Selected Nonprofit Job Search Resources
In the course of our work, we often hear the question, “What are some good resources for a nonprofit job search?” In response, the Bridgestar team has compiled the following set of suggested resources, with a specific focus on individuals looking to transition from the for-profit sector into the nonprofit sector.
Specific nonprofit career resources
In addition to the multitude of sites and books focused on career development, there are a growing number of resources for the nonprofit-specific job search. These include (in alphabetical order):
- Bridgestar offers a range of resources to support you in the nonprofit job search. Career changers and others interested in the nonprofit sector can benefit from access to Bridgestar's newsletters, articles, research and job postings; an online introduction service that connects skilled individuals to organizations seeking board members; and gatherings specifically for those "bridging" from the for-profit world. In particular, our monthly newsletter–Leadership Matters–features short articles on topics such as hiring tips, networking, and career development (see newsletter archive to access past issues).
- Change Your Career: Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector, written by Laura Gassner Otting. A guide to transitioning to the nonprofit sector with information on how to determine your fit in the sector as well as how to seamlessly make the transition.
- Encore, Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life, written by Marc Freedman. Baby boomers are inventing a new stage of work. As their numbers swell, they are transforming work itself—and creating a society that works better for everyone.
- The Harvard Business School Guide to Careers in the Nonprofit Sector, written by Stephanie Lowell. This career guide targets MBA-types interested in entering the nonprofit sector–whether as full-time managers, board members, or volunteers.
- The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for Sector Switchers, written by Idealist.org. This book is a free resource for transitioning professionals pursuing new career options in the nonprofit sector.
- Search: Winning Strategies to Get Your Next Job in the Nonprofit World, written by Larry Slesinger. A concise and practical guide to finding a nonprofit job, with sections on organizing and focusing your search, creating compelling resumes and cover letters, succeeding in interviews, and more.
- Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career, written by Herminia Ibarra. Aimed at mid-career professionals who have invested much in careers that may no longer fully satisfy, Ibarra's book challenges the traditional belief that a meticulous assessment of one's skills and interests will automatically lead one to discover the right job. In reality, she argues, "doing comes first, knowing second."
General nonprofit sector resources
It’s helpful to do some research about the nonprofit sector overall, the specific area you’re most interested in, and your target organizations, especially if you are new to the sector. A few helpful resources include (in alphabetical order):
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy is a national newspaper of the nonprofit world, available to subscribers on its website. For an additional fee, users can search the Guide to Grants, an electronic database of all foundation and corporate grants listed in The Chronicle since 1995. The site also contains a wealth of free materials, including Internet resources, hundreds of job opportunities updated every two weeks, as well as forthcoming conferences, workshops, and deadlines for grants and awards.
- GuideStar is a database of nonprofit organizations. This is a great tool for researching different nonprofits by geography and/or by type of organization. GuideStar also provides financial information on many nonprofits.
- Harvest Today presents breaking news in the world of philanthropy from more than 200 news sources.
- Independent Sector is a coalition of leading nonprofits, foundations, and corporations strengthening not-for-profit initiatives, philanthropy, and citizen action. This site is a great place to learn about individual organizations through the over 700 links to member organization websites, and the sector as a whole.
Nonprofit compensation resources
The organization you join and the role you take on will greatly determine your salary and hours. Regarding salary, almost universally you can expect to take a pay cut from a for-profit job with similar responsibility level. That said, salaries in the sector vary (e.g., a large organization usually has a greater range of compensation than a small one), and while they may be lower than the average in the for-profit sector, you may be pleasantly surprised at the compensation level in some organizations. To begin to gain an idea of the salary levels, you can take a look at salary surveys published by GuideStar, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, The NonProfit Times, and Abbott Langer Association (among others). To understand the compensation structure at a specific nonprofit, you can download its IRS Form 990 from the GuideStar website. An annual reporting return that certain federally tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS, the 990 includes information on the organization’s mission, programs, and finances and includes salaries for the highest paid positions within the organization.
Because many compensation surveys can only be accessed on a fee basis, you may want to think generally about what types of positions or organizations would be a good fit before you look at surveys. One good way to start the process is to do some informal benchmarking. Think about some organizations in your target geographic area whose mission interests you. Using GuideStar, you can easily isolate several of these organizations, being sure the organizations have similar profiles in terms of geography, budget, headcount, and programs. On GuideStar, view each organization’s Form 990. This form includes the compensation of the senior executives. By researching at several similar organizations, you’ll begin to gain an understanding of the compensation ranges in the types of nonprofits you want to target.
Nonprofit job posting/job search support sites
There are many other sites that both post job opportunities and provide content and support for job seekers. The list below highlights a sampling of leading national job boards (in alphabetical order):
Selected Nonprofit Job Search Resources
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