NONPROFIT CAREER OPTIONS
People work at nonprofits because they want to see a change in the world !!
Without the right resources, it can feel almost impossible for employees to meet their objectives and help the cause they care so much about.
Let’s dig into some of the skills needed and what can help make you a success.
This article will share some of the most popular ways to find a nonprofit role and also take a look at the broad range of roles available:
· Nonprofit accounting jobs
· Marketing nonprofit jobs
· Nonprofit management jobs
· Communication nonprofit jobs
· Social Service nonprofit jobs
· Fundraising jobs
WHAT DO FUNDRAISERS DO?
Fundraisers are development professionals who organize and manage fundraising for organizations. They typically work for nonprofit organizations, such as:
• Colleges and universities
• Charitable organizations
• Research organizations
• Religious organizations
• Civic groups
As a fundraiser, you may be responsible for the following tasks:
• Planning events
• Managing fundraising campaigns
• Developing relationships with donors
• Reaching out to individuals and businesses for donations
• Delivering presentations to the community
Most Popular Common Nonprofit careers and job titles
Most nonprofits are organized similarly to regular for-profit companies. For example, both kinds of organizations will typically have management positions like executive directors, as well as jobs in accounting/bookkeeping, human resources, and media/technology. There are other jobs that are unique to the nonprofit sector, but which can generally be categorized into the existing typical corporate divisions. Check out these fundraising job titles.
1) Outreach Coordinator Jobs
For example, the outreach coordinator in a nonprofit promotes the mission of the organization among the local community. They might organize events, recruit volunteers, or arrange other projects to get the community excited about and invested in the enterprise.
2) Development Jobs
Jobs in development might attend to fundraising planning, securing financial support, creating special events for donors, and running other projects to ensure the organization meets its annual goals.
3) Grant Writer Jobs
A grant writer works with the development director, completing applications for funding (typical applications to foundations, the government, or a trust) to make sure the nonprofit achieve its annual financial goals. In a standard corporate job chart, all these positions would fall under the marketing/public relations category.
Best Nonprofit Jobs
Administrative/Accounting
In any organization, there needs to be people expert in organizing and executing office duties, interacting with the clients, and attending to the everyday operation of the enterprise.
• Community Service Project Coordinator
• Compliance Coordinator
• Financial Aid Representative
• Membership Administrator
Health and Human Services
Many nonprofits are concerned with the physical and mental welfare of their clients and need employees with a variety of skills in specialized areas like abuse, addiction, and life counseling for adults and youth.
• Case Manager
• Chemical Dependency Counselor
• Child Care Worker
• Child Life Specialist
• Counselor
• Hospice Supervisor
• Housing Coordinator
• Human Services Worker
• Living Skills Advisor
• Managed Care Coordinator
• Medical Social Worker
• Policy Analyst
• Residential Living Assistant
• Social Worker
Human Resources
In a nonprofit, people with human resources skills can put their experience to use in a variety of ways from being the point person on building skilled teams to tackle a community project to recruiting and organizing volunteers to assist with daily tasks.
• Event Team Recruiter
• Job Developer
• Labor Union Organizer
• Team Leader
• Volunteer Coordinator
Management
Management in the nonprofit sector takes many different forms, from overseeing entire national or regional efforts to guiding the direction of one crucial element of the organization’s goals. Nonprofits often draw from the corporate world for the most senior executive positions, as well as from candidates who have risen through the nonprofit route.
Chief Executive
Primary duties: The chief executive officer is the top executive in many companies. As CEO, you are responsible for major decision-making, managing resources, and operations, defining the company’s vision, tone, and public image. Your duties as CEO vary based on the size of the company. In large corporations, you are often responsible for large-scale operations only, including strategic planning for company growth. In smaller organizations, you may be more involved in daily operations in addition to your role in upper-level decision-making and management. CEOs manage all other executives.
Requirements: CEOs or Executive Directors are usually elected into their position by the company’s board of directors. Applying for the position, you must be able to demonstrate your ability to strategically plan and develop and expand upon company vision. You might hold previous experience in management and a Master’s Degree in Business or another relevant field.
Chief Financial Officer
Primary duties: The chief financial officer is in charge of the company’s finances. This requires budgeting and accounting, but also forecasting, as CFOs must be able to predict the company’s financial gains and losses to determine where and when to spend money. As CFO, you may also be responsible for investments.
Requirements: Most CFOs have significant experience in their field in addition to bachelor’s degrees in accounting, finances, or economics. A master’s degree in business administration or certification as a public accountant can increase your chances of employment as CFO.
Other business and financial roles can include:
Community Relations Director
Compliance Director
Corporate Giving Director
Corporate Giving Manager
Development Director
Development Manager
Director of Major Gifts
Director of Special Initiatives
Donor Relations Manager
Marketing
People with marketing and fundraising skills are sought after in the nonprofit sector to keep the organization and its goals sustainable and viewed positively in the public eye. Grant writers with excellent writing skills and the ability to seek out funding are always in high demand as well.
Chief Marketing Officer
Primary duties: In charge of marketing strategy, the chief marketing officer is responsible for advertising and branding for the company. As a CMO, you are also a researcher, staying up-to-date on trends, defining and attracting your customer base. Your position depends on sharp communication skills, as you construct broad marketing plans to reach customers and business partners alike.
Requirements: CMOS usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing, though a master’s degree is generally preferred. Many employers will require you have at least ten years of experience in advertising or marketing, in addition to experience in management.
• Community Organizer
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Coordinator of Planned Giving
• Grassroots Organizer
• Lobbyist
• Marketing Associate
• Social Media Coordinator
• Special Events Coordinator
Non Profit Pay Scale
If you’re contemplating a career in nonprofits, you might be expecting to earn less than your counterparts in for-profit industries. However, the data is mixed about whether working for nonprofits means taking a pay cut.
This is most notable in jobs that have a direct equivalent at for-profit companies. For example, PayScale data shows that marketing managers at nonprofits earn 17.8% less than those at for-profit employers. On the other hand, a Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that some nonprofit workers service workers, in particular, enjoy a paid premium for working at nonprofits.
So, does it pay to work for a nonprofit?
The short answer is that it depends. Your job title, duties, and employer are obviously big factors in determining your compensation. To get the salary you deserve, it’s important to research compensation before you negotiate—and to know what’s important to you.
There you have it! Now you know all about the nonprofit sector and some of the major roles that you can fill !!
What questions come up for you?
Let me know in the comments below!
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Want more information ? Check out our other blog posts on nonprofits and nonprofit videos.
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