March 4, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
Nonprofit employers need to “get real about paying good people well,” writes Rosetta Thurman on her Perspectives from the Pipeline blog.
Ms. Thurman, who frequently writes about career issues for young nonprofit employees, writes about a recent Washington Post article about young nonprofit workers and their dissatisfaction with their employers, and an ensuing online discussion on the same topic.
The Post presented findings from a new study of nearly 6,000 up-and-coming nonprofit managers by four nonprofit organizations, which is also featured in the current issue of The Chronicle. (The Chronicle will also hold an online discussion about this topic on March 11.)
Ms. Thurman was struck by how many participants in the online discussion expressed disappointment with the salaries paid to nonprofit employees below the executive level.
She quotes one participant, from Arlington, Va.: “As a mid-level non-profit employee, I’m particularly angered that senior managers are paid extremely high salaries because they have to be ‘competitive’ with opportunities outside of the non-profit sector. But those of us lower on the pay scale are expected to accept lower salaries because of the “satisfaction” our work provides. This double standard is really infuriating.”
Ms. Thurman concludes, “Many baby boomers say the younger generations are always ‘whining,’ but this low pay bull is something we all need to start whining about, and loud enough so that something gives. I know there are challenges, but we’ve got to come up with some solutions here.”
in your opinion, are rank-and-file nonprofit workers typically underpaid? If so, what are some steps that nonprofit groups can take to balance the scales? Click on the “comments” link below to share your thoughts.
