Author: Jaxx Artz

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Clicked one of these organizations only to find that they’re no longer hiring? To keep you apprised of the latest in social-impact opportunities, all listings on idealist.org have a predetermined expiration date.

If you’ve missed the boat on any of the above opportunities, don’t forget to explore our latest job listings to find open positions at incredible organizations around the world!

Those who work in nonprofit communications have key roles in sharing their organization’s mission with the world at large. Tasked with transforming complex issues into engaging narratives across social media, email marketing, and website content, comms professionals are also necessary for motivating supporters to donate, volunteer, or advocate for their cause.

The jobs we’re featuring this week span all experience levels in communications and marketing, working across digital marketing, fundraising communications, public and media relations, and more. If you have experience in this work, or want to, please check out some organizations hiring now on Idealist:

Communications Manager for Community Resources for Science

Location: Hybrid Role Based in Berkeley, CA

Salary: USD $72,000 – $75,000 / yearm

Community Resources for Science (CRS) works in partnership with teachers to improve science education in Kindergarten through 6th grade classrooms in the East Bay. Their mission is to build a community of educators dedicated to getting young children excited about learning through science.

Apply Now!

Executive Director for SATB2 Gene Foundation

Location: Remote Role Based in the U.S.

Salary: USD $70,000 – $80,000 / year

The SATB2 Gene Foundation was established to support SAS individuals and families through raising awareness, family support, and research, and is a rapidly growing organization expanding its reach, resources, and impact each year.

Apply Now!

Communications Manager for Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees

Location: Hybrid Role Based in Brooklyn, NY

Salary: At least USD $60,000 / year

Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR) is a Black, women and nonbinary-led grassroots organization based in Brooklyn, New York, led by and for Haitian refugees. Through political education, legal advocacy, healing justice, cultural work, language justice, and direct action, they build collective power so communities can stay, thrive, and lead the fight for transformative change.

Apply Now!

Communications Associate for Alliance for the Great Lakes

Location: Hybrid Role Based Near Chicago, IL

Salary: USD $60,000 / year

The mission of the Alliance for the Great Lakes is to: “conserve and restore the world’s largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife.”

Apply Now!

Executive Director for Michigan College Access Network

Location: Hybrid Role Based Near Lansing, MI

Salary: USD $70,000 – $95,000 / year

Since their founding a decade ago, Michigan College Access Network has known that college changes everything—and perhaps even more critical to their mission is the belief that college is for everyone. They do what it takes to provide students in Michigan with a brighter long-term future, through college access and postsecondary certificate and degree attainment: doing the research, talking to agents of change, connecting resources, and being a changemaker.

Apply Now!

Communications and Data Specialist for North American Association for Environmental Education

Location: Remote Role Based in the United States

Salary: USD $48,000 – $58,000 / year

Since its beginning in 1971, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has been dedicated to advancing the field of environmental education and supporting environmental educators in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. As an association, NAAEE offers unique services in professional development, networking and access to relevant research for environmental educators and the organizations that train, employ and support those educators.

Apply Now!

Resource Development Associate for Marin Center for Independent Living

Location: San Rafael, CA

Salary: USD $38.50 – $40.50 / hour

Marin Center for Independent Living (Marin CIL) is a peer-led, community-based disability rights nonprofit that provides services and support for people living with disabilities and older adults.

Apply Now!

Communications Associate, Digital & Content Strategy for Partners for Public Good

Location: Remote Role Based in the United States

Salary: USD $102,800 / year

At Partners for Public Good (PPG), we believe that when the government works, communities thrive. Launched in March 2025, we are a fast-growing nonprofit dedicated to helping state and local governments harness core operational functions – procurement, staffing, digital infrastructure, and budgeting – to drive public impact.

Apply Now!

Communications Specialist for Defenders of Wildlife

Location: Hybrid Role Based in Washington, DC

Salary: USD $79,000 – $85,000 / year

At Defenders of Wildlife, programs are focused on what scientists consider two of the most serious environmental threats to the planet: the accelerating rate of extinction of species and the associated loss of biological diversity, and habitat alteration and destruction. They work to protect and restore America’s native wildlife, safeguard habitat, resolve conflicts, work across international borders and educate and mobilize the public.

Apply Now!

Communications Specialist for The Public Interest Network

Location: Hybrid Role Based in Denver, CO

Salary: USD $42,000 – $54,000 / year

The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Their work focuses on the problems that arise from America’s single-minded pursuit of endless economic growth.

Apply Now!

Communications Associate/Senior Communications Associate for CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance

Location: Hybrid Role Based in New York, NY

Salary: USD $65,000 – $100,000 / year

The CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) is a good governance think-and-do tank. They are driven by the idea that data-informed approaches can measurably improve the way government and public institutions operate, equitably serve all constituents, and ultimately solve social policy problems.

Apply Now!

Communications Associate/Digital Organizer for NM Comunidades en Acción y de Fé

Location: Hybrid Role Based in Las Cruces, NM

Salary: USD $45,000 – $50,000 / year

NM CAFe is a network of diverse religious institutions and community-based organizations across Southern New Mexico committed to building relational power with and for New Mexicans who have been directly impacted by systems of injustice. They are working toward building an inclusive economy that centers working people and families and treats those people with dignity.

Apply Now!

Communications Manager for Basic Rights Oregon

Location: Hybrid Role Based in Oregon, US 

Salary: USD $65,346 – $75,647 / year

Basic Rights Oregon will ensure that all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Oregonians experience equality by building a broad and inclusive politically powerful movement, shifting public opinion, and achieving policy victories.

Apply Now!

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If you’re applying for jobs in the social-impact sector, you’ve likely already noticed that there is a tremendous diversity of opportunities. As you browse all of the options, it’s worthwhile to consider not only which technical skills you’ll need to land your dream job, but also, which soft skills are most valued by employers in the space.

Lucky for you, in my professional career, I have reviewed thousands of social-impact jobs across multiple sectors. I’ve put together this detailed list of the skills that are most highly coveted by employers in the nonprofit and social-impact space.

Here are four soft skills that you should be sure to highlight on your resume.

1. Strong communication

The ability to communicate well both in writing and public speaking is critical for most jobs, and specifically the ability to communicate complex topics to various audiences. Additionally, communication using social media is also growing in importance.

How can you show this skill?

Have you written major reports in college, for internships, or on the job? Were you responsible for developing web and social media content? Did you create brochures, press releases, newsletter articles, or other written products? Perhaps you were a teacher, a member of a debate team, gave presentations for work projects, or took a public speaking class?

If you answered “no” to all of the above, what can you do to obtain this skill?

Get involved with a local Toastmasters group where you will have lots of practice giving talks. Volunteer to write articles for organizations of interest or find a freelance writing gig.

2. Experience working in teams

While employers value the ability to work independently with little supervision, many social-impact employers rely on their staff to work in teams, often with people from different disciplines and backgrounds, to solve complex problems.

How can you show this skill?

Did you work on project teams for an academic project? Ever volunteer on a service project as part of a team? Have you served on a committee or board that collaborated on projects? Are you an athlete in a team sport?

If you answered “no” to all of the above, what can you do to obtain this skill?

Volunteer on a project that has a team in place, serve on a board, or volunteer to serve on or lead a work committee.

3. People skills

The ability to get along well with others and manage conflict is a must-have skill. Being able to cultivate relationships that help you forge new partnerships or gain new members and supporters is also highly valued by employers. And don’t underestimate the power of being a good listener.

How can you show this skill?

Did your people skills result in a new partnership or collaboration? Did you woo a new donor? Did you manage a conflict or bring consensus on a challenging issue?

If you answered no to all of the above, what can you do to obtain this skill?

Here are ten ways to improve your interpersonal skills; take time to observe people who have strong people skills and take notes on what they are doing right. Consider taking online classes. Spend more time interacting with people. Put down your phone in meetings with business colleagues and friends.

4. Leadership potential

Not everyone has to be a leader. But, having people who naturally take the initiative (without first being told) to improve processes and programs is invaluable. It’s also important for organizations to start thinking of leadership succession plans. Employers must have strong talent waiting in the wings.

How can you show this skill?

Have you served in a leadership role for a student organization? Served as an executive board member? Received leadership training? Taken the initiative to improve a process or program? Served in a project management or leadership role?

If you answered no to all of the above, what can you do to obtain this skill?

Find ways to sharpen your leadership skills. Mentor a more junior staff member. Step up and volunteer to serve in a leadership role (on a work committee, on a board, or even at church or neighborhood association). Take some online courses.

***

About the Author | Lisa Yee-Litzenberg is a certified career coach and President of Green Career Advisor, helping individuals find their career niche and secure their dream jobs in the environmental and social-impact sectors. Prior to her current role, Lisa led the environmental career services at the University of Michigan for 10 years and spent 12 years working for the National Wildlife Federation.

This post was originally published on this site.

Building a career in the nonprofit sector is an exciting way to align your professional skills with causes you care about. But what if you’re trying to break into a new field, or shift into fundraising or development without prior on-the-job experience?

It’s a familiar challenge for job seekers: development roles often require hands-on experience with fundraising, donor outreach, or grant writing, yet those skills are hard to come by without already working in the sector. Fortunately, many nonprofits are often open to candidates from a wide range of professional backgrounds. What matters most is a demonstrated commitment to the mission, strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn.

That’s where volunteering comes in. Volunteer experience is one of the clearest ways to signal to hiring managers that you care about a particular cause and are interested in nonprofits specifically. Time spent supporting fundraising efforts—whether through launching events, organizing donor communications, or conducting outreach—can translate directly into the skills needed for a paid position.

In this series, we’ve already gone over how volunteering can help people break into marketing and program management at nonprofits; today, we’re focusing on nonprofit development jobs.

Why find a job in nonprofit development?

Development professionals are essential to every nonprofit’s success. Without sustainable funding, even the most impactful programs can’t survive. Development teams are responsible for building relationships, telling compelling stories about impact, and securing the resources organizations need to grow.

This work is ideal for people who enjoy relationship-building, strategic thinking, and balancing creativity with organization.

Develop relevant experience with these volunteer opportunities

Many nonprofit development job descriptions include requirements like fundraising, event coordination, donor database management, or grant research. If your resume doesn’t yet reflect these skills, volunteering can help bridge the gap.

Start by navigating to Idealist’s volunteer opportunities search page, which allows you to filter tens of thousands of opportunities by cause area, skills, location, and more. By selecting “development/fundraising” from the “skills” filter, you’ll find a variety of opportunities that may appeal to you. Here a few search terms to narrow down that list even further:

1. Fundraising Events

If you’re new to development, volunteering at a fundraising event is a great place to start. These opportunities often involve donor interaction, event logistics, sponsor coordination, and post-event follow-up. You’ll gain firsthand experience with how nonprofits engage supporters and generate revenue while making connections with existing professionals at an organization you support.

2. Donor Relations

If you’re looking to learn how to build relationships, look for volunteer roles that revolve around donor relations. These opportunities will often ask volunteers to make thank-you calls, conduct stewardship activities, or manage donor communications across an organization’s pipeline. They can help you develop relationship management and storytelling skills, both of which are central to a career in development.

3. Grant Research and Writing

For job seekers with strong writing or research skills, grant-focused volunteer opportunities are especially valuable. Many nonprofits need help identifying funding opportunities, preparing proposals, or tracking reporting deadlines. Volunteering in this area can help you understand institutional fundraising while producing relevant work samples for future job applications.

I hope you find success with these types of volunteer opportunities when preparing a career in nonprofit development.

This post was originally published on this site.

Wanting to “give back” is a powerful motivator. It drives people to volunteer, donate, and advocate for change. But when it comes to building a sustainable career, passion alone is rarely enough to land the job. To be competitive in the social-impact sector, you need the same thing required in any other industry: a sharp, relevant skill set.

The modern social-impact professional is expected to be multifaceted and innovative. Whether you are a sector switcher looking to translate corporate experience or a long-time professional aiming for a promotion, continuing education is your strongest lever. By strategically upskilling, you prove to hiring managers that you offer more than just enthusiasm—you’ll also bring the tools to drive their missions forward.

Below, we’re diving into how to leverage continuous learning—and the modern learning platforms that associations use to deliver those opportunities—to accelerate your social-impact career.

1. Identify your skills gap

Before signing up for a generic course, audit the specific requirements of the type of role you’re looking to land. Remember, social-impact organizations are looking for more than just a culture fit—they want to see that you have the skills and experience to do the job, too.

Review three to five job descriptions for your ideal role, and you’ll likely notice patterns. For example, do you need an understanding of nonprofit grant writing, data visualization, or volunteer management?

Identify the hard skills you are missing, and find targeted opportunities to advance those competencies. Strategically choosing volunteer opportunities is a great start! For verifiable credentials, you’ll want to pursue continuing education opportunities—specifically those offered by trusted trade associations—to fill specific technical gaps.

2. Prioritize professional associations

Not all education is created equal. While university degrees are valuable, professional associations and trade organizations can be practical for many social-impact professionals interested in upskilling.

Associations set the standard for their specific industries. When a hiring manager sees a certification from a recognized industry association on your resume, it signals two things:

1. Relevance: You possess current, up-to-date knowledge verified by a governing body.
2. Initiative: You are self-motivated enough to seek out learning opportunities on your own time.

Look for the leading association in your target field, such as fundraising, operations, or technology, and explore their education catalog first. Many associations also offer opportunities to volunteer on committees, giving you a safe space to test-drive your skills.

3. Look for micro-credentials and digital badges

You do not necessarily need a massive time commitment to pivot your career. The rise of microlearning and digital badges has made upskilling more accessible and targeted.

TopClass’s guide to asynchronous online courses explains that microlearning breaks course content into smaller chunks. These courses provide bite-sized, competency-based certifications that verify a specific skill, such as program management for nonprofits, volunteer coordination, or fundraising analytics.

Professional associations are often the best source for these credentials. They use specialized learning platforms to deliver content, and the courses are flexible and interactive, allowing you to learn at your own pace while balancing a job search or current employment. Plus, your digital badges will be secure and verifiable, and you can easily share them to catch recruiters’ attention.

4. Choose structured learning pathways

One of the most effective ways to plan your upskilling is to look for “learning pathways.” A learning pathway is a structured sequence of online courses that builds toward a broader competency. As professional associations implement learning management systems (LMSs) to modernize their programs, they move beyond disconnected webinars to offer a cohesive curriculum that fuels your professional growth journey.

For instance, a professional association might offer a Volunteer Leadership pathway designed to help navigate modern challenges like virtual volunteering. Instead of taking a standalone workshop, you would complete a sequence of modules, such as:

1. Module 1: Recruitment Strategies. You watch a scenario-based video where you must pause to answer decision-based questions about screening applications and matching skills to the right roles.
2. Module 2: Onboarding and Training. You attend a live webinar with an industry expert to dive into training protocols and ask real-time questions.
3. Module 3: Risk Management and Safety. You review case studies on liability and compliance, testing your knowledge by answering questions throughout the lesson.
4. Module 4: Retention: You watch an interactive video that explores how to show appreciation and prevent volunteer burnout.
5. Final Assessment: You take a final test to verify your understanding of the material and earn your association-backed digital badge.

Completing a full pathway shows potential employers that you have a comprehensive, structured understanding of the role’s responsibilities and not just a fleeting interest.

5. Seek out collaborative learning environments

When choosing a program, look for those that enable interaction with others. Within modern learning environments, associations often provide collaborative features such as group webinars and discussion forums.

Clowder’s guide to association apps explains that a discussion forum provides a dedicated space for exploring topics, sharing knowledge, and solving problems together. Essentially, think of it as a spot where you can explore real-world scenarios from peers and experts in your field who have “been there.” By participating in these exchanges, you gain a deeper, more practical understanding of the material that goes beyond theory.

In addition to knowledge sharing, engaging in these interactive spaces allows you to network with peers and build valuable connections within the association’s broader community.

The social- impact sector is a professional, competitive, and multifaceted field. To stand out, you must treat your professional development seriously. By pursuing certifications and immersive learning opportunities through professional associations, you position yourself as a valuable asset to the social- impact sector.

Your passion is the spark that gets you interested in the work, but verifiable skills are the engine that fuels your growth there. Start searching for continuing education opportunities at leading associations, and turn your desire to do good into a lasting career.

About the Author | Debbie Willis is the VP of Global Marketing at Advanced Solutions International (ASI), the parent company of iMIS, TopClass, OpenWater, and Clowder. She has more than 20 years of marketing experience in the association and nonprofit technology space. Passionate about all things MarTech, Debbie has led countless website, SEO, content, email, paid ad, and social media marketing strategies and campaigns. Debbie loves creating meaningful content to engage and empower association and nonprofit audiences.

This post was originally published on this site.

If there’s one thing we have all learned through the last year, it’s that the future of work is changing (and more rapidly than ever).

Whether you are job hunting, freelancing, starting your own nonprofit, or happily employed at an established organization, there are more ways than ever to design your own professional path, transition between fields, and create an impact.

And while the range of opportunities can at times be tricky to navigate, especially in 2026, they can be even more challenging to articulate to others. Once you’ve figured out the right path, how do you share your hopes and dreams with friends and family?

Here’s how to describe, design, and pursue your non-traditional goals with clarity and confidence, even if you still feel like a work in progress.

Why “non-traditional” is the new traditional

With more people pursuing short-term contract and freelance work, the typical 9-to-5 arrangement is no longer quite so…typical. Independent workers make up 36% of the working age population in the United States, with some seeing it as an opportunity to pursue non-traditional careers, be a pioneer in an emerging field, avoid the stresses and bureaucracy of an office environment, or achieve a better work-life balance.

For many others, self-employment and part-time work is a way to stay afloat financially during an unstable time for the social-impact sector, and for the U.S. economy at large.

Outside of the gig economy, social-impact professionals are increasingly pursuing less linear career paths. Gone are the days when you got a job and stayed at it until they provided a pension. Now, more professionals are considering how to use transferable skills to pursue new opportunities, at nonprofits, large foundations, government agencies, or even in social-impact roles at for-profit companies.

This career switching is in large part due to changeups in how organizations function. With disruptions from federal grants, reduced giving, staff layouts, and budget cuts, those of us who work in the social-impact sector may be considering how to adapt to the changing times.

Adapting to shifts in the social-impact sector

It takes courage and determination to do something unconventional in order to build meaning into your career. At the most basic level, leaving what you know to pursue the unknown sounds scary, but there are actually so many ways to explore new horizons comfortably.

Transitioning from a government agency to a nonprofit, for instance, requires many of the same skills you’re used to employing. Policy, project management, and compliance are transferrable experiences that many nonprofits focused on serving specific communities or constituents value. Discover a rundown of the types of organizations that may be a good move for you here.

If you are coming from the for-profit sector to a nonprofit—motivated by a desire to do good in a disruptive world—the same holds true. You have skills and valuable experiences that any nonprofit would be happy to employe, but some extra confidence, dig into the sector switching resources we have on Career Advice here.

Longterm nonprofit works who are concerned about job security, or who recently experienced a layoff, can also benefit from a career shake-up. For some, this many mean pursuing a path that requires a bit more learning to pursue; certificate programs, online courses, and university degrees are just some of the ways you can diversify your options and explore new opportunities in social impact.

For others, pursuing shorter-term opportunities on platforms like Fiverr can help build a portfolio of work. Even on Idealist, it’s possible to search for freelance and part-time roles in the social-impact sector that match your background and interests. These opportunities run the gamut and can offer you the chance to hone your skills in a certain field, or expand your employment opportunities.

3 ways to build a strong narrative around your career goals

1. Test your pitch. The first step to making your alternative career path a reality is to speak about it as if it were already real. Talk about the career path that you are forging with anyone who will listen, especially those who don’t know you. When a new contact or acquaintance inevitably asks “What do you do?” this is your chance to get comfortable with describing your talents and aspirations.
2. Prioritize lifelong learning. Forging your own career path requires you to be especially proactive about learning, maintaining, and advancing your professional skill set. One way to do this is through MOOCs or massive open online courses. You can take classes year-round for free (or for a nominal fee) with some of the best instructors at universities around the world. Some popular platforms to find useful career resources and courses include Career Advice, Coursera, Stanford Social Innovation Review, TED-Ed, and Master Class. Also keep in mind that valuable learning experiences are not limited to the academic space. Consider experiential and hands-on learning opportunities as well, like those offered by Yestermorrow Design/Build School.
3. Create your own board of directors. A personal board of directors is a group that can include your mentors, personal cheerleaders, brainstorming partners, and people who are comfortable providing constructive criticism even when you aren’t asking for it. Your board should include at least one person with a background in the area you are pursuing, but having a diversity of professions adds perspectives.

Keep moving forward

Learning how to create your own professional opportunities and keep yourself financially stable through a variety of professional and personal transitions has become a critical professional skill, and not just in our sector. If you are ready to pursue a path different from the one you’ve always been on, I am confident that you’ll land on your feet.