Tech has a meaningful twist when it's done at nonprofits

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DALLAS — The nonprofit sector is a mixed bag when it comes to high-tech-job opportunities, with some organizations doing without such workers and many others making do with a minimum of them.

The constant, though, is that tech workers looking for jobs in the nonprofit sector will be paid less and will work harder. And organizations that are hiring are doing so cautiously.

"Let's face it, it's virtually impossible to meet private-sector salary scales, although maybe it's a little easier now," said James Parsons, director of operations for SER-Jobs for Progress National in Irving, Calif.

SER is a national job-skills-training organization that primarily works with Hispanic laborers looking to enter or re-enter the work force.

Part of that training includes computer education and certification, and Parsons said his four-person information-technology (IT) staff frequently trains local educators so they can, in turn, train the workers.

"We have a total of 22 staff, and we have four in IT right now," he said. "As hard as it may be to imagine, they provide support to the entire SER network, which is in 43 locations in 18 states."

The organization is looking for an Internet software developer. While candidates abound, thanks to the recent tech slump, Parsons is reluctant to hire someone with just the requisite technical skills.

"If they're going to work for a nonprofit, to me, they also have to be very interested in helping the community," he said.

Nancy Hong, technology director for The Women's Museum in Dallas, said her desire to be an IT worker in the educational field is what led her to the nonprofit arena.

"I love what I do, and I get to do it the way I love to do it," she said. "It's not a job anymore. It's a hobby, and I get to earn a living doing my hobbies."

It's also work. Being the only IT person at the museum means she has to handle network administrative duties, audiovisual needs, voice-mail glitches and monthly computer classes.

"You have to learn on your feet quickly and think on your feet quickly, and switch hats quickly," she said, noting that the museum's nonprofit status means funding is always a concern.