Pros
Mission-driven work - Smart , friendly and passionate colleagues -
Global impact - Collaborative culture - Strong reputation —
Flexible / progressive work environment - Innovation-oriented
Diverse international perspective
A leadership that cares: the global leadership stepped in when U.S. funding was unexpectedly canceled, providing financial support for several programs for a few months to give teams time to secure new funding sources.
Cons
Resource constraints affecting efficiency: working with limited staffing and budgets sometimes made it challenging to execute projects efficiently
Compensation compared to the private sector: salaries are noticeably lower than for private-sector roles, which is especially challenging in a city like NYC.
Project direction influenced by funding priorities: I noticed that donor and grant priorities often shaped the direction of projects.
Career progression tied to funding cycles: advancement opportunities often depended on program funding rather than purely on performance.