4 answers
Gavin
Student
Red Hook, New York
2
Questions
Updated
602 views
What are ways to find out about professional networks in social impact careers?
I have been involved with community work for some time. I want to find ways to connect to networks that support students exploring in the nonprofit world.
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4 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1093
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Gavin,
If you are involved with community work you already have a local network. If you are moving away for college, you can ask your group to refer you to similar groups in your college town.
There are many organizations in the nonprofit sector covering fields as diverse as environment, health, education, youth, arts, addiction etc. If you have found your niche that you are passionate about, look for local organizations and join or start a local branch or a student branch of a larger organization.
Possible careers in the nonprofit sector depend on your focus and the kind of role you want to play professionally. Many universities offer degrees in nonprofit management. But you could also study business, marketing, education, communication, healthcare, biology etc for careers with social impact. There are also online options for specific courses and certifications. I am leaving a couple of links for you below.
If you decide to get a degree in nonprofit management, you would find people with networks and connections there. You can join organizations and gain more experience while you study.
Some professional organizations for nonprofits:
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/
https://www.snpo.org/
https://guides.loc.gov/nonprofit-sector/associations
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/best-degree-to-work-in-nonprofit
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-public-affairs-schools/nonprofit-management-rankings
https://nla1.org/cnp-professionals/
https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=nonprofit
https://www.nonprofitready.org/courses
If you are involved with community work you already have a local network. If you are moving away for college, you can ask your group to refer you to similar groups in your college town.
There are many organizations in the nonprofit sector covering fields as diverse as environment, health, education, youth, arts, addiction etc. If you have found your niche that you are passionate about, look for local organizations and join or start a local branch or a student branch of a larger organization.
Possible careers in the nonprofit sector depend on your focus and the kind of role you want to play professionally. Many universities offer degrees in nonprofit management. But you could also study business, marketing, education, communication, healthcare, biology etc for careers with social impact. There are also online options for specific courses and certifications. I am leaving a couple of links for you below.
If you decide to get a degree in nonprofit management, you would find people with networks and connections there. You can join organizations and gain more experience while you study.
Some professional organizations for nonprofits:
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/
https://www.snpo.org/
https://guides.loc.gov/nonprofit-sector/associations
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karin recommends the following next steps:
Darren Garrett, APR
Field Marketing
13
Answers
Davenport, Iowa
Updated
Darren’s Answer
The Public Relations Society of America has local chapters across the country, many of which do pro bono work for non-profit organizations in their areas. They also have lots of resources on a national level for serving non-profits. Good luck!
Minghao CHEN
38
Answers
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Updated
Minghao’s Answer
One great way is to start with your school’s career center or student clubs focused on social impact—they often host events or connect students with alumni in the nonprofit space. LinkedIn is also useful: search for keywords like “social impact” or “nonprofit” and follow relevant groups or thought leaders. Joining networks like Net Impact or Idealist.org can also help you meet like-minded people and find opportunities. Don’t underestimate the power of just reaching out—many in this field are happy to share their journey and advice.
Kevin Yang
Impact Investing
15
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
Hi Gavin,
Love that you are so engaged with community work and are looking to explore careers in social impact!
I'm not familiar with non-profit networks specifically, but I thought it worth mentioning that you could also pursue a socially impactful career through for-profit organizations as well -- such as a social enterprise or mission-driven company that is also a "B Corp" or perhaps a Public Benefit Company "PBC". Just as a way to cast a wide net and keep additional options open!
I'll toss out some examples of these organizations below just to give you a sense across impact areas / industries. If you're interested, resources like Social Entrepreneur and Impact Alpha have great coverage on this 'impact economy', so to speak.
-- A bakery that focuses on employing and upskilling formerly incarcerated individuals
-- An international energy provider that provides first-time energy access to underserved areas
-- A science technology company that is pioneering a new way to produce clean drinking water
-- A carbon removal company that uses enhanced rock weathering to simultaneously remove carbon from the atmosphere while increasing yields for smallholder farmers
-- An affordable housing developer
Cheers to your professional journey ahead!
Best,
Kevin
Love that you are so engaged with community work and are looking to explore careers in social impact!
I'm not familiar with non-profit networks specifically, but I thought it worth mentioning that you could also pursue a socially impactful career through for-profit organizations as well -- such as a social enterprise or mission-driven company that is also a "B Corp" or perhaps a Public Benefit Company "PBC". Just as a way to cast a wide net and keep additional options open!
I'll toss out some examples of these organizations below just to give you a sense across impact areas / industries. If you're interested, resources like Social Entrepreneur and Impact Alpha have great coverage on this 'impact economy', so to speak.
-- A bakery that focuses on employing and upskilling formerly incarcerated individuals
-- An international energy provider that provides first-time energy access to underserved areas
-- A science technology company that is pioneering a new way to produce clean drinking water
-- A carbon removal company that uses enhanced rock weathering to simultaneously remove carbon from the atmosphere while increasing yields for smallholder farmers
-- An affordable housing developer
Cheers to your professional journey ahead!
Best,
Kevin