Mining the Mission | Because Happy Employees are Mission-Oriented Employees

Rosetta Thurman writes engagingly and passionately about her life as a nonprofit fundraiser and finance pro at the blog Perspectives From the Pipeline. Her recent post about low nonprofit salaries generated such intense reader response that Ms. Thurman decided earlier today to offer some suggestions on how to negotiate a higher pay. The tips range from researching salaries for comparable positions in the sector to articulating your specific strengths to your boss. It’s worth a read.More than that, Ms. Thurman deserves a hearty clap on the back (hey, I’d give her a raise if I could) for going to bat consistently for all of the lower-level nonprofiteers who work hard because they believe in their organization’s mission.

We all know the nonprofit field has its strengths and weaknesses. And yes, it royally sucks that doing good for a living can actually get you jacked up financially in the long run. … I need extra dough as much as the next do gooder. But. We do need to stop acting as if our bosses are the ones holding us down. Like my grandma says, can’t nobody do anything to you unless you let them. So instead of griping about your low salary, try asking for a raise or negotiating better when you come into a position. And by all means, be prepared to walk away from an offer that doesn’t meet your financial needs.

Amen, and thanks to Ms. Thurman for arguing so well that satisfied employees are far more effective employees, whether their organizations are for-profit or nonprofit. “Mining the Mission,” a weekly commentary about nonprofits and people worthy of praise, appears Thursdays at the 501(c) Files. | 501(c)