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Debunking Myths of the Nonprofit World
by Darren Noble
Associate Director of Career Services
"No one makes any money in the nonprofit sector."
"Working for a nonprofit is not really a career path."
These two statements are a few of the common myths that are perpetuated in regards to nonprofit organizations (NPOs). Unfortunately, there are many more myths, as noted below1. Before I address the above myths, I want to clarify that the legal definition of a nonprofit is any organization the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has granted tax exemption status under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code2. A significant number of employers and organizations qualify (e.g. industries such as government, education, social service, medical, art, environment), and they are seeking to employ our talented students and graduates.
Jennifer Bobrow Burns, in her book Careers in the Nonprofit Sector, says nonprofits are "sometimes referred to as the 'third' or 'independent sector.' While [nonprofits] all exist to serve the public good without incentive of profit, they vary tremendously in terms of activities, programs, missions, goals, issues, and functions."3 With this knowledge in mind, our students may discover some less than ideal nonprofits during their search; moreover, some students may assume the nonprofit world isn't right for them based on a select group of nonprofits or common stereotypes. Our office strongly encourages students to thoroughly investigate potential employers, and this includes both for-profit and NPOs. Successful methods include not only Internet and library research. More importantly, students should conduct information interviews, have job shadow experiences, and take advantage of internship experiences.
Myth #1
"No one makes any money in the nonprofit sector."
Generally, starting salaries tend to be lower than those in the for-profit sector; however, "some starting salaries for entry-level positions compare favorably," notes career expert Pattie Giordani3. Salaries will vary depending on the industry, so students need to research typical salary ranges within interested industries. For example, the salary range for a development assistant is $25,000 to $50,000, and the salary range for a grant writer is $30,000 to $70,000+.4
Myth #2
"Working for a nonprofit is not really a career path."
There are many employment possibilities and avenues to pursue in the nonprofit world. Joanne Fritz, Ph.D., author of the newsletter Your Guide to Nonprofit Charitable Organizations, notes "that according to the Independent Sector, nonprofit organizations earn $670 billion annually. One in 12 Americans works in those organizations."5 Certainly, there are numerous opportunities in the nonprofit world. Students should visit http://www.idealist.org/ and explore the possibilities; there are links to 66,453 nonprofit organizations.
Our office hosts a monthly "How-to Pizza Chat," and April's topic is How to find work opportunities in the public service sector. This event, scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. on April 13, is a great opportunity for our students to learn about the nonprofit world and ask questions. Please encourage your student to attend; he or she just needs to R.S.V.P. to Career Services by phone or e-mail.
1 http://www.idealistoncampus.org/ioc/learn/scc/Myths.pdf ; http://casefoundation.org/spotlight/careers/myths
2 http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html
3 http://www.naceweb.org/pubs/journal/su03/nonprofit.htm
4Jennifer Bobrow Burns, Careers in the Nonprofit Sector (New York: Checkmark Books, 2006) vi, 33, 63.
5 http://nonprofit.about.com/od/nonprofitwork/tp/nonprofitcareer.htm
Career Office: Stevens Center 325
503-554-2330
careers@georgefox.edu
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