06/19/2025 Newsletter: How to Negotiate a Raise in the Social Impact Industry

06/19/2025

Summer is for pool days, endless margs, and extra time off. But you know what it’s not? A time to slow down your job search. Scroll down for the latest and greatest Impact Jobs.

Here's what we got on tap for you today

• Meme of the Week

• Article of the Week: How to Negotiate a Raise in the Social Impact Industry

• New Job Opportunities

• Win of the Week: Total Wireless Launches Initiative Supporting Working Students

• Bummer of the Week: Research Shows Americans Struggle With the “Infinite Workday”

Meme of the Week

HR is lonely. It doesn’t have to be.

The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.

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Article of the Week

How to Negotiate a Raise in the Social Impact Industry

Whattup, job seekers! We see you on your summer vacays, sipping pina coladas by the beach without a care in the world. And you know what, we applaud it. You work hard to make the world a better place, and you deserve some motherlovin’ time off.

You know what you also deserve? More money.

The reality is that asking for a raise can feel a bit stickier in the social impact industry than it does in regular ole corporate America, where companies drop stupid amounts of cash on branded bean bag chairs and kombucha bars for the vibes.

(Wait, should we work for corporate America? Quickly shoves that idea back down where it came from.) 

Let’s get back on track. We’re gonna show you how to negotiate a raise in the social impact industry.

Per our last email, you know that getting another job offer is great leverage and can help you score a raise. But if you don’t have that, here’s what you do instead:

1. Communicate your worth and impact. Your boss cares about outcomes, so when you ask for a raise, you need to illustrate how you’ve contributed to and advanced the organization’s mission. Instead of “I work really hard”, say something like, “I secured $100K in new grants this year.”

2. Research your value. Use resources like Idealist.org and Glassdoor to find out the starting offer for positions similar to yours in 2025. If it’s vastly different from your current salary, politely bring it up in your next salary negotiation. Your boss should appreciate that your requested salary is based on market research and not just a number you made up.

3. Ask for a raise at the right time. If you work for a nonprofit where budgets are tight, strategically timing your ask can play a role in the outcome. You can ask for the raise to be implemented at the start of the next fiscal year, or align the ask with your next performance review.

4. Lead with confidence and empathy. Let your boss know that you’re passionate about the work you’re doing and deeply value the org’s mission. Then, ask for a raise with confidence, not hesitation. You’re not asking for a favor, you’re asking to be fully supported so you can continue to contribute to the mission.

5. Consider negotiating other benefits. If a raise isn’t possible right now, negotiate for more time off, flexibility, or a title change that can help you secure a raise down the line.

We believe in you! And if you’re ready to explore new job options, we got you there too. Scroll down for the best new jobs in Social Impact.

New Job Opportunities

Agroforestry Research Specialist at Savanna Institute - Madison, WI or Champaign-Urbana, IL (USA)

Development & Operations Coordinator at Wendt Center for Loss and Healing - Washington, DC (USA)

Investment Associate at Maycomb Capital - Brooklyn, NY (USA)

Director of Communications at Generation Pledge - Remote (Global)

Program Associate at The Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity (CGRE) - USA (Remote)

Senior Growth Marketing Manager at Buffer - Global (Remote)

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