When you hear the word “nonprofit,” what comes to mind? Do you think of volunteer work? Do you think of charity events and donations? These things are definitely important when it comes to working for a nonprofit, but there’s more than meets the eye. Nonprofits are organizations that operate around a mission involving a specific group of people or concern. These organizations have a goal to do good for humanity in some way and do not directly profit from the money that goes into the work they do. Nonprofits mainly fund their projects through public and private donations as well as through state and federal dollars.
While nonprofits are amazing institutions to work for, there are some common misconceptions about this career choice involving what type of work is done, whether there is money to be made, and more. Most of these myths are extremely untrue, and often discourage young people (especially university students) from entering the nonprofit world. That being said, it can be difficult to find accurate information about nonprofit careers, which makes it even more difficult to know if it’s the path for you. Luckily, the Center for Career Development’s Careers for the Common Good program is hosting a panel on February 10thfrom 6:30 to 8 pm of young nonprofit professionals to come and share their experiences and debunk the myths of working in nonprofits!
Register for Debunking the Myths of Working for a Non-Profit
These panelists are all recent UConn alumni who are donating their time to present-day students such as yourself to clear up some misconceptions involving nonprofit career paths. All of our panelists have graduated from UConn very recently and have already had a few years of experience in the workforce. These alumni are professionals from different educational paths and currently work in common nonprofit fields including wildlife conservation, education and literacy, diversity and inclusion, affordable housing, and more.
A lot goes into running a nonprofit; just like profitable companies, these organizations need media specialists, client representatives, lawyers, researchers, and many more. At our upcoming Debunking Nonprofit Myths panel, each panelist has a different perspective on the nonprofit sector because of their diverse roles and will be able to answer questions and give insight into the different jobs within the field.
These young professionals will have insight that is very valuable to all current UConn students. As recent alumni, they have entered a workforce that is similar to the one that you will soon enter as graduates. They have also attended classes, worked with professors, and held majors that may be familiar to you as well. Their insight is unique to UConn and will be available to answer questions you may have about their education and their nonprofit’s cause as well as their professional role within it.
Working in the nonprofit sector can be an extremely rewarding career choice as there are many opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of others, don’t let misinformation guide your career! The “Debunking the Myths of Working for a Nonprofit” Panel on February 10th is a great opportunity to learn more about what it really means to be part of a nonprofit. If you are interested in signing up, click here to find more information. The panel will be a moderated virtual discussion based on student questions, and information about the panelists will be made available to students for further networking after the panel has concluded. The Careers for the Common Good team and our panelists look forward to hearing your questions!
