THE NONPROFIT JOB SEARCH
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NONPROFIT JOB SEARCH
Many students seek a career in nonprofit, but find that it can be difficult to find a job once they graduate. The
purpose of this handout is to guide students interested in careers that “make a difference” through the process of
searching for a job in the nonprofit sector.
What is a nonprofit organization?

Nonprofits are typically organizations that have a mission to create a better world. They can be defined by
tax status, mission statement, how they utilize excess income, or by having a volunteer board of directors.
There are many other names for them, such as not-for-profit, or tax-exempt. Some nonprofits help acquire
items people need for survival, such as housing or food. Some can be political or religious in nature, while
other may involve the arts and education. They could provide a service such as medical or legal aid. Any type
of organization that intends to help better their community, state, country, or world in some way could be an
example of a nonprofit group. Generally, profits acquired during the fiscal year are used to operate and
maintain the organization.
Why choose a career in nonprofit?

Some find that helping others gives them a sense of personal fulfillment, while others like that nonprofit
work allows them to become more involved in their community or in political spheres. Being able to work
passionately for a cause can be rewarding to people. Others cite that working in nonprofit provides invaluable
training and experience. The positions available in nonprofit organizations vary greatly with needs in all areas,
from swim instructors to computer technicians, or project directors to physical therapists. Anyone could
conceivably work in nonprofit. All that is required is the drive to serve others.
Consider your motivation for going into nonprofit

Working in nonprofit can be just like working at any other job. You’ll still have a boss, deadlines, and
work challenges. Nonprofits also typically require an abundance of paperwork, the necessity of winning
grants, fundraising for continued operation, and management of budget cuts. Often, continued employment
is contingent upon winning grants or donations, so job security may be affected. Because of these factors,
working in nonprofit can be as stressful as a regular job, if not more so.
Action Plan For Getting Your Foot In The Door

Nonprofit jobs can sometimes be difficult to find if you’re seeking a paying position. Here are some tips
on finding those hidden opportunities:
I) Volunteerism
One way to determine if you value the same goals or fit into the culture of a particular organization would be
to volunteer for them. Find several organizations you think you would enjoy working for and try them out.
Volunteering gives you the opportunity to network, which could lead to a job opportunity in the future.
Whether or not you acquire a job in that organization, you may use the volunteer experiences and skills to
boost your resume.
II) Talk to Someone
Ask everyone you know if they know someone who is currently working or has worked at your favorite
nonprofit(s). Making these connections are important in getting your foot in the door of a nonprofit agency.
Get in touch with that person and find out what you can about the organization: how it hires, who it hires,
and how you can stand out from other candidates.
III)Informational Interviewing and Networking
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Ask the interviewee if you can have a small amount of their time to get information on how to get into
nonprofit, in general, and about their organization, and how to get involved with them. For more information
about informational interviewing, check out the informational interviewing handout at www.career.uh.edu.
IV) Internships
Many volunteer organizations have internship programs to help you gain experience. Internships are for a
specific length of time, and are meant to be used to accomplish clear, pre-set goals. Visit career.uh.edu to find
out more about internship services provided by UCS.
V) Research
Texts that may help in your nonprofit job search include The 100 Best Nonprofits To Work For and Jobs and Careers
with Nonprofit Organizations, which are both available at the UCS Resource Library. You can also find directories
of nonprofits worldwide to look through. These books can give you ideas of small, medium, and large
organizations to contact that may have a need you can fill. Other sources include organizations’ websites; the
publications, The Nonprofit Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy; the book, Career Opportunities in the Nonprofit
Sector by Jennifer Bobrow Burns, and using a general online search. Know as much as you can about individual
job responsibilities and duties in the area you seek and the organization you want to work for.
VI) Local Programs
The United Way Houston offers the Nonprofit Connection, which is a resource that can allow you to find
books, printed materials, information about nonprofits, and job postings. You can access the main site by
going to http://www.unitedwayhouston.org/Nonprofit+Connection/.
VII) State and Local Chapters of National Nonprofit Organizations.
Many state and local chapters post jobs on their own website, instead of the national website. Once example is
the Unitedway, which a National website (www.unitedway.org), a State website (www.uwtexas.org), and a Local
website (www.unitedwayhouston.org). Get involved with these chapters, and network your way to a job, or
check their websites frequently for postings.
VIII) Join Professional Associations and Listservs related to your field of interest.
An example would be someone who is interested in becoming an executive in nonprofit joining The American
Society of Association Leadership, which can be accessed online at www.asaecenter.org, or the Association of
Fundraising Professionals, which can be accessed at www.afpnet.org. The professional organization need not
focus on nonprofit work, just the field that you are interested in working in. There are grant writing
associations, counseling associations, teaching associations, law associations, and more. Most of these
associations have their own mailing lists that you can find out more information on when you join the
association.
IX) Know local non-profit jargon
There is a guide to nonprofit vocabulary in this handout. In addition to that, learning the jargon local agencies
use by becoming involved with them will help show that you are both interested and knowledgeable about
what the organization does. A working knowledge of local, state, and national legal trends regarding non profits will also show your interest and passion for the nonprofit position you are seeking.
X) Conduct online searches
Job search engines, yellow page listings, and other internet information may yield you a job lead. For more
information about the job search, view the handout entitled “The Successful Job Search” at
www.career.uh.edu. For every hour you spend looking online, you should spend an hour or more talking to people and doing
networking.
Interviewing
These are some additional topics you will want to address in your interview, in addition to typical interview
topics and techniques. You can find out more about interviewing by reading UCS’ handout entitled “Preparing for
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the Employment Interview.” Here are some questions you may want to consider asking during your
interview:
 Ask questions about their organization, mission, and values.
 Ask them how they prevent burnout in their employees.
 Ask about future projects the organization is planning.
Higher Degrees
Almost any degree can transfer to nonprofit. The same can be said for higher education. Before getting a
Master’s degree or a PhD., consider the areas you’re interested in, research current job openings that require
the degree you are considering, and determine how easy and prevalent the job types you seek are currently.
Be aware that even with a higher degree, competition can be stiff, as many people are still competing for few
jobs. Some possible options for fundraising jobs and management jobs would include seeking a Master’s
degree in Public Administration or Business Management. If you seek to work in human services, you might
consider a Masters in Human Services, Counseling, or Social Work. Education degrees are another option.
Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (formerly American Humanics, Inc.) is a national alliance of colleges,
universities and nonprofit organizations dedicated to preparing and certifying future professionals for
leadership in America's diverse and vital array of nonprofit enterprises.
Participation in the Alliance builds on and enhances your major course of study at the University of Houston.
At graduation, you'll receive your baccalaureate degree in addition to the highly respected Nonprofit
Leadership Alliance Certification in Nonprofit Management. Some students return to the university to obtain
their Alliance certification in concert with post-graduate education. Visit
www.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org/ for more information. *College of Liberal Arts and Social Science Students
may substitute the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Program as a Minor*
Wages in the Nonprofit Sector
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009, the nonprofit sector had higher hourly wages for full time workers than the private sector, overall. Management positions were lower than average compared to
private sector management positions, and clerical/support staff wages were comparable to similar positions in
the private sector.
Dollars per hour
Occupation
Nonprofit
All full-time workers
21.68
Management
34.24
Business and financial operations
26.49
Computer and mathematical science
32.00
Legal
33.53
Office and administrative support
15.46
Private
20.46
41.86
30.35
36.01
40.56
15.53
(From Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wages in the Nonprofit and Private Sectors, 2007, located at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/20 08/nov/wk1/art04.htm)
Nonprofit Vocabulary
It is often useful to understand some of the jargon that nonprofit organizations use. Being able to understand
the language and communicate that understanding back to them can give you an edge when applying for a
nonprofit position.
Useful Terms
Altruism
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An attitude—or, more formally, a philosophy—that focuses attention on the needs of others.
Philanthropy
Organized efforts to apply financial and other resources to community betterment. The term is usually
associated with the work of foundations, and occasionally with giving done by a single wealthy individual.
Less wealthy individuals and families are often urged to structure their charitable giving by developing a plan
for their personal philanthropy.
Sector
For analytical purposes, economists consider economic activity as occurring in three (and sometimes four)
sectors based on the character of the organizations in each:
(a) businesses are organizations created and operated to make a profit;
(b) governments are organizations that have the power of lawmaking and can collect taxes to support their
work
(c) nonprofits are organizations that call upon volunteers and seek donations to address needs or meet goals
that their supporters see as important
Some economists would add a fourth sector: the family. In this view, families provide important benefits to
their members which should not be ignored in examining the overall working of an economic system.
Words That Refer to For-Profit Organizations
Business Sector
A way of referring to all the activities of for-profit organizations inclusively—the business sector consists of
everything done directly by businesses (companies and corporations) that are organized and operated to
provide financial returns to their owners. Also known as the for-profit sector.
Company
Usually refers to an organization with a goal of producing financial returns for owners.
Corporation
An organization that has filed the required charter documents with a state government and has been granted
a corporate charter. In general, corporations can engage in any sort of transaction that an individual person
may perform and, in addition, may raise money by issuing stock and doing other activities that are only
possible for corporations.
Broadly, corporations are divided into two groups (though there are many further classifications in each): forprofit corporations are formed with the goal of producing financial returns for their owners (usually
stockholders); nonprofit corporations have many of the same characteristics but focus any excess of revenue
beyond expenses on advancing their community services or other mission-related purposes and are not
allowed to distribute any profits to owners.
Firm
Another word used to describe an organization that may be used for both for-profit and nonprofit groups,
although more commonly for the former.
Market Sector
A way of referring to all the activities of business organizations inclusively. The market sector consists of all
transactions that occur because the participants seek to make a profit from the related business.
Private Sector
A term used to describe activities and organizations that are not part of any government. Sometimes private
sector refers only to for-profit firms and their activities; sometimes it includes nonprofit organizations as
well.
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Words That Refer to Nonprofits
501(c) (3)
A section of the Internal Revenue Code where the standards for “charitable” status under U.S. tax law are defined.
Organizations that qualify are exempt from U.S. corporate income taxes on their program revenues. Gifts to these
organizations can usually be deducted from individual income taxes as well.
Agency
A word that is often used to describe those entities that do community service or nonprofit work.
Association
A group where the articles of incorporation define membership qualifications and grant members in good standing specific
powers (such as electing the board of directors). Nonprofits are often organized as associations, especially those whose members are professionals or enterprises in a certain industry or locality.
Charity
An act of generosity, often directed toward assisting a person or a group of people in need or experiencing difficulties. The
word “charity” is also used to describe nonprofit organizations, sometimes when referring to nonprofits that provide
assistance to people in need and sometimes more generally when referring to community service organizations of all sorts.
Civil Society
A term describing the activities and organizations that are not part of government and that are not organized with the goal of
producing financial returns for owners. “Civil society” is more general than “the nonprofit sector” because it includes both
political organizations and informal groups and temporary associations that do not have any legal standing.
Fiscal Sponsorship
An arrangement whereby an established 501(c)(3) organization (the sponsor) agrees to oversee and provide fiscal and
sometimes other forms of support for a project, activity, or event that fits within the sponsor’s exempt purposes but which
has not yet sought recognition as a tax-exempt entity (and may never do so). Contributions made to the sponsor to support
the project are usually tax-deductible for the donors. There is typically a fee based contractual agreement between a project
and an established nonprofit, where sponsors maintain oversight and control to assure that the project remains consistent
with the sponsor’s exempt purposes and applicable laws and regulations.
Foundation
A specific kind of nonprofit corporation that relies on an endowment or a long-term commitment of continuing support to
make grants or operate programs that achieve the charitable purposes of the donor(s). Foundations are subject to different
tax and accounting rules from “charities” in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
There are several different sorts of foundations that are commonly recognized: Corporate Foundations are supported by a single
corporation or a group of related companies; Family Foundations are formed by individuals who involve other members of
their families in directing the work; Operating Foundations do not make grants, but instead finance programs of their own from
endowment income or committed funding; “Private” Foundations (the IRS term) depend on the income from endowments to
make grants and support research or services.
Community Foundations are different in that they receive and disperse funds from residents of a given community and offer the
donors an opportunity to advise on the uses to be made of their gifts. Community foundations are classified as “public
charities” (not “private foundations”) by the IRS.
Grassroots
A word used when describing community-driven projects or activities that involve large numbers of people who do not have
an official role or position that gives them specific responsibility for the work. A grassroots organization works with such
people.
Group
An organization, agency, or nonprofit corporation can be loosely referred to as a group, i.e., a community group, a grassroots
group, or a nonprofit group. Using the word “group” avoids the necessity of determining the legal status.
NGO
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Non-Governmental Organization (or nongovernmental organization). NGO is often used to describe private
international aid groups that raise money in some parts of the world to provide services and assistance in others. More
generally, the term may be used to distinguish volunteer groups and charities that perform community services that may
also be provided by government agencies.
Nonprofit
A shorthand term for an organization that does not include making a profit for owners or shareholders among its goals.
Nonprofit is often used as a general description for groups that are organized and operate for charitable purposes and
that use any surplus of income over expenses (“profit”) to expand their services. “Nonprofit” should be spelled without a
hyphen in contemporary usage.
Nonprofit Sector
A way of referring to all the activities of nonprofit organizations inclusively. The nonprofit sector consists of everything
done directly by agencies and organizations that are neither businesses nor governments and that are more or less
supported by donations, program service revenues, and volunteers.
Organization
Generally, any group of people who share some common purpose or purposes and work together to achieve them
(whether as employees, volunteers, or in some other sort of continuing relationship). A “company” is a specific sort of
organization, usually operated with the goal of producing profits for its owners or stockholders. There are many terms
used to describe organizations that exist to achieve non-financial goals.
Public Charity
The IRS term for an organization that is exempt from corporate income taxes under section 501(c) (3) and receives the
majority of its support from a large number of small donors or in the form of program service revenue.
Public Sector
A way of referring to the activities of governments inclusively—the public sector consists of everything done directly by
agencies and organizations within governmental units and which are more or less supported by taxes.
Tax-Exempt
An organization or activity that is not required to pay a tax. Most frequently used in connection with federal corporate
income taxes (many “nonprofits” fit the IRS definition of “tax-exempt entities”). Nonprofits may also be exempt from
local or state property taxes on buildings and other assets that they own and from a wide variety of other taxes depending
on the rules of the areas where they work. Since many units of government have many different taxes, it is important to
remember that being exempt from one form of taxes does not automatically create an exemption from others.
Ways Nonprofits Generate Income
Endowment
Income-generating assets held by an organization under special accounting rules that are designed to preserve
them, usually indefinitely, while allowing the income they generate to be used to support current operations or
expansion. Special care is required by the Board of Directors or other financial officers in the handling of
endowments.
Fundraising
The practice of soliciting funds (and other support) necessary for the operation of a nonprofit organization or
foundation. An event that is held primarily for the purpose of raising money for an organization may be called
a “fundraiser.” That word is also used to describe an employee or contractor whose principal responsibilities
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are focused on securing necessary financial support. “Commercial fundraisers” are firms that may have multiple
clients on whose behalf they raise money using a wide variety of techniques.
Grant
A form of financial support, usually from a foundation or a government agency. Grants may be “unrestricted” —
meaning that the recipient organization can use the proceeds for any legitimate purpose —or, more commonly,
designated for a specific purpose or program.
 Grant writing is the activity of preparing proposals for grants, following the guidelines and requirements of
the granting agency or organization.
 A grantee is the recipient of a grant under a specific program.
 A challenge grant requires the grantee to raise additional funds from other sources before the funds will be
made available.
 A demonstration grant is intended to illustrate an approach to addressing a problem or need in the hope that
further funding to support that approach will be forthcoming from others.
 Matching grants are coordinated among several funders with the goal that by putting together diverse sources
of support the full needs of the project will be met.
(Excerpted with permission from Nonprofitspeak 101: A primer on the nonprofit sector’s vocabulary, by Put Barber, Senior Rese archer, Idealist.org. More information can be found in Idealist.org’s
career guide at http://idealistcareers.org/)
Sample Nonprofit Job Titles
Below is a list of some common job titles nonprofits hire. However, this list is only a fraction of the types
of workers that nonprofits may hire. For more information on what job types nonprofit organizations hire,
research this by looking for jobs using keywords such as “nonprofit,” “government agencies,” or “foundation” on
any job-related search engine. Also consider using the Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/
OCO/) or O*NET (http://online.onetcenter.org/) to explore occupations by typing in the job titles or keywords
related to nonprofits.
How To Write a Resume for Nonprofit
Contact Information:
Always include your name, phone number (with an appropriate message), and email address. It is
traditional to include an address but there is a move to leaving that off to help thwart identity theft. Ask each
employer if they want that, and tailor your resume to the employer’s requests.
Objective:
Accountant
Attorney
Caseworker
Counselor
Development
Assistant
Development
Associate
Editor
Educator/Trainer
Executive Director
Fundraising Director
Grant Writer
IT Manager
Lobbyist
Nurse
Office Assistant
Office Manager
Planner
Program Coordinator
Program Manager
Program Officer
Project Assistant
Project Director
Project Manager
Public Relations
Coordinator
Public Relations Manager
Security Guard
Volunteer Coordinator
Organizer
Writer
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Say what position you seek and what company you want to join. If you want to include a
longer objective, talk about what experience, knowledge and skills you will bring to the company —
do NOT include what you hope to gain from them. Think about it, you’re trying to convince them
to hire you, not vice versa!
Education:
List only university degrees completed or currently in progress. List the degree name, the
major, and the month and year completed. This section is in reverse chronological order. Optional
features include GPA/major GPA if it is above a 3.0, Dean’s List or other scholastic awards and
honors, related coursework, and special projects related to the field of interest.
Experience:
Some people opt to list all experience, both volunteer and work, in one category. Others choose to
list them separately. Both are acceptable. Include relevant work experiences, including jobs that
may not seem related but have transferable skills, such as leadership, management, or
communication. Use keywords or buzzwords that are relevant to the position you seek.
Activities, Volunteer Experience, Professional Organizations:
Many people include optional sections such as this. Highlight any experiences that are related to
the position you seek. An example might be that if you wish to work at the American Civil
Liberties Union as a legal assistant, and you were a member of an organization that did a mock trial
to practice and learn how courts operate, you would want to include this experience.
General notes:
· Pay attention to consistency with dates, punctuation, and spacing. It doesn’t matter as much how you
represent dates, with a number, the month written out, or using semesters, as long as you do it consistently
through your resume.
See “Developing a Resume” Handout at our website career.uh.edu under the
handout section for examples of resumes and more useful tips regarding resume
construction.
Nonprofit Areas of Focus
Online Resources for the Nonprofit Job Search
As with any list of online resources, this list is subject to change. This listing of links includes sites that list nonprofit
organizations; job banks and general resources, and tools to help you find local volunteer opportunity divided by area
of interest.
Nonprofit Organization Links
Better Business Bureau: http://www.bbb.org. Even though it’s a NPO, you can still check it out
on the BBB.
Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org. This has listings of many different charities and
NPOs.
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Charitywatch.org. http://www.charitywatch.org/. This has an A-Z listing of charities and
NPOs.
Art/Architecture/
Music
Children & Youth
Claims &
Examining
Computers &
Technology
Consumer
Protection
Crime, Safety, &
Victims Issues
Education &
Academia
Communications
Access &
Infrastructure
Community
Building &
Renewal
Community
Service &
Volunteering
Disability Issues
Disaster Relief
Economic
Development
Energy
Conservation &
Green Living
Environment &
Ecology
Family &
Parenting
Farming &
Agriculture
Foundations,
Fundraising,
Philanthropy
GLBTQIA Issues
Government
Oversight &
Reform
Health &
Medicine
Housing &
Homelessness
Human Rights &
Civil Liberties
International
Cooperation
International
Relations
Job Training &
Workplace Issues
Law & Legal
Assistance
Library or
Resource Center
Media &
Journalism
Men’s Issues
Microcredit
Multi-Service
Community
Agency
Museums &
Historical
Societies
Network of
Nonprofit
Organizations
Peace, War, &
Conflict
Resolution
Personal Finance
Politics
Poverty &
Hunger
Prison Reform
Professional
Association
Race & Ethnicity
Recovery,
Addiction, & Abuse
Religion,
Spiritual, &
Metaphysical
Travel &
Transportation
Research &
Science
Rural Issues
Urban Affairs
Veterans’ Issues
Seniors &
Social Enterprise
Retirement Issues
& Economic
Development
Victim Support
Services
Voting,
Democracy, Civil
Engagement
Sports,
Recreation,
Leisure
Wildlife &
Animal Welfare
Women’s Issues
Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org. This has listings and resources for many
foundations.
The IRS: http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78. You can search by city/state, name, and other
options.
Nonprofit Career Network Directory: http://www.nonprofitcareer.com/director.htm. This has
a directory of many nonprofit organizations.
Great Nonprofits: www.greatnonprofits.org. Provides a forum to find, review, and share
information about non-profits.
NonProfitList.org: www.nonpofitlist.org. A searchable database of over 39000 NPOs.
Guidestar.org: www.guidestar.org. A complete source of information about U.S. charities and
other NPOs .
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Education
Job Banks & Other Online Resources
Chronicle of Higher Education, http://chronicle.com/jobs, provides a job bank for those in
higher education who wish to work in a nonprofit setting.
General Nonprofit
Blackbaud Forums, http://forums.blackbaud.com/, have a job posting board that contains
nonprofit positions nationwide.
CareerJet, http://www.careerjet.com/, offers nationwide positions available in nonprofit.
Chronicle of Philanthropy, http://philanthropy.com/jobs, provides a job bank for nonprofit job
seekers nationwide.
Community Career Center. http://www.nonprofitjobs.org, posts nonprofit jobs available
nationwide. The jobs range from internships to executive positions.
Dot Org Jobs, http://www.dotorgjobs.com, provides information on jobs that are available to
organizations that are eligible to use .org as their URL. Typically, this means they’re nonprofit
organizations.
Idealist.org, http://www.idealist.org, is a premiere resource for those wanting to get into
nonprofit. Users can search for jobs, volunteer opportunities, internships and more.
Nonprofit Career Network, http://www.nonprofitcareer.com, has a database of jobs in
nonprofit, and a large directory of nonprofit organization
Nonprofit Job Market, http://www.nonprofitjobmarket.org/search.aspx, is a basic job search
engine dedicated to US nonprofit jobs.
Nonprofit Oyster, http://careers.nonprofitoyster.com/jobseeker/search/, is a search engine that
allows job seekers to narrow jobs down to particular types of nonprofit organizations.
Opportunity Knocks, http://www.opportunityknocks.org, is a job search site that allows job
seekers to find nonprofit jobs in different areas of interest.
Philanthropy News Digest, http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs, posts jobs online for seekers
nationwide.
International Nonprofit
Careers United, http://www.careersunited.org, is a job search database that allows seekers to
search for international jobs in the not-for-profit sector.
United Nations posts jobs here: https://jobs.un.org/Galaxy/Release3/Vacancy/Vacancy.aspx.
There are a variety of types of jobs available, and travel is likely.
Nonprofit Management/Executive
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The Alliance Career Bank, http://www.allianceonline.org, national in scope, is designed to help
nonprofit management support professionals find new jobs. Searchable by location and type of
position.
Bridgestar, https://www.bridgestar.org, advertises executive-level nonprofit positions across the
United States.
Deep Sweep, http://www.deepsweep.com, links nonprofit professionals to career opportunities.
Exec Searches, http://www.execsearches.com, is a web-recruiter for nonprofit organizations
seeking fundraising, mid-level, and executive positions. Job seekers can log on, browse jobs, and
get advice from a recruiter.
Nonprofit Times, http://www.nptimes.com/careers.htm, allows job seekers to find jobs in
nonprofit management across the US.
Science/Technology/Environmental
EcoEmploy, http://www.ecoemploy.com, is a listing of jobs that may or may not be
environmental that have to do with ecological or “green” jobs.
Environmental Careers, http://www.environmental-jobs.com, is a site that lists jobs having to do
with the environment, “green” jobs, and nonprofits that focus on environmental concerns.
TechSoup, http://www.techsoup.org, is a website for those who have technical skills and wish to
put them to use in a nonprofit setting.
Social Services
Common Good Careers, http://www.cgcareers.org, is a recruiting and screening website for
careers in social services and nonprofits.
Human Services Careers, http://www.hscareers.com, provides job listings in the human services
nationwide. These jobs are not all nonprofit, but most of them are.
JustMeans, http://www.justmeans.com, provides news, networking, and jobs for people
interested in nonprofit and doing good works.
Social Service.com, http://www.socialservice.com, provides opportunities in nonprofit social
services nationwide.
Social Service Network, http://www.socialservicenetwork.com, provides jobs in nonprofit social
services across the US.
Ways to Find Volunteer Opportunities
The following is a list of local and Texas sites that will help you find the perfect volunteer
experience to add to your nonprofit resume. In addition to networking, many of the websites
provide search engines or online listings to allow users to search for volunteer opportunities in
their area. Some websites allow you to search by type of event, zip code, or work type. It’s very
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important to have volunteerism on your resume if you plan to work in nonprofit. If you seek a
specific volunteer experience, try contacting agencies that provide that type of experience directly.
Animals
Houston Humane Society: http://www.houstonhumane.org/volunteer-opportunities. The
Humane Society has many different opportunities available for animal lovers.
Houston Zoo: http://www.houstonzoo.org/volunteer. Volunteer positions go fast at the zoo.
Check into what is available quickly before they fill up.
Citizens for Animal Protection: www.cap4pets.org. Volunteer to shelter, rescue, and place
homeless pets.
Arts
Houston Arts Alliance: http://www.cachh.org/get-involved/volunteer. Artists, get involved!
Museum of Cultural Arts: http://mocah.org/art-angels/. Volunteer and learn about other
cultures at the same time.
TexasRepTheater: http://www.texreptheatre.org/. Theater lovers can pitch in to help the show
go on.
Theatre Under the Stars: www.tuts.com. Enrich the lives of others though musical theatre.
Data/Administrative
Harris County Archives: http://www.hgftx.org/. This opportunity includes working with data
and paperwork.
Houston Public Library: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/volunteer-opportunities. The Library
needs book lovers to help keep the library continue to deliver quality services.
Education
Oasis: http://www.oasisnet.org/. Volunteer opportunities for those in the field of education.
Educational Programs Inspiring Communities: www.educationalprograms.org. Provide
programs for persons with developmental disabilities.
Project GRAD: www.projectgradhouston.org. Volunteer to help low-income students increase
high school and college graduation rates.
Houston READ Commission: www.houread.org. Help to improve the lives of adults though
literacy.
General
1-800-Volunteer: http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/. This site is a general volunteer search engine.
City of Houston Volunteer Opportunities: http://www.houstontx.gov/volunteer/
Harris County Citizen Corps http://www.harriscountycitizencorps.com/. This is a long list of
volunteer and training opportunities.
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SmartVolunteers: http://www.smartvolunteer.org. They match your skills to their opportunities.
Volunteer Houston: http://www.volunteerhouston.org. This organization offers opportunities in
the Houston Area.
Volunteer Match: http://www.volunteermatch.org/. This website offers nationwide opportunities, but allows searches to be limited to a certain area.
Health
Red Cross Greater Houston: http://www.redcross.org/tx/houston. This isn’t just for health
occupation students. Anyone can help the Red Cross.
Texas Orthopedic Hospital: http://texasorthopedic.com/join-our-team/volunteers.dot
Hospitals in general are good places to volunteer for those looking to go into health occupations.
UH Allied Health Professions Society Volunteer Opportunities Page: http://www.uh.edu/ahps/
VolunteerOppurtunities.htm. A listing of many ideas for those interested in health occupations.
Science
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.volunteer.noaa.gov/
texas.html Ever wanted to be a storm spotter? Volunteer with NOAA and help them monitor the
weather.
Social Issues and Services
AIDS Foundation Houston: www.AIDSHelp.org. Create a positive social impact by volunteering for the AIDS foundation.
Child Advocates, Inc: www.childbuilders.org. Become a court appointed volunteer to break the
cycle of child abuse.
Houston Food Bank: http://houstonfoodbank.org/volunteer/register-to-volunteer/. Houston
Food Bank always needs volunteers to package up food.
Houston Habitat For Humanity: http://www.houstonhabitat.org/volunteer/index.ph. This
organization is well known for helping build dream homes for financially challenged people.
Pride Houston: http://pridehouston.org/volunteer. Volunteer to help the GBLT community put
on events and the Pride Parade.
Recovery: http://www.council-houston.org/recovery-support/volunteer/. This opportunity
might be good for those seeking to work in substance abuse recovery.
Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmyhouston.org/TSA_Volunteer. Volunteer to help this
widely known organization.
April 2014
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