The Launchpad by Second Day

Overall estimated read time: 12 minutes

Last updated: July 2021

If you would prefer to support a range of mission-driven organizations rather than focus on one program, you may be attracted to a career in Philanthropy. Beyond the practical employee benefits of working for a foundation, you can have significant influence on the broader social sector by guiding the flow of donations to the best and most impactful nonprofits. Foundation staff are trusted to distribute millions of dollars each year to causes that they care about. That’s no small thing! In addition, you’ll often gain exposure to a wide range of social issues, since philanthropies often work with “portfolios” of hundreds of different organizations. In this way, working for a foundation at the beginning of your career will give you a bird’s-eye view of the social impact world. 

The comfort, resources, and stimulation of jobs in Philanthropy can be very appealing, so the application process tends to be highly competitive. At the same time, the day to day experience of foundation employees may feel distanced from what nonprofit partners are actually doing on the ground. This disconnect often means foundations prefer to hire talent who have already had experience in the field and can bring that context to their work. Cutting your teeth at a nonprofit or social enterprise before working for a foundation also provides a smoother path into a programs role, in which hiring managers typically look for some years of experience. However, if you decide to start your career in Philanthropy, you can still gain valuable skills that will transition well to work on the ground after your time at a foundation.

The Philanthropy sector is in the midst of a reckoning over the problematic structures of privilege that result from the funder-grantee relationship. In particular, foundations have come under fire for their largely white, privileged leadership and few members who have lived experience of the issues the fund aims to advance. The conversations around diversity and inclusion are happening across the Philanthropy sector, and some meaningful changes are taking place.  However, foundations have a long way to go before there is a widespread shift in power dynamics. For some, this context could be a drawback to joining this industry. While for others, this could be an opportunity to help lead a change in how foundations operate in the coming decades. 

If this career path sounds exciting to you, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about working in Philanthropy. To inform our work, Second Day has spoken to experts in the field and gathered the best information out there for upcoming and recent graduates. First, the guide will take you through the  different entry-level positions to look out for in this field. Then, we’ll provide tips on actually getting those jobs in Philanthropy. We’ll finish with our next three steps: actionable items you can take to make progress towards building a career in Philanthropy. Let’s get started!