Finding Work at Nonprofits in San Diego
San Diego is not only celebrated for its beautiful beaches and sunny weather but also for its active nonprofit sector that spans a wide array of causes, from environmental conservation to social services. For those looking to make a difference through their careers, San Diego offers a robust community of nonprofits. Here’s how to navigate the nonprofit job landscape in this dynamic city.
San Diego has a vibrant nonprofit sector that is actively contributing to the community in many different ways. According to a report by the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are over 8,500 registered nonprofit organizations in San Diego County, employing over 109,000 people. This indicates that the nonprofit sector is a significant contributor to the economy of the region.
In San Diego, some of the fastest-growing nonprofit sectors include education, health, and social services. Nonprofits that focus on providing affordable housing and environmental conservation have also been on the rise in recent years. These sectors are expected to continue to grow as the population of San Diego increases, and the need for these services becomes more apparent.
The areas in San Diego with the most nonprofit jobs are downtown, North Park, and Chula Vista. These areas are home to some of the largest nonprofit employers in the region, including the San Diego Zoo, Sharp Healthcare, and UC San Diego. These organizations are leaders in their respective fields and offer a variety of employment opportunities to San Diegans.
The pay for nonprofit jobs in San Diego varies depending on the sector and position. Generally, pay in the nonprofit sector is slightly lower than the national average, but many nonprofits offer competitive compensation packages that include benefits like healthcare and retirement plans. The largest nonprofit employers in San Diego, including Sharp Healthcare and UC San Diego, offer salaries that are on par with those of for-profit companies in the area.
Over the next few years, it is expected that the nonprofit sectors that will experience the most growth in San Diego are education, healthcare, and social services. The need for these services will increase as the population continues to grow, and more people require access to healthcare and education. Additionally, as the effects of climate change become more apparent, the environmental conservation sector is also expected to grow in importance.
In terms of the largest nonprofit employers in San Diego, Sharp Healthcare, UC San Diego, and the San Diego Zoo are among the top employers in the region. Sharp Healthcare is a healthcare provider with over 18,000 employees and is headquartered in San Diego. UC San Diego is a major research university with over 38,000 students and more than 30,000 employees. The San Diego Zoo is a world-renowned zoo that employs over 3,000 people and is a major tourist attraction in the region.
Explore Local Networking Groups
In San Diego, connecting with the right people can open doors to numerous opportunities within the nonprofit sector. Consider engaging with these local networking groups:
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- Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) San Diego: This organization provides networking events, professional development opportunities, and resources for young professionals interested in making a social impact. Visit YNPN San Diego
- San Diego Nonprofit Association (SDNA): SDNA hosts various networking events and workshops that cater specifically to nonprofit professionals in the area. Explore SDNA
- Nonprofit Management Solutions: Offering workshops and seminars, this group is a great resource for networking and learning about nonprofit management. Check out Nonprofit Management Solutions
- Impact San Diego: This leadership development program by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is ideal for connecting with leaders in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Join Impact San Diego
- San Diego Grantmakers: A network of organizations that give grants and other support, perfect for those looking to meet funders and learn about grantmaking. Visit San Diego Grantmakers
Largest Nonprofits in San Diego
San Diego is home to several large and impactful nonprofits where you can contribute your skills:
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- San Diego Foundation: Focuses on improving community health, supporting education, and promoting environmental sustainability throughout San Diego County. Learn more about San Diego Foundation
- Project Concern International (PCI): A global development organization based in San Diego that works to enhance health, end hunger, overcome hardship, and advance women & girls. Explore careers at PCI
- San Diego Humane Society: Provides services to animals and people through sheltering, adoption programs, education, and advocacy. Visit San Diego Humane Society
- Feeding San Diego: Part of the Feeding America network, this organization is dedicated to leading the fight against hunger in the community. Discover more about Feeding San Diego
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies: While primarily a research organization, Salk’s contributions to science and community health are profound, offering unique nonprofit career paths. Check out Salk Institute
By engaging in local networking events, connecting with nonprofit professionals, and keeping an eye on specialized job boards, you’re taking significant steps toward a fulfilling career in the nonprofit sector in San Diego. Whether your interests lie in improving public health, advancing scientific research, or championing animal welfare, San Diego’s nonprofit community is eager to welcome your enthusiasm and expertise.
Search San Diego Nonprofit Jobs
San Diego Nonprofit Jobs: A check list for how to find work in the nonprofit sector
Do you want to find work in the nonprofit sector, and or do you need advice on where to search nonprofit jobs? Following is information on how best to go about searching for San Diego nonprofit jobs, a wonderful list of nonprofit job sites and locations you may want to utilize in finding a non-profit job, and also wonderful links to relevant articles about seeking nonprofit jobs and where online to look!
A Check List To Help You Find San Diego Nonprofit Jobs:
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- Understand how the nonprofit sector is different.
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- Learn how fundraising works and how organizational missions work and can be funded. No matter what position you are seeking, you will need to understand how the nonprofit sector works. Introduction to nonprofit fundraising.
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- Find and gain real experience working with a nonprofit; either volunteering, on a board, or on a project.
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- Read and understanding how Foundations work; who they fund, and what are restricted vs. unrestricted funds are.
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- Create a resume that mission driven. Both your cover letter and resume will need to show that you have the skills to do the nonprofit work required. You will need to be able to speak to how your background relates to the requirements of the position.
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- Know the language (nomenclature) of the nonprofit sector. Never call a nonprofit a company, and know that grantmaking means, vs. grant writing. Very generally speaking grantmaking is the act of funding a nonprofit from a foundation via offering a grant, and grant writing is the activity of writing a grant proposal to be sent out to potential funders such as to foundations, state, corporate and or federal agencies.
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- Join a nonprofit board if you are seeking a Director job or higher in the nonprofit sector. If you need help finding one, you could plan to travel and attend Board Match at one of the cities nationally.
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- Start building a new network. Find and book some informational interviews with nonprofit you are interested in. Use our network and contact people you know in the nonprofit sector. If you do not yet know anyone, plan on going to a nonprofit meetup or networking event locally near you. Then, try to meet someone, learn about what they do, and ask professionally if they would be open to grabbing a cup of coffee to offer more about how they ended up working in nonprofits, to learn more about their organization, and their work and interests. Tell them you would be interested in learning about their work, and keep it less about you, until they ask.
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- Start following nonprofit groups on linkedIn, Twitter, and reading nonprofit publications.
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- Understand and use the top nonprofit job boards to learn about new opportunities that could be a strong match for your already established skill-set.
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- Apply individually to each open position, crafting your resume and cover letter to be meet the needs and requirements of the exact position you are applying for. In your cover letter express why you are passionate about the nonprofits programs and mission, and also explain what you have accomplished and would potentially bring to the role if selected.
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- Be professional, not a pest. Follow-up but do on their terms. If you are applying from the corporate sector, that’s wonderful, but do not expect special treatment and or do not fall into the assumption that your skill-set is easy to understand how it relates to the nonprofit sector job. Be clear on what skills you bring and what you could accomplish in the role. The number one reason corporate candidates do not find work in the nonprofit sector is for failing to phrase and customize their background to show how they would be beneficial to the nonprofit job. Sending your existing corporate resume with an added new paragraph about your interest in their mission is not enough. Put the work in.
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- Understand what you qualify for in the nonprofit sector, and be strategic. You may need to consult with other nonprofit professionals or people you know. Ask them what jobs they feel someone with your background could qualify for in the nonprofit sector, and what the pay range is normally. First understanding how nonprofits view your experience is paramount to learning what positions you can immediately gain, and or what steps you may still need to get more experience to land your dream job.
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- Watch or attend this class: Introduction to Finding Grants, a free class offered in-person or online from the Foundation Center.
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- Be honest, energetic, positive, professional and show what you can do.
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- Go out and start applying. Refer to the list of nonprofit job sites below in this post.
Helpful Links to Educate You About Nonprofits And Get You Ready To Interview
An Introduction to How to Find A Job In The Nonprofit Sector
Thinking About a Nonprofit Job? Here’s What You Should Know
Listen to the Fundraising Fundamentals Podcast from The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Our Impact:
This year we have had the pleasure of helping literally thousands of wonderful nonprofit professionals connect. It is gives us great satisfaction helping so many important causes find the leaders they need. Our nonprofit job community is literally buzzing with amazing networks of new talent!
On a daily basis our devoted staff truly enjoys tweeting, posting, and building interest in the positions and organizations listed on FoundationList.org. That is why we take such great pride in promoting your work in the national philanthropic and nonprofit community.
After all, this is what we were born to do. It is our mission and focus to connect experienced professionals with impactful foundations, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions in need of staff.
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Following Are The Types of Organizations That Post On Foundation List:
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- Foundations
- Nonprofits
- Educational Institutions / Schools
- Unions
- Associations
- Consultants
- Social Enterprises
- Recruitment Firms
- Government Agencies
- Health Institutions / Organizations
- Other Specialties
Nonprofit Jobs Actively Posted:
Positions actively posted and recruited for on Foundation List include part-time and full-time positions from executive to entry level. The Foundation List network and aggregation post is effective for all roles in the nonprofit and related sector. Following are positions that were designed to be posted with us:
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- Executive Leadership
- Development / Grant Making
- Administration
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Communications /Marketing
- Legal
- Programs
- Operations
- Facilitates
- Direct Services
- Health
- Education / Teaching
- Partnerships
- Counseling
- Public Relations
- Customer Services
- Advocacy
- Arts
- Government
Conservation - Community
- Research
- Grants
- Safety
- Social Media
- IT / Database
Featured Jobs
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Foundation List is a job board specifically designed for listing opportunities within the nonprofit employment sector! It is our mission to connect foundations, organizations, associations, and educational institutions to passionate mission-minded job seekers.