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by Institute for Career Research (Author)
IF WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD appeals to you, there may be a management level job waiting for you at one of the more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations based in the United States. Working at a nonprofit organization is not just a job, it is a mission, in some cases even a calling. When you are part of a management team at a nonprofit, you have a chance to make a positive difference in people's lives every day. In the nonprofit world it is not about how much money your organization made today. The measure of your success is how many people you helped today. If you solved someone's problem, eased someone's pain, you had a good day. When you hold a management position at a nonprofit, you are responsible for guiding the organization and its employees to ensure its mission is accomplished. Whether the aim is aiding individuals or society as a whole, it all comes down to making the world a better place. Not all nonprofits are about social work. Many focus on advocacy, protecting animal rights, safeguarding the environment, fighting for benefits for members and veterans of the armed forces, keeping parkland pristine, supporting the arts, and leading the charge for social change. Also included in the nonprofit sector are religious institutions, trade associations, and private foundations dedicated to awarding grants to worthy recipients. These stand alongside nonprofit organizations devoted to research, education, and job training. Oftentimes the voice for the voiceless, nonprofits bring issues to the fore that would otherwise be overlooked. There are thousands of issues and worthy causes championed by nonprofits. One of the allures of going into the nonprofit field is the wide variety of organizations where you can work. Management positions include executive and assistant executive director, as well as directors of departments like fund¬raising, community outreach, media relations, volunteers, and special events. This is important work that goes way beyond a nine-to-five job. When you are on staff at a nonprofit, especially in management, your work is never done. There is always another goal to strive for. That is what makes it both challenging and rewarding. There is a teamwork atmosphere because the people who work there and the volunteers who freely give of their time are so committed to the cause. If you want to roll up your sleeves and be on the front lines in the fight to end social ills and leave the world in a better place, a nonprofit management job should be at the top of your list of career choices.
