Nonprofit & Philanthropy Club

Mission

The Nonprofit and Philanthropy Club at CMU's Heinz College brings together students with professional or personal interest in the nonprofit or philanthropic sectors. Students meet with nonprofit leaders; tour innovative organizations; learn about career opportunities in philanthropy; and discuss issues of critical importance to the nonprofit sector.

Goals

The club aims to bring speakers to the college, assist students in attending conferences and provide networking opportunities.

Need

For a variety of reasons, few students leave the Heinz College for careers in the nonprofit sector. According to the Heinz College website, only 14 percent of graduating Heinz students entered the nonprofit sector upon graduating in 2006. A career in the nonprofit world can be a vague concept to students for many reasons, including:

1. Nonprofits generally do not recruit on campus for full-time jobs;
2. The nonprofit sector generally does not have the clear and linear career ladder that is offered by for-profit consulting companies, the federal government, and other large employers that recruit at the Heinz College;
3. Much of the nonprofit sector is driven by networking connections making building or starting a career challenging at the entry level.

While many of these issues are not specific to the Heinz School, it seems fewer resources are devoted to this sector, compared to others. For example, while nonprofit budgeting is touched upon in financial analysis, it is easy to get through the Heinz curriculum without being exposed to issues directly related to nonprofit management.

Contact the Club

Facebook Group: Nonprofit and Philanthropy Club

Email: Nonprofit and Philanthropy Club Heinz College