Top 20 Phrases to Describe The Nonprofit Industry
For those of us who have worked and volunteered in nonprofits we know how interesting and complex the industry can be. Endless workweeks, nonexistent boundaries, burnout, and hope are some of the ingredients to describe the world of social change. But for those who are unfamiliar or unaware, working or volunteering for a great cause isn’t always “sunshine and rainbows.”
The Nonprofit Makeover took to social media to ask nonprofit leaders around the globe how they would describe the nonprofit industry in one phrase. Brace yourself, some of these may cause you to laugh out loud - quite honestly, we hope it does..
Top 20 Phrases to Describe The Nonprofit Industry
“Relevant”
“After working in business and government…. It feels like being home”
“Burnout”
“Begging for dollars - This one got me!”
“Safety net for communities when government fails”
“Money Dance”
“Outdated”
“Philanthropic Hunger Games” - This one needs to be a new Netflix series.
“Necessary”
“Replace boards with puppies”
“Endless platters of shit sandwiches”
“Essential”
“I can’t pay the rent with unicorn tears and glitter”
“Impactful”
“Cannibalistic”
“What are your metrics for measuring the effectiveness of free hugs?”
“Changing the world with vastly inadequate resources”
“Under appreciated”
“The Nonprofit industrial complex: cousin to corporate world and sibling to the DEI-complex”
“Filling in the gaps”
