Landing a Great Nonprofit Job In The DMV

N.A.I. Magazine section: Young & Relentless

Melanie Rivera, SPHR

Nonprofit Executive and CEO of Breaker28, LLC

Whether you’ve just moved to DC or been here a while, one of the trickier things to navigate is finding the right job in this tricky employment marketplace. This is especially true if you’re seeking to find a role in the nonprofit community here. One of the things that makes DC special is the thriving ecosystem of national, regional, and local nonprofits working to make the United States more just and to influence policy to meet their missions. Sounds dreamy, right? You’re right: many organizations in our sector are *great* places to work. Others, not so much. If you’re currently looking for work in the sector - or if you’ve always been curious about making a leap, I’m here to show you what to watch out for, and what to focus on to make your next career move the best move for you.

Not All DMV Nonprofits Are Created Equal

One of the hardest lessons for me to learn in my career working in nonprofits is that not all orgs are created equal. Some orgs are struggling financially, and others are spendy and flush with cash. Some orgs are more flat and consensus-driven in their decision-making with everyone getting a voice; others are more bureaucratic and hierarchical with a clear and enforced chain of command. Some are actively working to become more woke, equitable, and just internally - considering their diversity and inclusion practices and gaps and working tirelessly toward being an inclusive and race-intentional workplace. Many, I’m sad to say, are not. I share this to say that if you want to love your work in the nonprofit sector in DC, you’ve got to do your homework. If not, you risk job-hopping quicker than you’d like when the green grass you thought you saw was really astro turf.

Get The Scoop On Salaries, Benefits And Culture Online

One of the most helpful resources for folks seeking to learn more about national and regional nonprofits anchored in DC is Glassdoor.com. Although Glassdoor is primarily for corporations, many nonprofit employees post frank reviews about salary, benefits, and culture to help others make better career choices. If you’re looking for a local org with a national reach, it’s also sometimes helpful to check out Nonprofit Times’ Best Places to Work List, Indeed.com’s Best Nonprofits to Work For list, and others. If one of your desired workplaces appears year after year, it’s definitely a sign that you may be on to a winner.

Build Your Network Before You Need It

Another way to get access to the best nonprofit jobs in DC is to build the community you need, before you need it. One of the best ways to do this is to join local groups and taskforces in your industry, to be able to contribute to coalitions that are working to make the city, your region, or the country better around a specific issue. Another simple step is to make friends with your counterpart at three to five orgs doing similar work (or working at a similar level) in other nonprofits. If you’re newish to mid-career, Young Nonprofit Professionals DC (and Young Education Professionals, if you’re in the ed sector) are great places to start. There are also some useful LinkedIn affinity groups specific to our area that you might be interested in, like DC Nonprofit Connect. Lastly, if you’re a creative or in tech, Meetup occasionally has local networking events catered to your role that you can take advantage of. I couldn’t emphasize enough how much knowing folks will help you land the best opportunities, especially here in DC (some open positions aren’t ever posted). So, for best results, don’t wait until you need a job - make friends now!

Get The 411 On Finances

The struggle is real for nonprofits (especially smaller, newer, or more loosely managed ones) in DC. It’s super important, especially if you’re joining a community-based nonprofit or one with a small budget that you’re really clear on the front-end what their financial runway looks like. A simple way to get a sense of this is to check their 990 for annual revenue, expenses, and what the top leaders are being paid. If that’s not available, in your interview process (or even after you’ve started a job), it’s totally fair to ask for more information about the organization’s financial goals for 2019 and where they currently stand against those goals. Sure, it can be an awkward conversation, but it’s still one you’d rather have before you sign on, then after when they miss payroll.

There Are Some Gems Here

Having worked in the nonprofit sector in the DMV area for almost all of my career, I can’t tell you how impressive our community is. With some diligence, you can find a role and an organization where you can contribute significantly, be paid fairly, and build a body of skills to advance your career. With that said, great nonprofit careers won’t just happen - even at the best organizations - we must make them happen. A key part of building outstanding nonprofit careers here in DC is learning to navigate our ecosystem and be strategic and planful about our career moves rather than just going with the motions. It’s my deepest hope that the work you find in our sector brings you great fulfillment and great increase...and if it doesn’t, that you’ve built the network and the skills to pivot quickly to work that does.

Melanie Rivera is the CEO of Breaker28, LLC, a nonprofit created to help women of color rise to leadership roles in their industries, to bring more of our voices to the table to solve the challenges our nation faces and make the world more just for everyone.