Can you make a living working for a nonprofit?
Mia Phillips
Updated on March 29, 2026
No. It’s the organization itself that isn’t making a profit, not the employees. With the exception of some very small organizations, most nonprofits are staffed by paid professionals. Some organizations employ volunteers in addition to their paid staff, but many don’t use volunteer help at all.
Is working for a nonprofit bad?
Working in the nonprofit sector, you will encounter things that will alternately excite and frustrate you. Some advantages, like fulfilling work and kind coworkers, can be expected. Many disadvantages, like increased bureaucracy and burnout, often take career changers by surprise.
Is it good to work in a non profit organization?
Nonprofit workers often find themselves becoming multi-skilled, which can be very helpful in building one’s career. It is not unusual for people to start in nonprofit work and parlay those skills into a corporate job. In a nonprofit, you will meet many community leaders who serve on the board or as volunteers.
Is the nonprofit sector really a career path?
Or: “Working for a nonprofit is not really a career path.” The truth: Working in the nonprofit sector sometimes is considered taking a break from the “real world,” with the implied assumption that it is not an option to spend a lifetime doing this work. In reality, the nonprofit sector provides many people with a lifetime of exciting work.
How can I get a job with a nonprofit?
Volunteering can help. Many nonprofits use volunteers for various aspects of their work, and lending your talents can be a good way to become a known quantity, which can give you an advantage when you want to apply for a paid job opening.
Is it exasperating to work at a nonprofit?
From antiquated technology to bureaucratic red tape, working at a nonprofit can be downright exasperating. Employees are asked to do more work with fewer resources, create miracles on a daily basis, and satisfy competing interests.
Are there business skills in the nonprofit sector?
Nonprofits value business skills. The nonprofit sector is being flooded with people who have spent a day, a year, or a whole career in the for-profit sector and have decided that now is the time for change.