4 ms·

You're at a non-profit? OK, let me be clear: if you leave, your NP is fucked. If market is more than the ED makes, and you want to make anywhere near market,

You're at a non-profit? OK, let me be clear: if you leave, your NP is fucked. If market is more than the ED makes, and you want to make anywhere near market, you have to leave. They're dramatically underpaying market, and have to for structural reasons, so they won't be able to hire someone anywhere near as good as you. To retain you at market, they'd essentially have to go on a special fundraising binge to pay your salary. That's untenable in this fundraising environment. Also, the title thing is hard because you're doing two very different jobs: software engineer and helpdesk. I'd recommend that you leave if the money is important, but you should (if you reasonably can) try to lock things down so that there won't be much in the way of maintenance of the website. The office computers and phone can be troubleshot with one-off contractors (again, helpdesk); there's no way to "bring in someone from the bullpen" to put out fires on a complex RoR app. (For one, NPs have no idea how to recruit or verify the credentials of someone like that.)

timmaah 17y ago
You pretty much nailed it.
flashingpumpkin 17y ago
Maybe you could also check if your could get away with spending 1 or 2 weekdays freelancing out of your non-profit orga's offices. I've workd for quite a while for nonprofits too and had good experiences - that is, if you're not already totally overworked.
- com 17y ago
  This is a really great suggestion - many non-profits will go for it; keeps their staff (you) happy, keeps you connected to them, and they can bother you on "freelance days" too. But that's the problem: you've probably already got more on your plate than a time-serving big-corporate IT person would. And being present means that you're first and foremost available to the people in your vicinity. Keeping the relationship with the NP in good shape can be hard work; some colleagues may consider you a money-hungry sell-out (and the conversations with your customers may just reinforce this idea), more problematically keeping the perception of balance in your interest in the NP versus outside clients could be difficult. Good luck!
gatormax 17y ago
Well said. There isn't really a universal answer to this sort of question, so it's good that the submitter included the particulars. Incidentally, this is an example of the benefit of having well developed business and social sense --- those "soft skills" which I would recommend cultivating.
falsestprophet 17y ago
It sounds like the organization can afford less than half of him. So, it may be advantageous for everyone to cut his work in half. In that event, he would be able to freelance or work half time at another similar organization or work on building a new company.
- timmaah 17y ago
  This is what I am going to try and attempt. If I can get what I've been working on after work up and running by the end of the year, I can hopefully split things 50/50 until I can go 100% on my own.

timmaah 17y ago

You pretty much nailed it.

flashingpumpkin 17y ago

Maybe you could also check if your could get away with spending 1 or 2 weekdays freelancing out of your non-profit orga's offices. I've workd for quite a while for nonprofits too and had good experiences - that is, if you're not already totally overworked.

com 17y ago
This is a really great suggestion - many non-profits will go for it; keeps their staff (you) happy, keeps you connected to them, and they can bother you on "freelance days" too. But that's the problem: you've probably already got more on your plate than a time-serving big-corporate IT person would. And being present means that you're first and foremost available to the people in your vicinity. Keeping the relationship with the NP in good shape can be hard work; some colleagues may consider you a money-hungry sell-out (and the conversations with your customers may just reinforce this idea), more problematically keeping the perception of balance in your interest in the NP versus outside clients could be difficult. Good luck!

gatormax 17y ago

Well said. There isn't really a universal answer to this sort of question, so it's good that the submitter included the particulars. Incidentally, this is an example of the benefit of having well developed business and social sense --- those "soft skills" which I would recommend cultivating.

falsestprophet 17y ago

It sounds like the organization can afford less than half of him. So, it may be advantageous for everyone to cut his work in half. In that event, he would be able to freelance or work half time at another similar organization or work on building a new company.

timmaah 17y ago
This is what I am going to try and attempt. If I can get what I've been working on after work up and running by the end of the year, I can hopefully split things 50/50 until I can go 100% on my own.