Welcome to Foundation List! A comprehensive job board for national and San Francisco nonprofit jobs and nonprofit employment information.
Finding Work at Nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco is not just a hub for technology and innovation, but also a hotbed for nonprofit activity. With a vibrant community dedicated to a variety of causes, from environmental sustainability to social justice, the Bay Area is an exciting place for those looking to make a positive impact through their careers. Here’s your guide to navigating the nonprofit job landscape in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In San Francisco alone there are 6,571 nonprofit organizations that call San Francisco home. Statewide nonprofits bring more than 40 billion every year into the state and account for 15% of the gross state product according to recent report by CalNonprofits. The nonprofit sector is alive and well in San Francisco and California. It is growing and creates incredible impact locally both as employers and via programs.
The San Francisco Bay Area Nonprofit Job Market
The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a large and thriving nonprofit sector, with a significant number of organizations providing essential services and support to the local community. According to data from the California Association of Nonprofits, there are over 9,000 registered nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area, with approximately 140,000 employees. The nonprofit sector in the Bay Area has grown significantly over the past decade, with many new organizations being established to address a variety of social and environmental challenges.
The nonprofit sector in the Bay Area has seen substantial growth in recent years, driven by increased demand for services and greater awareness of social and environmental issues. The growth in the nonprofit sector can be attributed to several factors, including a thriving startup culture and a robust philanthropic community. The main sectors in the nonprofit industry that have seen the most recent growth in the Bay Area include healthcare, education, and social services. These sectors are critical for addressing some of the region’s most pressing issues, including access to healthcare, education, and support for vulnerable populations.
Wage information for the nonprofit sector in the Bay Area shows that pay is generally higher than the statewide and national averages. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for nonprofit employees in the Bay Area is around $64,000, compared to the statewide median of $52,000 and the national median of $54,000. However, wages can vary widely depending on the type of organization, with larger organizations generally paying higher salaries.
Looking to the future, the nonprofit sector in the Bay Area is expected to continue to grow, with new organizations being established and existing organizations expanding their operations. As the region faces ongoing social and environmental challenges, the role of nonprofits in addressing these issues will become increasingly important, with the sector providing critical services and support to those in need. Despite the challenges of high living costs, the nonprofit sector in the Bay Area remains a vital part of the region’s economy and social fabric.
Explore Local Networking Groups
Effective networking is essential for uncovering job opportunities within nonprofits. In the Bay Area, several groups facilitate connections between professionals and potential nonprofit employers:
- Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Bay Area: This group organizes events and provides resources for young professionals aspiring to drive social change. Visit YNPN Bay Area
- Nonprofit VOTE: Engages nonprofits in the Bay Area to promote voter participation and democratic engagement through various networking events and workshops. Explore Nonprofit VOTE
- TechSoup: Based in San Francisco, TechSoup provides technology resources to nonprofits and hosts regular workshops and events that are perfect for networking. Check out TechSoup
- San Francisco Council of Nonprofits (SFCN): This council offers networking events, workshops, and resources tailored to nonprofit professionals in San Francisco. Learn more about SFCN
- Impact Hub San Francisco: Part of a global network, this group offers a collaborative space for professionals interested in social impact projects. Join Impact Hub San Francisco
- Net Impact San Francisco: Focuses on using business skills for social and environmental causes, offering networking and educational events. Visit Net Impact San Francisco
Largest Nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area is home to some influential and well-established nonprofits:
- Tipping Point Community: Focuses on fighting poverty in the Bay Area by supporting programs in education, housing, employment, and health. Learn more about Tipping Point Community
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in the world, focusing on innovative solutions to local challenges. Explore Silicon Valley Community Foundation
- Kaiser Family Foundation: Renowned for its research and education in national health issues, with a strong base in San Francisco. Visit Kaiser Family Foundation
- Save the Redwoods League: Dedicated to protecting and restoring redwood forests and connecting people to their peace and beauty. Discover more about Save the Redwoods League
- San Francisco Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in the country, it focuses on expanding opportunity and promoting equity in the region. Check out San Francisco Foundation
- The Bay Area Conservation Corps: Concentrates on environmental education and conservation initiatives across the Bay Area. Learn about The Bay Area Conservation Corps
By participating in local networking events, connecting with nonprofit professionals, and utilizing specialized job boards, you’re well on your way to finding a rewarding career in the nonprofit sector in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether you aim to contribute to global health initiatives, environmental conservation, or educational programs, there is a place for your skills and passion in the Bay Area’s nonprofit community.
Search San Francisco Nonprofit Jobs
San Francisco 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 Francisco 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 Francisco Nonprofit Jobs:
- Understand how the nonprofit sector is different.
- 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.
- Find and gain real experience working with a nonprofit; either volunteering, on a board, or on a project.
- Read and understanding how Foundations work; who they fund, and what are restricted vs. unrestricted funds are.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Start following nonprofit groups on linkedIn, Twitter, and reading nonprofit publications.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Watch or attend this class: Introduction to Finding Grants, a free class offered in-person or online from the Foundation Center.
- Be honest, energetic, positive, professional and show what you can do.
- 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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- Foundations
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- Unions
- Associations
- Consultants
- Social Enterprises
- Recruitment Firms
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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:
- 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
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Conservation - Community
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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.