How Much Lower IS NonProfit Pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:13:31 - AARP.

Isn't AARP also in the insurance business? My impression has long been that they are not entirely nonprofit. I could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

I am director-level at a education non-profit with 50 staff members and I make $90k

[Anonymous]

"an" education non-profit! (went back and added the word education and didn't change the article...)

[Anonymous]

What are your qualifications to be a director?

[Anonymous]

No profit salaries differ significantly- I was making 6 figures and was offered 6 figures at another non profit. I have also seen jobs posted in the 75k or so range.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, I don't know if you're still checking this thread, but if you are, I have a question. I'm sorry if this sounds snarky (and it truly isn't meant to be snarky), but what makes you qualified to run a nonprofit org? There is a common misconception in the "for-profit" world that it is easy (and often a step down) to slide into a cushy nonprofit director job. Being a nonprofit director is hard work, job openings are extremely competitive, and most of the applicants will have long track records of nonprofit work and experience.

As someone with fairly extensive nonprofit experience, I can tell you first hand that it can be very frustrating to see someone with good intentions but no nonprofit experience swoop in to "save the day" with their so-called profit-making business acumen. People dedicate their whole careers to working within the nonprofit word. If you are actually interested in getting into the nonprofit world, you might want to set your sights a little lower to begin with, especially considering the fact that you say that you want to "transfer into a nonprofit not within [your] profession." Yes, you might not be making $75K, but no one goes into the nonprofit field to get rich. If you're not willing to work your way up, it's probably not the right field for you.

[Anonymous]

I took it to mean she doesn't want to run an org, but be a director of a particular functional area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took it to mean she doesn't want to run an org, but be a director of a particular functional area.

I am the OP and this is what I meant- and what the position intended for- and that particular position I do have experience in, just not for the nonprofit world.