For transitioning veterans who value working for a purpose, have you or would you consider working for a non-profit? Why/Why not?

I have worked for a non-profit. The only recommendations I would make are as follows:

1. Be passionate about the cause. Non-profits come in all shapes and sizes. Many don't last and many do not pay well. In this category, you should be in it to advance the cause. You could also start your own.
2. If job stability is important, look for well established organizations will a long history like the Red Cross, OxFam, etc.

Be careful, I went to work for a not-for-profit that was welcoming to veterans in 1992 Mark Heick. At the time it was an Federally Funded Research Development Center (FFRDC) set up during the time when McNamara was SECDEF.
They supported me as I was mobilized after 9-11-2001 and welcomed me back in the summer of 2004. Leadership transitioned new board members came on board. My service-connected disabilities and other disabilities made it increasingly more challenging to get to and from work, navigate stairs, etc.
Once the Affordable Care Act [oxymoron that it is] was activated in 2013, I was notified that I would be terminated. That company used to be veteran friendly and it stopping being listed as a veteran supporting company by 2012.
Thanks for mentioning me COL Mikel J. Burroughs

SGT (Join to see) thanks for your Service and the thumbs up.

Non-profit organization's are normally non-union, which I like better.

Great question Mark. I'd like to get some input from the TOP Influencers on this one.

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSLSMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" ThomasLTC Stephen F.SGT David A. 'Cowboy' GrothSFC George SmithCPT Jack DurishSSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"PO1 William "Chip" NagelTSgt Joe C.SP5 Mark KuzinskiMaj Marty Hogan MSG (Join to see) SSgt (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. LTC Stephen Conway SN Greg Wright Capt Seid Waddell Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS CPT (Join to see) SSG Warren Swan

Great question Mark Heick I currently work for three of them! Here they are:

Member, Board of Directors for National Veterans Transition Service, Inc. (NVTSI). Helping Veterans successfully transition from the battlefront to the home front, NVTSI is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting veterans in their reentry. We accomplish this by providing an early-stage cognitive-behavioral educational intervention, via a 3-week intensive workshop – REBOOT – followed by related mentoring and other services.  Here is link to their website:

http://www.nvtsi.org

Chairman, Board of Directors, Victory for Veterans - As the Chairman of the Board provide strategic leadership and vision toward the mission of Victory for Veterans to fund non-profits serving Veterans experiencing the emotional challenges of PTSD, depression, loneliness, anger and others that often can trigger joblessness and lead to homelessness. These factors are partial explanations for the high suicide rate among Veterans, currently around 22 per day. Check out the website:

http://www.victoryforveterans.org

As Director, Military Debt Acquisition and Relief, I am responsible for debt acquisition and relief strategies for this great non-profit organization – RIP Medical Debt. My role is to oversee the purchase of portfolios which contain military service member as well as civilian healthcare debt from major healthcare groups. This would include hospitals, healthcare debt buyers, physician groups, emergency medical services (EMS) known as ambulance and paramedic services.

Thanks to the generosity of donors we can then formally forgive these debts at no tax consequences to the recipient. Gone: the stigma and distress of being pursued by bill collectors. All this consistent with satisfying HIPPA needs.

http://www.ripmedicaldebt.org

I would work for a nonprofit I would be able to pay my bills, have a roof over my head, be able to have food on the table daily, and be able to enjoy myself outside of work. As long as our work is mutually beneficial and sustainable, then there would be no reason to not work at an NPO.

I remember when I was first looking at getting out since I'm an admin person I was thinking about looking around and possibly working as a church secretary or a secretary in general for a non-profit because of the main reason of having a clear set mission and being able to see the mission. It didn't end up working out because we have moved back to my home town and most church secretaries have been doing it for so many years you basically have to wait for them to pass away or eventually let somebody else take over which you don't really see unless you attend that specific church.

I haven't, but it does sound like a good idea.

I would only work for someone that values my presence and team contributions as much as I value my free time. As I haven't found that person yet, I remain firmly retired.