Non-profit job hunt thread

[caulfield12]

I'm being a little ambitious to start this now, since I have a new two year contract in China to teach through 2014.

 

Do any of you work in non-profit/501c3/charitable organizations?

 

What are some really good ones that you would recommend in the Chicago area?

 

Is the environment or climate for fundraising/grantwriting getting better (compared to 2008/09) or is it still tough to get money from corporations compared to most of the 90's, at least up until 1998/2001/02/08?

[Soxbadger]

I have formed them, I dont work with them.

[caulfield12]

Yeah, I wrote a 501c3 way back in 1996...but haven't done it as much recently.

[kwolf68]

 

Not sure if I can help Caufield here, but my wife was Director of Development for an SRO housing non profit in Wash DC and in Richmond Va, has done major donors, government and grant writing...she has worked in nearly every field of non profits (at risk youth, food banks, environmental, worked for the NPCA, population, Red Cross, family planning in Africa, etc., etc). She is a wealth of knowledge. Though I don't think she ever dealt with corporate giving I did hear her talk of it some. You are right, it's not easy. I'd guess most of the money for non profits comes from foundations and major donors. I too have worked for non profit organizations, specifically on the science side of environmental issues. I don't advocate at all, just do my thing, but she did advocate so she's the person who knows that stuff.

 

If you still need some feedback pop an IM to me or post specific questions here. She wouldn't be able to help with Chicago-based non profits however.

 

 

[caulfield12]

Not sure if I can help Caufield here, but my wife was Director of Development for an SRO housing non profit in Wash DC and in Richmond Va, has done major donors, government and grant writing...she has worked in nearly every field of non profits (at risk youth, food banks, environmental, worked for the NPCA, population, Red Cross, family planning in Africa, etc., etc). She is a wealth of knowledge. Though I don't think she ever dealt with corporate giving I did hear her talk of it some. You are right, it's not easy. I'd guess most of the money for non profits comes from foundations and major donors. I too have worked for non profit organizations, specifically on the science side of environmental issues. I don't advocate at all, just do my thing, but she did advocate so she's the person who knows that stuff.

 

If you still need some feedback pop an IM to me or post specific questions here. She wouldn't be able to help with Chicago-based non profits however.

 

 

Thanks, Wolf.

 

I'm not sure how practical it would be anyway, I really enjoy "direct service" work, out in the field, and that pays shi-.

 

When I was out doing volunteer work, I would always say to myself...if only I could figure out a way to split my job 50/50 between wearing a suit and tie and doing fundraising/PR/grantwriting and then doing the things I most enjoy, but it's nearly impossible to find positions like that. You have to design them yourself, or essentially start your own organization.

 

The hardest part is I've never felt the "calling" to do one specific kind of non-profit cause. I always ending up working or volunteering for others, but I've never stuck my neck out there and tried to do my own thing.

 

Somehow I got away from non-profit burnout into teaching (Teach for America program) and then I haven't gone back because I've kind of gotten addicted to the adventure of living and teaching abroad, along with the abundant opportunities for travel.

 

Ten years ago, I was making $27,000 (keep in mind, it's Kansas City) as a program director, and probably should have been in the mid 30's for that position, but I was happy and had a "hands off" boss. Now, I make a bit about $3250 tax free per month and a free apartment (no car expenses), so that money goes a long long way in China.

 

Still, I've never "loved" teaching like some kindergarten and elementary teachers I know....or many university professors. I really like it, but love...maybe sometimes.

 

 

[Rex Kickass]

You may also want to consider working for cities. Many urban areas, especially those with some degree of budget instability often look for grant-writers to help supplement annual budget shortfalls and take necessary programs off the financial plate for a while.

[caulfield12]

You may also want to consider working for cities. Many urban areas, especially those with some degree of budget instability often look for grant-writers to help supplement annual budget shortfalls and take necessary programs off the financial plate for a while.

 

 

Except being a full-time grantwriter, I think I would rather be drawn-and-quartered.

 

 

[greg775]

Caufield what's it like working in China? Are you allowed to date women out there?

Or would they consider you a jerk for even considering to do so?

Are u married?

Don't answer if you don't want to. I just figured it might be tough to get dates over there.

What are your classes like?

Do they respect Americans? Is it tough to teach somebody to speak English? And read, etc?

[caulfield12]

Caufield what's it like working in China? Are you allowed to date women out there?

Or would they consider you a jerk for even considering to do so?

Are u married?

Don't answer if you don't want to. I just figured it might be tough to get dates over there.

What are your classes like?

Do they respect Americans? Is it tough to teach somebody to speak English? And read, etc?

 

Greg it's not 1975.

 

China is much more open and Westernized than you would imagine especially cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

 

Foreigners are probably more popular with the women in Taiwan/Taipei than Chinese, although it's all about the bank account and credit card.

 

It is complicated as a teacher, because you do have some women who want to be friends or just practice their English....but that's cool. Probably 75-80% of Chinese women, their parents would be somewhat or very upset if they were to announce their intention to marry a foreigner. Lots of girls are curious about dating, but maybe still there's that barrier about marriage...it's also complicated, because most men are expected to have a house (that they own free and clear) and car to get married (there are 6 men to every 5 women), so that's not easy as an ex-pat because cars and houses are roughly 2-3X as expensive now than the comparable house or car in the US. On top of that, you have to pay 30-40-50% of it upfront, and I don't want to be tied down to property because the bubble here will burst in the next 10 years, just as it did in the US.

 

I was married to a Russian woman for 8 years but am now divorced.

 

Most of the girls that I have dated since I have been in Asia have been in the Philippines (since they speak English well) and Thailand, because I lived there two years. My g/f in Thailand was an ER doctor who went to one of the better Thai medical schools, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

 

We have two groups of students at my international school. They are divided into A and B classes. The A classes are all going to study overseas, they average around 660-740 on the SAT Math but are much weaker in English, as it's not their native language. For example, one of my Economics students already got a perfect 800 on his math section. But their English scores tend to be low 500's to low 600's.

 

The tuition ranges from around $15-16,000 per year to "scholarship" students whose parents pay "only" about $3,500 or so.

 

The B students are lazy, bored, unengaged and listless. They're addicted to their cell phones and computer games...they're not really behavior or discipline cases, but they can be very frustrating to teach at times. I love the students in the A classes, though.

 

In general, in any Asian country, teachers are much more well-respected than in America. I can say that universally applies to South Korea, China, Thailand and the Philippines, the 4 Asian countries I have taught in. And it's not even close.

 

To me, teaching English just depends on the motivation of the learner...some students are great, some are more difficult if their parents are forcing them to learn English against their will. I will say that from my observation, teaching English to pre-kindergarten or kindergarten students, students who have never been exposed to any English at all....they have my utmost respect for their patience. I prefer to teach high school/university/adults.

Edited July 24, 2012 by caulfield12