The following sampling of tools and resources should be combined with your own research. We suggest you use targeted keyword searches to find representative employers and opportunities, explore professional associations, join LinkedIn groups, and browse additional job board postings. Remember to also search LinkedIN and MyPenn (formerly QuakerNet) to connect with Penn alumni in fields related to your interests. Additionally, the sample jobs and employers are only a small selection of what’s posted in Handshake – log in to see much more!
We also suggest using the Career Exploration section of our website for more information or researching by major.
As an industry, non-profit and common good organizations span an array of different areas and a huge number of different jobs. Public interest and advocacy orgs, arts and cultural institutions, social services, etc. all have a variety of needs when it comes to the types of roles they hire for; it’s worth thinking both about both the type of overall mission that aligns with your morals and values, but also considering what type of individual roles could match your skills and interests. Check out Vault Guides to learn more about specific industries, fields, and job functions.
Networking is simply talking and building relationships with professionals in careers that interest you to help you learn what it’s like to work in a particular role, field, or industry. In addition to MyPenn (formerly QuakerNet) and LinkedIN, you can take advantage of Penn institutions such as The Netter Center for Community Partnership and Civic House to connect with alumni. Read more here about how to make connections.
Non-profit and common good opportunities can be found in a variety of places, from larger job boards, to industry-specific boards like Idealist, to the career page of an organization’s website. We’ve curated a number of industry specific job boards as a jumping off point.
In Handshake, use keywords or the industry filter to hone in on relevant opportunities, the most recent of which are featured to the right.
On this page, we’ve compiled many resources to help you prepare for a career in non-profits. Of particular interest should be our industry specific job boards, resources/opportunities through Penn (like the Civic House Community Engagement Internship, the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program, and the Penn Program for Public Service Summer Internship), as well as various professional organizations in the field.
Brinn Gammer, COL ’24, Hazleton, PA
In my sophomore year, I switched from being prospectively pre-med to pre-law.
It sounds like quite the jump, but it wasn’t as unexpected as it may seem. I’ve always been interested in psychiatry and …
Elizabeth Caldwell, COL ’25, Glenwood, IA
The Career Services Summer Funding Award allowed me to participate in a volunteer internship position at the Philadelphia Irish Center. I had the opportunity to work with Irish Center members to produce oral histories …
Like many other international students, I was very focused on the academic part of student life when I arrived in the U.S. In my junior year of college, I suddenly felt this job-seeking urgency. I was only a couple of …
Amanda Sweeney, COL ’24, Philadelphia, PA
My summer as an intern with PennEnvironment could not have been more worthwhile. As my first internship in college outside of Penn, I was nervous at first. However, I met a lot of inspiring …
The Fall 2022 semester has officially begun, and campus is buzzing with excitement about new relationships, opportunities, and experiences. The Penn Career Services office is particularly excited this year, as this semester marks the first time that career fairs have …
Emily Barrale 
