While the world of nonprofits is known for favoring altruism and the public good, all employees still expect to earn fair compensation for their labor. When it comes to interviewing for a nonprofit position, the topic of salary and compensation is an understandable priority for the interviewee. How much is too much to ask for, or too little? When is it appropriate to bring up the topic? Will I sell myself short or appear demanding and avaricious if I approach the subject badly? Fortunately for the potential interviewee, there are plenty of resources out there to aid with questions on salaries.

Firstly, as with any job, it’s wise to research the position that you are applying to. You can speak with friends and colleagues who have worked in the target organization or look on the org’s website for their stated compensations. In addition, Karen Alphonse recommends sites where you can compare executives’ salaries, like Guidestar.org or the Nonprofit Times (Negotiating Non Profit Job Salaries). In this way, when the interviewer asks you what compensation you want for your labor, you will know what sort of answer is expected.

Secondly, honesty is essential during the process. If you exaggerate your experience and qualification or lie about your present salary in the hopes of gaining a higher salary, you will be found out. Companies do their research too. In her article ‘Money Talks—Salary Expectations For Nonprofit Professionals’, Carmel Napolitano points out that if you are seeking an executive position, your present salary likely appears in your company’s IRS 990 form (Money Talks). Just, be honest.

Finally, when you are considering your options for different potential employers, bear in mind that compensation is more than just the numbers on the paycheck. Vacation, flextime, good locations, and other factors should be considered in addition to the salary. In Laura Otting’s article ‘Answering the $64,000 Question’ she notes: “A paycheck of $75,000 with benefits equaling $25,000 means that your next employer will need to compensate you in excess of $100,000” (Answering the $64,000 Question). Learning the additional benefits is part of your research process, and knowing what kinds of benefits you hope to gain for your labor is an important component to ensuring that you are receiving fair compensation.

Alphonse, Karen. ‘Negotiating Nonprofit Salaries.’ ExecSearches.com. 7 October 2017. Web. https://execsearches.com/articles/job-seeker/negotiating-nonprofit-salaries-job-search

Napolitano, Carmel. ‘Money Talks—Salary Expectations For Nonprofit Professionals.’ ExecSearches.com. 7 October 2017. Web. 5 July 2011. https://blog.execsearches.com/2011/07/05/money-talks-salary-expectations-for-nonprofit-professionals/

Otting, Laura Gassner. ‘Answering the $64,000 Question: What Is Your Current Salary?’ ExecSearches. 7 October 2017. Web. https://execsearches.com/articles/job-seeker/answering-recruiters-question-what-is-your-current-salary