Which Non Profits Are "Good" to Work for?

[Anonymous]

I often hear friends say the pay at their non-profit isn't great, but the benefits are amazing so they can never leave. I could never ask a friend what exactly that means, so I'm asking the internet. For those who work in non-profits, what are these great benefits? Please be as specific as possible, or direct me to where I can find that info myself (so far, I haven't found compensation packages easy to find aside from federal employment).

[Anonymous]

Non-profit is a huge category of employers and there are huge differences between them. I work for a non-profit and I get a 12% contribution to a 403b, 5 weeks of annual leave, 12 sick days and some paid maternity leave. Also very good, inexpensive health insurance.

[Anonymous]

As pp said, it highly depends on the nonprofit. There are small ones where pay is crap and hours are hard but benefits are decently good like you get more PTO. There are large ones that can pay just as well as private sector. There are some that don't have great benefits compared to corporate, e.g. you won't find a lot of nonprofits paying for your relocation or housing or transportation. There are educational institutions where the pay is low but you can essentially get a graduate degree for free.

You're not going to find universal answers.

[Anonymous]

The "benefits" that are great at my NGO are generous vacation (After 10 year, I get 5 weeks plus all federal holidays and 2 weeks of sick leave), generous telecommute policy (I WAH 4 days a week), a 35 hour work week, and flexibility in setting schedules (we have core business hours between 10-3 and need to work some percentage of time in that window, but otherwise can set our own schedule with the approval of our boss). Basically, I sacrificed pay so I can have a fulfilling career that allows me to be around when my kids get home from school, and take time off with them on school breaks.

Healthcare, dental, SmartBenefits, retirement and snacks in the break room are all decent but nothing super special.

[Anonymous]

The biggest difference in the non-profit vs. for-profit is culture.

In the NP world, your world is biz casual, to include HR policies which are usually more relaxed, often due in part to being antiquated and their person responsible is doing more than HR and it takes a backseat.

In the For-profit world, you're in the corporate culture. Which means you are bound by far more rules, have less individual freedom, but yes, you may get paid better.

Also in the Non-Profit world, you can easily be a VP, whereas in the for-profit world, a corporate VP is possible a 7-figure salary.

[Anonymous]

At my ngo , amazing health and dental (posting from the waiting room now, ha! $10 copay), 10 percent automatic contribution into retirement, 20 days vacation, 14 days sick, unlimited rollovers, weekly lunches out, small pool of cash for continuing education/conferences/books.

But most important is the sense of mission. Work I believe is doing good for the community. Would not take the long hours and low pay otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "benefits" that are great at my NGO are generous vacation (After 10 year, I get 5 weeks plus all federal holidays and 2 weeks of sick leave), generous telecommute policy (I WAH 4 days a week), a 35 hour work week, and flexibility in setting schedules (we have core business hours between 10-3 and need to work some percentage of time in that window, but otherwise can set our own schedule with the approval of our boss). Basically, I sacrificed pay so I can have a fulfilling career that allows me to be around when my kids get home from school, and take time off with them on school breaks.

Healthcare, dental, SmartBenefits, retirement and snacks in the break room are all decent but nothing super special.

Like this!! Can you name the employer?

[Anonymous]

PBS http://www.pbs.org/about/careers/benefits/