Nonprofit Myths ……Separating Fact from Fiction

By Ellen McCarty
I recently overheard a career counselor advise a job-seeker to explore the nonprofit sector because “it would be less stressful”. I immediately felt the urge to interrupt and “set the record straight” but I remained silent, choosing instead to use the exchange as the backdrop for this article.

Indeed, there are many perceptions about the nonprofit sector, some right and some wrong. In this article we will explore three myths and why perpetuating them is unfair to the nonprofits and the individuals who may unwittingly make a career choice based on these misguided notions.

Myth One: People who work for nonprofits do so because they cannot make it in the for-profit sector.
According to a 2009 study conducted by The Bridgespan Group, 53% of US nonprofits with revenue over $1 million have significant for-profit management experience represented on their senior management teams, including 20% in financial roles; 42% of the EDs surveyed had significant for-profit management experience. Due to an increasing number of individuals, from baby boomers to young adults just starting their careers, who desire to “work for purpose”, I’m optimistic that this myth will eventually fade away. While it is true that some nonprofit staff would not be a good “fit” for a corporate environment, it often has less to do with their skill sets as it does their passion to support a mission as opposed to passion to make money. Indeed the skill sets needed to run a successful business are the same skill sets needed to run a nonprofit. Payroll has to be met and fundraising, much like sales in the for-profit sector, produces the revenue to meet payroll and fund programs and operations.

Myth Two: People who work for nonprofits don’t work as hard as people in the for-profit sector.
In my first Executive Director role, I operated emergency shelters for abused and at-risk children and youth. Occasionally, a person would comment on “how nice it must be to rock the little children all day”. I’m sure my eyes crossed and my mouth dropped as I stammered for a response. With limited staff resources, it can be an expectation that staff work evenings, weekends and as many hours as it takes, to support the mission and serve the clients. A typical day for a director might involve a 7:30 a.m. committee meeting to accommodate board directors’ schedules, lunch with a donor, and an evening event. This expectation cuts across all organizational positions from program staff who work late to meet with clients to membership staff who work weekends to provide direction to volunteers manning a telethon.

Myth Three: People who work for nonprofits have less stress than people in the for-profit sector.
Of all the myths that exist, this one is perhaps the most misunderstood, especially in the current nonprofit environment when the demand for services has never been greater. Sustainable nonprofits operate as “businesses with heart” ensuring that solid business principles are consistently applied, program impact is measured and evaluated, funds are raised, and a well-crafted strategic plan guides the organization. However, as a former executive director I will always recall the most piercing question I ever had to answer…….. a client who raised his hand and simply asked “can you just tell me if I’ll have a roof over my head next year”. In the early morning hours when I would most often find myself pondering the questions and seeking the solutions, I would always find myself thinking about the person and the family on the receiving end and how their lives would be impacted if services were eliminated. Stress comes in many forms and what is stressful to one may not be stressful to another, however, it’s hard to imagine in the above scenario, that a case could be made to seek work in the nonprofit sector because “it would be less stressful”.

About the Author
“Ellen McCarty brings twenty years of executive experience in the government and nonprofit sectors. She has served as the Executive Director of two Atlanta based nonprofits and the President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation© of Georgia and Alabama. She has received local, state, and national recognition for her design and creation of programs in the juvenile justice system; residential facilities and programs for children and youth in foster care; and programs to establish permanent housing for homeless men, women, and children infected and/or affected with HIV/AIDS. Ms. McCarty is passionate about the work of the nonprofit sector and uses her real-life experiences and expertise to help organizations and individuals through her company, McCarty & Co. Additionally, she serves as a guest instructor for Emory University Center for Lifelong Learning; the Foundation Center – Atlanta; the Georgia Center for Nonprofits; and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.”