Is a non for profit job right for you?

As with any industry, working for a non for profit will offer situations that will both excite and aggravate you. In anticipation of searching for or accepting a non for profit job, you should spend adequate time investigating and weighing the benefits and drawbacks of the position, so you are prepared for what lay ahead.

Non For Profit Job Cons

Some of the most common complaints shared by non for profit workers are:

• The constant focus on fundraising. The nature of non for profits lends a continuous urgency on raising funds to sustain the organization. Because the need for funds trumps all other tasks, it can cause disruption in other focus areas if a budget crisis emerges.


• The stress from working in a ‘high stakes’ arena. Unmet goals in a corporation might mean a dip in profits, but in a non profit the stakes are often higher. For example, a child’s future or well being might rest in your hands if you have a non for profit job, so the results of an unmet goal have greater consequences.


• Lack of clear measures of success. When goals are immense or largely un-measurable, employees don’t have clear evidence that their day to day work is contributing to a larger, more important goal.


• Frustrating work environments. Because of limited funds, non profit employees are expected to do more work with fewer resources.

Even with the downsides of having a non for profit job, industry veterans agree that the pros far outweigh the cons.