Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Nonprofit Professionals
To break into nonprofit consulting, Polly, a Senior Vice President at a fundraising consulting company, suggests undergraduates explore "volunteer opportunities" to grasp nonprofit operations and seek "internships" for insight into management. Further, gaining "sector-specific knowledge and experience" within areas like education or healthcare provides a valuable foundation.
Volunteer Opportunities, Internships, Nonprofit Management, Sector-Specific Knowledge, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Polly Breit
Senior Vice President
Fundraising Consulting Company
University of Wisconsin, Madison
N/A
Classics, Spanish Literature
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Consulting
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Volunteer at nonprofits to gain firsthand experience.
2. Seek internships in nonprofit management to learn practical skills.
3. Gain sector-specific knowledge through relevant volunteer work or exposure to better understand the field you are interested in.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
For someone in undergraduate who is curious about a career in nonprofit consulting or nonprofit work, I would advise them to look at volunteer opportunities. This will help them understand how nonprofits operate.
There are many internships available in nonprofits. Organizations are always thinking about how to have the greatest impact. Being able to engage people at different stages is important so everyone contributes in a meaningful way.
If you are interested in the mechanics of nonprofit management, consider looking at internships. The third thing I would suggest is any exposure to a specific nonprofit sector. For example, if it's education or healthcare, opportunities that give you more sector-specific knowledge and experience are really helpful on the front end.