What is the best structure of non-profit workers?
@evan I'm thinking It Depends
An advocacy group or social services group? Most of them should be paid I think.
Out in the community doing works? Probably a buttload of volunteers.
A member organization (think makerspace or non profit gym)? Few if any paid staff.
@evan unfortunately, at least in the USA, there's a bunch of different kinds of organizations under the heading of nonprofit, and which one you assume is the default is personal.
Like, i3Detroit and Ars Gladii are 501(c)3 nonprofits (member org).
Grand Rapids Trans Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit (advocacy, scholarships, organizing events, etc).
FIRST Robotics and Destination Imagination are national league organizers.
@evan none of these are outliers. Which one you think of is probably going to be the kind you've worked with the most.
@evan another question is type of pay . . . a small stipend or a full salary with benefits.
@evan I've worked with, for, and in a lot of ways this depends on the mission of the organization and it's size. There's no one size fits all
@evan labor is still labor and should be compensated appropriately
@evan Would this be enforced with a maximum number of volunteers? Would that be counted by work hours or by heads?
@babble_endanger what do you think would be the right way to define it?
@evan I suppose I couldn't tell until I saw a non profit that either seemed to need more paid members or fewer
@evan People should have the choice to volunteer.
@evan it depends.
If it is a high profile subject there may be lots of volunteers to be had, and so an organization can have more volunteers than paid staff.
But if the NfP is for an obscure or esoteric subject matter with little publicity then paid staff might be the only option (assuming there is funding).