Making the Leap from the Private Sector to the Nonprofit Sector
So here you are in a job that leaves you as unfilled as listening to Bruce Springsteen’s last album. You practically have to force yourself to get up every morning, catch the train, and focus on TPS reports all day.
You want a job that excites you. You are passionate about free-market principles and you would love to dedicate your career to making the government smaller and defending our liberties.
So why haven’t I heard from you?
I bet I can guess: you have some trepidation about taking the leap from the private sector to the nonprofit sector. I completely understand. I did, too, before I made the transition. So allow me to assuage your fears. Read on, brave defender of liberty.
Your fear: Nonprofits don’t pay enough.
The reality: As my father is fond of saying, everything is relative. If you are an investment banker pulling in $300k a year, the nonprofit sector may not be the right financial move for you. However, for most people, there is a very good chance financial fulfillment is available the nonprofit world.
Depending on your situation, how many years of experience you have, and your current salary, you may initially have to take a temporary reduction in pay. However, if you are good at what you do and you work hard, you may very well find yourself in an organization that rewards success with bonuses and salary increases.
In many cases of moving into the nonprofit sector, you may be able to make a lateral financial move or a step up. Remember that the free-market movement is full of capitalists. We believe people should be rewarded for the value they create for society, and most liberty-oriented nonprofits pay accordingly.
Your fear: Washington, D.C. is too expensive.
The reality: First of all, who says you have to move to D.C. to get involved in the free-market movement? You don’t! Chances are, your state has a numerous organizations working to advance liberty, and many of them are looking to hire talented individuals like you.
Now, if you’re itching to get to the nation’s capital, you should know that it is a city with a relatively high cost of living. However, no matter where you are now, you can survive financially in Washington, D.C. If staff assistants on the Hill can do it, so can you!
There are countless options when it comes to housing, transportation, and lifestyle. I would suggest you do some research online, talk to people who live in Washington, D.C., and most importantly, visit the city and see for yourself.
You should note, however, that the Washington, D.C. nonprofit pay scale does not necessarily reflect the higher cost of living.
Your fear: I don’t want to leave the security of a private sector job for a nonprofit job.
The reality: If you’ve been paying attention to the economy lately, you probably realize no sector is insulated from dramatic changes. So why not live on the edge and waltz on over here to the sector where we’re busy advancing liberty?
Your fear: The nonprofit sector won’t have the same fast-paced and challenging atmosphere in which I thrive.
The reality: Au contraire, mon frère! We’re working at a feverish pace over here trying to stop the onslaught of government overreach and the rapid evaporation of freedom! We’re innovating at every turn to do more with less and to made headway in this ever-exciting battle for liberty. There’s never a dull moment on our side – trust me.
