Reflections of nonprofit lawyer Melissa S. Norden on her Dog-Eat-Dog Professional World

Summary

When working in the nonprofit sector, the challenges faced by staff can be quite demanding. Melissa S. Norden, a career professional in the non-profit industry, has seen this first-hand while working in the sector for over a decade. Norden knows that the environment in the nonprofit world can be competitive and competitive.

In this article, Melissa S. Norden provides insight into the dog-eat-dog world of the nonprofit sector. She highlights the challenges of working in the nonprofit sector and shares her experience of how to stay competitive in a highly competitive and demanding environment.

Norden emphasizes the need for nonprofits to remain competitive, not just in order to survive but also to excel. She stresses the importance of understanding the importance of market strategies and being able to compete with other organizations. Norden also shares her experience of developing new programming and services to help nonprofits stay ahead of the competition and stay current in the most sought-after areas.

Norden explains that the nonprofit environment can be intense and that the competition can be fierce. She urges those working in the sector to start thinking outside the box and to be open to trying new methods. This includes taking initiative, investing in the latest technology, and adapting to changes in the sector. Norden emphasizes the importance of networking, networking in order to expand your reach and network with potential donors, sponsors, and other organizations.

Overall, Melissa S. Norden provides a clear and comprehensive insight into the dog-eat-dog world of the nonprofit sector. She highlights the challenges faced by those working in the sector, provides expert advice on how to stay competitive and successful, and stresses the importance of market strategies, staying up-to-date, and networking. By following Norden's advice, nonprofits can increase their chance of success in a highly competitive and demanding industry.
 

The Dog Eat Dog World of Nonprofit

Nonprofit work is known for its selfless mission, however, the work world of nonprofit is often anything but. Melissa S. Norden has seen firsthand the cut-throat environment and serious rivalries that can exist in a nonprofit setting. Norden, a veteran of the nonprofit world, is a firm believer of the importance of a strong team, one that works well together. She has developed her own strategies to create a strong and cohesive environment, even in the dog eat dog world of nonprofit.
 

Melissa S. Norden's Strategies For Success

Norden has developed various strategies to help foster cooperation and a team environment in the nonprofit setting. She believes in the power of a strong team and the need to collaborate on projects, so each team member has a fair share of the work load. She also encourages friendly competition to keep team members motivated and striving for their best work. Additionally, Norden has found that fostering mutual respect and rewarding team accomplishments goes a long way in creating a productive workplace.
 

Nonprofit Team Structure

Norden believes that the key to a successful nonprofit team is one that is structured properly. She recommends clear and organized communication among team members and with stakeholders. A team structure should also emphasize individual strengths and ensure everyone has a certain amount of responsibility. With the right team structure, each team member can contribute to the overall mission and vision of the organization.
 

Carefully Orchestrated Projects

Norden has found that carefully orchestrated projects, with a team approach, can be beneficial for nonprofits. This means that each team member must have a clear understanding of their role, as well as a good understanding of the overall project. With an organized approach, all members of the team can contribute and help to ensure that projects are successful.
 

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

When it comes to the dog eat dog world of nonprofits, Norden believes that the power of positive reinforcement is key. Showing appreciation and recognizing team members for the work they do is a great way to motivate them to do their best work. With positive reinforcement, team members feel appreciated, which helps to foster a team-oriented environment.

A 1999 Brooklyn Law School graduate, Ms. Norden demonstrated her dedication to social causes by volunteer work and internships for nonprofits and charitable organizations while in college and law school. As one of 10 ASPCA in-house counsels, Ms. Norden primarily handled corporate contracts and license agreements. But, as she quickly learned, working for a nonprofit often means pinch-hitting as needed. At the ASPCA, that might include helping track down stray animals or fostering a dog in your office. Ms. Norden even adopted her cat, Birdie, from the ASPCA.

Q: What attracted you to this type of work?

A: I always wanted to work for a nonprofit, and I did a lot of charity stuff as a kid. When I graduated from law school, I said that I wanted to work in-house at a nonprofit. Everybody said there's no way you can do that until you're several years out of school. I said, "OK, we'll see."

Q: What advice do you have for students?

A: I sought out all the different areas you could work in as a lawyer. I worked in-house at HBO one summer as a contract administrator in their legal department. I interned with a judge. I did some research projects. I worked in a law firm as a paralegal. I interned at the American Red Cross. I scoped out all the environments and tried to combine my penchant for charitable work with my legal interests.

Q: What are the rewards of working for an organization that protects our nation's critters?

A: We do amazing work. We have a TV show, "Animal Precinct," that airs on Animal Planet. It's been running for four years. It really showcases the amazing work we do. If you were to trace an animal from our first interaction with it to the last, it's amazing what you find. We often seize animals from abusive situations, and they have absolutely no reason to ever trust another human being. After we bring them in, clean them up, and they get their evaluations, they still are often very fearful of people or not interacting well enough with people yet. We encourage the staff to foster animals in their offices. Every staff member from adoptions to marketing to the president can have an animal in their office. That's a great part of working here. It really sets a different tone when you walk into a meeting and there's a dog lying on the floor (vs.) walking into a sterile office environment.

Q: What are the challenges?

A: You never have enough money to do everything you'd like to do. That obviously includes salaries and programs that don't get funded. It's very frustrating from that standpoint. But to me, the pros far outweigh the cons.

Q: What does the ASPCA look for when hiring associate counsels?

A: I hired someone three weeks ago to replace me in the counsel role. She's actually someone who worked at three of the largest law firms in the world. She also had done some pro bono work for me in the past. The thing I liked about her was she had a stellar legal resume, but she also had a dog that was a rescue. She is someone who took on pro bono work in the past, not just for my organization but for other organizations. She obviously cares about animals and has a strong legal background. You don't have to have a love of animals to work here, but it really helps.

Q: What's one thing they don't teach in law school that they should?

A: Law school teaches you maybe two percent of what you need to know to practice law in the real world. My clients are everyone from the kennel worker to the ASPCA president and everybody in between. They don't teach you in law school how to deal with people who are not lawyers. Law school does not teach you how to write a contract, how to do business transactions. Probably the most important thing, no matter what kind of law you practice, is learning how to write. And as much as law school likes to think they teach you how to do that, they really don't.

Q: Any other advice?

A: If you really want to work in a nonprofit, it's best to get a wide range of experience. Because there are limited resources, you're frequently asked to do more things than a person in the same position at a corporation would do. You're called upon to do a lot more. I started out doing just license agreements, and I ended up doing contracts for every department of the organization.

We don't have a support staff. We don't have paralegals. We don't have a lot of administrative help. It's a question of resources. You also have to be willing to pitch in and help with things a lawyer might not normally be doing. We were active in rescuing animals in buildings around Ground Zero after 9-11. I pitched in, and I was on the phone and making calls to residents, asking if they were able to get their pets out of their apartments. I'm a roll-up-your-sleeves kind of person...and it certainly helps around here if you like getting your hands dirty!

Q: Are you a cat or a dog person?

A: Even though I have a cat, I'm a dog person. To be honest, I never liked cats. I like my cat because he's more like a dog than a cat. If you open the front door, cats go diving under the bed and you don't see them for a day. My cat, when I open the front door at night, comes running to the door at warp speed and licks my entire face for a solid 10 minutes! He's a total companion.