I am a director at a nonprofit, and I've started to let myself think that maybe it's just not for me.

14 Comments

1. AnonymousMarch 14,2023 at 5:14PM UTC

   Have you tried speaking with her and saying "I'm sad to say it, but I'm just not into this job any longer. I no longer enjoy it. I feel that I need to move on and try something new." If there is something at the org that you are interested in, ask to try that. If not, start looking for a job that you're interested in.

2. AnonymousMarch 14,2023 at 5:15PM UTC

   I've been exactly there. I transitioned out by finding a new job. I focused on my transferrable skills. It took a while, but it can be done. I told the ED ahead of time, when I knew it was going to happen, that they were going to receive a reference check on me. Which translated to 'I've been looking for a new job'. Then when I gave my notice it wasn't a shock to them. Fast forward a year later when I came by they even asked if they could give me a hug. Were super happy to see me. No bridges burnt.

   Though if you are interested in learning/doing something else at the nonprofit or in that industry mention that to her. Say you would like to try...xyz... She may be able to help guide you in that direction. Seems like she wants to help.

3. AnonymousMarch 15,2023 at 3:34AM UTC

   You don't need to convince anyone of anything. There is nothing wrong with moving on in a,new direction.

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 15,2023 at 6:46AM UTC

   YOU SAID:

   "Now, I have to convince those around me."

   Why?

   Being miserable is a choice. Choose you.

5. AnonymousMarch 15,2023 at 10:33PM UTC

   Is there anything in that sector that you do enjoy or would like to try? If so, talk to your Executive Director about trying your hand at those things. If in the end you try those things and still aren't happy, take a step back and find the things that excite you. As someone else said, we all have transferable skills. Identify those and talk to people in those roles to learn how you can begin working in those roles.

6. AnonymousMarch 17,2023 at 12:20PM UTC

   I had a similar experience as an executive director for a small non-profit. There is nothing wrong with gracefully bowing out. Let your ED know you feel it just may not be the best fit for you and you need to seek other opportunities. It takes a lot of passion for the job to be in non-profit, and it’s perfectly ok if you don’t have that passion. It’s not for everyone.

7. AnonymousMarch 17,2023 at 12:36PM UTC

   You don’t have to convince anyone. You can simply transition out. However working in the NPO field for 10 years myself, unless you really trust your ED, I wouldn’t mention it, job search like you would under any other circumstance. To leave under the best circumstances start documenting processes, etc. now and when you leave you’ll have laid the ground work for a smooth transition, that’s really all you can do. There’s this “I work at a NPO, so I owe them something mentality” a lot of people have but you don’t, at the end of the day it’s a job.

   I’ve been in senior director roles across various nonprofits and my opinion is based on my experience. Good luck.

8. Amy Miller, Psy.D. - Career CoachMarch 17,2023 at 1:20PM UTC

   I agree, you will have to convince people to hire you in a new role of course, but no need to convince anyone that you want to leave- you are not obligated to work anywhere . One way of thinking I see a lot that can make things unnecessarily difficult is the idea that leaving a job (or sector, role, etc) means something was a mistake or time wasted. Just because you are ready to move on doesn’t mean you were wrong to be there in the first place. Everything you do builds on the past. It may be helpful to think of how common and acceptable and exciting it really is to do different things at different times in our life, and how what you know from your long successful career will help you in your next role whatever that may be. Look at what the key elements were that made you successful, an overlap with the (maybe few) parts of your job you liked the most, because I would guess they can be applied to another type of role.

9. Megan RussellMarch 17,2023 at 12:53PM UTC

   I went through a similar realization about a year and a half ago. Enjoyed the sector I was in, but had figured out that I disliked what I was doing. I transitioned to an entry level position where I could learn the skills I needed, and actually returned to my previous employer in a different role. I think if you are honest with yourself and others, no one can be upset about it. I think it’s unrealistic to expect that people will be happy with only one thing for the rest of their lives.

10. AnonymousMarch 17,2023 at 1:18PM UTC

    Best to keep it to yourself until you have a new role. The boss is likelyto believe that because you don’t like your work, the quality is likely to suffer. You could be let go before you’re ready to go. Or, they could be perfectly graceful. We’ve seen enough posts on FGB to know anything could happen.

11. AnonymousMarch 19,2023 at 12:58AM UTC

    I agree. May be there could be a change of mind even after talking it out with the boss ad colleagues.

12. AnonymousMarch 17,2023 at 6:44PM UTC

    I think you have to remember its your career and your ladder and no one is owed an explanation. Take some time to repair your soul and to search for something that makes you happy. It might not actually be work and perhaps work should be just that, work. And then you can find the pieces of your life that make you happy and content outside of a work situation. Do what makes you feel best take some courses, talk to people who do things you admire in other perhaps for profit companies. Often times companies where there is a financial incentive to do better people come with more gusto and success in mind. Not to disrespect not for profits at all but maybe its about the mission? Is the work you have done there transferrable to another industry? If so work up a resume to focus on what you did both strategic and tactical and any management of resources to share. Go for something outside of your comfort zone and stretch out past what you know. You got this sister!

13. AnonymousMarch 17,2023 at 10:11PM UTC

    This happened to me. The nonprofit world was always where I wanted to be. I loved developing programs for my nonprofit - ours targeted educational opportunities for at risk teens, as well as making bonds with the wonderful young participants of those programs. When I was the executive director, I lost all the “fun”. It became about playing politics and the pressure to keep bringing money in to keep programs afloat in unstable times - driving Corp sponsorships, schmoozing donors. I realize some people live for that but it requires an extroverted personality, maybe geared more to sales and marketing, I realized that wasn’t for me. And was completely burnt out. Agree with other replies here. It’s your life and don’t need to convince any one of your decision. I totally understand you walkIng away from it. I did so, too.

14. Paula BrantnerMarch 20,2023 at 5:42AM UTC

    Is it the demands of the job itself? Is it that the .org's mission doesn't inspire you? What is it that you don't like about it?

    I'm not sure whether the problem is this specific job, or this specific organization, or the entire nonprofit world. There are different strategies I would recommend, after ~25 years in and around the sector, depending on what you think the problem is.