New York Nonprofit Jobs & Mission-Driven Careers
Search nonprofit jobs across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca and communities throughout New York State. New York combines the nation's largest state nonprofit workforce with major healthcare, higher education, philanthropy, arts, associations, social services and an international mission-driven community unlike almost anywhere else.
New York is not simply a major nonprofit market. It helps define the U.S. nonprofit sector.
The New York State Comptroller's January 2025 analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data illustrates the extraordinary scale of nonprofit employment in the state. Nonprofits operate across nearly every industry and serve as employers, healthcare providers, educational institutions, cultural organizations, advocacy networks and community partners.
Nonprofit establishments
New York ranked second among states in the number of nonprofit establishments in 2022.
Nonprofit jobs
New York had the greatest number of nonprofit jobs of any U.S. state.
Of U.S. nonprofit jobs
More than one in ten nonprofit jobs nationwide were located in New York.
Of NY private jobs
Just over one in every six New York private-sector jobs was with a nonprofit.
Annual wages
New York nonprofits paid nearly $97 billion in total wages during 2022.
That is slightly more than one out of every six private-sector jobs in New York.
Mission-driven employment is a major part of New York's labor market rather than a small specialty category.
Why New York is one of the most important nonprofit employment markets in America
New York contained 9.7% of U.S. nonprofit establishments but 10.6% of national nonprofit employment in 2022. Its 1.3 million nonprofit jobs made it the country's largest state nonprofit workforce.
The scale reflects New York's unusual concentration of major health systems, universities, foundations, cultural institutions, community organizations, advocacy groups, religious institutions and international organizations. New York nonprofit careers therefore span almost every professional discipline.
The sector also matters deeply to New York itself. Nonprofits represented 17% of private-sector employment statewide, and in several New York regions they represented more than one-fifth of private employment.
New York nonprofit jobs in the Comptroller's 2022 dataset.
New York ranked first among states for total nonprofit employment.
Share of all nonprofit employment in the United States.
Total annual wages paid by New York nonprofits.
Share of New York private-sector employment held by nonprofits.
Nearly half of statewide nonprofit jobs were located in New York City.
New York City is an international hub for mission-driven work
New York City's nonprofit importance extends far beyond the United States. The city has hosted United Nations Headquarters since 1952 and is home to an exceptional international community of institutions, missions, networks and organizations addressing cross-border challenges.
International nonprofit professionals in New York work across humanitarian assistance, human rights, international development, global health, migration, climate, education, peacebuilding, economic development, philanthropy and international public policy.
New York also provides access to global finance, media, universities, foundations, corporations, donors and international communities. Few cities offer the same intersection of local community impact and global influence.
UN Headquarters and the surrounding international community make NYC a center for diplomacy and international policy.
Foundations and donors support organizations working across the United States and around the world.
Global organizations maintain New York teams for programs, partnerships, advocacy, fundraising and leadership.
Medical institutions, universities and nonprofits connect research and health programs with international communities.
New York's international ecosystem supports advocacy, research, policy and humanitarian careers.
New York's donor and foundation ecosystem creates opportunities in institutional giving, partnerships and major gifts.
New York nonprofit jobs extend far beyond Manhattan
Nearly half of New York's nonprofit employment is concentrated in New York City, but the state's nonprofit economy extends across Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, Western New York, the Finger Lakes, Central New York, the Southern Tier and the North Country.
New York City
Foundations, international NGOs, healthcare systems, universities, museums, human services, advocacy organizations and national nonprofit headquarters across all five boroughs.
Long Island
Healthcare, higher education, human services, youth programs, community foundations, research and regional organizations across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Westchester & Hudson Valley
Healthcare, education, environment, arts, human services, foundations and community organizations.
Albany & Capital Region
Statewide associations, advocacy, public policy, healthcare, higher education and government-adjacent organizations.
Buffalo
Healthcare, universities, foundations, arts, economic development and community-serving organizations.
Rochester
Major universities, healthcare, foundations, research, arts and human-service organizations.
Syracuse
Higher education, healthcare, community services, economic development and regional nonprofit careers.
Ithaca
Education, research, environment, sustainability, arts and community-focused organizations.
Regional & statewide roles
Remote and hybrid roles can serve communities across multiple regions while maintaining a New York base.
New York is a major center of American and global philanthropy
New York's philanthropic ecosystem includes private foundations, family foundations, corporate philanthropy, community foundations, donor-advised giving, philanthropic advisors, intermediaries and organizations supporting grantmakers and nonprofits.
New York foundation careers can be competitive because they combine mission, intellectual specialization and access to significant philanthropic resources. Candidates may enter philanthropy through program expertise, grantmaking, nonprofit leadership, research, finance, legal work, communications or fundraising.
Organizations such as Philanthropy New York and Candid further strengthen New York's position as a center for philanthropic learning, research and professional connection.
Healthcare is the engine of New York nonprofit employment
Healthcare and social assistance represented 61.4% of New York nonprofit employment in 2022, making it by far the state's largest nonprofit employment sector. Nonprofit hospitals were the largest employer within that category.
The New York metropolitan area contains major systems including Northwell Health, Mount Sinai Health System, NewYork-Presbyterian, NYU Langone Health, Montefiore and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
These institutions employ far more than physicians and nurses. Healthcare organizations recruit professionals across research, finance, technology, HR, operations, communications, development, data, compliance, administration and executive leadership.
Education is New York's second major nonprofit employment engine
Educational services accounted for 21.1% of New York nonprofit employment in 2022. Within nonprofit educational services, colleges and universities accounted for nearly two-thirds of employment.
New York's higher-education landscape includes Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Fordham, Syracuse, the University of Rochester and many other private nonprofit institutions, alongside large public university systems such as SUNY and CUNY. Public universities are not nonprofit employers in the same legal sense, but they remain important mission-driven education employers in New York.
Education careers extend far beyond faculty positions. Universities hire advancement professionals, researchers, student-services teams, HR professionals, finance leaders, technology specialists, communications teams, administrators and executives.
New York is also a powerful market for association careers
Professional associations, membership organizations, trade groups, chambers, credentialing organizations, industry institutes and advocacy networks form another important part of New York's mission-driven economy.
New York City offers proximity to major industries including finance, media, healthcare, law, technology, real estate, arts and international affairs. Albany provides a different association ecosystem centered on state policy, regulation and government affairs.
Association careers frequently combine member service with professional expertise. Common opportunities include membership, events, conferences, education, certification, government affairs, communications, partnerships, sponsorship, finance and executive leadership.
New York institutions worth knowing
These organizations illustrate the breadth of New York's mission-driven employment market. They are research targets and examples of major institutions, not a claim that every organization currently has openings.
Northwell Health
Nonprofit health system with locations across New York City, Long Island, Westchester and surrounding communities.
Explore Careers →Mount Sinai Health System
Academic medicine, research, clinical care and professional careers across New York City.
Explore Careers →NYU Langone Health
Academic health, medical research and professional career opportunities throughout the metro region.
Explore Careers →Columbia University
Academic, research, advancement, administration and professional careers in New York City.
Explore Careers →New York University
Higher education, research, student services, advancement and institutional careers.
Explore Careers →Cornell University
Education and research careers in Ithaca plus a significant institutional presence in New York City.
Explore Careers →United Nations ecosystem
New York hosts UN Headquarters plus permanent missions, international institutions and globally oriented organizations.
Explore UN Careers →New York cultural institutions
Museums, performing arts organizations, libraries and cultural nonprofits create distinctive careers.
Search Arts & Culture Jobs →Human-service organizations
Professionals work across housing, behavioral health, family services, youth programs and community support.
Search Community Jobs →New York nonprofit compensation requires context, not one generic salary number
The New York State Comptroller reported an average annual nonprofit wage of $71,881 in 2022. That statewide average covers an enormous range of professions and institutions, so it should never be interpreted as the expected salary for a particular New York nonprofit job.
A hospital, university, foundation and community nonprofit have dramatically different compensation structures.
Manhattan compensation and living costs can differ significantly from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse or Albany.
Large institutional employers may have formal salary bands that differ from smaller community organizations.
Health coverage, retirement, PTO, tuition benefits, professional development and flexibility all matter.
Salary transparency can provide useful compensation information before candidates invest heavily in an application.
Title alone does not determine compensation. Budget, staff size, complexity and scope can matter enormously.
For employers: New York candidates expect compensation clarity
Competitive recruiting begins with a realistic salary range, clear benefits and an honest description of onsite, hybrid or remote expectations. Employers should benchmark the role against comparable New York organizations rather than relying on outdated internal compensation or a broad national average.
High-value job titles to search across New York's nonprofit market
A strong search strategy combines your professional discipline with multiple related job titles. New York's institutional diversity means similar work may appear under very different titles.
A large market rewards focused candidates
New York's enormous nonprofit sector creates opportunity, but prestigious institutions and specialized organizations can attract substantial applicant interest. A generic nonprofit resume is rarely enough for competitive roles.
Lead with the professional expertise the employer needs. Then demonstrate how that experience connects to the organization's mission, funding model, stakeholders and operating environment.
Quantify your impact wherever possible. Show dollars raised, budgets managed, programs delivered, people served, teams led, partnerships created, research produced or operational improvements achieved.
How to search one of America's deepest mission-driven labor markets
Choose your professional lane
Search finance, fundraising, programs, HR, healthcare, education, communications or another function first.
Choose your employer ecosystem
Compare foundations, universities, healthcare systems, associations and community nonprofits separately.
Search borough by borough
NYC opportunities may be listed specifically under Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx or Staten Island.
Expand beyond NYC
Search Westchester, Long Island, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Ithaca independently.
Research institutional scale
Understand whether you are joining a small community organization or a complex institution with thousands of employees.
Study the funding model
Know whether revenue comes from philanthropy, government contracts, healthcare revenue, tuition, membership or grants.
Use salary information
Evaluate the published range in relation to experience, scope, geography and total benefits.
Quantify your impact
Show concrete professional outcomes instead of relying on mission language alone.
Network by specialty
Fundraisers, grantmakers, association professionals and nonprofit leaders each have different professional communities.
Create alerts
Competitive openings can move quickly, so build several targeted searches rather than one broad alert.
Reach professionals who are actively looking for mission-driven work
New York employers compete in one of the deepest talent markets in the country. Foundation List helps nonprofits, foundations, healthcare organizations, educational institutions and associations put opportunities in front of professionals intentionally exploring purposeful careers.
Built for organizations and people doing work that matters
Employers served
Mission-driven employers have used Foundation List.
Recent impressions
Visibility supporting Foundation List's mission-driven network.
Serving the sector
Foundation List has connected employers and job seekers since 2009.
Nationwide reach
Recruit locally in New York while reaching talent across the country.
Search New York nonprofit jobs
Search current opportunities with nonprofits, foundations, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, associations and other mission-driven employers. Try several New York locations and related job titles to broaden your search.
Questions about nonprofit careers and hiring in New York
How large is New York's nonprofit sector?
New York had 33,536 nonprofit establishments and more than 1.3 million nonprofit jobs in 2022, according to the New York State Comptroller's January 2025 report. Those jobs represented approximately 17% of private-sector employment in the state. New York had the greatest total nonprofit employment of any U.S. state.
Why is New York important to the U.S. nonprofit sector?
New York accounted for 10.6% of all U.S. nonprofit employment in 2022. Its nonprofit economy includes nationally influential hospitals, universities, foundations, cultural institutions, associations, advocacy organizations and community nonprofits. The scale and diversity make New York one of America's most consequential markets for mission-driven employment.
Why is New York City important for international nonprofit careers?
New York City hosts United Nations Headquarters and an exceptional international institutional community. Global nonprofits work in humanitarian assistance, human rights, development, global health, climate, migration and philanthropy. The city's universities, foundations, media, finance and international communities further strengthen its role.
What are the largest nonprofit employment sectors in New York?
Healthcare and social assistance accounted for 61.4% of New York nonprofit employment in 2022. Educational services represented another 21.1%, meaning those two areas together represented 82.5% of statewide nonprofit employment. New York also has substantial employment in philanthropy, advocacy, social services, associations, arts and community organizations.
Are there foundation and philanthropy jobs in New York?
Yes, New York is a major center for private foundations, family philanthropy, corporate giving, community foundations and philanthropic intermediaries. Common roles include Program Officer, Grants Manager, Program Associate, Philanthropic Advisor and impact or evaluation positions. Foundation roles can attract significant interest, so relevant program or grantmaking expertise can be valuable.
Are universities major nonprofit employers in New York?
Yes, educational services represented 21.1% of statewide nonprofit employment in 2022. Colleges and universities accounted for 63.6% of nonprofit educational-services employment. Universities recruit far beyond faculty roles into research, advancement, administration, HR, finance, technology and student services.
Are healthcare organizations major nonprofit employers in New York?
Healthcare is the largest component of New York's nonprofit workforce, and nonprofit hospitals are especially important employers. Major systems include Northwell Health, Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, NYU Langone and Montefiore. Career opportunities extend into clinical care, research, administration, finance, HR, technology, development and executive leadership.
Are there nonprofit association jobs in New York?
Yes, New York supports professional associations, trade groups, membership organizations, chambers and advocacy networks across many industries. New York City is relevant to national and international industries, while Albany supports organizations focused on state policy and government affairs. Common roles include membership, events, education, government affairs, communications and partnerships.
What is the average nonprofit salary in New York?
The New York State Comptroller reported an average annual nonprofit wage of $71,881 for 2022, but this should not be interpreted as the expected salary for a particular position. Compensation varies significantly by occupation, organization size, subsector, geography and responsibility. Candidates should compare posted compensation with similar positions and evaluate benefits as part of total compensation.
Where are the most nonprofit jobs in New York State?
Nearly half of statewide nonprofit employment was located in New York City in the Comptroller's 2022 analysis. Significant nonprofit markets also exist on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, Western New York, Finger Lakes and Central New York. Search New York City, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca and regional communities separately.
Should I search all five New York City boroughs?
Yes, employers may identify openings specifically as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx or Staten Island rather than simply New York City. The boroughs also contain different mixes of healthcare, education, community services and cultural organizations. Several geographic searches can reveal opportunities a single citywide query misses.
What nonprofit job titles should I search in New York?
New York organizations hire across fundraising, programs, finance, HR, operations, healthcare, education, communications, research and leadership. Useful searches include Development Director, Major Gifts Officer, Program Director, Grants Manager, Finance Director, Policy Director and Executive Director. Search several related titles because terminology varies considerably between subsectors.
Can I transition from finance or business into a New York nonprofit?
Yes, New York nonprofits need experienced professionals in finance, operations, HR, technology, marketing, data, legal and management functions. Translate private-sector experience into outcomes relevant to organizational sustainability and mission delivery. Learning nonprofit governance, funding and stakeholder structures before interviewing can strengthen your transition.
How competitive are New York foundation jobs?
Foundation positions can attract considerable interest because there are fewer grantmaking jobs than traditional nonprofit operating roles. Candidates with relevant program expertise, philanthropy experience, research skills or grantmaking knowledge may be especially competitive. Research each foundation's giving priorities and approach before applying.
How should I prepare for a New York nonprofit interview?
Research the organization's mission, leadership, funding, programs and communities served before the interview. Prepare examples showing measurable results such as funds raised, budgets managed, programs improved, partnerships developed or teams led. For institutional employers, understand the scale and complexity of both the organization and the department.
Are there remote nonprofit jobs based in New York?
Some New York organizations offer remote or hybrid opportunities, particularly in fundraising, grants, finance, technology, communications and national program roles. Healthcare, direct services, education and community-facing positions are more likely to require onsite work. Always review residency, travel and office-attendance requirements carefully.
Where should New York nonprofits post jobs?
Employers can combine their career pages with specialized nonprofit job boards and relevant professional networks. Foundation List is designed specifically for nonprofit, foundation, healthcare, education, association and other mission-driven employment. Specialized visibility can reach professionals who may not already know the organization.
Why should a New York employer post on Foundation List?
Foundation List connects employers with professionals intentionally exploring mission-driven careers rather than relying only on a general employment audience. Organizations can recruit for local New York openings while also reaching candidates nationally for specialized, executive, hybrid and relocation opportunities. Foundation List has served more than 11,000 employers since 2009.
Foundation List resources for New York job seekers and employers
New York City Nonprofit Jobs
Go deeper into nonprofit employment specifically across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
Explore NYC Careers →University & College Jobs
Explore higher-education careers across universities, colleges, research institutions and academic employers.
Explore University Jobs →Foundation & Philanthropy Jobs Explained
Learn about foundation roles, grantmaking careers and the language of professional philanthropy.
Explore Foundation Careers →Find Better-Fit Nonprofit Jobs
Improve your search strategy by targeting organizations, functions and roles more deliberately.
Read the Career Guide →Nonprofit Job Advertising
Learn how to improve job descriptions, recruitment reach and candidate visibility.
Read the Hiring Guide →U.S. Nonprofit Jobs
Compare New York with nonprofit employment markets and opportunities throughout the United States.
Explore U.S. Nonprofit Jobs →Find your place in one of the world's most influential mission-driven communities
From a neighborhood nonprofit in Brooklyn to a global organization working across continents, from a Buffalo health system to an Albany association, a Rochester university or a New York foundation, the state's nonprofit economy offers extraordinary breadth. Foundation List helps professionals find that work and helps organizations reach the people who can move their missions forward.