A Five Minute Guide to Working For Charities

There are many benefits to working for a charity from the joys of helping others to the knowledge that you’re making a real and meaningful difference in the world. Many people would love to work full time for a non-profit but they’re not sure how to get started. Today we’re here to help with this quick and handy guide.

How To Work For a Charity

The first thing to know is that you don’t necessarily need a background in fundraising or social work to get started working for non-profits. What’s far more important is the specific skillset you can bring to the table.

Common roles include communication and fundraising, administration, education, and advocacy. Put simply, if you want to work for a charity then you will need a clear value you can bring. Can you run a marketing campaign? Do you know how to get in touch with officials and manage/organise events?

If you don’t have any of the above then don’t panic. These skills and experience can be acquired through volunteering and, indeed, experience as a volunteer is another great way to show that you’re committed to the cause you’re working with.

Also keep in mind that charities have a need for all sorts of skills – far more than we could ever include within the scope of this article. Often the required skills are specialised as well. Charities like Amnesty International need people with legal knowledge while groups like the RSPCA need people who know how to look after animals.

Whether you’re a developer or a dog sitter don’t dismiss your existing skills out of hand. There could be a non-profit out there right now who are looking for help from people just like you.

The People Charities Look For

It really can’t be stressed enough that charities want to work with people who care. While non-profit work can be a well paying and sustainable career path, at its core it draws people because they’re generous with their time and they care about an issue. If you’re in it for the money then this almost certainly isn’t the sector for you.

Some jobs are day jobs. You can be knowledgeable, experienced, even one of the best in your field, but when you clock off for the evening you don’t bring your work home with you. Non profit work is not just a day job. It’s a lifestyle job.

That’s not to say working for a non-profit will dominate every hour of your day or that you can’t have a life outside of work. It’s just important to stress that non-profit work often demands more from you than the hours you get in. Yes a paycheck is there to compensate you for your time but charities, at their core, rely on those who are willing to give more than they get.

We’re not encouraging you to burn yourself out of course. Everyone draws their lines and sets their limits. We’re just saying that if you do want to work for a charity then it’s best to make sure you’re truly committed to the goal and aims of that organisation·

Why Work For a Charity?

So by now it should go without saying that charity work can be incredibly meaningful and fulfilling. That said there are other benefits that make this kind of work appealing.

For one thing, working for a charity signals to future employers that you’re a passionate and principled person. It shows that you’re not just in it for the money and that’s a really valuable quality to have in just about any line of work.

Charity work can also be an amazing way to broaden your horizons and expand your world view. Whether you’re working for Cancer Research or UNICEF, you’ll be meeting people from all walks of life and seeing their lived experience. If you’re someone who values seeing the world through your own two eyes then this is a chance to really get out there and meet people.

Speaking of meeting people, it’s also an amazing opportunity for networking. Any charity organisation requires a lot of cooperation between different groups and when you’re in the centre of that, people will start to recognise you. As such charity work can be a bridge into countless other industries, providing opportunities to follow your passions.