what is working at nonprofits like?

(a random bulletin board of things i find useful)

Working at Nonprofits

  • First - Why?

    But first - Ask yourself, why do you want to work for a nonprofit? What are you passionate about? What do you want to accomplish?

    These are questions only you can answer.

  • Mental Health

    One study from 2020 estimated that the Humanitarian & Human Rights sector had a 30% turnover year-on-year, and that a third suffered from mental health issues. burnout, and/or severe imbalance between private and work life.

    Because many humanitarians take their work personally and very seriously (as they should), it can be difficult to balance personal and professional life.

    Know that you are not alone, that you are in this for the long haul, and that you have allies. Do not be afraid to seek help. Do take self-care seriously - If you are unwell, you can help absolutely nobody.

  • Physical Health

    General

    • Use a VPN service, such as ProtonVPN, NordVPN, or Encrypt.me

    • Have a work phone to separate your personal and work life

    • Use Stretchly or other break prompters to make sure you don’t stay glued to your desk, and follow the 20:20:20 rule.

    Netherlands-specific

    • Geheimhouding persoonsgegevens aanvragen: You can request to have your personal details in the BRP held confidential, so third parties cannot access that information. (Example: The Hague)

Navigating the Nonprofit Sector

Skills