Is a career in nonprofit operations right for you?
“Operations” is a broad umbrella word for all the functions a business must do outside of its products and programs.
Stuff like Human Resources, Accounting & Finance, Legal Compliance, Tech and Platform Management, and other functions that facilitate the work, but aren’t the work itself.
You can be a Generalist, working in small organizations wearing many hats. Or, you can Specialize - there are roles for Benefits Managers and Accounts Payable clerks on bigger HR and Finance teams. Or, anything in between! All of these areas tend to be interconnected, and knowledge of any is beneficial for the others.
Nonprofit operations can be a great career path for people with skills or experience in:
Help Desk / Tech Support
Food Service
Retail
Hospitality / Tourism
Caregiving
Check out our training video all about nonprofit operations to get an overview of the profession.
Interested in a career in nonprofit ops, but aren’t sure where to start?
Check out our video on nonprofit ops above!
Get all the best job search, resume, interviewing, and workplace advice from Alison Green on AskAManager.org
Sign up for our jobs list, and check for new nonprofit roles on Idealist.org
Explore altruistic career options and advice from 80,000 Hours
Explore formal training through options like SHRM, HCI, Wegner CPAs, or the Center for Nonprofit Advancement
Want to connect with people and ideas in the Ops profession?
Join Suzanne Lucas’ Evil HR Lady Facebook group
Find your local chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (there are many active ones, including in DC, Chicago, and Boston)
Modern Admin has a newsletter and resources devoted to supporting the modern office
Sign up for HR Dive to get up-to-the-minute news on HR, from legal compliance to case studies to employer surveys