NONPROFIT SECTOR
Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. -Mother Teresa
Whatever the future world holds, it's a shrewd guess that the sum of human need will not diminish, and that the growing prosperity enjoyed by some will continue to be shadowed by the profoundly unequal opportunities available to others. In this world, it is going to matter whether you aim for a narrow personal success or one that creates a larger human benefit. - Richard H. Brodhead
Counselor's Perspective
The recently passed College Cost Reduction and Access Act provides federal debt forgiveness to people who work in a public service career for 10 years. See this article for more information!
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Your interest in nonprofit work indicates that you are making a bold choice to contribute your amazing talents in a meaningful contribution to our world! Now we just need to help you find the right path. There are hundreds of paths in this hugely diverse sector! Opportunities are as varied as the 1.2 million nonprofit organizations in the US employing some 11 million people. There are also many international nonprofit organizations dealing with issues of natural disaster relief, aftermath of war, environment, and development.
Nonprofit organizations perform an incredible number of functions and encompass a vast range of public activities. What makes these organizations so appealing to job seekers is the variety of interesting activities they engage in as they tackle popular public policy and social welfare issues . Many of these organizations are at the forefront of getting major issues on the policy agenda of our government – issues such as health, education, child labor, environment, homelessness, crime, AIDS, civil rights, housing, etc.
Nonprofits can be very large organizations employing thousands of people and managing a budget of over $25 million or extremely small consisting of a paid director coordinating a small number of volunteers. Think working for a nonprofit is just for those who are liberal, noncompetitive, or just couldn't cut it in the business world? Think again! Read the 10 Myths to Working for a Nonprofit for some enlightenment!
The key to finding your niche in this dynamic field is to think about the following:
- Your area of interest -- Education, Economic Development, Disability, Immigrant/refugees, health (see areas below).
- The type of job that interests you -- Direct service, Management or Administration, Research, Policy Analysis, Finance
- The kind of organizations that appeals to you -- Educational, Think Tank or other research, Foundations, Art or other cultural organization, Professional Associations, Direct Social Service Agencies, Advocacy groups, Religious, Environmental or Health organizations, etc.
- The size of the organization – Large organization engaging in many different activities or a smaller nonprofit focused on a single agenda or mission.
Nonprofits fall into about 12 broad areas:
- Education
- Business
- Professional and Trade or Labor
- Religion
- Scientific and Research
- Arts and Culture
- Community Development
- Health Foundations
- Social Service Youth
- Leadership and Development
- Advocacy and Politics
- Utility Companies
All offer assistance and are dedicated to the work of helping others through direct or indirect action. Nonprofit work encompasses work that promotes a cause or provides a public, community, or social service-
Work that impacts society and the world.
A Day In the Life
Program Associate for Human Rights Defenders Program at Human Rights First
6:00 am: Wake up and go the gym
9:00 am: Arrive at work and begin checking email and news updates
9:30 am: Human Rights Defenders Team meeting to discuss team priorities for next week, checking in on status of various initiatives and discuss recent development in countries of interest or which may affect our work and strategies to address them
10:30 am: Return to email and check news updates and alerts from my focus countries (Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras); respond to any news or correspondence from partner activitists on the ground in those countries and determine if our intervention is needed and what form it should take - consult with supervisor for additional guidance on potential interventions
12:00 pm: Meet with a community activist from Latin America about developments in her community and new threats against human rights leaders; agree upon initial plan for intervention from HRF, including efforts to draw international attention to threats, put pressure on government to address these threats and protect human rights activists, and secure urgent funds to move threatened human rights defender and family to safer location
1:30 pm: Eat lunch at desk while drafting notes and recommendations from meeting - present background and ideas to supervisor and team, and do additional research on influential contacts and potential partners to increase international pressure on the government
3:00 pm: Turn back to email and any news updates from the afternoon from key countries - respond or do additional research, if necessary
4:00 pm: Meet with members of HRD team and media consulting firm to discuss press strategy for the release of our upcoming report, agree to draft initial press release and work with consulting firm to create comprehensive press list
5:00 pm: Do regular check of HRD pages on the website to update content, check links, see what information needs to be added or taken down
5:30: Following discussion with team, work on nomination for human rights award for selected human rights defender
6:30: Head home
Opportunities
Opportunities exist among various disciplines. A sample of possible positions include: Marketing Coordinator, Program Manager, Financial Analyst, Policy Analyst, more. In this diverse sector you might find yourself providing direct service to an organization like Youth Villages, or researching and writing policy briefs for Pathfinder International, or writing brochures and other communication pieces for the Pan American Health organization or if your talent and interest is in finance you might manage the budget and conduct financial analysis for New York Economic Development Corporation. The possiblities are endless!
The job search in the nonprofit sector can be challenging since most are doing just in time hiring. This means that generally, these organizations are only hiring for open positions as they become available. As a result, employers may not follow the typical on campus recruiting schedule (or attend the Career Fair) due to just in time hiring. The most successful strategy for your job search is to develop contacts through a variety of sources; Internship experience, volunteering, alumni contacts, faculty and staff at Duke, industry associations and conferences, organizations that have visited or worked with Duke in the past, etc. Networking and informational interviewing are key components to a successful search. These informal networks can often uncover job openings that you might not have otherwise found.
Successful Communication Strategies
It is critical to connect with as many people as possible in conducting a job search in the nonprofit sector. Most organizations do not have a formal recruiting process and many positions are not advertised. To network specifically with Duke alumni, use DukeConnect.
Consider these points when researching organizations before conversations and networking with alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and nonprofit employees:
- Does the mission of the organization match with my interests?
- What information do I have about the nonprofit, who works there?
- What kinds of entry level positions exist and how often do they come open?
- What is the organization doing to increase it’s presence and to move their mission forward?
- What strategies do they use to support their mission?
- What do current employees say about the organization, are they excited about the work they do?
- Is there diversity in the workplace?
- Why is it important to me to work for this organization?
- What is the culture of the organization?
- What opportunities would I have in this organization?
- How is this organization funded, are they working to obtain grant money?
An important part of the search process includes talking with leaders as well as front line workers from various organizations requesting information such as newsletters, brochures, and other organizational literature. Not only do you get essential information about the organization but you begin to develop key relationships with people on the inside who have the power to hire, provide additional contacts in similar organizations, or can help you develop the tools and information you need to get the job.
Resources
My Top Picks:
- Idealist
- Nonprofit Career Network
- Internet Nonprofit Center
- Guidestar
- Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Charity Village
- The NonProfit Times
- NPO.net (Nonprofit Jobs in Chicago)
- St. Vincent Pallotti Center (huge database of faith-based, short-term domestic and international work)
Print Resources:
- 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For
- Careers for Dreamers and Doers
- Careers for Good Samaritans & Others
- Good Works
- Making a Living While Making a Difference
- Alternatives to the Peace Corps
Who Comes to Duke?
Many nonprofit organizations do not have funding to do traditional on-campus recruiting, however, there are selected organizations who have come to campus to recruit, attend career fairs or conduct information sessions. Many other organizations post internships and jobs through the Career Center email lists and Duke Recruiting.
Here are a sample of places Duke students have found internships or jobs:
Heritage Foundation
Children’s Defense Fund
Humanity in Action
Amigos de la Americas
Autism Society
Population Connection
The Wilderness Society
Victory Junction Gang
Peace Corps
Grass Roots Campaign
Green Corps
Lutheran Volunteer Corps
Fund for Public Interest
National Association of PIRGs
Teach for America
Teaching organizations
AmeriCorps
Pan American Health Organizaton
St. Vincent Pallotti Center
Recent Fellowship Opportunities:
Emerson Congressional Hunger Fellowship
Hope Street Group Fellow
Autry Fellowhsip
USGA Fellowship
Tisdale (internship)
Luce
Population Connection
City Year
Families USA (Wellstone Fellowship)
CORO Fellows Program
Urban Fellows Program
Public Allies
Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
Echoing Green
American Jewish World Service
Other fellowship information is available at Idealist.org and through the Career Center.
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