Skip to Main Content

The University of Tennessee

Career Services

Frequently Used Tools:




Nonprofits/NGOs

Careers in Nonprofits/Nongovernmental Organizations

What is a Nonprofit?
Nonprofits are organizations that do not declare profit but instead use revenue in service to a public interest. They exist to serve a cause or purpose and include social service and charitable agencies, private schools, professional associations, religious organizations, political and advocacy groups, or cultural programs to name a few. Examples of nonprofits include The American Heart Association, The Boys and Girls Club, United Way, American Civil Liberties Union, The Knoxville Museum of Art, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers. There are a variety of career options in the nonprofit sectors and various mission, values and goals including but not limited to poverty, the environment, youth development, community service, health care, workers’ rights, public policy, violence prevention, the arts, and economic development. Almost all career disciplines and majors can be utilized in nonprofits! To learn more: http://www.idealist.org/info/Careers/SectorKnowledge/Nonprofit

Understanding Careers in the Nonprofit Sector

How to Get a Job in a Nonprofit
In some ways recruitment and hiring for NPOs differs from for-profit organizations. Typically NPOs hire only as a need arises so there isn't a "season" for recruitment. Many times NPOs only hire one person at a time rather than recruiting a whole "class" of new employees. Because NPOs usually don't have a large budget for recruiting activities, they may hire more by word of mouth or by people they know from internships, field experiences or volunteering. However, many of the same job search rules apply for finding positions in this sector. Consider each of the following methods when conducting a job search.