The Benefits of Working at a Nonprofit

Each work opportunity has its own unique benefits that depend on the specific job, the company you are working for, the people you are working with, and more. However, there are some general benefits that apply to working at nonprofits, no matter where they are located or what their mission is. Here are some of the main advantages of working at a nonprofit:

• Making a Difference in the World – The first—and most obvious—benefit of working at a nonprofit is that you are making a difference in the world with the work you are doing. No matter what your nonprofit’s mission is, your efforts are all geared toward a specific cause. Whether you are helping people, helping animals, helping the planet, or anything else, you are having a positive impact on the world. 
• Feelings of Pride and Accomplishment – When you perform work that makes a difference in the world and has a positive impact on the lives of others, it makes you feel proud and accomplished because you know that your time and energy are going toward something significant. This is incredibly important as employees around the world are increasingly seeking value and purpose at work. Even if you get paid a ton of money, it’s usually not worth it if you don’t feel fulfilled and that your efforts actually matter. However, when you work at a nonprofit, you get paid for doing something you enjoy and that is meaningful to you, and that makes you feel proud and accomplished.
• Meeting New People – Another benefit of working at a nonprofit is that you get the opportunity to meet many new people—some of whom you may not have ever met or known about without working there. These individuals may be your fellow team members, the organization’s board of directors, volunteers, vendors, and even the people you serve. There are a lot of different individuals you will interact with when you work at a nonprofit, and many of them are incredible human beings who are interested in making the world a better place, just like you are. Because of this, you can often find people that share similar interests as you, which can lead to new friendships, networking connections, mentorships, and more. At a nonprofit, you won’t simply be stuck in the same office with the same people every single day.
• Developing New Skills – Working at a nonprofit is also beneficial because it provides you with many opportunities to develop new skills. As we all know, nonprofits are all hands on deck—there’s no job too big or small for anyone in the organization when the need arises. That means you will find yourself working in many different capacities at different points in your employment with the organization. This gives you the chance to do new things you’ve never tried and develop skills that you might not possess yet. Through these experiences, you can grow both professionally and personally, all while helping your organization carry out its mission.
• Opportunities for Growth – Similar to developing new skills, working at a nonprofit also offers opportunities for growth within that organization. As you develop those new skills, you also gain experience and become a better, more knowledgeable employee. The longer you spend at the organization, the more of an asset you become in its ability to carry out its mission. When openings do become available to move up at the organization, other employees will most likely be the first ones considered for the promotion since they already have knowledge and experience with how the organization runs. So, while you may be an entry-level employee to start, you could one day end up as the Executive Director of your organization and have even more of an impact on the direction it is going and the work that it does.