Is A Career In Nonprofit For You?
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Nonprofit organizations are often thought of as places you go to volunteer, but they can offer rewarding careers as well. According to a 2012 report by the Center for Civil Society Studies at Johns Hopkins University, nonprofit employment represents 10.1 percent of total employment in the United States in 2010. Although there are many similarities between nonprofit and for-profit companies, here are some aspects you should consider.

What makes nonprofit work different? The mission of a charity isn’t to make a profit but rather to make a positive change in the world. Employees working for nonprofits are more likely to wear multiple hats in their jobs because there are limited resources to hire for specialized roles. This type of work may appeal to someone who enjoys a lot of variety but may be frustrating to the person who is more comfortable focusing on specific functions.

What type of jobs are available? Nonprofits require some of the same type of positions as for-profit companies. Accountants, I.T professionals, and Human Resource personnel are some examples. Some unique positions in charities include fund raisers, volunteer coordinators, and grant writers.

Is the pay competitive? Some nonprofit organizations are quite competitive, but others are not. Some may compensate for less pay by offering generous time off packages and/or flexible schedules.

A CEO of a large organization can make a six-figure compensation package. Charity Navigator, the largest expert charity evaluator in America, just released their findings on the salaries of CEOs in US based organizations. CEOs in large charities (over $200 million in total expenses) had a median pay of $526,679. The largest salary reported was $3,733,930.

Where do I find openings for nonprofits? Charities may use the same job boards as for profit companies but there are some specialized ones just for nonprofit openings. Some examples include http://idealist.org, http://philanthropy.com, htpp://thenonprofitnetwork.org, and http://nonprofitjobmarket.org.

When deciding if a career in nonprofit work is for you, consider if you would enjoy a job that required you to work in multiple roles. Consider also if pay is your main objective of working. If so, charity work may not be for you. Above all, think about what causes resonate with you. Charities are looking for not only good employees, but also people who are passionate about the work they do.