Many mission-driven organizations strive to become more inclusive workplaces through interventions in hiring, training and organizational culture. But these efforts can fall flat when compensation isn’t part of the conversation.
Fair pay practices for mission-driven work
It’s time to ask different questions:
- What do our pay scales say about how we value different kinds of work and workers?
- How do compensation structures unintentionally reinforce inequality across race, gender, and class?
- How do differences in wages and other compensation impact employee morale, burnout and retention?
- What ways have organizations with limited budgets found to provide fair and sustaining employment?
Staffing the Mission brings together workers, activists, organizers, foundation staff and more to identify, document and promote practical strategies that mission-driven organizations can adopt to better live our missions.
Another way is Possible!
Some examples of the innovative practices we will spotlight:
- A resource-constrained nonprofit made its jobs “affordable” for employees from working class backgrounds through relatively low-cost measures: subsidizing child care, flexible work schedules, student loan assistance, and paying a regionally-adjusted living wage.
- Staff and board of one nonprofit collaboratively developed new salary ranges that were more equitable than prevailing wage benchmarks and felt fair to everyone.
Check out these recent articles from the Chronicle of Philanthropy about inequity in the sector:
Charities Get More Professional but Fear Losing Touch with Those They Serve
7 Ways Nonprofits are Building Economically Diverse Staffs
Please get in touch to:
- share your success stories, horror stories, questions and ideas
- inquire about becoming part of our advisory council
- discuss opportunities to support this project by contributing financially
- discuss opportunities to support this project by contributing your time, expertise, or networks
Fill out this anonymous survey to help us learn more about compensation and equity at nonprofit employers.