I was recently in Medford for the annual conference that brings together nonprofits from southern Oregon communities as well as from the very northern reaches of California.

While the state of the economy is a concern to all, there were a number of people representing new efforts. I had the chance to talk with a number of these people and came away with two impressions.

First, there is an undeniable optimism. It's the kind of optimism that tells an investor that now is the time to put even more money into stocks because things won't go any lower. Or, as one old acquaintance put it, you can only get on the Ferris wheel at the bottom.

I was also left with another impression; that some people are going into nonprofit work because the economy is so bad. With job prospects in the for-profit sector looking tough, people are hoping to build a job or find a job in the nonprofit arena.

Looking to the nonprofit sector as an alternative also seems to have caught the attention of graduating college students. In a recent post on Slate, Sandy Stonesifer notes that Peace Corps applications are up 16%, Teach for America will select less than 15% of its growing applicant pool, and Americorps has seen a four-fold increase in applications over last year.

It's natural to feel a bit put off by the idea that people are fleeing to the nonprofit sector because the for-profit economy is so bad.

But the good news is that this increase in interest means that the sector is attracting some talented people who, in other circumstances, may never have been attracted to nonprofit work. Surely there will be some who will exit as soon as higher paying jobs in the for-profit sector become available. What I'm more interested in are the talented people who will stay in the sector.

In many ways nonprofit work is difficult and complicated. The sector needs to attract some of the best talent in the country if it is going to thrive.

At the same time, we know many nonprofits are struggling. Not everyone who hopes to work in the nonprofit sector will find a paying job, nor will all of these new efforts thrive.

But perhaps there are ways through volunteering, internships, and other options that will allow people to gain vital experience. We have to remember that even if those graduating students and others don't find career-type jobs in the nonprofit sector, they will always be potential contributors of time, money, and talent. So even if we have to share tough news--that there are no job openings now or that new groups are not going to be eligible for grants this year--let us share that news with a generous and understanding spirit.