Letter: Nonprofit work is challenging

I am writing about the New York City mayoral race, in response to candidate Joe Lhota's comment that Bill de Blasio's experience is limited. Lhota said that de Blasio has never had a job in his life that wasn't with the government or a not-for-profit.

Lhota was attempting to belittle de Blasio, but this statement only shows how little Lhota knows about nonprofits. The reality is, running or working for a nonprofit organization can be far more difficult than working for or running a for-profit business.

Nonprofits typically have to raise funds simply to survive, with employees accepting far smaller salaries than they would for a similar position in the private sector. Most nonprofits need their employees to work around the clock, year-round, with very few resources, often relying on volunteers to fulfill their mission.

Nonprofits provide services to society that for-profit companies simply do not or would not, because there is no profit in doing so. Further, there are some very large nonprofits, so for Lhota to suggest that working for a not-for-profit equals working for an insignificant, low-budget organization is preposterous.

Holly Koenig, Westbury

Editor's note: The writer is the executive director of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, New York City Chapter.