Non-profit work eventually pays for itself. After a few months or years of volunteer work, job applicants can truthfully say they “have experience.” To an employer, non-profit work also means that an applicant has a heart.

What follows is a list of charitable organizations in Cleveland, divided up into focus areas. Choose an area that looks particularly interesting, and research the non-profit groups within it.

Community Development
These non-profit groups tend to zero in on specific neighborhoods or populations. Often based in low-income housing areas, they offer a variety of services such as health care and tutoring. Immigrant and refugee non-profits are included here.

     Cleveland Neighborhood Development Coalition: http://www.cndc2.org
     Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation: http://www.oldbrooklyn.com

Education
Educational non-profit groups often tutor children, teach adults to read and write, and teach English as a second language to immigrants. Some groups offer vocational training to enable people to find meaningful employment. Non-profit educational museums are listed here.

     The Cleveland Public Library: http://cpl.org
     Cleveland Reads: http://www.clevelandreads.org

This is just a sample of what you'll find in the complete Cleveland guide.