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.
Have you ever networked with people outside of the U.S.? Whether you’re an international student looking to work in your home country or a domestic student looking for an adventure abroad, it’s always helpful to make connections in your industry …
The Association of University Presses hosts a job board for the global community of publishers whose mission is to ensure academic excellence and cultivate knowledge.
The Penn Program for Public Service (PPPS) Summer Internship is an 11-week multi-faceted summer program run through The Netter Center that immerses undergraduates in real-world problem solving in the West Philadelphia-Penn community.
It’s been cold, windy, and snowy this week in Philadelphia, and the question on everyone’s mind at Career Services is, “Is summer here yet?” Wherever in the world you find yourself this semester, you might also be wishing for longer …
An estimated nine in 10 nonprofits worldwide were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has therefore become increasingly important that social-impact organizations be able to adapt their priorities or service models in response to crises like this one.
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Kate Lawrence 
Emily Barrale 
