Pros
All the programs have such great clientele. The work is very meaningful. Because there are so few organizations doing what Opening Doors does, it's easy to establish a network in Sacramento. The partnerships that the organization holds are impressive. There are a few really amazing experts that work there. Because there is no support staff, the learning curve is high, but the value in knowledge in some programs is fantastic.
Cons
The office culture used to promote wellness and self care, but when there was a change of management, things changed and the philosophy of the CEO reigned supreme. In a nonprofit, the benefits are supposed to outweigh the crappy salary. But the benefits are not great at all. The CEO wants to run the organization like a corporation. She wants her hands in every program even though she has experts running each program. She cannot separate herself from the day-to-day activity in the slightest. Turn-over of the staff in the past 3 years has been amazingly high. The CEO does not spend nearly enough time fundraising, so don't ever expect your salary to be comparable to market value. Most of your plans will be vetoed. You will be blamed for every negative thing that happens. You don't get to be creative. CEO wants a "yes" person to be her right hand person regardless if she's wrong. The board is loyal to the CEO so the fact that half the staff has turned over the last year or that new staff hasn't stayed for more than 4 months has raised no eye brows with the board. Prepare to have HR polices that don't fit the non-profit structure or take into account the vicarious trauma that happens when taking on this kind of work. People with experience should know that they would feel more valued else where. (Better salary, better value of your health)