Is Atlanta A Good Market with Nonprofits? (2009, how much)

[NewGrad2009]

I just want to know if Atlanta has a lot of nonprofits that are not faith based, and if so, where can I find these listings?

[lastminutemom]

opportunityknocks.org is you are job hunting. But most non-profits here are really hurting and most jobs are in development/fundraising and noone can keep them because they can't raise enough money.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by NewGrad2009

I just want to know if Atlanta has a lot of nonprofits that are not faith based, and if so, where can I find these listings?

Try this>>

United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta

How much do you know about Atlanta?

Home of Emory University, AUC, Carter Foundation, Coca Cola and more.

Civil Rights are a priority here--so yes, to answer your question--efforts are being made to keep up with the needs anyway we can. Many Non-profit organizations--currently struggling with the economic challenges.

[sweettea1]

also Boys and Girls Clubs of America has their corporate offices here Boys & Girls Clubs of America

[bizchick86]

My only comparison could be NYC, where I studied and worked in the non-profit sector. Suffice to say, nothing can compare to NYC with pretty much anything, so my opinion wouldn't be fair.

That perspective aside, from what I've seen, Atlanta is ridiculously less civically and politically engaged than I expected upon moving back here (I would venture to say apathetic, unless it's some talking point issue like protesting a club coming to midtown, for instance), and the non-profit community for social justice issues are miniscule.

I think churches are probably the biggest market for non-profit work in the area, considering we're in the bible belt.

Just as a contrast, and I hate to bring this up because again it's not fair to compare anything to NYC, but the non-profit community up there is super-competitive to the point it seems just like the corporate arena. There are more social work programs and very strong ones in NYC, and there is a much larger market for non-profit employment there as well. Added to that is the diversity of issues non-profits address, which is expected given the diversity of the population. To give you an example, visit idealist.org and search for jobs. A search for Atlanta will pull up 11 jobs. A search in NYC gets 1,575.

For me, ATL's non-profit scene was disappointing, but that may not be someone else's perspective coming from a smaller market.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

My only comparison could be NYC, where I studied and worked in the non-profit sector. Suffice to say, nothing can compare to NYC with pretty much anything, so my opinion wouldn't be fair.

That perspective aside, from what I've seen, Atlanta is ridiculously less civically and politically engaged than I expected upon moving back here (I would venture to say apathetic, unless it's some talking point issue like protesting a club coming to midtown, for instance), and the non-profit community for social justice issues are miniscule.

I think churches are probably the biggest market for non-profit work in the area, considering we're in the bible belt.

Just as a contrast, and I hate to bring this up because again it's not fair to compare anything to NYC, but the non-profit community up there is super-competitive to the point it seems just like the corporate arena. There are more social work programs and very strong ones in NYC, and there is a much larger market for non-profit employment there as well. Added to that is the diversity of issues non-profits address, which is expected given the diversity of the population.

For me, ATL's non-profit scene was disappointing, but that may not be someone else's perspective coming from a smaller market.

You are very close to being perfectly correct.
'The Bible Belt', KKK and all that has had an effect. I lack the vision to analyze the goodness or badness of that, today--possibly ever.

What type of progress is right for Atlanta and Georgia. I am at a loss.

[NewGrad2009]

Originally Posted by bizchick86

My only comparison could be NYC, where I studied and worked in the non-profit sector. Suffice to say, nothing can compare to NYC with pretty much anything, so my opinion wouldn't be fair.

That perspective aside, from what I've seen, Atlanta is ridiculously less civically and politically engaged than I expected upon moving back here (I would venture to say apathetic, unless it's some talking point issue like protesting a club coming to midtown, for instance), and the non-profit community for social justice issues are miniscule.

I think churches are probably the biggest market for non-profit work in the area, considering we're in the bible belt.

Just as a contrast, and I hate to bring this up because again it's not fair to compare anything to NYC, but the non-profit community up there is super-competitive to the point it seems just like the corporate arena. There are more social work programs and very strong ones in NYC, and there is a much larger market for non-profit employment there as well. Added to that is the diversity of issues non-profits address, which is expected given the diversity of the population.

For me, ATL's non-profit scene was disappointing, but that may not be someone else's perspective coming from a smaller market.

It woud be very difficult to find a job in NYC. It's so competitive. I live so far away. I don't have the money saved up to move. I have no local connections there. I'm entry level as well.

[bizchick86]

Originally Posted by NewGrad2009

It woud be very difficult to find a job in NYC. It's so competitive. I live so far away. I don't have the money saved up to move. I have no local connections there. I'm entry level as well.

Oh no, my suggestion is not at all to move to NYC (as evident, I moved away from the city).

I mentioned it to show my barometer for what I consider a "good" market based on my experience there.

What are you trying to do in the non-profit sector? This may make a difference for you, as it may open you up to government work as well, which is probably a bit more feasible given the increasing activity of the public sector due to stimulus funds.

[NewGrad2009]

Anything related to community development or human rights would be ideal. I have nonprofit experience so that's why I'd like to consider it. I'm currently working on the state govt level, but idk how hard it would be to get a job working in the GA state govt since I'm not a state resident.

[bizchick86]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

You are very close to being perfectly correct.
'The Bible Belt', KKK and all that has had an effect. I lack the vision to analyze the goodness or badness of that, today--possibly ever.

What type of progress is right for Atlanta and Georgia. I am at a loss.

It's always fascinating to me exploring history, because it shapes lives for generations to come, and certainly the origins of Atlanta and northern industrial cities shaped their character to this very day.

This is veering off topic a bit, but your mention of the KKK reminded of how "progress" (or at least proclamations of wanting to be a "progressive" city) is what has helped Atlanta become more urban while other southern cities have lagged.

Going back to the issue at hand, because a city like New York drew in people and had high density from jump, you naturally had alliances, special interests, and organizations to advocate for those special interests early on in their history. The problems from "city life" were seen early in the Chicagos and New Yorks of the world, and the non-profits to address them followed.

Because Atlanta is relative newcomer in the industrialization game, and still has vestiges of pro-business, anti-union attitudes, all this combines to form a relatively apatheic populace and a relatively small non-profit market.

I think once Atlanta becomes more urban and more people actually live in the city, you'll have more folks speaking out and creating organizations to deal with urban and global issues. It can be hard remembering just how new Atlanta is sometimes; I'm sure with time it will really pick up in everything from transit to density to the non-profit field.