Uncompromising positions

The job Nonprofit/charity worker

The status: Would-be Samaritans are in luck: There are more opportunities at nonprofits now—for those of all skill levels—than there were at any other time in the past 20 to 30 years, according to Lucy Cabrera, president and CEO of the Food Bank for New York City since 1988. “There are more nonprofits dealing with social and other issues, and we need to build awareness not only of our organizations, but the issues themselves,” she says. Strong administrators with the ability to prepare budgets and cost-effectively allocate limited funds are especially in demand, so a business degree is a major plus. A certificate in nonprofit management may help get you in the door, as will a master’s in public administration.

Citymeals-on-Wheels executive director Marcia Stein says her job candidates are often starving artists who “come to realize that it’s very difficult to pay the rent in New York when they want to be an actor or writer.” The limited hours of nonprofit work may leave time for you to develop your one-man show, but it still won’t fund it: According to The NonProfit Times, charity employees’ salaries rose only an average of 3.37 percent in 2007, barely keeping up with inflation. No one said saving the world would make you rich.

The game plan: Check your favorite nonprofit’s website. Next, check out the listings on recruitment sites geared toward socially conscious types, like Idealist.org. Lucy Cabrera prefers hires who are familiar with the field, but says she wouldn’t rule out a novice, noting that experience in marketing or special events can develop into a fund-raising career, while a journalism background may mean an easy transition into a charitable group’s media-relations department.

If you’re having trouble finding your niche, “try to get as many informational interviews as possible,” she advises, “because you might find out that this isn’t where you want to be.” But put down the phone: “A cold mail is better than a cold call,” advises New York Cares executive director Ariel Zwang. “I would do as much research as I could on the organization to show I was familiar with it, and then write a nice letter to whomever I was targeting. Any nonprofit is looking for commitment, so the more the applicant can do to show that they’re really interested in this, the likelier it is that they’ll get an interview.”

Our hookup: Cabrera and the Food Bank for New York City are always on the lookout for aspiring do-gooders with writing, marketing and communications skills—and for applicants with varied interests. “Leaders have to wear so many hats,” she says. “We’re the experts in finance and accounting, human relations, fund-raising, marketing and whatever issue our organization’s mission is, so you home in on many talents.” For a chance to meet her, go to timeoutnewyork.com/jobhookup.—Erin Clements