idealist.org

From Jobs and Careers With Nonprofit Organizations, by Ron and Caryl Krannich, available at Impact Publications.

What's it really like working in the nonprofit sector? Most people either know little or nothing about nonprofit work, or they have certain stereotypes about what it's really like working in this employment arena. Reality depends on the type of organization, where you work, and whom you work with. In general, however, the following positives and negatives are normally associated with nonprofit organizations. Some are two-edged swords they function as both positives and negatives.

1. Rewarding work: Many nonprofit organizations have a positive impact on the health and welfare of people. They do "good works" that are compatible with the religious and social values of individuals who want to help others and become involved in improving their communities. People who seek meaningful work find nonprofits provide an excellent job "fit". They enable many people to pursue their passions in well-focused work environments.
2. Interesting and exciting work: Much of the work of nonprofits is very interesting and exciting. Arts, cultural, historical, community-educational, social service, advocacy, political, and business and professional organizations engage in some of today's most important work. Many of their missions center on pressing social and political issues. If you want to change the attitudes and behaviors of individuals, groups, and communities, you'll find many nonprofits to be ideal employers.
3. Positive work environments: Some of the nicest, most caring, and selfless people you will ever meet work for nonprofit organizations. Many of these organizations also hire very bright and well-educated individuals who contribute to an intelligent and stimulating work environment. If you like working with such people and especially those who share your values and are very likable a nonprofit organization may be the right type of work environment for you.
4. Easy entry and valuable experience: Nonprofits offer excellent opportunities for acquiring work experience. Indeed, it is often easier to acquire entry-level positions with nonprofit organizations than with government agencies and businesses. Indeed, nonprofits offer a large number of volunteer and internship experiences for acquiring work experience. Recent college graduates and women reentering the workforce often find nonprofit organizations to be more responsive to their job search initiatives than government agencies and businesses.
5. Career advancement: Many nonprofit jobs lead to career advancement within the nonprofit sector. This often involves moving from small to larger nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits also are excellent stepping stones for acquiring jobs in government and business. Indeed, many people working in government and business today first acquired work experience with nonprofit organizations.

1. Low pay: Constrained by limited financial resources, many nonprofit organizations offer below average to low salaries. Comparable jobs paying $40,000 a year in government or business may only pay $25,000 to $30,000 with a nonprofit organization. A 25 percent salary differential is quite common. Consequently, don't expect to make as much money working for a nonprofit organization as you might with other types of organizations. The rewards are elsewhere, and primarily non-monetary, with nonprofits.
2. Limited career advancement: Since many nonprofits are small organizations, your career within such an organization may quickly plateau. Career advancement requires leaving a small nonprofit organization for a higher level job in a larger nonprofit organization. However, many of the larger nonprofits are found in only a few major metropolitan areas such as Washington, DC, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. If you are unwilling to seek employment with larger nonprofits headquartered in these cities, don't expect to advance your career much in the nonprofit sector.
3. Stressful and frustrating work environments: Work environments of many nonprofit organizations leave much to be desired. While many problems relate to the financing of nonprofits, other problems are endemic to the traditional voluntary structure and organization of nonprofits. Many nonprofits are stressful places to work because of the chaotic nature of their organizations and decision-making. Some are highly political and bureaucratic. Boards of directors often work against their best interests. Some nonprofits have notorious reputations for administrative incompetence and disorganization; lack quality personnel and staff development; operate with antiquated equipment and from cramped quarters; and have attitude problems. Relationships between the CEO, board members, staff, and volunteers can become a nightmare. If you prize strong leadership, clear decision points, high levels of efficiency, and the latest in office technology, many nonprofit organizations will disappoint, frustrate, and discourage you. If you can tolerate ambiguity, inefficiency, and chaos and function well in make-shift work environments, you may do well in such work environments.
4. Lack of concrete results and accountability: While many nonprofits promote positive social values, many of these same organizations are hard-pressed to point to concrete measurable results to justify their operations. Unlike a business that measures its performance by its bottom-line profits, few nonprofits have similar types of performance indicators. They operate processes which may or may not be directly related to specific performance and outcomes. Many of these processes involve frequent meetings, reports, and other related activities but few measurable outcomes. Like government agencies, nonprofit organizations have annual budgets which they must expend. The closest they may come to performance is a clear mission statement of what they hope to accomplish. Only a few nonprofits have clear mission statements that guide their performance and hold them accountable.
5. Uncertain financial future: By definition most nonprofits depend on a variety of unstable fundraising activities, from membership fees, public donations, and corporate sponsorships to foundation grants, government contracts, and commercial activities. Fluctuating from year to year, such unpredictable revenue streams can create anxiety amongst employees, generate job insecurity, and affect motivation. Many nonprofit organizations operate as if they were in a permanent downsizing mode.

From Jobs and Careers With Nonprofit Organizations, by Ron and Caryl Krannich, available at Impact Publications.