Could I Consider a Career in the Non-Profit World?

Could I Consider a Career in the Non-Profit World?
By Valerie Hillow


As I sat in my public relations classes that final quarter I spent as a student in Scripps Hall my senior year, I imagined what the next phase of my life would be like. I had never wavered in my decision to be a public relations major, and I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Scripps School of Journalism during my four years at Ohio University, so I figured the next logical step would be to work at a public relations agency.

I had shadowed at a public relations/advertising agency in Cleveland and had fallen in love with the idea of working there. I thought I would start out on a few smaller accounts and do projects like newsletters, media kits, perhaps, even a special event or two. I would work my way up to my own accounts and get to share my great ideas with the clients within a few years. Or at least that is what I assumed. Instead, my career path took a very different twist.

I came home for a weekend during that last quarter of college and met a woman who turned out to be Executive Director of the American Heart Association in Cleveland. She asked me lots of questions about my job options and career goals. I guess she saw a spark in me that she didn’t want to pass up. She began subtly recruiting me to work for her. So my first piece of advice is that you never know when you’re going to be networking, so you should always be prepared to talk, and to listen!

She explained that if I could get my foot in the door and see if I liked the kind of work I was doing, she knew there would be lots of career opportunity for me. I began interviewing with the Human Resources department, and then came to Cleveland and met the team. Just two days after OU's Commencement Ceremony, the American Heart Association offered me a job, and I decided to take a leap of faith. Four years later, I have never looked back.

Working for a non-profit organization, such as the American Heart Association, which has an extremely strong national presence and many resources, has provided me limitless opportunities for career growth and personal skill development. I started as a Communications Associate, and within 6 months was promoted to the position of Heart Walk Manager. After a year and a half in that role, I was again promoted, this time to the position of Special Events Director. My responsibilities have increased ten-fold from that first position.

That leads to my next piece of advice when seeking a job in a non-profit organization - don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. You will have a chance to observe and learn, and if you are good at what you do, and put in the extra time, someone will notice and move you up.
According to www.learningtogive.org, and a paper called Career Options in the Nonprofit Sector by Amy Vaugan on their Website, non-profit organizations hire for all types of positions, from chief executive officer to receptionist. Moreover, most nonprofits need individuals with strong communication and fundraising skills. Examples of jobs include development directors, public relations managers, fundraisers, museum curators, artists, administrative staff, counselors, teachers, researchers, writers, public policy specialists, community activists, program officers, and librarians. Nearly 11 million people worked as employees of nonprofit organizations in 1996, or approximately 7% of the nation's workforce.
I highly recommend looking into jobs in the non-profit sector. Some online resources that might help you search for a job in the non-profit sector are The Chronicle of Philanthropy at www.philanthropy.com, The Community Career Center at www.nonprofitjobs.org, and The Philanthropy News Network Online at www.philanthropyjournal.org.
Working somewhere such as the American Heart Association, no two days will ever be spent the same way. Your professional life will be filled with challenges, adventures and a lot of learning as you go along. In a given week, I use skills in public relations, public speaking, event planning, fundraising, outside sales, basic accounting, new business development and relationship building.
I have also learned that "sales" is not a dirty word, as I once thought it to be, and better yet, I have learned that I am good at it. That’s my next piece of advice – don’t be afraid of sales! So much of my sales approach is made up of the foundation I have from my journalism degree. I can express myself through the written word and the spoken word clearly and concisely. My proposals and sponsorship letters have nice graphic elements and a professional quality that was learned in Scripps Hall. My relationship building skills and soft sales approach is peppered with the social skills that were honed throughout the campus of Ohio University.
I have worked directly with Cleveland media outlets - television, radio, newspaper, magazine and online, and have a comfort level beyond some of my co-workers due to my journalism background. I plan social events for 600 guests and outdoor events for 5,000 participants. I organize meetings, recruit leadership, coach speakers, set ambitious goals and sell sponsorships. I meet new and interesting people every day - there is no time to be shy or nervous! I have met with Chief Executive Officers, Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents of countless corporations, hospitals and industries throughout Cleveland. I have had so many opportunities to talk with these well-respected professionals and learn from them simply by observing the way they do business.
In a resource book called Jobs and Careers With Non-Profit Organizations by Ron and Caryl Krannich, which is referenced on www.learningtogive.org, they dispel the myths related to working in the nonprofit sector. They state that non-profit jobs are not dead-end jobs. Instead, many individuals develop long-term careers in the sector. Similarly, they dispel the myth that nonprofits only offer low salaries and few benefits; in fact, many organizations, especially health groups, research organizations, foundations, and business and professional associations, offer excellent salaries and benefits. Krannich and Krannich also stated that some of the benefits of working in the non-profit sector include rewarding, interesting and exciting work in a positive environment; easier to gain entry level employment, as well as opportunities to gain valuable experiences and career advancement.
These are certainly all things that I can attest to. My life would be very different today if I had not chosen to work for a non-profit organization. I hope this will at least help some of you seeking jobs to consider an option that you might not have known much about previously. I am glad I did!

Valerie Hillow is a 2003 Scripps graduate.