navigating work in non-profits
September 7, 2015 10:53 AM Subscribe
Looking for advice from people who work in the non profit sector by choice
My background makes me well suited to working for non profit organizations. I just finished a short contract and am looking for a new full time position.
I have been recently offered a job where I am paid about half of what I am worth. The organization is in a crunch time right now and needs someone ASAP.
-- the organization is one that I quite admire
-- The experience is good and would lead to a full time work
-- I feel guilty turning it down because of the good work they do
-- Working for organizations that I don't feel make a valuable contribution to society, saps my motivation and that is why I work for organizations that do what I feel is meaningful work. I know this isn't everyone's perspective, but it is mine and I would appreciate advice from those who understand this perspective.
-- most of the workers there are volunteers, I would be one of the few paid employees.
-- However, I have debts to pay myself and feel slightly silly working for such a low wage.
Is there a way to delicately navigate this situation? Can I offer to help them through their crunch time while I continue to look for an opportunity that fits my experience level in terms of remuneration?
My background makes me well suited to working for non profit organizations. I just finished a short contract and am looking for a new full time position.
I have been recently offered a job where I am paid about half of what I am worth. The organization is in a crunch time right now and needs someone ASAP.
-- the organization is one that I quite admire
-- The experience is good and would lead to a full time work
-- I feel guilty turning it down because of the good work they do
-- Working for organizations that I don't feel make a valuable contribution to society, saps my motivation and that is why I work for organizations that do what I feel is meaningful work. I know this isn't everyone's perspective, but it is mine and I would appreciate advice from those who understand this perspective.
-- most of the workers there are volunteers, I would be one of the few paid employees.
-- However, I have debts to pay myself and feel slightly silly working for such a low wage.
Is there a way to delicately navigate this situation? Can I offer to help them through their crunch time while I continue to look for an opportunity that fits my experience level in terms of remuneration?
Best answer: I am a professional fundraiser and left behind my first career as a corporate trainer more than a decade ago.
Nonprofit payscales are just different. That's just how it is. Our "shareholders" are our donors, and instead of profits their main demand is that we keep overhead as ole as possible.
If you think the work is worth doing and can live on the salary offered, take the job. If not, walk away. But be aware that it's not about your worth AT ALL. It's about the unending pressure to put donated money to work in ways that benefit the maximum number of clients.
posted by anastasiav at 11:05 AM on September 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
Nonprofit payscales are just different. That's just how it is. Our "shareholders" are our donors, and instead of profits their main demand is that we keep overhead as ole as possible.
If you think the work is worth doing and can live on the salary offered, take the job. If not, walk away. But be aware that it's not about your worth AT ALL. It's about the unending pressure to put donated money to work in ways that benefit the maximum number of clients.
posted by anastasiav at 11:05 AM on September 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
*low as possible
posted by anastasiav at 11:11 AM on September 7, 2015
posted by anastasiav at 11:11 AM on September 7, 2015
Can I offer to help them through their crunch time while I continue to look for an opportunity that fits my experience level in terms of remuneration?
Of course. Just be clear on what you are offering. Are you willing to commit to any particular length of time or just until you find a better job? If you can't commit to a particular length of time, you may not find your offer well received, for obvious reasons.
It may make more sense to structure this with you as an independent contractor than as an employee, but that is something you can work out.
I have been recently offered a job where I am paid about half of what I am worth.
I hope you are already aware of this, but bear in mind that many non-profits simply pay less than the private or public sectors. If you are looking for a non-profit job with private sector salary expectations, you will find there aren't as many opportunities as you'd like (that's not to say that all non-profits pay less, but this is a reality).
posted by ssg at 11:11 AM on September 7, 2015
Of course. Just be clear on what you are offering. Are you willing to commit to any particular length of time or just until you find a better job? If you can't commit to a particular length of time, you may not find your offer well received, for obvious reasons.
It may make more sense to structure this with you as an independent contractor than as an employee, but that is something you can work out.
I have been recently offered a job where I am paid about half of what I am worth.
I hope you are already aware of this, but bear in mind that many non-profits simply pay less than the private or public sectors. If you are looking for a non-profit job with private sector salary expectations, you will find there aren't as many opportunities as you'd like (that's not to say that all non-profits pay less, but this is a reality).
posted by ssg at 11:11 AM on September 7, 2015
Response by poster: Just chiming in to say, the reason I mentioned the "what I'm worth thing", is the fact that it's a managerial role that pays basically a dollar more than minimum wage and that I can barely survive on that amount. Thanks for your input so far!!!
posted by winterportage at 11:17 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by winterportage at 11:17 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, if the pay for the position is within the normal range for the work within the non-profit sector and you come in with an attitude that you are worth more and the pay is beneath you, the staff at the organization will probably not have a lot of positive feelings towards you, especially if it is clear that you are planning to leave as soon as you get a better job. That's just human nature.
That's another reason I would favour an offer of a short-term contract instead of an indefinite until you get a better offer arrangement.
posted by ssg at 11:17 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's another reason I would favour an offer of a short-term contract instead of an indefinite until you get a better offer arrangement.
posted by ssg at 11:17 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: So, based on the new information you've just provided, you're being offered about $18k a year? That is, objectively, a low salary for a white collar professional. But if almost no one else is getting paid at all, you're going to be among the highest paid people in the organization. And depending on your experience and the actual demands of the role (saying "managerial" doesn't really mean much in the nonprofit sector, in my experience) and where you live, it may be in line with what you're likely to find elsewhere, or it may not be, and the only way to find out is going to be to do a lot of research.
I think you should decide whether to take the job based on whether you want the job or not, and whether you can actually live on the salary or not. If you turn down the job, you can offer to work as a paid consultant short-term. I think that the only thing you can't, ethically, do is take the job with every intention of actively continuing to look for work and quitting as soon as possible, because then an organization you care about has just wasted a bunch of time and money and resources to train you for a role you never intended to keep.
But before you turn this down for being less than you are worth, do research on what the nonprofit sector in your field and your location is like. This may be a normal wage for folks in your position, or it may be much less than you can find elsewhere if you keep looking. And then only way to know is to do the research. That will help you to decide not only whether to take this job, but also what kinds of jobs you need to look for in the future in order to make the amount of money you want to make.
posted by decathecting at 11:24 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think you should decide whether to take the job based on whether you want the job or not, and whether you can actually live on the salary or not. If you turn down the job, you can offer to work as a paid consultant short-term. I think that the only thing you can't, ethically, do is take the job with every intention of actively continuing to look for work and quitting as soon as possible, because then an organization you care about has just wasted a bunch of time and money and resources to train you for a role you never intended to keep.
But before you turn this down for being less than you are worth, do research on what the nonprofit sector in your field and your location is like. This may be a normal wage for folks in your position, or it may be much less than you can find elsewhere if you keep looking. And then only way to know is to do the research. That will help you to decide not only whether to take this job, but also what kinds of jobs you need to look for in the future in order to make the amount of money you want to make.
posted by decathecting at 11:24 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Or, you could just volunteer there and continue to look for another job.....
posted by HuronBob at 12:20 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by HuronBob at 12:20 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: N=1 here, but my personal experience with this is as such ...
I work for a non-profit with a very honorable mission and am paid on the low end of things (although not as low as you mention), which of course I knew going into it. It didn't bother me at first, but after 5+ years I find that the combination of low salary and general non-profit systemic mismanagement/expectation that the employees live with low pay/junky surroundings grates on me to the point that I am bitter and hateful about the place. If you find a place with solid management and respect for employees, you might find it easier to live with a lower salary. On the other hand, if it's the kind of place where they skimp on IT/HR support to "save money" or they try to squeeze everybody into a too-small space to the point that there aren't enough desks for everyone and some full-time employees have to float around ... at that point you might find that the low salary pushes you over the edge, no matter how great the mission.
posted by mccxxiii at 12:45 PM on September 7, 2015
I work for a non-profit with a very honorable mission and am paid on the low end of things (although not as low as you mention), which of course I knew going into it. It didn't bother me at first, but after 5+ years I find that the combination of low salary and general non-profit systemic mismanagement/expectation that the employees live with low pay/junky surroundings grates on me to the point that I am bitter and hateful about the place. If you find a place with solid management and respect for employees, you might find it easier to live with a lower salary. On the other hand, if it's the kind of place where they skimp on IT/HR support to "save money" or they try to squeeze everybody into a too-small space to the point that there aren't enough desks for everyone and some full-time employees have to float around ... at that point you might find that the low salary pushes you over the edge, no matter how great the mission.
posted by mccxxiii at 12:45 PM on September 7, 2015
Response by poster: Just one last chime in here. . . I have more interviews coming up next week which I am really interested in. I've been searching for about a month and am only now starting to hear back. So in reality I wasn't planning to accept an offer today (I just had the interview today!) but the organization needs me to start tomorrow. This pressure to start immediately is what has me on the fence.
posted by winterportage at 12:45 PM on September 7, 2015
posted by winterportage at 12:45 PM on September 7, 2015
Basically, I'd ask yourself two things: (1) am I getting enough out of this job (good experience? relationships?) that it's worth working for this wage? (2) how much will I be hurting this group and damaging my relationships with them by staying for a short time?
When you compare it to other salaries, are you thinking of salaries in the nonprofit sector? That impacts question #2. If they're paying low for the sector then they're used to a certain amount of turnover (especially from people who aren't in it for the cause -- is how they would look at it). If they're paying a reasonable amount for their location, field, and sector, then by taking the job, you're wasting their time training you when they could find someone else who would happily fill that job more permanently.
posted by salvia at 12:47 PM on September 7, 2015
When you compare it to other salaries, are you thinking of salaries in the nonprofit sector? That impacts question #2. If they're paying low for the sector then they're used to a certain amount of turnover (especially from people who aren't in it for the cause -- is how they would look at it). If they're paying a reasonable amount for their location, field, and sector, then by taking the job, you're wasting their time training you when they could find someone else who would happily fill that job more permanently.
posted by salvia at 12:47 PM on September 7, 2015
Best answer: Hmm, the fact that they interviewed you today and need you to start tomorrow screams mismanagement to me. I mean, unless the tsunami just happened and the humanitarian flight leaves tomorrow, that seems unreasonable. Given all that, and if they're that desperate, then I imagine you could work there for a short time and leave without them being worse off than they are now, but would you even want to?
posted by salvia at 12:50 PM on September 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by salvia at 12:50 PM on September 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
Response by poster: So.. decided to take the job and say that I am guaranteed to stay with them until the end of their crunch time. The reason I don't say full on YES is because there are two other interviews at places that I am very passionate about and could see myself staying there for a while and I haven't been given the time to interview at them. In terms of hurting them by not staying a long time, it seems they are in desperate need of someone to start tomorrow. So I feel that if I say no, I am hurting them more than if I say Yes for a short period. It's a weird situation
posted by winterportage at 12:52 PM on September 7, 2015
posted by winterportage at 12:52 PM on September 7, 2015
Response by poster: I'm also fishing through my contacts to see if I know someone who would be an appropriate fit if it turns out I decide to leave... I've done that before and it seemed to work out. Btw it's an arts organization
posted by winterportage at 12:54 PM on September 7, 2015
posted by winterportage at 12:54 PM on September 7, 2015
It may not happen, but prepare just in case they hit you with a massive guilt trip when you do leave. Remember that you do not need to sacrifice your own wellbeing to further their cause, even if you believe in the cause.
posted by jaguar at 2:00 PM on September 7, 2015
posted by jaguar at 2:00 PM on September 7, 2015
Best answer: it's a managerial role that pays basically a dollar more than minimum wage and that I can barely survive on that amount.
No. I'm sorry to say this, since you've already accepted the offer, but since you only accepted it on a temporary basis: this is not OK.
I've worked in the NPO world my entire career (almost two decades) and, just like the for-profit sector, there are well-managed NPOs that are wonderful places to work, and there are poorly-managed NPOs that are ... not such great places to work. The fact that they are scrambling so badly, paying so little, so frantic right now in this crunch time makes me think there's a decent chance this NPO is in the latter category.
It's true that NPOs pay less than for-profits, but minimum wage for a managerial role is just bizarre - I mean, how much are they paying the people you will be managing? (unless it's a role managing volunteers, in which case you should be aware that at many NPOs, that is a fairly low-rung, often entry-level role) For example, I am a manager in a large-ish nonprofit and make about 75-85% what I would working for a similar-sized for-profit organization in a similar role. For me, that's a worthwhile tradeoff to get to do work I believe in.
Anyway, once you start, you can check things out. If you like the organization and feel like you are valued and can make it on the salary, great. If not, please don't think you necessarily have to put up with this to work in the non-profit sector.
posted by lunasol at 3:13 PM on September 7, 2015 [8 favorites]
No. I'm sorry to say this, since you've already accepted the offer, but since you only accepted it on a temporary basis: this is not OK.
I've worked in the NPO world my entire career (almost two decades) and, just like the for-profit sector, there are well-managed NPOs that are wonderful places to work, and there are poorly-managed NPOs that are ... not such great places to work. The fact that they are scrambling so badly, paying so little, so frantic right now in this crunch time makes me think there's a decent chance this NPO is in the latter category.
It's true that NPOs pay less than for-profits, but minimum wage for a managerial role is just bizarre - I mean, how much are they paying the people you will be managing? (unless it's a role managing volunteers, in which case you should be aware that at many NPOs, that is a fairly low-rung, often entry-level role) For example, I am a manager in a large-ish nonprofit and make about 75-85% what I would working for a similar-sized for-profit organization in a similar role. For me, that's a worthwhile tradeoff to get to do work I believe in.
Anyway, once you start, you can check things out. If you like the organization and feel like you are valued and can make it on the salary, great. If not, please don't think you necessarily have to put up with this to work in the non-profit sector.
posted by lunasol at 3:13 PM on September 7, 2015 [8 favorites]
Seconded. Many nonprofit organizations pay decently. Beware of poorly-run organizations that don't.
posted by Erroneous at 5:15 PM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Erroneous at 5:15 PM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
You might also find some good resources at Idealist.org, especially at the careers blog: http://idealistcareers.org/resources/. (Full disclosure- I work there).
posted by Erroneous at 5:18 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Erroneous at 5:18 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Many nonprofit organizations pay decently. Beware of poorly-run organizations that don't.
Thirding.
posted by Miko at 10:26 PM on September 7, 2015
Thirding.
posted by Miko at 10:26 PM on September 7, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
You can certainly offer, and they may well accept if such a short term employment situation works for them. Just be honest about your income needs, your willingness to help in the short term, and the likely hood that you'll be bailing if you find a higher paying position.
Whatever you do, don't accept the position without telling them you may leave in a short amount of time.
posted by HuronBob at 11:01 AM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]