Many times the debate over nonprofit versus for-profit compensation focuses on the executives of the respective organizations, but the participants in this fantastic conversation on the Chronicle of Philanthropy have brought the focus down where it belongs: to the young people on the front lines. Several commentators point out that it’s the entry level positions where the disparity is hardest to swallow. For bright kids graduating from college with a mountain of student debt, it’s tough to ask them to choose between $30,000 and a sense of fulfillment and $50,000 with a 401K and good health insurance. The current emphasis among donors on “low overhead” at charitable organizations is leading to a brain drain from the sector that most needs an influx of young workers.
Personally, I find it a bit self-righteous to tell those who want both financial security and the opportunity to make a difference “the nonprofit sector DOES NOT need you.” Really? Because we’ve solved all the world’s problems so effectively and don’t need new ideas and new talent? Because Baby Boomers heading up nonprofits never plan to retire so that new leadership is needed?
You know what? Forget this debate, you’re right. Kids, if you hope for a double bottom-line return on the investment of your own talents and intellect–both social and financial–I’ve got a sector for you. It’s called social enterprise, and they’d love to have all the passion and idealism and ambition and energy you have to offer.
Let the masochistic working poor and their aging institutions whither as talented young people seek to do good and to do well. It may be painful and pointless, but at least they’ll feel good about themselves.
May 21, 2009 at 10:26 am |
Sure the salaries in the non-profit world could definitely be better, at all levels, but I think you point to the real injustice here:
“For bright kids graduating from college with a mountain of student debt…”
It’s outrageous that people must so routinely take on so much debt to get through college, and that this by necessity must then frame their career choices. This is the real issue here, not non-profit salaries, in my opinion.
June 15, 2009 at 11:55 pm |
This on my list of top 20 blogs that I really enjoy reading
. Keep up the great work and speed up those articles.
May 21, 2009 at 10:46 am |
I agree with Tom though would just go so far as to say that the college funding system is completely broken. Many kids mortgage their future and force them into a career path that makes them miserable – or are just left with no path at all.
Also have some ambivalence about the “professionalization” of the sector. While there are benefits and everyone should demand financial/programmatic accountability it seems that the underlying passion is gone in many organizations as it is just a job and people hang on in groups forever. Perhaps another factor in driving young people away from established organizations and towards newer groups, social ventures and other forms of organizing change.
May 21, 2009 at 11:40 am |
[...] See the original post: Hey Kids! Not a Masochist? Then the Nonprofit Sector "DOES NOT" need you [...]
May 21, 2009 at 12:39 pm |
I completely agree that the focus of nonprofit compensation needs to be shifted to the younger, entry level workers who (like myself a couple years ago right out of college) are ready to jump start their careers but lack financial stability that would help them choose the BEST position for them as opposed to just finding another job.
I would have to disagree with Ted’s statement that “the underlying passion is gone in many orgs”. The passion is there, but many orgs are not recruiting the right people (and in many cases, the right people are not applying for these positions). In addition, the orgs are not firing the people they need to let go, at least quicker than they should. Like they say “hire slow, fire fast.”
This discussion could go on forever but I’m glad some of us are taking part in it. Things will never change without intelligent, engaging dialogue and ACTION to make change a reality. Great post!
May 21, 2009 at 2:24 pm |
This is one of the points in favor of for-profit mission-driven companies. It provides a way for idealistic people to make a living and a real contribution.
On that note, here’s a post from my blog, Not Only for Profit (on the True/Slant network) about a former Greenpeace activist who went the for-profit route with a solar-energy portal.
June 2, 2009 at 2:54 pm |
[...] futures for the nonprofit sector, low nonprofit compensation, whether social enterprise is a better entry point for young people, and will the MBAs save us. I think all of this discussion about how our sector [...]