Nonprofit jobs are roles in organizations that receive funds or donations to provide services without generating profit. In other words, these organizations collect money to build a more extensive network and enhance humanitarianism.
Their work is human- and social cause-related, meaning that such entities address famine, homelessness, or similar issues. So, to be successful in such positions, a person needs to be compassionate, diligent, and empathetic, sharing the group’s affinities toward helping people.
In this article, you’ll learn what the trending nonprofit job roles are, what skills you need to hold such positions, and how to get a job in a nonprofit organization more easily. Read on!
Key Takeaways
Nonprofit jobs are available in organizations that raise funds and collect resources to solve causes such as poverty and discrimination.
Such jobs are part of the administrative, executive, marketing, and human and health branches.
The most popular nonprofit roles include nonprofit CEO, marketing director, grant writer, and fundraising coordinator.
Dedication, passion, empathy, and the ability to communicate well and form firm bonds with others are essential for holding a nonprofit role.
To land a nonprofit career, it's essential to discover your true calling, build a strong network, and tailor your resume and cover letter to boost your chances of joining an organization in this sector.
14 Trending Nonprofit Jobs With Descriptions & Requirements
Let’s check out the most popular nonprofit career opportunities from different fields, along with the criteria you must meet to land such a job:
#1. Nonprofit CEO
A nonprofit CEO’s duties are similar to those of a CEO working in a profit organization and usually include developing short and long-term organizational strategies. Besides that, CEOs are usually in charge of finances, including budget planning, financial reporting, and ensuring financial stability.
These professionals act as spokespersons for the community and enhance its public image, while also focusing on board development and making key decisions. Therefore, becoming a nonprofit CEO requires effective management, adaptability, collaboration, and leadership skills. Finally, the median annual salary for this position is $116,917.
#2. Nonprofit Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Nonprofit CFOs create financial strategies and plans for nonprofit organizations, including budgeting, financial modeling, and forecasting. Also, besides monitoring cash flow, these professionals prepare financial reports, organize tax documentation, and implement controls and policies, ensuring financial regulations and risk management.
In addition to a degree in accounting, a nonprofit CFO should have solid data analytical and critical thinking skills. The average salary for this role is $261,533 per year, which makes it one of the best-paid jobs in the finance sector.
#3. Program Coordinator
Program coordinators develop organizational programs, which may include conducting meetings, monitoring the work of other employees, and managing donor, compliance, and other resources. They oversee program activities and the progress made, implementing problem-solving strategies if any obstacles arise.
Additionally, this role involves assisting in marketing and outreach activities. When necessary, program coordinators also prepare grant requests, financial statements, and records regarding program activities.
This dynamic position requires multitasking, lots of interaction, as well as problem-solving, teamwork, and administrative skills. Considering formal education, it is good to have a degree in business or economics, but there are no special educational requirements for holding this position. On average, program coordinators make $54,966 a year.
#4. Nonprofit Administrative Assistant
The administrative assistant job is similar to that of a secretary, as both include maintaining databases and filing systems.
As an administrative assistant working for a nonprofit organization, you may also have to settle appointments, manage office expenses and schedules, answer phone calls, and maintain office inventory. Plus, this role also entails completing payroll tasks, handling travel arrangements, creating invoices, and managing relevant documentation.
While you may not need a bachelor’s degree for this job, you do need excellent organizational, communication, multitasking, and interpersonal skills. If you do possess these abilities and land the job, you can earn the average annual salary of $52,625.
#5. Office Manager
Office managers supervise office employees and delegate tasks to them. They also monitor supplies, report to other managers, and collaborate with them to improve office procedures and operations.
The qualifications needed for an office manager include advanced leadership, attention to detail, and written and verbal communication skills. In addition to these, it’s also desirable to have a degree in business or a similar field. If you pursue this career, you can expect a salary of $57,130 per year.
#6. Nonprofit Marketing Director
The marketing directors in nonprofit organizations monitor communication strategies to ensure that the company’s achievements and values are adequately conveyed on multiple levels. Besides that, professionals in this position create strategies to promote the organization’s mission and enhance community support.
This role also entails developing marketing plans for content creation, social media administration, and brand management. This often involves discovering and reaching out to potential donors and collaborators via email and social media platforms.
Initiative, creativity, and advanced time management skills are only some virtues a successful nonprofit marketing director should have. A degree in communications or business management is also desirable but not obligatory; with a yearly salary of $113,229, this counts as another high-paid job in the marketing industry.
#7. Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer coordinators interview and hire individuals who want to volunteer for paid nonprofit jobs, do background and qualification checks on them, and keep records of all candidates.
After hiring, these professionals are responsible for training and supervising new volunteers. They delegate tasks, track volunteers’ working time, and develop a recognition and award system based on their performance.
When hiring for this nonprofit sector job, recruiters often look for individuals with solid management, decision-making, and organization skills. With all these abilities at hand, a successful volunteer coordinator can expect the median annual salary of $48,634.
#8. Grant Writer
Grant writers are in charge of writing grant proposals—applications or documents nonprofit organizations send to secure funding for projects. These professionals often research funding sources and collaborate with project managers in order to ensure the development of projects that other organizations will financially support.
For this role, you must have exceptional research, editing, and writing skills, and being highly responsible and timely will also help you reach strict deadlines for grant proposals. A degree in journalism, communication, or marketing is desirable but not obligatory for this role, and you can expect to earn around $66,107 a year in this position.
#9. Fundraising Coordinator
This nonprofit job involves organizing and executing fundraising events, which allow people to learn about the organization and its missions.
Furthermore, the position requires forging close relationships with donors and soliciting higher donations. Because of this, communication, hospitality, and interpersonal skills are a must for the role, as well as advanced technical abilities for managing donor databases.
A bachelor’s degree in business administration or nonprofit management, as well as enrolling in programs such as CFRE, will increase your chance of getting this job. Finally, as a fundraising coordinator, you can receive a yearly salary of $69,350.
#10. Social Worker
Social workers provide support to community members who need help with social, health, emotional, and financial issues. They also organize counseling for individuals and families to help them cope with problems through therapy, while also creating solution plans for providing food, shelter, and financial assistance to them.
Besides working in nonprofits, these workers often do community work for hospitals, social service agencies, and school boards, advocating for or supporting them. Because of this, anyone who aims for such a role must be an active listener, critical thinker, and a great communicator.
While you don’t need a bachelor’s degree to work in the social worker position, you can still pursue it to increase your chances of landing such a job. The annual compensation for this role is $68,083.
#11. Public Health Program Manager
Public health program managers oversee and control the development of an organization’s health programs and evaluate them accordingly. They do so by setting goals and ensuring compliance while also focusing on the community health needs. Furthermore, these managers also contact health agencies, donors, and sponsors to obtain the funds for maintaining those programs.
For this position, you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public health, experience in the health industry, and solid communication, leadership, and research skills. Finally, public health program managers receive a median annual wage of $110,680, which ranks this job as one of the highest-paying ones.
#12. IT Manager
IT managers maintain a nonprofit organization's hardware and software systems to ensure the quality and proper functioning of technology infrastructure. They also lead IT departments, which entails delegating tasks to other administrators and technicians.
Besides this, their activities include planning and executing other IT-related activities, such as recruiting and training new employees and establishing a secure technological work environment. Holding this position usually demands gaining experience in lower positions, such as an IT technician.
To work as an IT manager, you need professional certifications (e.g., AWS, Microsoft), or an information technology or a computer science degree. With such qualifications and some hard IT skills, you can earn around $169,500 annually, which makes this role one of the highest-paying IT jobs.
#13. Data Analyst
Data analysts perform statistical analyses on datasets to obtain information relevant to an organization's operations and decision-making. Their job involves data collection, processing, and evaluation to improve the effectiveness of the organization’s programs.
These experts also separate important information from irrelevant details, use statistical software to explore data, and craft visual presentations to make information comprehensible. Additionally, they often collaborate with other departments and provide them with easy-to-understand data insights.
For this job, you need experience with statistical tools such as SAS, Excel, and SPSS, and it’s also preferred to have a degree in statistics, information management, or computer science. The median annual salary for this position is around $83,640.
#14. Nonprofit Educator/Trainer
Nonprofit educators and trainers are responsible for developing educational programs and teaching, training, and coaching other nonprofit employees and community members. The main purpose of their work is to raise awareness and improve employees' and community members' skills.
Working as a nonprofit educator also means creating educational programs that are adapted to specific target groups and include adequate teaching strategies. A degree in education can help you land this job, as well as being an expert in any field and getting experience or any other relevant education-related certification.
This role requires a patient, diligent, and composed person who can effectively convey knowledge to others. If you think you possess the abilities needed to do this job and manage to land it, your annual compensation will be around $50,053.
How to Land a Nonprofit Job: 4 Essential Skills
If you are passionate about building a nonprofit job career, these are the four essential skills you should have:
Nonprofit Job Skills
Devotion. Nonprofit jobs should be your true calling, as you will contribute to creating a brighter future for many people. You need to be a philanthropist and radiate positive energy and enthusiasm, as your mission to help people and motivate others to do the same should be a priority in this type of role.
Communication. As previously mentioned, connecting with stakeholders, donors, providers, and sponsors requires strong verbal and written communication skills. These are crucial for conveying important messages and ideas across and beyond the organization.
Relationship building. Knowing how to approach agencies and corporations and form a strong bond with them is vital for a nonprofit’s success. Plus, you also need to know how to show kindness and empathy and build trust with community members and collaborators. This ultimately leads to authentic and supportive relationships with both employees and clients.
Project planning and management. Nonprofit jobs require adequate planning, directives, and decision-making, so it’s safe to assume that project management has a direct impact on your organization. Therefore, overseeing other people’s work in financial, administrative, and marketing branches while ensuring productivity and well-being usually leads to favourable outcomes.
How to Get a Job at a Nonprofit Organization in 4 Steps
To get a job at a nonprofit organization, you should find what you are passionate about, conduct a thorough nonprofit job search, build your network, and tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly.
Let’s learn more about each step:
#1. Identify Causes
The first step is to find what motivates you in life. While your competences may be enough for multiple job positions, you choose just one—your true passion. This will help you approach your job enthusiastically and find the drive to do it well.
Such a mindset also leads to building a lasting career; with these starting points, hiring managers are more likely to recognize your eagerness to do the job properly.
#2. Check Nonprofit Job Boards
Nonprofit job boards are online platforms where organizations post nonprofit job openings for which you can apply. If you thoroughly explore the available job listings, you can get more insights into the roles you’re interested in and apply if you believe you possess the required competences.
If you don’t have any experience, the good news is that these platforms also feature job ads for people without an extensive work history in the nonprofit field. All you need to do is craft a solid resume and a no-experience cover letter, which you can submit when applying for such roles.
#3. Build Relationships and Network
You should look up to people whose work you admire and build strong relationships with them. If such individuals inspire you, you can try to organize informational interviews and learn details about what they do and how they do it.
You can also attend networking events and share your ideas with your future colleagues. On such occasions, it’s best to prepare your questions for more experienced individuals in the field and take notes promptly.
#4. Create a Suitable Resume and Cover Letter
Ensure that your nonprofit job application includes a solid resume and cover letter that fit the specific role you’re applying for.
Our resume builder helps you craft your document with minimal hassle; all you should do is input your information in the blanks, and the software will generate a customized resume for you. Similarly, using a cover letter generator will help you complete your job application with a captivating summary of your skills and make you stand out from the crowd.
The best part, besides being able to avoid writing both documents from scratch, is that you will have them ready in minutes. All that remains is to submit them and patiently wait for your invitation to a nonprofit job interview!
Final Thoughts
Nonprofit organizations help communities and individuals, focusing on humanitarian, social, educational, and cultural causes. To build a career in one, you should be passionate about what you do, form strong bonds with collaborators, think critically, be empathetic, and have good communication skills.
Above all, you should look for motivation in people who inspire you and whom you can learn from, and take a nonprofit job only if you feel that it is your true calling. This way, you contribute to the world becoming a better place and make a positive impact on people’s lives in the long run.
