Nonprofit Pathways

Organizations in the non-profit sector exist to provide public service and support. They deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits to our society. Non-profits are primarily funded through donations and grants, and they do not profit individuals and shareholders.

Non-profits exist in many forms:
Charities–All charities are nonprofit organizations, but not all nonprofits are charities.
Advocacy groups
Foundations
Educational Institutions, Scientific groups, Literary groups.
Professional Associations
Health Care Entities (some, not all)
Think-Tanks

There can be a place for any major or discipline at these organizations, regardless of their specific mission.

Nonprofits get their money from a mix of sources, depending on their size and mission. Common funding types include:

• Donations: Gifts from individuals or businesses.

• Grants: Funding from government agencies or private foundations.

• Fundraising events: Galas, walks, concerts, or online campaigns.

• Memberships or service fees: Some nonprofits charge small fees for programs or events.

• Government contracts: Payment for providing public services like job training or health programs.

Because funding can vary year to year, nonprofits often combine several of these sources to stay sustainable.

What sets nonprofits apart is their commitment to impact over profit. Unlike for-profit businesses, nonprofits reinvest any surplus revenue into advancing their cause. Their goals are rooted in creating positive change, not maximizing financial returns. This means that decisions are guided by values and community needs rather than market competition.

Any non-profit will also have tax-exempt status conferred by the Internal Revenue Status (IRS); this is because of the mission to benefit the public. Nonprofit status can be confirmed by designation of the organization as a 501(c) status.

You can look up the organization on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (irs.gov) to see if it’s officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit type.
You can also check GuideStar (Candid) or Charity Navigator, or see if the organization lists its EIN or “tax-deductible donations” on its website.

Non-profit careers can be rewarding, challenging, and exciting. Because non-profit organizations exist across all industries and communities, there are career opportunities for everyone in the non-profit sector. People of all backgrounds and majors can find mission-driven work that aligns with their personal values and interests. Careers in the non-profit sector are appealing to those who wish to have a greater social impact than they may have working in the private sector.

The nonprofit world is huge and includes all kinds of organizations and career paths. Because of that, different jobs will ask for different strengths.

Here are some common skills you can start building during your time at MSU Denver. You won’t need all of these for every job, but they’re great building blocks for getting started in the nonprofit sector:

Common Nonprofit Skills for Students

• Fundraising basics – Understanding how nonprofits raise money through grants, donations, and sponsorships.

• Money management – Knowing the basics of budgeting and reading simple financial info.

• Working with people – Gaining experience training others, leading groups, or coordinating volunteers.

• Program planning & evaluation – Helping design programs and figuring out what’s working (and what’s not).

• Communication & marketing – Building strong writing, speaking, social media, and outreach skills.

• Advocacy – Learning how to support and promote causes you care about.

• Event planning – Organizing the logistics for meetings, fundraisers, and community events.

• Data skills – Looking at information, spotting trends, and using data to guide decisions.

• Cultural awareness – Understanding and valuing diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

• Flexibility – Being comfortable taking on a variety of tasks and roles.

• Teamwork – Working well with others to achieve shared goals.

There are many ways to get experience for a non-profit career!  There are many different ways to prepare, and the preparation often depends on the job.

Gaining experience at non-profits outside the classroom:

• Internships

• Part-time jobs, Summer Employment, Student Employment at MSU Denver

• Volunteer

  • Find all the opportunities above in CareerLink, MSU Denver’s Career Resource for students.

  • Use various job boards and event calendars to find specific opportunities and job fairs.

• Consider a Service Year(s) after graduation

  • AmeriCorps

  • Peace Corps

  • Teach for America

Gain non-profit experience inside the classroom or on the MSU Denver Campus:

• Take a Community Engaged Learning Class (CEL). Find these in the MSU Denver Course Catalog. Use the ADVANCED SEARCH filter, and search via Attributes–Community Engaged Learning to find courses that have been designated as CEL.

• Participate in one of the C2HUB’s Career Trek opportunities. These faculty and staff-led trips to organizations allow students to see a day in the life of various staff at different organizations in the Denver area.

• Consider joining a student-led organization.

• Participate in the Urban Leadership Program. 

• Participate in various programs at the Institute for Public Service.

• Explore Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion (CMEI) programs and find those that fit your interests?

• Explore options at the various MSU Denver Institutes, Programs, and Centers. 

• One World One Water–a great on-campus resource for students interested in water studies.

MSU Denver has numerous resources and events throughout the year to help you connect with professionals in the non-profit industry:

• Attend a Career Fair!

  • The Spring Careers with Impact Job Fair

  • Fall or Spring Job and Internship Fair

• Other events at the C2HUB–panels, seminars, etc.

• Connect with the C2HUB’s Public Service Industry Navigator!

Utilize Social Media!

• LinkedIn

• Eventbrite

• Instagram and others–can be useful to identify non-profits, see the kinds of things they do, and to reach out to their staff.

MSU Denver and its many departments and units are here to support you in your career development and pathway to a nonprofit career.

1. The Classroom to Career Hub (C2HUB). The C2HUB provides career advising, resume support, interview practice, multiple career events, and more!

2. The Institute for Public Service offers programs and opportunities to improve your understanding of nonprofit organizations.

3. Take academic courses that include a focus on public service, working in the community, etc.

It is always a good idea to think and assess what is important to you. There can be many categories of importance:

1. Subject matter–is there a course or subject that you are particularly interested in learning more about?

2. Do you want to pursue a career in an industry directly related to your major? Or, are you considering using the skills you’ve gained in your studies to pursue a different industry?

Non-profits exist across all sectors. That makes it easy to pursue a career in an industry directly related to your major; it also makes it easy to pave a path toward a career at a non-profit that is completely different from or unrelated to your major.

Non-profits exist all across the world, making it possible to stay local (there are over 34,000 non-profits in Colorado), move to a new state, or even move abroad.

Below are a few resources to learn more about non-profits in CO, the US, and internationally:

• Non-profit Quarterly
• National Council of Non-profits
• Idealist.org
• Colorado Non-profit Association
• Conservation Job Board
• Foundation List
• National Nonprofits
• ExecSearches
  • Allows you to filter by job function, and finds jobs at nonprofits within those functions
• CareerLink, at MSU Denver

An important thing to keep in mind when applying for nonprofit positions is that they do Mission-driven hiring. Nonprofits are mission-driven organizations, so it’s important to show that you genuinely connect with their purpose. Take time to learn about their work—explore their website, read recent updates, and, if possible, volunteer to gain firsthand experience. Use networking opportunities to deepen your understanding and demonstrate your shared commitment to their goals. The insights you gain can strengthen your cover letters, interest statements, and even your résumé.

Creating strong materials:

1. Create a strong resume.  Use these MSU Denver resources:

   1. C2HUB Advising

   2. Quinncia--MSU Denver’s AI resume builder, cover letter editor, and practice interviewer!!

   3. Thank you emails after an interview.

Job title examples:
Early-Career: Junior Data Analyst
Mid-Career: Development Data Specialist
Senior-Level: Water Quality Senior Engineer 

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver:
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
Engineers without Borders
PCs for People 

Job title examples:
Early-Career: Marketing Associate
Mid-Career: Fundraising Campaign Manager
Senior-Level: Chief Financial and Compliance Officer 

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver:
Mi Casa Resource Center
Public Education & Business Coalition 

College of Health & Human Sciences 

Job title examples:
Early-Career: Case Manager
Mid-Career: Health Access Program Coordinator
Senior-Level: Deputy Chief Clinical Officer

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver: 

Mile High United Way
Colorado Health Network
Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative 

Job title examples:
Early-Career: Field Research Technician
Mid-Career: Postdoctoral researcher
Senior-Level: Director of Evaluation, Research & Innovation 

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver:
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
Denver Zoo 

College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences: Division of Fine & Performing Arts 

Job title examples:
Early-Career: Production Assistant
Mid-Career: Curatorial Associate
Senior-Level: Concert Director 

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver: 

Swallow Hill Music
Art Students League of Denver
Denver Center for the Performing Arts 

College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences: Division of Humanities & Social Sciences 

Job title examples: 

Early-Career: Volunteer Coordinator
Mid-Career: Community Engagement Manager
Senior-Level: Director of Advocacy 

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver:
Colorado Public Radio
History Colorado
Elevate for Change 

School of Education
Job title examples:
Early-Career: Play-Based Learning Facilitator
Mid-Career: Curriculum Developer and Training Facilitator
Senior-Level: Executive Director of Instruction 

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver:
Children’s Museum of Denver
The Rise School of Denver
Colorado Outward Bound School 

School of Hospitality, Example Job Titles:
Early-Career: Guest Services Associate
Mid-Career: Front of House Manager
Senior-Level: Events & Outreach Executive Director 

Non-Profit Organizations in Denver: 
Restoration Ranch Colorado
So All May Eat