The nonprofit sector offers employment opportunities in the arts and humanities, education, environment, health, human services, international affairs, and more and employs approximately 10 percent of the U.S. workforce. People who work in the sector know why they are there, the greater good that their work and organization are serving, and how they’re contributing to the public interest.
WHAT IS A NONPROFIT
Nonprofits cover a broad range of organizations that provide advocacy, service, and humanitarian work and engage such issues as education, healthcare, and human rights. They are called “nonprofit” because they use their surplus revenue to serve their mission and the general public. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) belong in the nonprofit sector and include citizens’ groups that are organized at a local, national, or international level.
WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO WORK IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR
Whether you’re interested in art and working for a museum, the environment and addressing climate change, or economics and watchdogging on behalf of the public interest, opportunity abounds in the nonprofit sector AND you will get to contribute to solutions that impact the public interest and common good.
Like the for-profit sector, nonprofit organizations have corporate officers and boards of directors, directors and managers in the areas of communications and public relations, human resources, corporate finance, and I.T., as well as development and grant writing. The ability to learn and grow professionally matches like opportunities in the for-profit sector and the skill sets are transferable, so it is not uncommon for people to move in and out of the two sectors over the span of a career.
RESOURCES
- Bucknell Public Interest Program (BPIP) and Internship Fund: Through the generosity of alumni, parents and friends of Bucknell , the BPIP Internship Fund provides support for students who have secured a full-time, unpaid summer internship within the nonprofit and public service sector. The award amount is $4,500 and applications are due on April 7th.
- The Vault – Nonprofit Sector Overview: free subscription access through My Career Center on your myBucknell dashboard
- Student Conservation Association(SCA): opportunities in national parks, greenspace.
- Bucknell Bonus: Check out the 3 active postings with SCA on Handshake and apply before the March 8th deadline.
- Idealist.org: searchable database listing job and internship opportunities in US and abroad.
- Also check out this excellent and thorough guide: The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers
- Charity Navigator and Guidestar: evaluate nonprofit organizations
- Chronicle of Philanthropy: a journal of nonprofit professionals, lists jobs, career information and a great place to gain industry insight that will help when searching, networking, applying and interviewing
NETWORK
Here are some NONPROFITS AND NGOs where Bucknellians have interned, worked, or currently work.
- Americares
- Conservation International
- Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT)
- Partnership for Public Service
- Bucknell Bonus: Check out the 8 active postings with the Partnership for Public Service on Handshake and apply before the March 14th deadline.
- Public Citizen
- Refugees International
- Save the Children
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation
- The Partnership Project
- Whitman Walker Health
Discover more through the Alumni Directory (New to the app? Get our useful tips) and/or the LinkedIn Bucknell Alumni Page.
RELATED RESOURCES FROM HANDSHAKE
- The Best Internships for Political Science Majors: Check out eight possible internships for your major.
- Your Guide to Internships in Washington, DC: Looking for paid summer internships in Washington, DC? Start with this comprehensive guide.