Landing a nonprofit job that aligns with your passion for making a difference can be life-changing. But the decentralized nature of the nonprofit sector can make finding openings challenging. Using the right resources and strategies is key to discover available nonprofit jobs. This guide covers how to effectively find your next purpose-driven role.
Leverage Online Nonprofit Job Boards
Online job boards focused on the nonprofit sector make it easy to search for relevant openings in one place. Top options include:
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Work for Good – Allows searching by location, job function, focus area, and other filters Features full job descriptions and organization profiles.
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Idealist – A large database of nonprofit jobs searchable by keyword and location. Can save job searches and set up email alerts.
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Opportunity Knocks – Focuses on nonprofit jobs in the New York metro area. Lets you post a resume to be found by recruiters.
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Philanthropy News Digest – Nonprofit job board powered by The Foundation Center, now Candid.
Check these sites regularly for new openings that match your interests and qualifications
Search Individual Nonprofit Websites
Often the first place nonprofit jobs are posted is directly on the organization’s own website.
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Identify 5-10 nonprofits you’re interested in.
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Visit their websites and look under “Careers” “Jobs” “Work with Us,” etc. to find openings.
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Bookmark organization sites to check back for new postings.
This direct approach means you could apply before a role gets flooded with applicants from general job boards.
Follow Nonprofits on Social Media
Nonprofits frequently announce job openings on their social media accounts.
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Find relevant nonprofits on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.
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Follow or like their pages and turn on notifications.
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Check notifications and scroll through their recent posts to catch job announcements.
Following just 10-15 key organizations gives you instant visibility to new opportunities.
Sign Up for Nonprofit Newsletters
Many nonprofits send out email newsletters covering their activities.
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Browse nonprofits’ websites for a “Sign Up for Our Newsletter” link.
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Provide your email address to subscribe.
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Scan newsletter content for job postings and openings.
Newsletters send opportunities directly to your inbox so you never miss a beat.
Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Local and national nonprofit events often have dedicated job boards and career fair components.
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Search sites like Eventbrite for upcoming nonprofit conferences and events.
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Review event schedules and agendas for career-related offerings.
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Bring copies of your resume and introduction script to connect with recruiters.
The in-person networking provides exposure to unadvertised jobs.
Leverage Your School’s Career Center
If you are a current student or recent graduate, your college or university’s career center can be an excellent resource.
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Meet with a career advisor to discuss your nonprofit interests.
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Check the career center’s job and internship portal for nonprofit listings.
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Attend on-campus recruitment events focused on the nonprofit sector.
The career center provides personalized support in finding roles aligned with your goals.
Volunteer and Intern for Exposure
Getting involved with an organization as a volunteer or intern gets your foot in the door for future paid jobs.
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Research groups you want to work for and check their volunteer webpage.
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Inquire about internship opportunities if you are currently a student.
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Introduce yourself and network with employees during your time there.
The experience and connections boost your chances of hearing about opportunities.
Leverage Your Personal and Professional Networks
Don’t underestimate the power of networking!
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Let friends, family, professors, previous co-workers know you are looking for a nonprofit role.
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Ask if they know of any openings that would be a good fit or can refer you to someone who does.
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Offer to inform them in return if you come across an opportunity suited to someone in their network.
relationships often yield some of the best prospects.
Finding fulfilling nonprofit jobs aligning with your passion requires effort and creativity. But taking a targeted approach using the right mix of online resources, social networking, conferences, informational interviews, and more can connect you with that ideal opportunity to make a difference.
Create sponsorship packages to fit different budgets.
It can be really tempting to just go after large companies with big budgets because if you can just catch a few of the big fish, you can stop throwing your hook in the water—or so it might seem. But don’t limit yourself. Small businesses may value sponsorship opportunities even more than larger businesses. Plus, they may have a large following, which can be a nice benefit for you in addition to the business’ financial support. Also, you can’t judge how much of a company’s budget they’re willing to spend on philanthropy and sponsorships by their size; some smaller businesses may be willing to part with a bigger percentage of their profits if they pride themselves on being a brand that goes above and beyond to give back to the community.
Once you determine your budget and how much money you want to raise, create sponsorship levels that will allow businesses of all sizes to participate. Then you can break it down: How many sponsors at each level do you need to get the support you need for your event? Ideally, you’ll have more sponsorship opportunities at the middle and lower levels than at the top. Why? Because if you can shoot to get more sponsors in the mid to low ranges, you leave yourself with more margin for error; this way, losing a major sponsor last minute (for whatever reason) won’t derail your entire event or project.
How to get sponsors for your nonprofit event.
Let’s look at five ways you can find the right sponsors for your next event and how, even with virtual or digital events, you can offer significant benefits.
Nonprofit Fundraising: What goes in a Sponsorship package?
How do I find a nonprofit sponsor?
When you’re looking for potential sponsors, try to find companies with similar views or goals as the nonprofit you are working for. This is important because a company would more than likely agree to help you if they have the same beliefs.
What is a nonprofit sponsor?
A nonprofit sponsor is a company that agrees to help a nonprofit organization through the donation of funds. Typically, the nonprofit asks these companies for assistance. They might give the company a budget and explain their organization’s cause.
How do organization sponsors support a nonprofit?
Organization sponsors support nonprofits year-round through regular giving and involvement. This includes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaigns, program sponsorships, in-kind gifts, pro-bono support, and more. Fundraising sponsors support a nonprofit through specific events or campaigns.
How do I get a job at a nonprofit?
Look for entry-level nonprofit roles, such as internships, temporary jobs or contract positions. Although your ultimate goal may be to get a full-time position at a nonprofit, these entry-level or contract positions can help you develop valuable skills and experiences that may lead to a more advanced nonprofit role later.
