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Topic: Interviewing for non-profit job- Salary Range?
| Author | Message |
| nellie bly | Posted – 6/29/2007 2:36:53 PM | show profile I'd really like to transition from freelance journalism to a PT job for a non-profit whose work I really care about. So I have an interviews coming up and wonder what kind of salary they'll offer. The job starts off 3 days per week with possibility of expanding to FT. First I'd get to know the org by working with the public, then would progress to handling press/communications, website, etc. It is in Manhattan. How much should I expect to be paid? Any negotiating tips? I searched MB for previous threads and came across one about PR and non-profits in which catlondon advised to check the org's tax forms on guidestar.org to see how much they paid their officers and consultants. Great advice! This is a relatively new org- the only payments listed are consulting fees, which were 45-75K over the past couple of yrs. Based on what I know about the org, my guess would be the fees were paid to 1-3 people. They get some grants and also have some "art patrons." |
| catlondon | Posted – 6/29/2007 2:59:19 PM | show profile Hi, Nellie "Schedule A, Part I?Compensation of the Five Highest Paid Employees Other Than Officers, Directors, and Trustees Organizations are only required to complete this section if they have employees whose compensation is greater than $50,000. Note that employees already listed on Part V of the Form 990 need not be listed again here. Also, the total number of employees paid more than $50,000, but not listed, is requested at the bottom of Part I." Nellie, if there was no one listed under "Five Highest Paid Employees" on the most recent 990 (probably 2005) there's a good chance no one was making over $50k at this particular org at that time. How has the fundraising been going? Did they bring in more money in 2006 than 2005 and are they on track to bring in more in 2007? The job you describe sounds like it is doing well and beginning to add staff, but you should expect that pay will low for at least two or three more years. |
| catlondon | Posted – 6/29/2007 3:04:07 PM | show profile P.S. If money is an issue, try to negotiate for quality of life benefits--like work-from-home, generous time off, money to attend conferences, etc. You might also want to noodle around the Communications Network website, www.comnetwork.org, which is a membership organization for nonprofit comm professionals. I also want to say that if you can live off a nonprofit salary this could be a great opportunity to both work for an issue you care about and build a communications dept from scratch. Good luck. |
| WordyBird | Posted – 6/29/2007 3:18:08 PM | show profile How big is the organization? |
| Canadiana | Posted – 6/29/2007 3:27:09 PM | show profile | email poster Canadian non-profit org I work at a Cdn science-based NP three days per week and make about $28K based on a $40k FT work week. Sad, I know. I'm quite sure this is on the low-end. But, as you said, it's work that I care about and we do get 2 weeks vacation and some (tiny) benefits. |
| Jill of all trades | Posted – 6/29/2007 4:48:40 PM | show profile All over the map I make 40K at a community organization in Manhattan. It's low considering I do everything--media relations, graphic design, newsletters, web, etc-- but with 5 weeks vacation (push for as much as you can get), 12 sick days, decent health insurance (for my fiance, too) and a low(ish) stress environment, it feels adequate most of the time. Consider whether the job will let you learn and go with your gut on how you click with the staff. Saving baby seals is great, but if the ED is clubbing you over the head, not worth it. |
| dudeascending | Posted – 6/29/2007 5:19:53 PM | show profile I work at a small nonprofit with a low, seven-figure budget (you wouldn't believe how much goes to rent), and the part-time (6 days/week) communications person here makes in the mid-30s. I think it's unlikely that your organization would be able to pay you more than $30K--my inkling is that it would be around $25K. |
| nellie bly | Posted – 6/29/2007 5:40:18 PM | show profile Thanks everyone for all the great info. This is a very small org that started just a few years ago but seems to have a promising future. I'm thinking perhaps 40k (based on 5 day week) is average and what I can expect. I also found a website called payscale.com that listed the median salary for a program mgr at a non profit at $39,110 and Administrative Ass't at 27,455. According to my calculator, 40K comes out to $109.89/day or $15.69 hour. What if they want to pay me (at least at first) as an independent contractor, so I'd be responsible for all taxes? Should I negotiate for 20% more? $19 hour? Yes, I think I can work partly from home. They don't have any other employees, so I doubt there is a benefits package in place. In any case, I already have health coverage from my partner's plan. would be nice to have a paid vacation though. As a veteran freelancer, I've never experienced such bliss. |
| nellie bly | Posted – 6/29/2007 5:41:31 PM | show profile dudeascending- do you mean 25k for the three days? |
| dudeascending | Posted – 7/2/2007 8:53:13 AM | show profile Nellie: Yes, 25K for a 3-day week, which is right around par with your calculations for a 40K full week. Also, if you haven't already, take a look at www.idealist.org to see what part-time nonprofit salaries are like. In my experience, it's hard to negotiate salaries with nonprofits, especially new ones--some of them operate on really, really insanely tight budgets subject to the vagaries of funding. It might be easier for you to negotiate being hired as staff, at a lower rate, but with them taking care of taxes, etc., than going for a higher rate. Best of luck! |
