For several years I ran a not-for-profit organization in Washington, DC. My work focused on increasing the civic participation of young adults of color. During that period I met a lot of women like myself: well educated, earnest, committed to social change and woefully underpaid.
Philanthropy used to be the bastion of the trust fund set who used their subsistence wages to pay for trifles such as cab fare and cocktails. Although more average janes have now entered their ranks, salaries at most not-for-profit organizations haven’t dramatically improved. In far too many instances women who are trying to change the world can barely afford to pay their rent. The world of philanthropy is rife with underearners.
It’s not surprising since many women believe that it’s more important to “do good” than to make money. Consequently, in the not-for profit world, women have become accustomed to low pay. Moreover they’ve come to believe that being of service and being handsomely compensated are mutually exclusive. This poverty mentality then permeates not-for-profit organizations since most frequently struggle financially.
Rather than embrace a money mentality and devise plans to generate income that could be used to expand programs and increase employee salaries, most organizations remain largely dependent on grants and annual fundraising campaigns. This revenue plan is akin to a wife who’s totally reliant on her husband to pay the bills. It’s very good while he’s does it and very bad when he doesn’t.
Anyone who’s ever written a grant proposal or been interrogated,interviewed by a grant committee knows how precarious the grantor/grantee relationship can be. The annual initiatives of granting organizations often result in organizations changing the thrust of their programming to win a grant. In other instances the loss of a large grant could result in a major staff and/or program cuts. More problematic, salaries remain low at these organizations. Most grant writers acknowledge that it’s a sin to include more than a low-end “reasonable” salary in a proposal for staff positions.
At more than a few not-for-profits, not having a money mentality also means that administrative concerns are handled ad hoc. In 2004 the venerable Dance Theater of Harlem was on the verge of having to disband its troupe and close it’s school because of a 2.5 million dollar short-fall. In the 35 years of its existence, only in the face of bankruptcy was it hiring an executive director to oversee the business and financial issues.
Women could do even more good in the world if they made making money a priority. However change agents would first have to deal with their own money fears and money biases in order to bring new financial ideas and cash to their organizations.
I have a presentation How Artists and Change Agents Can Do More Good By Embracing a Money Mentality that talks directly to artists and change agents about why they money provides them with important power and leverage that can be used to advance their causes. I’d love to talk to your organization or private group about how to do more good, by getting more money!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I just found your site through twitter and I’m so glad I did! What you wrote about is so important and as a recent graduate and working in the social service field for the last 5years, it’s almost a taboo to ever talk about money. I’m constantly asked to work for “free” because I love working with youth. But if I cant sustain myself, how can I help others? I recently wrote a post about this on my personal blog regards to internships. If you have any feedback for me, that would be great. I look forward to reading more and learning from you.
Hi Shariya:
Thank you so much for taking time to comment. Your first obligation is to yourself, in terms of sustaining yourself emotionally, physically and financially. You’re indeed right that if you’re tired or stressing about money you can’t be of real service to youth or anyone else.
If I were coaching you I’d suggest tha immediately you begin saying no to forced volunteer assignements. This is a way that organizations use to duck their responsibility to generate more revenue and hire more staff.
Second I’d tell you get comfortable talking about money whether anyone else does or not. If you haven’t had a raise in at least a year and a half and/or you’ve taken on broader responsibilities it’s time to ask for a raise.
You have to value your own time and efforts and not allow anyone, even under the guise of “doing good” to suggest that you should discount yourself. If one organization can’t/won’t meet your value (salary) requests another one can/will.