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Making a Difference and Making a Living: Finding a nonprofit Job in the Bay Area

table of contents
acknowledgements acknowledgements
foreword foreword

 

part 1: the nonprofit sector background information
chapter 1: rewards and challenges of nonprofit work rewards & challenges of nonprofit work
chapter 2: understanding the nonprofit sector understanding the nonprofit sector  
chapter 3: education education
chapter 4: who are you and where do you want to go? who are you & where do you want to to go? 
part 2: job search strategies
chapter 5: managing the job search process managing the job search process
chapter 6: getting your foot in the door without starving getting your foot in the door without starving
chapter 7: gathering information gathering information
chapter 8: informational interviews informational interviews
chapter 8: informational interviews marketing yourself
part 3: the job search process. nuts and bolts
chapter 8: informational interviews getting an interview
chapter 8: informational interviews the job interview
chapter 12: negotiating negotiating
chapter13: following up and staying in the loop following-up & staying in the loop
 
appendix 1: common nonprofit job titles appendix 1: 
common nonprofit job titles
appendix 2: assessment of nonprofit wages and benefits appendix 2:
assessment of nonprofit wages & benefits
contributors contributors
   

 

Many nonprofits put more emphasis on getting the job done than on specific titles. Consequently, the meanings of job titles vary greatly among nonprofit organizations. In most cases, a job description will be the only way you'll know whether, for example, "program assistant" is a fully clerical position or a substantive, program-related position. Furthermore, the distinctions between "assistant," "coordinator," "manager," and "director," are often arbitrary and change according to an individual's promotion. It is therefore extremely important to read a job description - and in the interview process ask very clear questions - in order to determine the true content of a job. We will briefly attempt to list and describe the most common nonprofit job titles below, as this is how you will often locate job announcements. Keep in mind, however, that these are not absolute.

Direct Service and Program-Related
Counselor/Case Worker:
Works one-on-one with clients providing referrals and case management.

Educator/Trainer: Facilitates delivery of curriculum to a clientele.

Job Developer: Develops jobs for an at-risk population.

Lobbyist: Conducts policy analysis and advocacy on either a local, state, or national level.

Organizer: Conducts education and action campaigns around certain issues; there are both union organizers and community organizers.

Program or Project Assistant/Coordinator/Manager/Director: Varying levels of work relating directly to a program of the organization.

Volunteer Coordinator: Recruits volunteers for an organization.

Administrative/Management Jobs
Administrative Assistant: Provides clerical assistance to staff and often performs a range of tasks

Development Assistant/Associate/Manager/Director: Raises money for the organization, potentially through methods including grant writing, special events, and individual donors.

Executive Director: Oversees operation of an entire organization and often is the staff person spending the most time on fundraising.

Grant Writer: Writes grant proposals to private foundations and/or government agencies.

Office Manager: Oversees general operation of an office; could include some accounting, acting as liaison with vendors, and maintaining equipment.

Program Officer: Manages grantmaking in a foundation or government agency.

Public Relations Assistant/Coordinator/Manager/Director: Manages publicity and public relations for an organization, often acting as liaison with the media.

Other Professional Positions
Many professionals in the private sector also have counterparts in nonprofits. Some examples include accountants, attorneys, information systems managers, writers and editors, and planners.

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