Nonprofit

Nonprofit Career Overview

Careers in nonprofit organizations can be just as challenging as private-sector careers, and often pay substantially less—but are rewarding in a way no corporate setting can be. Selflessness rather than profit-motivation drive those who choose to work in non-profits, and this difference in perspective often makes this career choice pay dividends.

Nonprofit Training & Education

Generally speaking, a Bachelor’s degree is required for positions in training and education, and a Master’s is often ideal. Because nonprofit organizations with education/training programs exist in virtually all sectors, nearly any undergraduate degree can be relevant. Managerial positions will also require a considerable amount of practical work experience that demonstrates management and leadership skills.

Grant writing differs somewhat in that track record matters more than degree qualifications, although it is rare for successful grant writers to not hold any degrees. For those without any experience, an undergraduate degree or relevant internship is essential to securing a position.

Nonprofit Career & Salary Outlook

Because non-profits can vary immensely in size and funding, salaries differ accordingly. Entry-level employees in smaller organizations can make barely more than minimum wage, while those working for larger organizations can expect salaries competitive with private-sector positions. Because non-profits operate in a variety of different sectors, it is difficult to come up with a specific salary range. For example, someone collecting signatures or donations on a street corner will be paid a radically different salary than someone who organizes lavish fundraisers for hundreds of affluent donors.

Those who pursue careers as grant writers will find their salary to be variable, as this is typically a freelance job. Payment can be calculated in various ways: on the basis of hours worked, a lump sum per grant, or a percentage commission that depends on the amount of money they obtain for their client.

On the executive level, directors’ and fund managers’ salaries can range from $50,000 to more than $100,000—and it often climbs much higher: public university presidents often make upwards of half a million dollars per annum. Overall, the US Department of Labor estimates growth of up to 15% for jobs in nonprofit organizations through 2014.

Career Fields/Specializations

Major Gifts Manager Career

Most nonprofit organizations depend on gifts of capital, goods, or services from a variety of donors to keep running. Larger and more extensive organizations deal with a high volume of such gifts, and typically require a small team of people to oversee the efficient deployment of donated assets. Those who manage these teams are responsible for setting fundraising goals and designing effective campaigns in addition to typical managerial duties.

Given that this is a managerial position, the Major Gifts Manager must have several years’ worth of experience working for nonprofit organizations, which might involve event planning, fundraising, and coordination of fundraising activities. Essential skills for this position include excellent communication skills—after all, the survival of the organization depends on their ability to attract donations—and strong leadership and organizational skills.

Outreach Coordinator Career

One of the most important functions of many nonprofit organizations lies in educating the public about their activities, and encouraging people to participate in activities and events that the organization offers. This function is typically carried out via an Outreach program, where several people work together as a team to further the goals of the organization.

Within this team, the Outreach Coordinator can have a variety of different functions depending on the organization they work for. They may be responsible for organizing events and activities, including publicity and budget preparation. An Outreach Coordinator will typically work both with members of staff and with the people that the organization provides aid to.

Due to the nature of their job, an Outreach Coordinator must have a broad range of skills. They should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be able to organize large and long-term events efficiently, and work well with all types of people. Most nonprofit organizations will also prefer a person with a strong commitment to serving the public on behalf of the organization, who can work well in a team and can take on a leadership role when required.

Development Director Career

Development Directors are most often hired by larger nonprofit organizations that require someone who is dedicated to overseeing the long-term financial goals of the organization. Development Directors have an important role in fund-raising for the organization, although they are not directly involved in fund-raising activities.

The Development Director of a nonprofit organization is responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring fund-raising initiatives on both a short and long term basis. This typically includes publicity, event planning and other related activities in addition to developing, and the Development Director will often work with other members of staff in these areas. They will also often supervise a team of fund-raising staff that might include volunteers as well as paid employees.

A Development Director should have excellent interpersonal skills, as well as good written and verbal communication skills. They should have experience in managing staff, and be able to effectively motivate their team of volunteers and paid employees. Development Directors often keep in contact with major donors to the organization, so tact and sensitivity are particularly important personal qualities for this position.

Grant Writer Career

In addition to donations from the public, nonprofit organizations also rely on monetary gifts (called grants) from corporations, private foundations, and government agencies. In most cases, each organization must apply to the funding body and must compete with other nonprofit organizations to receive a grant.

The role of the grant writer is to author an application for funds that is thoroughly researched and proves that the organization has a clear and significant need for the grant. As such, a grant writer must have excellent written communication skills, and should be able to write persuasively, accurately, and concisely.

Often a grant writer works as a freelancer or consultant, simply because few nonprofit organizations are large enough to require the services of a grant writer on a full-time basis. However, larger organizations may hire a grant writer part-time or full-time to assist in managing existing grants as well as writing proposals for new ones.