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Several years ago, when I told my family and friends I had gotten a job working for a nonprofit organization, I could hear them thinking, "That sounds like Susan; she's a warm, fuzzy do-gooder type." And even I thought I'd be joining a less money-driven and more human-focused, supportive work environment. What I learned from that career move was that many people's perceptions of working for a nonprofit are naive at best.
Russ Finkelstein, associate director of Idealist.org, a site providing nonprofit and volunteer information on more than 29,000 organizations in 153 countries, agrees that the images people often have of the nonprofit sector don't always match with reality. For example:
Nonprofit Jobs Are Easy to Get
Because nonprofit organizations always need people so badly, they'll take anybody, right? Wrong. Although many nonprofits work within a tight budget, the skill level and experience required for nonprofit careers is not unlike the requirements in other types of organizations.
Only Those Who Want to Change the World Go into Nonprofits
People with a mission often find their way into nonprofits, but to characterize everyone employed by a nonprofit in this manner is an oversimplification. The range of organizations represented -- from churches, museums, social service organizations, political groups, professional organizations to research foundations -- makes generalizations about this group limiting and misleading.
Working for a Nonprofit Is Automatically Rewarding and Fulfilling
Closely related to this sentiment is that the culture of a nonprofit, by definition, will be friendly, supportive and accepting. Fulfilling work and a camaraderie among coworkers can result from a nonprofit career, but work is still work. Personality quirks and personal agendas can still find their way into noble endeavors.
So what is it really like to work in the nonprofit sector? Although Finkelstein says making generalizations about a field this broad is tricky, these pros and cons offer some insight.
Advantages
- You can change the world: If you want to make a difference, you can do so while working at a nonprofit. These organizations accomplish extraordinary things that literally change lives. And you can be a part of that.
- Your passion could become your career: If you've found something you're passionate about, you can act on that passion if you get a job with the right nonprofit. Having your personal interests and values in sync with your professional life is priceless.
Disadvantages
- Mentoring opportunities can be limited: "If you were hired as the PR manager, you are probably the only one there who knows how to do it," says Finkelstein. With the limited time and resources nonprofits often operate under, there may be no one to take you under their wing and groom you for future positions.
- You won't get rich: The salary you make at a nonprofit is unlikely to ever be as high as what you might earn in a similar role in the private sector. But if salary is not your top priority, then this is easier to accept.
- Success may be hard to measure: "Is your after-school program working?" can be harder to answer than "How many widgets have you sold?" In the for-profit world, the bottom line is easier to see. The difference you make in a nonprofit career may be less tangible.
"As the federal government and state governments cut back on services, nonprofit organizations pop up to respond to the needs that still exist out there," says Finkelstein. "Since the dotcom crash and the events of September 11, many people are feeling they need something more meaningful in their life. Joining the cause of a nonprofit organization is a way to do that."
Check out these sites to learn more about working in the nonprofit sector: