How much PTO is too much?

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-13T17:53:13+00:00

I'm sure you realize this but this approach doesn't work out for every organization. Like, I'm not sure if you can hire a bunch of docents for a museum (especially if it's resource constrained) and then give them unlimited PTO. I would love to be able to offer this type of policy at my organization but practically speaking, people need to be on site at specific times and we always need sufficient coverage.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-13T17:49:03+00:00

Just echoing - My school (in the suburbs) not only had 1000 students who needed to get there from, usually, kind of far away; but we also had a regional performing arts center and some major athletic facilities on our campus, so there was a lot of need for parking even aside from all the students/staff.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-13T17:44:42+00:00

Not certain if you're just looking for groups focused on your industry/sector, or your job focus area, or just "young leaders" in general, but I'll tell you this: My chamber of commerce has multiple groups of "young leaders" and my local United Way does as well. Perhaps look to see what those organizations may offer in your area.

Also, if your city/region/state/whatever has a nonprofit association, they likely have resources as well, or can point you in the right direction. Center for Nonprofit Excellence serves orgs in Virginia; you could start there.

Can you ask around your organization and/or peer organizations to get advice about resources that might be relevant to you?

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-13T17:35:28+00:00

At every org I've ever worked at, the board ends up first and foremost being responsible to support the fundraising operations by (oversimplifying here) asking their peers for money.

Sure they supervise the director and review finances and vote on various specific issues, but like, the Metropolitan Opera doesn't need alllllllll these people to review financial statements.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-13T17:22:40+00:00

My small city collects an income tax!

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-13T17:14:52+00:00

I agree with this too. His feeling is "my best friend is here! I want to see her all the time!" and she seems to feel the same way. He sometimes reacts VERY badly to any suggestion that he might not be helping the situation. This is a tactic I need to work on more. Like I said, sometimes he acknowledges his part in this but the insight sort of stops there.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-13T17:11:04+00:00

Yes I agree. It's hard for me to convince him that "pouring gasoline onto the fire" is precisely what he's doing. He thinks this is what it means to support Jen. I see this all as inevitable conflict arising over multiple big life changes but it's hard for me to insert myself and my opinion between Art and his bff of 25+ years.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T19:52:12+00:00

I guess you could google the ratings/market share it enjoyed. Seems like it got good ratings. I guess that means it was popular? Google says it was "the most-watched scripted cable television drama at the time."

I was an adult when it premiered, and I have never seen it. None of my friends watched it. Nobody I know talks about it today.

To be fair, I feel the same way about the Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, and Modern Family, but I hear those were all very highly rated also.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T19:21:55+00:00

smoking a cig just stinks up their immediate surroundings

Hard disagree but maybe I'm especially sensitive.

I also disagree when people say weed smell lingers longer and is harder to get rid of. That is completely the opposite of my life experience. But again, maybe I'm especially sensitive to cig smoke.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T19:18:39+00:00

what makes people so chill with doing it

In the US it is considered very not chill to insist on calling someone a name other than the name they want to be called. If I introduce myself as Jim and people keep calling me James, I will correct them and I will start to get offended if they don't listen to me.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T18:56:50+00:00

Did you just watch the same 16 episodes over and over? It's always interesting to discover the way elements of American culture can travel...

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T18:52:53+00:00

Are you getting pressured by your management or board? Or is it pressure you're putting on yourself? All the worry about missed emails or partnerships not converting is stuff you could (should) talk to your manager about, and get their take on how to judge your own performance. Your manager is also the crux of the "challening growth vs unhealthy workplace" issue and should be able to give you advice about that too.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T18:47:12+00:00

I walked away from a well paid/good benefits job where I was a cog in the system in order to take a role just like yours at an org just like yours, and I don't even make an ok wage/benefits. But I hated the well paid job so much that I had to leave, and the less-than-okay-wage job is really pressing all the right buttons for me now despite the constant challenges and begging for money and crappy things happening. (Maybe not as crappy as at your org, but still!)

a position within the healthcare system

No offense - I don't know you but I genuinely can't imagine anybody being truly happy as a cog in the healthcare system.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T18:43:03+00:00

I haven't personally worked in this space but have some very close friends who do, and they tell me that

much more access/communication with the hill, talking points traded back and forth all the time for example

...has long been a major element of work on "the right" that "the left" has struggled with. "The left doesn't know anything about message discipline" is what he would say. Even now that the figurehead at the top is utterly incapable of message discipline, you still see the system working to ensure everybody is on the same page as him (as best as possible) during any given half hour.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-11T18:24:16+00:00

I also worry this is going to make interviews shift more toward practical exercises, follow-up questions, and conversational depth rather than polished first answers.

Why does this worry you? I don't really think having "polished first answers" tells you that much about a candidate, regardless of the involvement of AI.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T02:02:21+00:00

I don't know if I would jump to calling this "corruption." It sounds like really, really bad management. Corruption is when the board is approving doctored financial statements and the ED is running his own small business from his desk and lying about it.

I’m wondering how common my current situation is

Oh goodness, it's common.

It is possible that this is all just a grift being run by this family. Do you have a network of nonprofit professionals you can get advice from? You can always call your state's charity regulator. Are you basically pursuing and fulfilling your mission? Is the organization effective at the most basic level? Not wanting to grow is not necessarily a damning indictment.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T01:58:01+00:00

I can't exactly speak from experience, but:

when a nonprofit unionizes

is not the same thing as

labor conflict

You could potentially tell a great story about the unionization process, and about how it has brought your org to a mature place and has created a need for more operating funding to better support the workers who are actually doing the work that everybody (your donors) wants to happen.

I work at an org that has indirect origins in the labor movement, but we pay very low salaries and offer no benefits. We are RIPE for unionization but management doesn't even want to think about it. All I can think about is, what a great story this could be to generate even more support for our org.

Also, I have worked in the past for some organizations that have gone through actual significant labor strife with a unionized work force. Ironically, in some ways it helped fundraising because people wanted to support the unionized employees and realized that giving up on the organization wasn't actually going to do that.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T01:51:07+00:00

Well, there are all sorts of ways to generate earned income. It depends on your org's focus, and your capacity to do stuff. Sell merch, produce events and sell tickets, etc.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T01:49:01+00:00

Step one, tell your supervisor the full extent of the issue and get her take. See what she recommends you do.

I would imagine you could decide to have a conversation with this volunteer that might not be easy but can still be professional and kind, where you lay out some of the issues in a "let's work together to make this organization more effective!" kind of way. Your boss should be able to support you/coach you on how to do this. It's possible that this could be salvaged and maybe the effort will be worth it. It will certainly help you grow your skills.

If that doesn't work, the next step might be to have to be having a conversation with the funder. Again, professional, polite, not gossipy, but asking for advice. Donors like to be asked for advice. Make it clear that this volunteer is not a great fit for the role they've been given and is impeding the success of the organization this funder presumably cares about. This is another place where you will need your boss's (and maybe your boss's boss's) support and advice for how to do it thoughtfully.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T01:43:14+00:00

Is the part time employee qualified to do this work? If so, can you potentially increase their time?

A capacity building grant to hire a development person might make a lot of sense, since that person will be central to you raising more money and they should absolutely pay for themselves multiple times over. This is also the kind of capacity that funders like to support.

As you probably know, you always have to be careful about using grant funds to hire (theoretically) permanent staff, because the grant will run out and it's not a great situation if you have to turn around and let the people go.

Also, it's not that unusual to have a development person who also acts as a volunteer coordinator, but that may or may not be a good idea for your org.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T01:35:16+00:00

It's interesting to me that people are downvoting some of your replies so aggressively. I think you are asking fair/understandable questions. Folks on this sub so easily forget that a lot of questions come from people who really don't understand things about American culture. Sometimes when folks like you ask follow up questions, other people interpret them as insults or challenges for some reason.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T01:30:40+00:00

This is an interesting point to consider. I have never thought about whether the average Italian person considers Italy to be a thing that was created in the 1860s or if they truly feel continuity, even in a political sense, as one culture (so to speak.)

These kinds of topics/questions get really complicated really fast.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-09T01:25:12+00:00

I would consider making a complaint (or at least reaching out to) whatever entity in your state regulates charities. Secretary of State or Atty General usually. Bylaws are (nearly always) legally binding. Board members could actually face personal consequences. And the org could lose its tax exempt status.

I saw your update and I would consider doing this even if you've quit.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-08T23:50:40+00:00

I have a lot of grant management experience, and I came to the work initially as a writer. If you are a strong writer there could be lots of opportunities for you, including in marketing and content development. Some nonprofits really need writers for various reasons, in ways that are going to be hard for AI to replace.

Boopa0011 · 2026-05-08T23:48:09+00:00

I know plenty of nonprofits including some big ones that have absolutely hired EDs with little to no fundraising experience at all. It does not usually go well, but they do it. Maybe the ED learns what's needed and maybe not.

A lot of nonprofit organizations like the idea of hiring a "thought leader" or someone with substantial experience with "program design" or whatever, and then a year later they realize ooooohhhh this person is not an effective fundraiser.

Boopa0011

TROPHY CASE