June 2, 2004 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Q. I am a Canadian citizen who would like to look for a nonprofit job in the United States. I have lived in the States previously and would love to return to work there. Any advice?
A. Many professionals from Canada “migrate south” to work in the nonprofit world, says Lorrie Henderson, chief operating officer of KidsPeace, a national charity with headquarters in Orefield, Pa., that assists children who have experienced abuse or other personal crises. (Mr. Henderson is a Canadian who moved to the United States 17 years ago.) Why is the United States attractive to Canadian nonprofit professionals? “The more robust economy and larger population provide a more favorable climate for philanthropic missions that require community involvement to prosper,” Mr. Henderson says. “Second, there seems to be a much more deeply ingrained culture of philanthropy here than in Canada, where there may be a somewhat stronger expectation that the government will step in to fill particular needs.”
The good news is that it is often easier for nonprofit professionals to move from Canada to the United States than to make the move to other countries, because cultural differences are less pronounced, says Mr. Henderson. “From an organizational standpoint — structure, regulations, and protocols — I haven’t observed many major differences between Canadian and U.S. nonprofits, although some may exist depending on the particular organization in question,” he says. “Still, it’s nothing so drastic as to prevent you from being as effective in your position here as you would be in a Canadian counterpart.”
To land a job in the United States, make good use of your contacts, Mr. Henderson advises. “Popular wisdom is not overrated. Networking is still the best way to get your foot in the door,” he says. “If you have maintained work contacts or friends from your prior residency in the U.S., pursue them to ensure they keep their ear to the ground.”
You could also try volunteering and attending events at industry groups, such as American chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, to build more contacts and open doors, but your physical distance might make that a problem. Instead, consider doing volunteer work for an international charity that has offices on both sides of the United States-Canadian border. (See this previous Philanthropy Careers article for advice on how to parlay that into a job.) And be sure to keep abreast of online job postings, Mr. Henderson recommends. For more on long-distance job searches, check out Greener Pastures: How to Find a Job in Another Place by Andrea Kay (Griffin Trade Paperback, 1999, $12.95).
