Pros
This is a great place to learn the essentials of youth-oriented program design, and to build a network.
- Enthusiastic, supportive staff and management
- Professional development opportunities - leadership is genuinely invested in the personal and professional growth of staff members, and invests in professional development opportunities
- Lots of learning opportunities and chances to learn by doing
- Lots of opportunities to network and connect with other youth tech/media organizations
- Wonderful community of educators and youth
- Fun, innovative workplace
- Opportunities for staff & board to connect semi-regularly
- Benefits are great and include very flexible work hours, work from home options, flexible comp time, and matching 403b -- some of this is to compensate for salary stagnation, as in general cost-of-living increases are more frequent than substantial raises.
Kontras
Mouse faces some of the typical challenges of a small nonprofit:
- While there are plenty of opportunities to learn, there isn't a whole lot of space for promotions/advancement.
- Discipline is rare and uneven and amongst junior staff, there isn't much protection to keep a colleague's sub-optimal performance from impacting your ability to do great work.
- Some degree of micromanaging from programs department leadership and some lack of transparency around expectations - e.g. "This is your event, you're in charge" but then it turns out there's a specific vision you're expected to follow. At times I felt more like an event planner than someone involved in program design.