The 19 (now 23) Best Places to Look for Social Impact Jobs – Updated September 2018

We have updated this post — Find the new and improved article here with the 70 best places to find social impact jobs in 2021. 

Finding a job that fulfills you is challenging and very time-consuming, but we can’t emphasize enough the importance of taking a pragmatic approach to finding your career calling – all too often people jump at the first opportunity they see, sacrificing things that drive them for the sake of working at a job with “mission”. You need more than a mission to keep you engaged at work, so make sure to find a career direction that will give you purpose. Once you settle on your career direction, the following 19 21 places are the leading options to find that next job that will help make the world better in the process.

(And if you need help finding your next adventure, you should apply to be a Global Fellow in the MovingWorlds Institute)

1. Net Impact

Net Impact mobilizes new generations to use their skills and careers to drive transformational social and environmental change. Its conference and job board provide a vast array of opportunities at many levels.

2. Devex Jobs

Devex is a media and news platform following the global development industry, including nonprofits, corporations, social enterprises, governments, and intergovernmental groups. Its job board is massive, and they also have great career advice!

3. Escape the City

Escape the City is more than just a job list to help people transition to meaningful work. It also has in-person communities and educational programs to help people move careers or start their own business.

4. Rework

An inspiring social enterprise helping social change organizations find the best possible talent.

(Note, Rework is still in operation, but have been acquired by Koya Partners)

5. NextBillion Jobs

NextBillion chronicles new trends in market solutions to poverty that benefit the world’s 4 billion low-income producers and consumers. The site features in-depth analysis and opinion from thought leaders, researchers, and social entrepreneurs in the field. Its career center is continuously updated with opportunities across the “development through enterprise” market sector.

6. Idealist Careers

News, content, media, career advice, and global job listings from the group that brought you Idealist.

7. Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Job Board

A listing site for member organizations of the Global Impact Investing Network and other impact investing leaders.

8. Benefit Corporation (BCorp) Job Board

Benefit Corporations put purpose above profits. From local cafes to publicly traded companies, B Corps take all shapes and sizes, and this tool gives you a listing of B Corps with open jobs.

9. Bridgespan Group Nonprofit Job Board

A nonprofit that has a job board for mission-driven organizations and philanthropists.

10. DevNetJobs

A huge list of global development jobs and consulting opportunities from over 20,000 recruiters.

11. The Social Enterprise Jobs Forum on Google Groups

Unlike other jobs boards, this one comes without financial incentives – meaning that organizations don’t pay to post and you don’t have to pay to be a member.

12.The Social Innovation Jobs Facebook group

This group, started by social entrepreneurs, is an incentive-free place for social innovation jobs and Fellowships.

13. BMeaningful

Guides and job postings for careers with a positive social impact.

14. PCDN Network

The Peace and Collaborative Development Network (PCDN) is a hub for growing social enterprise that gathers over 35,500 professionals, organizations and students engaged in social change, peacebuilding, social entrepreneurship, development and related fields.

15. tbd* community

tbd* is a community of those committed to using their careers to change the world. More than a job board, it also has courses, content, and community members that can help you in your  career search.

16. Relief Web

Relief Web has a series of international jobs across the skill spectrum for those committed to working overseas to support those that need it the most.

17. 80,000 hours job board

High-impact opportunities at organisations that are working on some of the world’s most pressing problems

18. Local career coach and recruiting agencies that focus on social impact

Many countries and large cities have careers coaches and agencies that specialize in the social impact sector. Run a Google search and ask your network for local recommendations. A few that stand out to us include:

• Common Good Careers
• KOYA Partners
• On-Ramps

19. Your Alumni Network

If your previous school(s) has an alumni network, look for opportunities there. Many social change organizations have partnerships with educational institutions and post their jobs there.

20. Your local social enterprise meetup group

Many cities have meetup groups and/or networking happy hours that bring socially-minded people together. Head to meetup.com and search for “social enterprise”, “nonprofit”, and “sustainable development goals” in addition to other terms you care about to find a local group that’s right for you.

21. Local Nonprofit and Global Development associations

Many countries and larger cities have associations that convene nonprofits, social enterprises, corporate responsibility professionals, and government officials for networking and ongoing education. Search for a local group and get involved.

22. Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter

Find people and groups that form around the industries, causes, and geographies you are most interested in. Add value to these networks by sharing interesting content, articles, and promoting people there. It takes time to build your reputation online, so get started as soon as you can to build trust.

23. In-person networking and coffee chats

As we wrote in our popular article How to Find a Fulfilling Career that Makes the World Better, your network is critical to finding you a job. It takes a while to network, so invest your time early and often. Here are some tips to have productive networking meetings, and remember that volunteering is another great way to build your professional network and standout in the job hunt.

Remember that finding a job and making it to the interview stage are two very different things. Websites don’t give people jobs. People give people jobs. If you want a job, you need to build your network, and if you’re interested in the social impact industry, you also need to make sure you have a history of contributing to it, too. Here’s a post we featured on Devex about how to make the transition. And if you need more support, be sure to check out the MovingWorlds Institute.