Comments on: Pissed Off About Salary Disparities: Washington Post Discussion Keeps it Real

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:37:00 +0000

I read this nodding my head the whole way. I worked at a nonprofit for a year and gained some good experience from it, but I’m leaving because I’ve already wasted a year of my life, not having saved a cent nor having paid down my debts any noticeable amount.

It seems that nonprofits pander to their organization assessments and scores (like charity navigator) — the “best” way to look good to outsiders is to cut operation costs. Namely, the salaries of so many hard-working Americans out there who give so much of themselves and receive so little in return.

I don’t know how it is at other places, but the turnover I’ve seen is atrocious. But how can any company realistically expect their workers to stay when they can receive twice the pay (and better benefits, better treatment) elsewhere? The big execs at NPOs seem to have naive and unrealistic expectations that their simple underlings will be happy for the “cause,” when in reality, it’s easy to get disillusioned from the lack of worth they feel. I don’t think I can ever again work for a nonprofit.

By: Barbara Ruth Saunders

Barbara Ruth Saunders — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:27:00 +0000

The piece of this that gets me going is that many nonprofits, in my experience, are NOT saving money by paying these low salaries.

Example: An organization is paying three "martyrs" with minimal training $30K each to get given work done. Many qualified people who make $75K in the for-profit arena would gladly work for $60K and get the job done with a major increase in quality, productivity, and operations cost reduction.

Total cost: $90,000 plus benefits x3 as compared to $60K plus benefits x 1. I have worked in organizations where I was that $75k person who would gladly have worked for $60K AND I could see that constituents lives were literally being lost to the inefficiencies.

Not only does this stance make it hard to retain "talent", even the "untalented" who have self-respect, greater commitment to the cause/clients than to the institution, and other options are going to resent this scenario.

By: Janice

Janice — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:17:00 +0000

I agree with Jennifer Lynn. I also agree with whomever said that it’s not about money so much as it is about respect. I’m lucky enough to work for an organization where my directors get it and even if they aren’t able to pay us (the rest of the staff) super-high salaries, we know they care about us as people and they encourage us to attend trainings and trust our judgement on certain things. And that goes a long way, even if it doesn’t help with the bills. Plus, I know the directors don’t make exorbitant triple figure salaries—which probably also helps. Of course, I’d like to make more money and not have to worry about it. I guess, what I’m trying to say is, I have enough to cover what I need (and some extra) and I enjoy the work environment. Also, working with someone else from another organization on a project and seeing how this person treats their staff really makes me appreciate my supervisors and how awesome they are! If I were still making the same salary five years down the road, I wouldn’t be happy, but having spent my last year serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA I think my idea of a decent salary is a little skewed.

By: chelsea

chelsea — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:04:00 +0000

In response to what Anonymous said, I want to remind everyone that this is not a DC phenomenon, it is true here in Montana and many other places as well. Or maybe I should say that I hear this argument many places I go. I’m beginning to feel that it is just an excuse.

I also agree that salaries are not the heart of the issue-its respect. I want to feel valuable and worth investing in. I want to feel that the npo I work for will step up as long as I am willing to step up and invest in me as long as I am willing to invest in the org.

By: Allison

Allison — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Elisa said it best. It extends beyond salary to creating professional barriers. Too many of us are sitting behind desks, twiddling our thumbs because the organization is too lazy or too cowardly to actively give us the skills we need.

The people who make the argument that "non profit workers dont do work for the money" are the same people who wouldnt dare take a job without adequate health care or inefficient access to technology. Never. Im utterly confused at this behavior. Shouldnt the goal ultimately be to attract as many people as you can to social justice work?

This behavior is unethical and hypocritical. Sounds like a new non profit needs to be formed: one for the ethical treatment of non profit workers!