The Pros and Cons of Working as a UX Designer in the Non-Profit Industry
…and how to know if you’re a good fit for it. A comprehensive breakdown of pros, cons, and final reflections.
In 2020, I kicked off my remote work career as a design intern at a non-profit. I spent around 6 months in this role before getting promoted to a full-time design position supporting their web platform. Due to the structure of the organization and the responsibilities needed, I essentially held a hybrid web and UX role.
As someone who had previously worked in the commercial real estate industry and social media agencies, the non-profit industry was completely new to me. Let alone working remotely. I worked for this non-profit for roughly 2.5 years before migrating into tech.
Fast forward to today, I’m now working as a UX designer in the e-commerce-technology industry and have been able to use all of my combined experience across these various industries to reflect on my time working in the non-profit industry.
Today, I’m sharing the pros and cons of working as a UX designer in the non-profit industry based on my personal experience.
If you’re a designer considering working in the non-profit industry or are currently in it and want to better understand what may come your way, this is the article for you.
The Pros
Your work is meaningful.
…And impactful. One of the biggest benefits of working in the non-profit industry is the opportunity to make a positive impact on society. Working for a non-profit organization can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing that your design work contributes to the greater good. Especially if your values deeply align with the organization’s values, you may find yourself waking up every day truly passionate about the work that you do. You’re less likely to lose motivation or burnout early on.
Collaborative work environment
Most, but not all non-profits do operate at a smaller scale, therefore, you may find yourself collaborating with multiple functions across the organization. You’ll also get to experience a shared sense of passion to help the greater good.
Engaging with the community
You don’t have to just design to make a difference (unless that’s what you want). Non-profit organizations often engage with their local communities, which can provide you as an employee with the opportunity to build connections, engage in community service, and develop a deeper understanding of local issues.
Generous benefits
Full coverage health care, parental leave, maybe even a ping pong table in tribute to the good’ol’ office times. You name it.
Depending on the non-profit that you work in, many are likely to be more progressive and generous in the benefit packages they provide to their employees. You’ll get supported in all aspects such as medical, dental, vision, transgender health care coverage, paid time off, maternity and paternity leave, office stipend, large professional development stipend, and more. Not all non-profit organizations offer the same benefits, and the benefits offered may vary depending on the size and budget of the organization.
The Cons
UX isn’t always prioritized
Hate to break it to you, but you’re going to feel like you’re talking to a wall sometimes. Unlike the tech industry, non-profits don’t typically create their own products for their audience to use. Therefore, their revenue is heavily contingent on donations, grants, memberships, and other related means. This means that UX-related efforts such as their website are commonly deprioritized or have the least amount of internal funding.
Even the best ideas may not make the cut and that has a lot more to do with company prioritization and less to do with you as a designer.
This can be a frustrating experience as you’ll likely need to make a strong case for every single thing that you do in order to get buy-in at the executive level.
Limited resources
Non-profit organizations typically have limited resources, which can affect the design process. Since UX isn’t always able to be prioritized over direct-donor-focused initiatives, designers will often run into budgetary constraints that may limit the tools and resources available for their projects.
Wearing multiple hats
Smaller organizations or non-profits in general may not have the headcount to fill every single UX role. Therefore, you may find yourself being the researcher, the content writer, the project manager, and the designer all at the same time. A magical balancing act if you will.
In my experience in non-profit, I wrote my own user research plan, executed my own user tests, and executed design based on the research I found. This isn’t always a bad thing or mean it’s necessarily a red flag. It’s still important for designers to experience UX research, content design, and designing at least once in some capacity in their careers.
Lower pay
Non-profit organizations often prioritize their mission and goals over financial gain, which can result in lower salaries for employees. Despite this, many people are willing to work for non-profit organizations because they believe in the organization’s mission and want to make a positive impact. The other con is that some organizations (not all) can take advantage of this and continue to pay low.
Separate from that, smaller organizations may simply not have the same economies of scale and resources as larger companies in order to provide high-paying salaries.
It’s worth noting that not all non-profit organizations pay low salaries. Some non-profit organizations have larger budgets and are able to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain talented employees.
Limited career growth
Similar to the reasons listed above, the non-profit industry may not provide as many opportunities for career growth as other industries, due to smaller organizations and limited budgets. However, limited career growth doesn’t always equate to limited learning opportunities.
In my experience at a non-profit organization, despite not being able to “climb the ladder”, I had a manager that was invested in me and set me up with professional development and other growth opportunities.
Emotional impact
Working for a non-profit organization may come with an emotional impact, as you may be exposed to stories and situations that can be difficult to handle. Oftentimes, I found myself struggling to draw the line between work and personal life because so much of the work that I did was about issues that impacted people of my identity and community.
Another example is — you may be designing a website or mobile app for an organization that provides support services to survivors of domestic violence. In this case, you may be reviewing content and images that depict violence, trauma, and abuse. This can be emotionally taxing and may require you to practice self-care to avoid burnout.
Because of this, take breaks, unplug from your work, and check in with yourself. Some non-profit organizations may offer resources and support to employees to help them manage the emotional challenges of the work.
How to know if non-profit is a good fit for you
Deciding whether working in the non-profit industry is for you is a personal decision that depends on your individual values, interests, and career goals.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to help determine if working in the non-profit industry is a good fit for you:
- Do you have a passion for a particular cause or issue? Working in the non-profit industry requires a deep commitment to the organization’s mission and values. If you are passionate about a particular cause, such as social justice, environmentalism, or healthcare, working in the non-profit industry may be a good fit for you.
- Are you motivated by more than just financial compensation? Non-profit organizations may not be able to offer the same level of financial compensation as for-profit companies, but they often provide other benefits such as mission-driven work, personal and professional growth, and the opportunity to make a positive impact on society.
- Do you enjoy working collaboratively? Non-profit organizations often rely on collaboration and teamwork to achieve their goals. Ask yourself if you enjoy working with others, building relationships, and working towards a common goal.
- Can you handle emotionally challenging situations? Many non-profit organizations work with vulnerable populations or address sensitive issues. If you can handle emotionally challenging situations, such as working with people who have experienced trauma or injustice, working in the non-profit industry may be the place for you.
- Are you willing to wear multiple hats and take on diverse responsibilities? Non-profit organizations often have limited resources and require employees to be flexible and adaptable. Ask yourself if you’re willing to take on diverse responsibilities and learn new skills.
Ultimately, working in the non-profit industry requires a deep commitment to the organization’s mission and values, as well as a willingness to work collaboratively and handle emotionally challenging situations. If you feel passionate about a particular cause and are motivated by more than just financial compensation, working in the non-profit industry may be a fulfilling and rewarding career choice.
Thanks for reading!
📘You can get full access to every story on Medium for just $5/month by signing up through this link.
🔎 Job hunting? Make your job search journey easier with my free Notion job tracking template!
🤝🏼Learn more about my UX work here or connect with me on LinkedIn.
💬 Always welcome your thoughts or a conversation below!