About Careers in the Non-Profit Sector
The non-profit sector can be an excellent career path for some individuals. The types of careers in a non-profit vary and like all careers there can be some drawbacks to working in the non-profit sector.
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What is a Non-Profit?
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Non-profit organizations are organizations that are set up not to make a profit, but to provide goods and services for the good of the community. Owners, key stakeholders, individuals and others associated with the non-profit do not profit from the organization. Non-profit organizations fit into several common groups such as governments, health services, religious services, educational services, research, social services, foundations, arts and culture organizations, civic organizations and some legal service organizations. Assets are acquired by non-profits through their contributors, and contributors do not expect to gain anything in return. Most non-profits are declared tax exempt by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and contributors can get tax deductions on their income taxes for any contributions they make.
Types of Careers
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There are many types of careers in the non-profit sector. Non-profits always have an Executive Officer or a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Most non-profits also have a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or a Controller. Depending on the type of non-profit organization, careers opportunities also exist in fundraising, grant writing, program development, marketing, public relations, membership development, finance, human resources, program specialists, healthcare, counselors and administrative positions. Non-profit sectors offer a large range of entry level positions, and entry level positions are commonly awarded more job responsibility than in their for profit counterparts. People just starting out on a career path are many times given the opportunity to make more of a direct impact on the organization than they would in a for profit business.
Benefits of a Career in the Non-Profit Sector
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Many non-profits look for employees who have a vested interest in the mission of the organization, and they generally employ people who are passionate about the line of work they specialize in. In return, employees know that they are all working towards a common goal and don't feel the pressure of competitiveness; instead they feel that they are part of a team and have a sense of unity and cooperation with their fellow employees. Generally, non-profit employees feel their work is challenging and diverse and that it makes a significant impact.
Drawbacks to a Career in the Non-Profit Sector
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Money is almost always tight in the non-profit sector, and many times there is only one person to do the work that a for profit business might assign several people to do. Due to this, many employees feel burned out from their roles being stretched too far. In addition, a guide published by Miami University reports that many times non-profit employees work with less fortunate people who have fewer resources, and this can also cause employee burnout. Job security is also usually a stress that is put on non-profit employees. Many non-profits receive funding from resources that are always changing, making it difficult for them to predict cash flow and sometimes resulting in layoffs.
Pay and Benefits
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It is usually assumed that employees in the non-profit sector make significantly less than that of their counterparts in a for profit organization.This is typically a myth. While money is always tight, non-profits are usually able to offer their employees competitive salary and benefit packages.
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