Advice to My Younger Self: Getting into the Non-profit Industry.

There is an often-overlooked aspect of the non-profit world: non-profit is not an industry, rather, it's a sector comprised of multiple business models. We often lump all non-profits together, but I strongly encourage people to learn about the different models of non-profit before diving in.

It's important to understand the type of non-profit model you're considering, as this will be important for your success. For instance, my non-profit organization is 100 percent funded by the government with a revenue of $400 million, 98 percent of which is cost reimbursement or passed through funding. Meaning we have no margin to play with, and understanding this is crucial for my role as head of strategy. We cannot simply find a need in the market and begin work; we must wait for the government grants to become available.

Understanding your passion and what drives you is also essential, as non-profit work typically doesn't pay as well as private sector jobs. However, the flexibility and impact that you can have in the non-profit sector is unparalleled, and if that's what drives you, the pay cut may not matter as much.

For me, I started my career working with homeless children in DC, but I realized that being a case manager or teacher wasn't my true passion. Instead, I found my passion in making the lives easier of front-line workers in social services. It's important to find what drives you and what you're passionate about. The non-profit sector is filled with different models and opportunities, and understanding these will be key to success.

Reach out to me if you want to talk more about this.