, new hire must be a good fit

It is good to be conscious of what mindsets a veteran brings with them, but the fact remains that you are still looking for a person that identifies with your nonprofit’s mission. Just like every other interview, you’ll want to get a good idea of who this person is, how they interact with others, and if they can do the job you need to get done.

A veteran brings unique qualities to the table and can improve your organization in ways you may not have expected. I truly enjoy working at Global Explorers, and I hope to see more of my fellow servicemembers working on this side of the fence one day.

See also:

• Advice for Servicemembers and Veterans Looking at Nonprofit Jobs
• Switching Careers at the Worst Possible Time (to fundraising)

You might also like:

• Drive Your Nonprofit’s Mission by Investing in Your People
• Supporting Caregiver Employees in the Nonprofit Sector
• Increase Safety for Your Nonprofit’s Team
• Ask Rita in HR: Should Murphy’s Law Be a Consideration in Making HR Decisions?
• Moving Beyond Performance: Making DEI Actionable

 

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