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At one point or another, many managers and executives are hit with a craving to work in the nonprofit world. But sometimes it's not until they're well into the job search and interview process that they start to feel anxiety about whether they can maintain some semblance of their for-profit income and lifestyle. This is a hard, but quite common, situation for executives looking to break into nonprofits.
Raise the Issue Now
Many people have a tough time raising the very necessary compensation issue, so they procrastinate, trying to wait for the right time or the best way to broach the topic. The danger here is that you could either lose the job opportunity, feel it is too late to walk away or make the other side feel ambushed.
It's fairly standard advice to hold off on raising salary issues when interviewing at a for-profit organization. But with nonprofits, consider raising the issue early so the organization is aware of your concerns and has time to address them -- or walk away before investing emotionally. You will not only tackle the issue; you will also enhance your image as a decisive executive who can take on tough matters.
Enlist Your Internal Champion
Even early in the interviewing process, you likely know which influential people inside this organization are your biggest backers. Turn to them to help you address this issue constructively. To do this well, you have to let them know that you are really interested in the job opportunity and, if a key concern can be remedied, you are ready to accept it. Then you can raise the compensation issue directly, perhaps by saying "I love this opportunity, yet I am quite concerned about the financial sacrifice I will have to make now. Can we find a way to deal with this issue?" There may not be anything they can do, but they might be able to explore some options with other decision makers. At the least, your advocates will appreciate your candor.
Consider the Big Picture
Most people find it easiest to adjust to a lower salary before they take on major life commitments like a house or a family. Is this the right opportunity for you? Is now the right time to go in this direction? If so, think about how to make this work for you. If not, try to withdraw while maintaining positive relationships so you can reopen the door when circumstances change.