"Nonprofits are not broken for-profits" is one of the best lines in this Forbes Nonprofit Council piece. The piece is written by the President/CEO of Junior Achievment - an organization that has managed to survive and even thrive multiple changing environments (although I think it helps that the folks who back this nonprofit are pretty much carrying forward their own accomplishments).
So, the article, titled Seven Things Everyone Should Know Before Working for a Nonprofit", offers the following recommendations in addition to the first, that nonprofits are not broken for-profits (a gross error I see time and time again by business types whose business experiences limit their ability to value process, teamwork (as a board and staff) and results that are not singularly financial.
Next: nonprofits are a lot of work. True enough although I believe this applies to every sector institution be it public, private and nonprofit.
Next: there are politics here, too. Again, in my experience, true for every sector institution - pretty much goes with anything that involves people on a mission or with a responsibility.
Next: it (working with nonprofits) can be thankless. The author's theory is that there could be the belief that working with for a nonprofit should always engender appreciation (you know, doing God's work). Of course, there are many life callings where one may think appreciation is warranted but let's be real. So, again, not singular to nonprofits but valid just the same.
Next: it does make a difference, even if you don't always feel it. True enough but not always. I would pose that nonprofits often face the same challenges in finding the right strategies to accomplish mission and it doesn't always make a difference. This too is a common reality in every sector.
Next: It's a great way to start a career. As the author notes, I agree that nonprofits may indeed be unique in both their need for volunteers and their willingness to provide volunteers with opportunities they would likely not have in other environments. That these skills are always transferable to other sectors or industries, maybe not but that might be fine. And of course, having career goals helps.
Finally, you won't be sorry. Would that were true but maybe it's true for more than less.