16 Reasons To Consider Entering The Nonprofit Sector

Forbes Leadership 16 Reasons To Consider Entering The Nonprofit Sector Expert Panel® Forbes Councils Member Forbes Nonprofit Council COUNCIL POST Expertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Opinions expressed are those of the author. | Membership (fee-based) Oct 11, 2023, 01:15pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin getty Without a true passion and commitment to the work, nonprofit leaders don’t last long.

A long-term career in the field requires dedication to an organization’s cause and a willingness to keep at it if and when things get tough. Whether a professional has been in the industry since the start or they’ve transitioned after a career in the for-profit space, there is recognition on all sides of how much this career can change the way a person views their own power and the power of constituents being served. Below, 16 Forbes Nonprofit Council members share stories of what made them join the nonprofit sector and the impactful lessons they have learned along the way.

1. Enjoy The Opportunity To Make A Real Impact I was an entrepreneur back in the early and mid-2000s. When my latest venture failed, I sort of fell into the nonprofit space, not knowing much about it at all.

It was never going to be a long-term career, just a short-term way to pay the bills until the next startup idea came along. What kept me in it from then through today is the very real impact of my work on the world every single day. – Neil Shah , Achievement First 2.

Acknowledge The Power Individuals Have I studied international development and interned with a group focused on women’s leadership in East Africa. I was transformed by that experience, which gave me insights into the power of individuals and led me to the nonprofit sector. The lesson that I have carried since is that empowered individuals can and will transform families, communities, institutions, systems and societies.

– Neha Gill , Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home) Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify? MORE FOR YOU October Prime Day Ends Tonight—Shop These 70+ Deals While You Still Can WWE NXT Results: Winners And Grades On Tuesday Night War Vs.

AEW Dynamite Crowdfunding Campaign For Mary Lou Retton Raises Over 100 000 As Olympic Star Fights For Life 3. Set Shared Goals To Empower Communities I’ve learned of the unlimited power of a community with a shared goal. That power can overcome obstacles, challenge you to grow, help you see blind spots and help you believe in your potential, even when you cannot in the moment.

My college degree propelled me to a career and life I never imagined, so taking all of my corporate skills and expertise to now open doors for other low-income students speaks to my heart every day. – Tina Admans , Minds Matter Southern California 4. Focus On Connecting Directly With Those Being Served I left the corporate world for the nonprofit one after my mother’s cancer diagnosis.

As I entered the nonprofit workforce and discovered the incredible cancer community, I uncovered endless compassion, commitment and connection available for both employees and constituents. To avoid burnout, I prioritize connecting with the people we serve directly at least a few times a year—and it keeps me grounded in my “why. ” – Rosie Cunningham , Family Reach 5.

Self-Reflect On Your Desires Early in my professional career, I was a journalist. I loved writing human interests stories, but after a while, I realized that my passion for writing was really more about serving others. My stories were informative and many were even uplifting, but I had a desire to do more.

The nonprofit arena fills that desire. – Kimberly Lewis , Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc. 6.

Revisit Your ‘Why’ Regularly It’s easy to get lost in your day to day and forget your “why. ” It’s important to frequently take time to rediscover and revisit what drove you to your impact work. My history with childhood cancer and being a Make-A-Wish kid is what drove me to the impact space.

When missions and lived experience overlap, it creates inspiration and typically powers your “why. ” Never forget your “why. ” – Nick Lynch , Collidescope IO, Inc.

7. Make A Difference Through Collaboration I was inspired to join the nonprofit sector by my mom, who is also a career nonprofit leader. From her, I learned how much progress can be made when we work together to speak up on behalf of the underserved.

Working together to empower and improve the lives of others makes a world of difference—especially at the organizational level where we can drive systemic change. – Randy Wong , Hawaii Youth Symphony 8. Uplift And Recognize The Work Of Your Team I’ve always loved helping people, so working at a nonprofit felt comfortable immediately.

You can make an impact in someone’s life every day. Unfortunately, people carrying out this mission don’t always feel appreciated, so the most important lesson I’ve learned is that to truly do your best work, you need to uplift and appreciate your staff carrying out the great work of your nonprofit, too. – Christina Potts , LISTEN 9.

Listen And Learn From Students My inspiration to join the REC Foundation came from my career in industrial robotics. It was apparent that robotics will be integrated into most aspects of our lives in the future, so I wanted to help develop resources to prepare the next generation of students. The most impactful lesson I’ve learned is to listen and learn from students as they have great instincts about leveraging technology to its potential.

– Dan Mantz , Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation 10. Be Willing To Take On Creative And Tough Tasks I was inspired by the generational impact of education on my life and the hope it would also have an impact on others’ lives. One lesson I’ve learned in pursuing my path as an educator is that in order to succeed in having the greatest impact on learners, one must embrace both the creative and tough tasks.

For example, letting go of underperforming programs, like pruning a tree, can redirect energy toward growth. – Christopher Washington , Franklin University 11. Maintain A Purpose And Vision A mentor once told me, “If you can dream it, you can do it.

” In these words, he made clear that you need to look at nonprofits not only for what they do today, but also for how they can evolve, what they can become and what impact they can have in the future. Nothing is more powerful than a nonprofit with purpose and vision. I try to channel this belief each and every day.

– Patrick Riccards , Driving Force Institute 12. Make Time For Self-Care Joining a nonprofit allowed me to unleash my passion and skills in ways that I’d never been able to while working in other sectors. This is because my own creativity and commitment—not some external bottom line—are the real limits on what I could accomplish.

The flip side of this reality, of course, is that burnout is always just over the horizon, so making time for self care an absolute must. – Josephine Faass , Robert Schalkenbach Foundation 13. Invest In Others When a life is changed, most want to share that experience.

I found a passion for service because of the investment made in me. My heart for service is grounded in the belief that we are “stewards of our todays to ensure better tomorrows. ” The essence of leadership is to plant trees under whose shade you may never sit.

I wanted to plant some seeds of greatness. – Aaron Alejandro , Texas FFA Foundation 14. Aim To Help Those In Need Escaping death during military service made me consider my life’s purpose.

During my professional career, I was waiting for the opportune time to embark on a social venture. Before turning fifty, I poured my personal finances into my passion, establishing an NGO to combat social injustice and poverty. Lasting joy is helping those who most need it, and for twenty-six years, that’s what I have done.

– Abraham George , Shanti Bhavan 15. Make It Worthwhile For Others To Donate Inspiration comes from the desire to improve something, so my desire is to make an impact. Working in a nonprofit allows me to be part of something bigger than myself.

The No. 1 lesson I’ve learned is to realize the funds raised come from individuals and corporations willing to part with disposable income. Make it worthwhile for someone to part with the money they’ve earned.

Giving is not required, it’s a gift. – Gwen Cooper 16. View Challenges As Potential Opportunities During my college years, I volunteered with youth and individuals with disabilities and helped build affordable housing in Central America.

Through these experiences, I witnessed both the positive impact and felt a strong sense of purpose, which instilled the desire in me to seek out a career in nonprofits. I’ve learned along the way to look at every challenge as an opportunity. – Jennifer Sirangelo , Points of Light Check out my website .

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