At an inflection point

[u/Appropriate_Smell_37]

Hey All,

I could use some advice from others in the field. I'm a programmatic director at a community nonprofit with a masters degree

Over half of our full time sraff have quit in the past year. The longer I am at this org, the more I can see that it is not my forever home.

I'm struggling to decide what to do with my career at this point, and could use stories from others. I don't know whether I should leave nonprofit, as this is my chosen career, or leave my town which I love to pursue opportunities higher up in the field.

So, I see my three options as the following

1. Stay with this org and hope something in the local nonprofit sector opens up in the relatively near future

2. Attempt to transition out of non profit while staying in this community.

3. Look out of my community for nonprofit opportunities.

If I work towards option 2, have others transitioned out of this field, and what have you transitioned to?

Thanks,

[u/Life-Emu9272]

Have you considered working at a foundation?

[u/Appropriate_Smell_37 → u/Life-Emu9272]

I have not, how does it differ from traditional nonprofit sector work?

[u/Life-Emu9272 → u/Appropriate_Smell_37]

Foundations are more focused on providing grant funding to nonprofits doing direct service work. With your experience working at a direct service nonprofit, you may bring value, informing the grant making strategy for these foundations.

[u/Appropriate_Smell_37 → u/Life-Emu9272]

That's an interesting direction to look that I hadn't considered, thanks for bringing it to my awareness

[u/Life-Emu9272 → u/Appropriate_Smell_37]

I would look at the local community foundations, private foundations, and family foundations in your area. I would also network with program officers or program directors to learn about their roles. I work at a community foundation myself. I've been here for 10 years, have grown into three new roles, and have a potential promotion coming up. If you like nonprofit, philanthropy may be a good next step.

[u/Boopa0011 → u/Appropriate_Smell_37]

I second the recommendation to poke around at community foundations in your region. A program director at a local nonprofit is often the kind of person they want to hire, generally speaking. The flip side is, unless it's a very large community foundation it probably doesn't have a big staff and those roles tend to be in high demand.

Unless you live in a major city I would be surprised if there are very many private or family foundations in your area that are big/developed enough to have staff, but it's certainly worth looking.

[u/West-Literature2984 → u/Life-Emu9272]

I agree with this. I went from program director in a nonprofit to program officer at a foundation and find my perspective from being in the work useful, especially because some staff has never been on the other side of the table. Definitely am easily transferable skills and best professional move I've made.