Hiring in the Nonprofit Military-Community World Is Broken: And Here’s What I’m Doing About It
When I started writing about degrees, certifications, and real-life experience, I didn’t expect those posts to strike such a nerve. But the messages, comments, and private conversations that followed made something very clear:
A lot of people in the nonprofit and military-community space feel the same way — the hiring system doesn’t match the work being done.
Organizations say they want mission-driven people, strong communicators, relationship builders, problem-solvers, and community leaders.
But then they use degree requirements as the first filter, even when the degree has nothing to do with the job.
So I started writing about it. Loudly.
Not because I dislike education — I don’t.
Not because I’m against degrees — I’m not.
But because the nonprofit and military-family world depends on something far more valuable:
Real-life experience.
And the people who have that experience — surviving spouses, caregivers, long-term volunteers, advocates, military families, and operational leaders — are often excluded by outdated hiring practices designed for industries nothing like ours.
So I began putting into words what so many people already know:
Experience is the strongest qualification.
Certifications sharpen existing skills.
Degrees are optional in a field built on people, not theory.
And here’s the honest truth, no one wants to say out loud:
These blog posts aren’t just commentary.
They’re my résumé in narrative form.
I’ve Been Doing the Work Nonprofits Ask For — Long Before Anyone Paid Me to Do It
Everything I write about comes from years of:
supporting military families and surviving spouses
Navigating survivor and veteran benefits
coordinating grassroots and legislative advocacy
building community networks and rapid-response systems
handling crises where real people needed real help
communicating across agencies, government offices, and organizations
developing programs, outreach strategies, and support systems
bringing clarity to families lost in paperwork, policy, and bureaucracy
This isn’t theory.
This isn’t “conceptual leadership.”
This is the real work — the work that matters.
And the more I wrote, the more I realized:
These posts don’t just describe what’s wrong with hiring.
They describe exactly why I’m qualified.
I’m Writing About the System Because I’ve Had to Navigate It
I’ve been told:
“You need a degree. Any degree.”
“Oh, an associate degree isn’t enough — you need a bachelor’s.”
“A bachelor’s isn’t enough — consider a master’s.”
“You have experience, but we need credentials.”
Meanwhile, the people holding those degrees often lack the skills that real families, veterans, survivors, and communities need.
It’s not a talent gap.
It’s not an experience gap.
It’s a hiring gap.
And that’s exactly why I keep writing about it — because lived experience should never be the reason someone is overlooked.
Why I’m Talking About This Now
Because I’m looking for the right organization — one that values:
impact over optics
results over résumés
community trust over academic theory
mission readiness over credential checklists
And I know those organizations exist.
They’re the ones who understand that:
The best people for this work are the people who’ve lived it.
People who bring compassion, competence, and clarity.
People who understand the mission because they carry it.
People like me.
If You’re Following My Writing, Here’s What You’re Actually Seeing
You’re seeing someone who:
understands the nonprofit and military-community ecosystem deeply
can communicate complex issues clearly and professionally
advocates effectively with data, nuance, and lived context
can represent organizations with credibility and trust
sees the gaps, the needs, and the solutions
already does the very work nonprofits hire people to do
These blogs aren’t random thoughts.
They’re a portfolio.
A demonstration.
A window into how I think, how I work, and how I lead.
If Your Organization Wants Someone Who Can Make an Immediate Impact…
Then you’re not just looking for a degree.
You’re looking for someone who:
understands the military and survivor community
can build systems and relationships
can navigate benefits and policy
can engage stakeholders at every level
can communicate with clarity, empathy, and authority
can take a mission and operationalize it
can see problems before they become crises
can advocate in rooms where voices are often ignored
That’s the work I do, and want to continue doing.
If my writing resonates with you, your team, or your mission, I’d love to connect.
Because the right role is out there, and when we find it, the impact will speak for itself.
