Finding Work at Nonprofits in San Diego
San Diego’s nonprofit sector is a cornerstone of the community, offering diverse opportunities for those eager to make a meaningful impact. With over 10,000 registered nonprofit organizations, this sector accounts for approximately 9% of the county’s employment, generating $14.9 billion in revenue and holding $23.8 billion in assets. digital.sandiego.edu
Key Nonprofit Sectors in San Diego:
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Healthcare: Institutions like Sharp HealthCare, a not-for-profit system with approximately 19,000 employees, and Rady Children’s Hospital, a leading pediatric care facility with 511 licensed beds, are significant employers in the region. en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1
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Environmental Conservation: Organizations such as the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, which operates the renowned San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, play a pivotal role in wildlife conservation and education. en.wikipedia.org
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Education and Research: Nonprofits like Sanford Burnham Prebys focus on medical research and education, contributing to advancements in health and science. en.wikipedia.org
Job Opportunities and Compensation:
While salaries in the nonprofit sector can vary, many organizations offer competitive compensation packages, including benefits such as healthcare and retirement plans. Major employers like Sharp HealthCare provide salaries that are on par with those of for-profit companies in the area. en.wikipedia.org
Emerging Trends:
Recent developments highlight the sector’s adaptability and growth:
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Innovative Partnerships: Collaborations between food banks and local fishermen are delivering fresh seafood to low-income families, enhancing nutrition and supporting local industries. axios.com+1axios.com+1
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Community-Centric Models: The Escondido YMCA has reopened with a new business model focusing on youth development and community well-being, reflecting a shift towards more targeted services. axios.com+1axios.com+1
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Philanthropic Investments: Significant donations, such as the $75 million gift to the University of San Diego for STEM programs, underscore the community’s commitment to education and innovation. axios.com
Navigating the Nonprofit Job Market:
To explore opportunities within San Diego’s nonprofit sector:
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Networking: Engage with local nonprofit events and forums to connect with industry professionals.
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Online Platforms: Utilize job boards and websites dedicated to nonprofit careers to discover current openings.
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Direct Outreach: Reach out to organizations of interest to inquire about potential opportunities or volunteer positions.
San Diego’s nonprofit landscape is rich with possibilities for those passionate about contributing to the community. By staying informed and proactive, you can find a fulfilling career path that aligns with your values and aspirations.
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 National & 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.
Post jobs now to reach local, national, and international nonprofit job seekers, gain social media promotion and powerful job aggregation recruitment. If you’re a job seeker we invite you to search our openings and join our network to learn of new nonprofit career opportunities.
Organizations That Post on Foundation List
Foundation List connects job seekers with a wide range of mission-driven employers, including:
- Foundations
- Nonprofits
- Educational Institutions & Schools
- Unions
- Associations
- Consulting Firms
- Social Enterprises
- Recruitment Firms
- Government Agencies
- Healthcare Organizations
- Other Specialty Organizations
Nonprofit Job Openings on Foundation List
Foundation List features part-time and full-time opportunities at all levels, from executive leadership to entry-level roles. Our platform is designed to support hiring across the nonprofit and related sectors. Common positions posted include:
- Executive Leadership
- Development & Grantmaking
- Administration
- Finance & Accounting
- Human Resources
- Marketing & Communications
- Legal & Compliance
- Programs & Operations
- Facilities Management
- Direct Services & Social Work
- Healthcare & Public Health
- Education & Teaching
- Partnerships & Fundraising
- Counseling & Mental Health
- Public Relations
- Customer Service
- Advocacy & Policy
- Arts & Culture
- Government & Public Affairs
- Environmental & Conservation
- Community Engagement
- Research & Evaluation
- Grants Management
- Public Safety
- Social Media & Digital Engagement
- IT & Database Management
Our extensive job network ensures nonprofit professionals can find meaningful career opportunities that align with their skills and passions.
Foundation List is national nonprofit job board specifically designed to meet the needs of the not-for-profit hiring sector.
Now go ahead and list a job!
Foundation List is a job board specifically designed for listing opportunities within the nonprofit employment sector! It is our mission to connect nonprofits, foundations, associations, educational and healthcare institutions to passionate mission-minded job seekers.