Summer Search Reviews

3.5

56% would recommend to a friend

(73 total reviews)
avatar

Ursulina Ramirez

24% approve of CEO

33% positive business outlook

Summer Search has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 73 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Summer Search employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Non-profit and NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

73 reviews
3.0
16 Nov 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The organization is passionate about supporting the youth who enroll in their program and take a holistic trauma-informed approach towards mentorship.

Cons

The organization has gone through some challenges with two rounds of layoffs and questionable treatment of Black staff, with many exiting the organization by choice or force. The organization also claims it's a learning organization, but doesn't provide space for mistakes.

3.0
3 July 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The organization's mission is genuinely impactful, and there are many dedicated staff who are passionate about the work. Opportunities exist for those who are highly self-directed and can navigate ambiguous environments.

Cons

My experience reveals an organization grappling with severe systemic issues that profoundly undermine its potential and the morale of its staff. Firstly, there is a critical absence of clear strategic planning and decisive leadership. Decisions often appear reactive rather than part of a cohesive vision, leading to significant organizational drift and a lack of direction for employees. This contributes directly to the current precarious financial outlook, evidenced by substantial budget shortfalls and recent layoffs that reflect deeper, unaddressed structural problems. Compounding these issues is a pervasive culture of favoritism, where advancement and opportunities seem disproportionately influenced by personal relationships rather than merit or performance. The stated commitment to fairness and equity often rings hollow, with observable practices frequently contradicting the espoused values, leading to a sense of hypocrisy that erodes trust. Furthermore, unprofessional practices are unfortunately common, characterized by inconsistent policy application and a noticeable lack of accountability across various levels. This environment contributes to demonstrably low morale among staff, who often feel unheard, undervalued, and uncertain about the organization's future.

2.0
2 Apr 2025

The work is impactful.

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Super flexible schedule, the students are phenomenal, okay benefits.

Cons

Ineffective leadership ("recent" change in C suite so things may be changing), no culture of appreciation or celebration, short-staffed, no actual HR team (choosing to go under Talent instead), lack of growth opportunities, the middle managers are burnt out.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 73 Reviews

Glassdoor has 74 Summer Search reviews submitted anonymously by Summer Search employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Summer Search is right for you.