The 100 Best Nonprofits survey for 2011 was conducted online from late April through June. 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon appears in the October issue of Oregon Business, which was released at a dinner event September 28 in Portland.

This year, 170 organizations took part in our survey and will be ranked in three groups according to size as follows: organizations with 0-19 Oregon employees are small; those with 20-49 are medium; and those with 50 or more Oregon employees are large. the top 33 small and medium and top 34 large will comprise this 2011's 100 best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon.

Process enhancements for 2011:

1. Expanded eligibility: In addition to Oregon employees, unpaid volunteers in Oregon who work at least 20 hours per month for nonprofits will now be allowed (but not required) to take part, opening the survey to the multitude of state nonprofits with few or no paid employees.
2. Streamlined survey: The employee survey has been reduced from 60 statements of satisfaction and importance last year to 35 statements this year, eliminating redundancies to require less of workers’ valuable time, and promoting more thoughtful responses.
3. Focus on nonprofit workplace: Sections of the employee survey have been adjusted in order to add a Mission and goals section that helps focus on qualities particularly important within nonprofit workplaces.

There is no cost to participate and organizations may be headquartered anywhere. Survey reports will be available to all qualifying participants so, whether or not your nonprofit makes the list, seize this chance to obtain valuable employee feedback and compare your workplace practices to nonprofits throughout the state. All organization and employee information will be kept private. 

 Nonprofits are an important sector in Oregon that employs more than 150,000 employees. To recognize that nonprofits are also key businesses critical to the economic health of the state, Oregon Business magazine launched last year its annual 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon project. Oregon Business partners with Portland research firm Davis Hibbitts & Midghall to score and rank the winning 100 nonprofits.

100 Best Nonprofits schedule:

Sign-up period: April to June

 Survey period: Nonprofits invite employees and qualified volunteers (optionally) to take the online survey and complete the employer survey April through early July

Scoring and ranking: Qualified nonprofits are informed in late July if they rank (though not where) among the top 100 nonprofits

Survey results: Participants may order a free overview of survey results or a more detailed report for a fee August through November

Event and list: The 100 Best Nonprofits will be honored at a special event around October 1 and featured in the October issue of Oregon Business