Nonprofits
Nonprofits are a great area for PhD degree holders to discover careers that align with the skills that they have honed in graduate school and align with their interests and research. Nonprofit organizations may offer a way for you to make a greater impact with your research, collaborate with diverse fields and forge a career that has a variety of tasks.
Nonprofits focus on a multitude of issues ranging from humanitarian aid, to environmental protection, climate change, biomedical research, education, international aid and domestic issues. Advantages to working in the nonprofit world include a wide range of colleagues, opportunities for growth and flexibility in work projects.
National Council of Nonprofits
The National Council of Nonprofits is a U.S. network that tracks America's nonprofits; trends and policy issues; tools and resources; focus and impact; and everyday advocacy. For information.
Nonprofit Quarterly
Latest news and trends that apply to the nonprofit sector. For articles and home page.
Examples of NPOs that hire PhDs
- Addgene
- Avon Foundation
- Society for Science and the Public
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- The Nature Conservancy
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
See also the page within this LibGuide on Think Tanks and Professional Societies.
Another handy place to search for nonprofit jobs especially in government, communication or policy roles by location and keyword (try "PhD") is using Daybook.
Professional Societies and Trade Organizations
Connect with others in your field at conferences you attend; most of these societies offer extensive professional and leadership development opportunities, award or fellowship opportunities, travel grants, links to job postings, etc. Become a member now! To search for others in your field, type in keywords for your research and add the term "association" or "society". A handy database, organized by career pathway, is maintained by Career Cafe.
AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) and AAAS Internships
AAEES (American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists)
AAI (American Association of Immunologists)
AALAS (American Association for Laboratory Animal Science)
ACEHP Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions
ACLS (American Council of Learned Societies)
ACRP (Association for Clinical Research Professionals)
ACS (American Chemical Society)
AGU (American Geophysical Union)
AHA (American Historical Association)
AIBS (American Institute of Biological Sciences)
AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers)
AIMBE (American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering)
AIPG (American Institute of Professional Geologists)
AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society)
AChemS (Association for Chemoreception Sciences)
AmAcad (American Academy of Arts & Sciences)
AMS (American Mathematical Society)
AMS (American Meteorological Society)
AOU (American Ornithologists' Union)
APHA (American Public Health Association)
APLU (Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities)
APS (American Physical Society)
APS (American Physiological Society)
APS (American Phytopathological Society)
ASA (American Society of Agronomy)
ASA (American Statistical Association)
ASAIO (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs)
ASAP (Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals)
ASBMB (American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
ASCB (American Society for Cellular Biology)
ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education)
ASHG (American Society of Human Genetics)
ASHS (American Society for Horticultural Science)
ASM (American Society for Microbiology)
ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
ASPB (American Society of Plant Biologists)
ASPET (American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics)
AUTM (formerly Association of University Technology Managers)
AWG (Association for Women Geoscientists)
AWIS (Association for Women in Science)
AWM (Association for Women in Mathematics)
BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization)-see also state affiliates like NYBIO, MASSBIO, NJBIO, etc.
BMES (Biomedical Engineering Society)
BSA (Botanical Society of America)
CSSA (Crop Science Society of America)
ES (Endocrine Society)
ESA (Entomological Society of America)
FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology)
GSA (Geological Society of America)
Health Research Alliance (a collaborative of non-profits)
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
IFT (Institute of Food Technologists)
ISBE (International Society for Behavioral Ecology)
ISCE (International Society of Chemical Ecology)
LES (Licensing Executives Society)
MedTech (New York Biomedical and Medical Technology trade organization)
MLA (Modern Language Association
MSLS (Medical Science Liaison Society)
NABR (National Association for Biomedical Research)
NAS (National Academies) includes the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council
NCGA (National Corn Growers Association)
NCURA (National Council of University Research Administrators)
NHA (National Humanities Alliance)
NOBCChE (National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers)
NORDP (National Organization of Research Development Professionals)
NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers)
NYAS (New York Academy of Sciences)
Optica ( formerly Optical Society of America)
oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America)
PDA (Parenteral Drug Association)
PSNA (Phytochemical Association of North America)
S4SN (Society for Social Neuroscience)
SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science)
SBN (Society for Behavioral Neuroscience)
SCDM (Society for Clinical Data Management)
SDB (Society for Developmental Biology)
SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry)
SFN (Society for Neuroscience)
SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics)
SICB (Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology)
Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Society)
SIVB (Society for In Vitro Biology)
SMI (Society for Mucosal Immunology)
SOT (Society of Toxicology)
SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering)
SPSP (Society for Personality and Social Psychology)
SRA (Society for Research on Adolescence)
SSR (Society for the Study of Reproduction)
SSSA (Soil Science Society of America)
SWE (Society of Women Engineers)
WSSA (Weed Science Society of America)
there are many more engineering societies...and please send us your suggestions for inclusion
Other Resources in Support of Diversity
Cornell resources and support for students through the Graduate School
Graduate and Professional Women's Groups at Cornell
What is a nonprofit?
The National Council of Nonprofits is a great resource to learn more about nonprofits and their missions. There are many examples of NPOs - charities, foundations, professional associations, service organizations, patient associations, trade unions and academic societies. They are all good career options to explore as they are looking for employees with analytical skills, great communication skills and research protocols.
What is a think tank?
An organization that focuses on research and advocacy to shape policy and advocacy. See also the LibGuide webpage on think tanks.
Recommended Reading
Dare to Lead by ISBN: 9780399592522Publication Date: 2018-10-09#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Brené Brown has taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she's showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead. Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential. When we dare to lead, we don't pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don't see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don't avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it's necessary to do good work. But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we're choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we're scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can't do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start. Four-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture? In this new book, Brown uses research, stories, and examples to answer these questions in the no-BS style that millions of readers have come to expect and love. Brown writes, "One of the most important findings of my career is that daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable. It's learning and unlearning that requires brave work, tough conversations, and showing up with your whole heart. Easy? No. Because choosing courage over comfort is not always our default. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and our work. It's why we're here." Whether you've read Daring Greatly and Rising Strong or you're new to Brené Brown's work, this book is for anyone who wants to step up and into brave leadership.
Understanding Nonprofit and Tax Exempt Organizations by ISBN: 9781422497579Publication Date: 2012-02-01
The Networked Nonprofit by ISBN: 9780470547977Publication Date: 2010-06-28The Networked Nonprofit Connecting with Social Media to Drive Change This groundbreaking book shows nonprofits a new way of operating in our increasingly connected world: a networked approach enabled by social technologies, where connections are leveraged to increase impact in effective ways that drive change for the betterment of our society and planet. "The Networked Nonprofit is a must-read for any nonprofit organization seeking innovative, creative techniques to improve their mission and better serve their communities." --Diana Aviv, president and CEO, Independent Sector "The Internet means never having to ask permission before trying something new. In The Networked Nonprofit, Kanter and Fine show nonprofits how to harness this flexibility to pursue their missions in partnership with two billion connected citizens." --Clay Shirky, author, Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations "The Networked Nonprofit uniquely describes the historical context and the current challenges that compel nonprofit leaders to work in networked ways and offers easy steps to help users exploit the potential of social media and 'working wikily."' --Stephanie McAuliffe, director, organizational effectiveness, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation "A must-read for nonprofit leaders who want to change their organizations from the inside out by embracing the power of social networks." --Charlene Li, founding partner, Altimeter Group; author, Open Leadership; and coauthor, Groundswell "This is a perfect handbook for anyone who wants to leapfrog their current limitations of understanding and find real-world applications of technology to extend their mission." --Michele Nunn, CEO, Points of Light Institute, and cofounder, HandsOn Network "Kanter and Fine provide the 'Google Maps' for nonprofits to harness social media to kick butt and change the world." --Guy Kawasaki, cofounder, Alltop.com, and former chief evangelist, Apple Inc. "URGENT! Read this book. Take notes. Take action. If you work for a nonprofit, you don't have to do every single thing these seasoned authors have to share, but you certainly have to know what you're missing." --Seth Godin Register at www.josseybass.com/emailfor more information on our publications, authors, and to receive special offers.
Forces for Good by ISBN: 9780787986124Publication Date: 2007-10-19An innovative guide to how great nonprofits achieve extraordinary social impact. What makes great nonprofits great? Authors Crutchfield and McLeod Grant searched for the answer over several years, employing a rigorous research methodology which derived from books on for-profits like Built to Last. They studied 12 nonprofits that have achieved extraordinary levels of impact-from Habitat for Humanity to the Heritage Foundation-and distilled six counterintuitive practices that these organizations use to change the world. This book has lessons for all readers interested in creating significant social change, including nonprofit managers, donors and volunteers. Leslie R. Crutchfield (Washington, D.C.) is a managing director of Ashoka and research grantee of the Aspen Institute. Heather McLeod Grant (Palo Alto, CA) is a nonprofit consultant and advisor to Duke University's Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship and the Stanford Center for Social Innovation. Crutchfield and Grant were co-founding editors of Who Cares, a national magazine reaching 50,000 readers in circulation between 1993-2000.
Change Your Career - Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector by ISBN: 9781419593413Publication Date: 2007-05-01This is a guide to the vital information needed by professionals to decide if a career in the non-profit sector is right for them, providing the tools to ascertain whether the shift is right for them, and if a decision is made to make the switch, how to make a seamless transition into this sector.
Guide to Nonprofit Leadership by ISBN: 9781119293064Publication Date: 2017-03-06Nonprofit leadership is messy Nonprofits leaders are optimistic by nature. They believe with time, energy, smarts, strategy and sheer will, they can change the world. But as staff or board leader, you know nonprofits present unique challenges. Too many cooks, not enough money, an abundance of passion. It's enough to make you feel overwhelmed and alone. The people you help need you to be successful. But there are so many obstacles: a micromanaging board that doesn't understand its true ro≤ insufficient fundraising and donors who make unreasonable demands; unclear and inconsistent messaging and marketing; a leader who's a star in her sector but a difficult boss... And yet, many nonprofits do thrive. Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership will show you how to do just that. Funny, honest, intensely actionable, and based on her decades of experience, this is the book Joan Garry wishes she had when she led GLAAD out of a financial crisis in 1997. Joan will teach you how to: Build a powerhouse board Create an impressive and sustainable fundraising program Become seen as a 'workplace of choice' Be a compelling public face of your nonprofit This book will renew your passion for your mission and organization, and help you make a bigger difference in the world.
How do I gain experience for a nonprofit job?
Think transferrable skills - how can you translate your research and scholarship into project management and communication skills...without jargon...into what nonprofits seek? Make an appointment with us via gradcareers@cornell.edu to use the GradSkilScan sheets to assess your own skills.
Think about how you can expand your resume with volunteerism or short work projects. Careers Beyond Academia offers support for you to Create Your Own Activity.
Sample job titles to search for
Curator
Grants manager
Investigator
Laboratory Manager
Policy Analyst
Program Manager or Director
Research Associate
Scientist
Study Director
Domain specific titles: Archeologist, Toxicologist, Biologist, Chemist, etc.
Mentors with nonprofit or NGO experience
Careers Beyond Academia has a number of mentors eager to speak with PhD students and postdocs. Please contact our office at gradcareers@cornell.edu to connect with the mentor that aligns with your interests!