25 May How to Find Work with a Nonprofit Organization
For some people, working for a nonprofit can be their lifelong dream. Being able to do something they love for an organization that shares their same passion and mission can bring a lot of happiness to those looking for an amazing working experience. While working for a nonprofit organization is a dream for some people, getting into the sector can sometimes prove to be a difficult task. Job opportunities for these organizations tend to get filled quickly, leaving applicants heartbroken. However, organizations tend to need volunteers and these opportunities can lead to applicants getting full-time work while also gaining valuable experience. In this article, we’ll explain how to find careers in the nonprofit sector and how to maximize your resources so you can land your dream job with an organization that you love.
How many people work for nonprofits?
According to a report by Johns Hopkins University that was published in 2019, approximately one in every ten workers in the United States is employed by a nonprofit. A total of 12.3 million people worked for nonprofits in 2016, meaning the number has grown since then. This data shows that nonprofit organizations have a sizable economic force that are only beaten out in size by retail trade, accommodation, and food service jobs. Nonprofit careers grew almost four times faster than for-profit jobs from 2007 to 2017. 81 percent of positions in the sector are accounted for by the health, education and social assistance areas.
Now, we’ll take a look at some of the best ways to find work with a nonprofit organization.
How to find jobs in the Not-for-profit sector
Whether you’re fresh into your job search or looking to change your career path, there are several ways to find work with a nonprofit.
Search for Positions on Nonprofit Job Boards
Job boards can be an amazing resource to find job opportunities for both for-profit and nonprofit roles. In the nonprofit sector, finding a job board that specializes in the mission you want to help in can be difficult, but job boards offer a wide variety of positions in different areas. Thanks to FoundationList, we have a whole list of nonprofit job boards that showcase both jobs and volunteer opportunities. Here are some of them:
- https://foundationlist.org/ – Foundation List is a job board specifically designed for listing opportunities within the nonprofit employment sector! Its mission is to connect foundations, organizations, associations, and educational institutions to passionate mission-minded job seekers.
- http://www.nonprofitcareer.com – Nonprofit Career Network has been created to fill the needs of the nonprofit sector.
- http://foundationcenter.org – Established in 1956, Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grant makers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level.
- http://www.hercjobs.org – HERC is the only non-profit organization devoted to connecting exceptional professionals with careers at higher education and affiliated employers that have a shared mission to promote equity and inclusion, support dual-career couples and create a future shaped by diversity of thought and perspectives.
- http://www.councilofnonprofits.org – The National Council of Nonprofits is a trusted resource and advocate for America’s charitable nonprofits. Through their powerful network of State Associations and 25,000-plus members – the nation’s largest network of nonprofits – they serve as a central coordinator and mobilizer to help organizations achieve greater collective impact in local communities across the country. They identify emerging trends, share proven practices, and promote solutions that benefit charitable nonprofits and the communities they serve.
- https://www.thegreenjobbank.com – The US #1 site for green jobs and green employers. TheGreenJobBank’s search engine crawls the web daily to provide the most current listings available from thousands of websites.
Here are some other examples of job boards that aren’t specifically for not-for-profit organizations, but can feature nonprofit career listings:
Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer
One of the best ways to break into the sector and get experience is to volunteer for a nonprofit organization! Many nonprofit professionals list volunteering as one of the biggest ways to break into the industry. Identify an organization or mission that you feel passionate about and offer to volunteer. They always need more hands on deck, so putting yourself out there as a volunteer is both a valuable way to gain working professional experience and showcase your skills to the organization. Volunteer positions are the best way to get your foot in the door and help with something you’re extremely passionate about.
Consider Internship Opportunities
If you’re looking to break into the sector and you’re a student or a recent graduate or even looking to make a career change, consider looking for internship opportunities with an organization. During the internship, you’ll gain valuable skills, learn how a nonprofit operates and learn valuable information to help you in your career. Internships can sometimes offer paid employment opportunities and involve more interesting work than a volunteering position can.
Build a Professional Network
When looking for a new job, whether it’s for a nonprofit or not, it should be of the utmost importance to build your personal professional network and showcase yourself as an ideal candidate for any position. Buildng strong connections with the right people can help you land interviews, build connections with hiring managers, and potentially learn about jobs before they become available to the public.
It’s important to have a strong networking strategy, so make sure to highlight important networking events, job fairs, and other events organized by nonprofits that you would potentially want to work for. Additionally, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to par, as most professionals will use the platform to connect and showcase open roles.
Scion Nonprofit can Connect You with Nonprofit Jobs
Scion Nonprofit Staffing specializes in placing experienced, mission-driven nonprofit staff members from the entry-level to the executive level. Our search firm was specifically designed to meet the need of the nonprofit sector and effectively provides our devoted clients with top-notch nonprofit talent pipelines and human resource services. Contact us today to get connected with a recruiter or visit our website to look at our available job opportunities and help your community today!
