Careers in Program Development

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in program development? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

Bike and Build is a non-profit that leads cross-country bike trips in support of affordable housing. I’m sure you won’t be surprised that an under-taking of this magnitude involves a lot of planning. Some tasks on the list include leaders for the trips, participants for the trips, fundraising, biking and food supplies, route-planning, press for the program, etc. Chances are a number of program assistants helped make this program everything that it is. Program assistants and jacks (and jills) of all trades: they do anything and everything to help push their program forward.

Program Assistant Career Guide Overview

  1. What a Program Assistant Does
  2. A Typical Day for a Program Assistant
  3. Salary and Career Progression for a Program Assistant
  4. Best Locations for Program Assistants
  5. Pros and Cons of Being a Program Assistant
  6. What You Need to Know to be a Program Assistant
  7. Program Assistant Resources
  8. Careers Related to Program Assistant
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships for Program Assistants

What a Program Assistant Does

Non-profit program assistants tend to serve as the right-hand persons of their supervisors. As a result many of their duties are administrative but they may also have some supervisory duties. Non-profit program assistants solicit grants for the organization by preparing grant application letters and meeting with grantors to discuss the purpose of their organization as well as how they intend to use the grant money. In addition they sometimes interview job candidates, train new workers, and supervise staff members in the director’s absence. They may also visit media outlets to promote upcoming events that the organization is sponsoring such as food drives, charity dinners, or a school supply giveaway.

A Typical Day for a Program Assistant

While there is no typical day for a program assistant, some tasks might include:

  • Meet with clients
  • Read and reply to emails
  • Make phone calls
  • Assist with staff meetings
  • Maintain office supplies
  • Interview job candidates
  • Train new workers
  • Supervise staff members in the director’s absence
  • Promote upcoming events

Salary and Career Progression for a Program Assistant

The average salary for a Program Assistant in a non-profit is $35,000 per year, although it ranges between $31,000-$43,000. One way to begin at a non-profit is in direct service. From there people often transition into coordinating aspects of programs (a program assistant), such as managing volunteers, and then eventually managing entire programs. You could consider getting involved in the development ($55,000) or marketing ($25,000-$45,000/yearly) aspects of the company as well.

Best Locations for Program Assistants

Here are some great locations for program assistants:

  • New York, New York
  • Washington, DC
  • San Francisco, California
  • Baltimore, Maryland
  • Austin, Texas
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Raleigh, North Carolina

Pros and Cons of Being a Program Assistant

Pros
  • Lots of collaborative work
  • Learn how to run your own business or non-profit
  • Contributing to a good cause
Cons
  • Salary not very high
  • Lots of administrative repetitive tasks

What You Need to Know to be a Program Assistant

To be a program assistant you will usually need at least a high school diploma and/or a bachelor’s degree with a focus in either business, communications or marketing. Other skills to develop for this function include the ability to multi-task, handle difficult clients, pay attention to details, great working collaboratively, and take initiative.

Program Assistant Resources

If being a program assistant still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Job Search Resources

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Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Program Development

Cradles to Crayons Logo

Cradles to Crayons - Cradles to Crayons is a Brighton, MA based non-profit that is focused on “providing to children ages 0 to 12 some of the most important basics of life—free of charge.”

See the complete Cradles to Crayons profile


Whole New World Foundation Logo

Whole New World Foundation - The Whole New World Foundation is a Miami, FL based non-profit that works “to crowd-source the most promising solutions to important challenges.”

See the complete Whole New World Foundation profile


Goodweave Logo

Goodweave - Goodweave is a Washington, DC based non-profit that “is helping to combat this problem and transform the rug industry by certifying child-labor-free rugs."

See the complete Goodweave profile


Generation Citizen Logo

Generation Citizen - Generation Citizen is a Boston, MA based non-profit that “teaches teenagers direct political action through an innovative in-class curriculum.”

See the complete Generation Citizen profile


SumOfUs Logo

SumOfUs - SumOfUs is a New York, NY based non-profit that is starting a “member-driven movement” to put people before profits.

See the complete SumOfUs profile


Mission Asset Fund Logo

Mission Asset Fund - Mission Asset Fund is a San Francisco non-profit that's “transforming the financial services sector so that all hardworking families have a shot at achieving their dreams.”

See the complete Mission Asset Fund profile


American Film Institute Logo

American Film Institute - AFI is an L.A. non-profit that aims "to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers.”

See the complete American Film Institute profile


Room to Grow Logo

Room to Grow - Room to Grow is a New York, NY based non-profit that aims “to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development.”

See the complete Room to Grow profile


GlamourGals Logo

GlamourGals - GlamourGals is an NYC based non-profit that inspires “teens to provide ongoing complimentary beauty makeovers and companionship to women living in senior homes.”

See the complete GlamourGals profile


City Blossoms Logo

City Blossoms - City Blossoms is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is “dedicated to kid-driven, community engaging, creative green spaces.”

See the complete City Blossoms profile


Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture Logo

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture - Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is a Pocantico Hills, NY based non-profit that's "working to improve the way America eats and farms.”

See the complete Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture profile


MATHCOUNTS Logo

MATHCOUNTS - MATHCOUNTS is an Alexandria, VA based non-profit that “provides fun and challenging math programs to US middle school students."

See the complete MATHCOUNTS profile


Mass Farmers Markets Logo

Mass Farmers Markets - Mass Farmers Markets is a Waltham, MA based non-profit that aims "to foster, enhance and sustain farmers market in Massachusetts."

See the complete Mass Farmers Markets profile


Bottom Line Logo

Bottom Line - Bottom Line is a Boston, MA based non-profit that “has helped thousands of low-income and first-generation students stay in college and earn their degrees.”

See the complete Bottom Line profile


The New York Academy of Sciences Logo

The New York Academy of Sciences - The New York Academy of Sciences is a New York, NY based “international, nonprofit membership organization working to advance scientific knowledge."

See the complete The New York Academy of Sciences profile


Children's Literacy Initiative Logo

Children’s Literacy Initiative - Children's Literacy Initiative is a Philly based non-profit “that works with teachers to transform instruction so that children can become powerful readers, writers and thinkers.”

See the complete Children’s Literacy Initiative profile


Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Logo

Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center - Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is an SF non-profit that helps people "achieve financial self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship.”

See the complete Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center profile


The San Francisco Foundation Logo

The San Francisco Foundation - The San Francisco Foundation is a non-profit founded in 1948 “to pull the community together to create pride and unity and improve quality of life” in the Bay Area.

See the complete The San Francisco Foundation profile


Partners of the Americas Logo

Partners of the Americas - Partners of the Americas is a DC based non-profit that works to “build partnerships that create opportunity, foster understanding, and solve real-life problems.”

See the complete Partners of the Americas profile


Philabundance Logo

Philabundance - Philabundance is a Philadelphia, PA based organization that holds the “simple belief that no man, woman or child should go hungry.”

See the complete Philabundance profile


The Center for Effective Philanthropy

The Center for Effective Philanthropy - The Center for Effective Philanthropy is based in Cambridge, MA and San Francisco, CA and helps "philanthropic funders better define, assess, and improve their effectiveness."

See the complete The Center for Effective Philanthropy profile


National Alliance to End Homelessness Logo

National Alliance to End Homelessness - The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a Washington, DC based non-profit that, as its name indicates, is working to end homelessness.

See the complete National Alliance to End Homelessness profile


National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance Logo

National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance - National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance is an Amherst, MA based non-profit that supports “technology innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education."

See the complete National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance profile


Chemical Education Foundation Logo

Chemical Education Foundation - The Chemical Education Foundation is an Arlington, VA based non-profit that “is committed to enhancing science education among every generation."

See the complete Chemical Education Foundation profile


Natural Resources Defense Council Logo

Natural Resources Defense Council - NRDC is an NYC based non-profit that wants to "safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends."

See the complete Natural Resources Defense Council profile


Mercy Corps Logo

Mercy Corps - Mercy Corps, a Portland, OR non-profit, helps “people in the world’s toughest places survive the crises they confront and turn them into opportunities to thrive.”

See the complete Mercy Corps profile


FareStart

FareStart - FareStart is a Seattle, WA non-profit that empowers homeless and disadvantaged people "through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry.”

See the complete FareStart profile


Road Scholar Logo

Road Scholar - Road Scholar is a Boston, MA based non-profit that aims to inspire "adults to learn, discover and travel" by offering educational tours all across the world.

See the complete Road Scholar profile


Beauty Bus Foundation Logo

Beauty Bus Foundation - Beauty Bus Foundation is a Santa Monica, CA non-profit that “delivers dignity, hope and respite to chronically or terminally ill people" through beauty services.

See the complete Beauty Bus Foundation profile


Institute for Educational Leadership Logo

Institute for Educational Leadership - The Institute for Educational Leadership is a Washington, DC based non-profit that does research, leadership development, and policy work in the area of education.

See the complete Institute for Educational Leadership profile


Chicago Run Logo

Chicago Run - Chicago Run is a non-profit that uses running to promote “the health and wellness of Chicago children through innovative, engaging, and sustainable youth programs.”

See the complete Chicago Run profile


Defenders of Wildlife Logo

Defenders of Wildlife - Defenders of Wildlife is a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims to “protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America."

See the complete Defenders of Wildlife profile


Group of Fifty Logo

Group of Fifty - The Group of Fifty is a DC based non-profit made up of select “business leaders who head some of the most significant and forward-looking enterprises in Latin America."

See the complete Group of Fifty profile


City Parks Foundation Logo

City Parks Foundation - City Parks Foundation is a New York, NY based non-profit that creates “programs in parks throughout all five boroughs of New York City.”

See the complete City Parks Foundation profile


Lend for America Logo

Lend for America - Lend for America is a New Brunswick, NJ based non-profit that helps "college students change the lives of their communities’ low-income families" through microfinance.

See the complete Lend for America profile


iMentor Logo

iMentor - iMentor is an NYC based non-profit that “builds mentoring relationships that empower students in low-income communities to achieve their ambitions.”

See the complete iMentor profile


Art Enables Logo

Art Enables - Art Enables is a Washington, DC based non-profit that helps people with developmental disabilities make a living from their artistic expression.

See the complete Art Enables profile


first-logo

FIRST - FIRST is a Manchester, NH based non-profit that uses robotics to create "a world where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.”

See the complete FIRST profile


Red Rabbit Logo

Red Rabbit - Red Rabbit is a New York, NY based company aiming “to fix the school food system—one community at a time” by providing healthy school meals.

See the complete Red Rabbit profile


Irish Arts Center Logo

Irish Arts Center - The Irish Arts Center, a New York, NY based non-profit that is "dedicated to projecting a dynamic image of Ireland and Irish America for the 21st century."

See the complete Irish Arts Center profile


Seattle Tilth Logo

Seattle Tilth - Seattle Tilth aims “to inspire and educate people to safeguard our natural resources while building an equitable and sustainable local food system.”

See the complete Seattle Tilth profile


Food & Friends Logo

Food & Friends - Food & Friends is a Washington, DC based non-profit that cares for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other illnesses by preparing and delivering meals.

See the complete Food & Friends profile


Reasoning Mind Logo

Reasoning Mind - Reasoning Mind is a Houston, TX based non-profit that uses web technology to help kids learn math, and they're hiring lots of new grads.

See the complete Reasoning Mind profile


Social Impact Logo

Social Impact - Social Impact is an Arlington, VA based management consulting firm that aims “to make international development more effective in improving people’s lives.”

See the complete Social Impact profile


Youth For Understanding USA Logo

Youth For Understanding USA - YFU USA is a Bethesda, MD non-profit foreign exchange “committed to preparing young people for their responsibilities and opportunities in a changing world.”

See the complete Youth For Understanding USA profile


New Leaders Logo

New Leaders - New Leaders is a non-profit that “develops transformational school leaders and designs effective leadership policies and practices for school systems across the country.”

See the complete New Leaders profile


Real Change Logo

Real Change - Real Change is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that provides "opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic justice.”

See the complete Real Change profile


The Tech Museum of Innovation Logo

The Tech Museum of Innovation - The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA is a "hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds."

See the complete The Tech Museum of Innovation profile


New York Needs You

New York Needs You - New York Needs You is a non-profit that is aiming to enable “first-generation college students to realize their college and career ambitions."

See the complete New York Needs You profile


Wounded Warrior Project Logo

Wounded Warrior Project - Wounded Warrior Project is a Jacksonville, FL based non-profit that aims “to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history.”

See the complete Wounded Warrior Project profile


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