Working in a Nonprofit
SaveThis article lays out some considerations and advice if you're applying to or thinking of working at a nonprofit.
Whether you are in high school, college, or working full-time, chances are that a nonprofit has already made a difference in your life. Nonprofits are everywhere and they include a wide variety of organizations you may have taken for granted, such as a university, church, or after-school sport or program like AYSO or the Boys and Girls Club. In fact, there are approximately 1.5 million nonprofits nationwide that focus on every kind of social issue you can think of (and then some!). With this many nonprofits throughout the county, it takes a large and dedicated workforce to keep them running. In fact, nonprofits account for about 10% of the U.S. workforce, and many people have volunteered at or donated to a nonprofit at some point in their life.
There are many pros and cons to working at a nonprofit. Having worked at several nonprofits in the past decade, the mission-driven aspect is what keeps me coming back. While the experience of working at a nonprofit versus a for-profit company varies and depends on the type of nonprofit, as well as your preferences and career goals, this article lays out some considerations and advice if you're applying to or thinking of working at a nonprofit.
Financial
The financial health of nonprofits is insecure by nature, though to varying degrees. As is the reality, most nonprofits rely on individual donations and grants. It's always a good idea to do your due diligence on the financials of the nonprofit in question. Luckily, all nonprofits are required to publicize their tax forms (called 990s). Guidestar and ProPublica are great online resources through which you can access 990 forms for free. Navigating these forms can be overwhelming, but pay close attention to their cash flow and total assets over the past few years for any red flags.
Further, it's important to understand how a nonprofit is funded. You can find this information in their 990s or through speaking with a development director at the organization. For example, see if the nonprofit receives unrestricted or restricted funds, how long their grants are funded for, and if their main funding sources are stable (such as consistent government funding versus individual donations). This will give you a more accurate picture of the longevity of a nonprofit's funding and, more importantly, your job stability.
One harsh reality is that you are likely to be paid less at a nonprofit than your peers working for a for-profit organization for the same type of work. Be sure to weigh this against your future plans and other intangible assets you can gain from working at a nonprofit. Salary ranges also depend on the type of nonprofit. For example, more established nonprofits likely have more consistent sources of funding. You can also expect to be paid more at a foundation, a type of nonprofit whose funding tends to come from a family or corporate endowment instead of individual donations.
Work Culture
The work culture can vary between nonprofits. However, nonprofits on average have a relatively small staff size, and some pros and cons come with working in a small organization. You will likely get to know your colleagues well and work closely with them. This is a nice, built-in way to learn from your colleagues and understand how the organization functions as a whole, but you will need to make sure to create boundaries.
Nonprofits are, at their core, mission driven. They often have lofty goals that may be impossible to reach during your tenure there, but you can still make an impact with your colleagues as you're all working towards the same goals despite your job description. This tends to create a more cooperative working environment, versus a competitive environment that may come with working at a profit-driven company. However, social change is hard and takes a lot of time, so it may often feel like you're spinning your wheels. Because of this, burnout can be high. Thus, it is important to take care of yourself and remind yourself that you are doing your best with the resources you have.
Finally, because the goals of your work may have a long timeline, deadlines are often pushed and the pace of work can be slower. This generally means a better work/life balance. On the other hand, when tackling such complex systematic issues, this also means the work is never done!
Professional Development
Your experience and growth while working at a nonprofit will depend on your skillset and the type of work the organization is focused on. For example, nonprofits may focus on direct services, where you'll be able to make a more direct impact on the communities you're working with. Nonprofits can also focus more on the research side of social change, where you'll gather quantitative or qualitative evidence on strategies to combat our most pressing social issues. Nonprofits can also focus on advocacy, to a degree, or policy change, where you'll evaluate past programs and strategies and work towards changing policies based on the evidence you find.
Again, because nonprofits tend to have a small staff, you'll likely need to wear a lot of hats, especially if the organization is relatively young. This could be a great way to gain experience and learn new skills, but this doesn't necessarily come with a pay raise. Promotions are also harder to come by while working in a small team. On the other hand, the world of nonprofits and philanthropy is small, so it's easy to make connections and meet interesting people doing good work. Networking with your colleagues will come easy, and they may be able to help you get to the next stage in your career.
Conclusion
With so many social issues to tackle and several nonprofits with similar goals, it can be overwhelming to search for the right organizational fit for you. Luckily, there are websites and listservs dedicated solely for nonprofit jobs. Idealist is an online job search engine that lets you filter nonprofit jobs by location, issue area, and more. Your local philanthropy networks and foundations also often aggregate open nonprofit positions on their websites.
Chances are, there's a nonprofit out there that aligns with your interests and can use your skillset. I believe that working on the ground, whether through working or volunteering at a nonprofit, is an eye-opening and rewarding life experience.
Melissa Ortiz
Melissa has ten years of experience working in research and administration in several nonprofits and higher education institutions. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount University and her M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.Articles & Advice
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