Opportunities for nonprofit social work jobs abound in the Golden State. According to data from Statista, In 2021, California had the most registered nonprofit organizations in the United States, with roughly 190,230 organizations.
Social workers are in high demand in 501(c)(3) and social welfare organizations throughout the state. Impact-driven nonprofits need talented, productive social work professionals who share their missions and have experience with the complex psychosocial issues that Californians face every day.
What Does a Nonprofit Social Worker Do?
The list of responsibilities assigned to nonprofit social workers is extensive, and titles for social work professionals in this sector range from Clinical Sr. Manager (Licensed Clinical Supervisor) to Child & Family Specialist to Wraparound Facilitator.
The 2023 State of the Nonprofit Sector report noted that the human services category of nonprofit organizations was the most common area for nonprofits across the country that year. These agencies address food insecurity, homelessness, child welfare, domestic violence, and a variety of other pressing social issues.
Health organizations were the third most prominent nonprofit entities in the country, assisting with family planning, mental health, addiction treatment, and other health care groups.
A search for “nonprofit social work jobs” in the California area returns a multitude of job opportunities with responsibilities that include (sourced from posted social work nonprofit job openings in California):
- Working knowledge and case management experience working with the formerly homeless population, social services, welfare, legal, corrections or health care systems
- Experience in substance abuse, alcoholism, mental health care, and other systems associated with this targeted, formerly homeless population
- Working experience in case management databases such as homeless management information systems (intensive case management services (HMIS - Clarity) and/or intensive case management services (ICMS - CHAMP)
- Knowledge and work experience with government agencies such as LAHSA, DHS and DMH, and with case management databases such as HMIS (Clarity) and/or ICMS (CHAMP)
- Strong commitment to advocate effectively on behalf of low-income and/or formerly homeless clients
- Outreach to homeless individuals in the jail system who have chronic health conditions with the objective of engaging individual to determine eligibility for permanent housing
- Travel to multiple housing locations in the greater Los Angeles area to provide case management; coordinate and implement mental health and recovery support services with individual members
- Coordinate with DHS to ensure members are connected to primary health care and reduce need for emergency health care services
- Develop effective, trusting relationships with members, with a focus on facilitating independence and maintenance of improved physical and mental health
- Collaborate with members to develop individual service plans, and review and update plans quarterly and upon completion of goals
- Develop and maintain a complete, accurate, and current member file with all required documents from DHS
- Provide in-clinic and field-based individual & family treatment to children, adolescents, and young adults with a range of psychological, emotional, and behavioral problems; on an as needed basis, provide emergency crisis intervention
- Provide coordination of mental health treatment, which may include interfacing with community psychiatric hospitals, Department of Family and Children Services (DCFS), Department of Mental Health (DMH) school officials, Regional Center, and school districts
- Provide individual and/or family assessment and clinical support to children who are of risk to abuse and/or neglect and children with severe emotional behavior
You can find full-time, part-time, and temporary positions with these organizations, and roles for social workers and LCSWs range from entry-level to leadership positions with competitive salaries for all levels.
For example, a job listed on the California Association for Nonprofits website, CalNonprofits, which aggregates social work job posts in California, included a Director of Programs position with Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area that was responsible for leadership, program administration, and clinical duties. Social workers eligible for the role were licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and the salary range was between $125,000 and $160,000.
California Nonprofit Social Worker Salary
California salaries in the nonprofit sector are the highest in the nation. According to ZipRecruiter, seven of the 10 cities that offer nonprofit salaries that are higher than the national average — $18.54 an hour, or $38,563 annually — are located in California.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Nonprofit Jobs?
- Johnstonville, CA
- San Buenaventura, CA
- Berry Creek, CA
- Soda Bay, CA
- Lincoln Center, KS
- Shelburn, IN
- Berkeley, CA
- Coarsegold, CA
- Talmage, CA
- Gordonsville, TN
Many organizations also offer sign-on bonuses and other financial incentives, and when you factor in the flexibility, diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI), advancement opportunities, and workplace culture of these organizations, nonprofit roles for social workers can be quite appealing.
Nonprofit organizations offer the same benefits as the private sector offers, including:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Employee discounts
- Flexible schedules
- Pet insurance
Positions posted to CalNonprofits, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and job boards such as Indeed.com, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor included opportunities with award-winning and nationally recognized organizations and highly respected agencies, such as:
- Case Manager – SAI – UFW Foundation – Oxnard - $18.00 to $20.00 per hour
- Foster Youth Social Worker – Seneca Family of Agencies – MSW (eligible to register with California Board of Behavioral Sciences) - $69,010 to $83,010 annual starting salary
- Social Worker I - Psychiatry Resources – Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Master's Degree in Social Work, ACSW - $34.13 to $46.93 per hour
- Social Worker II - Psychiatry Resources – Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Master's Degree in Social Work, LCSW - $35.84 to $49.28 per hour
- Social Worker III - Psychiatry Resources – Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Master's Degree in Social Work, LCSW - $37.63 to $51.75 per hour
- Outpatient Therapist – The Help Group – Culver City, LMFT / LCSW OR ACSW / AMFT - $58,207 to $74,172 annually with a sign-on bonus and productivity bonuses for therapists in DMH programs (up to $6000 per year)
These are just a few of the many opportunities with social work nonprofit organizations near you in the Golden State.
Social Work Nonprofit Organizations in California
From homelessness and domestic violence to human and civil rights for immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community, and people with mental health and substance use disorders, California’s network of nonprofit organizations provides social services throughout the state and employs many of the region’s roughly 330,000 community and social service workers.
The IRS categorize charities and nonprofits as exempt organizations that include charitable organizations (501(c)(3)), churches and religious organizations, private foundations, political organizations, and other entities that meet certain requirements, including social welfare agencies, civic leagues, social clubs, labor organizations, and business leagues.
Social welfare organizations under section 501(c)(4) in the tax code “must not be organized for profit and must be operated exclusively to promote social welfare. The earnings of a section 501(c)(4) organization may not inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.”
Thus, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations are tax-exempt and no one with a personal interest in the organization can receive a portion of the net income or use the organization’s assets for personal gain. Furthermore, the IRS specifically states that promotion of social welfare does not include participation in political campaigns.
Nonprofits in California host hiring events, participate as Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employers, assist with relocation, provide professional development opportunities, and offer promotions and growth for social work professionals as they advance their careers in the nonprofit space.
Examples of Nonprofit Organizations that Employ Social Workers in California
Homelessness
- Los Angeles Mission - Los Angeles
- San Francisco City Impact - San Francisco
- Homeless Health Care Los Angeles - Los Angeles
- Union Station Homeless Services - Pasadena
- HomeAid Orange County – Irvine
Health Care
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation – Los Angeles
- Kaiser Permanente - Oakland
- University of California Medical Centers - Statewide
- California Health Care Foundation – Oakland, Sacramento
- California Black Women's Health Project – Statewide
Mental Health Treatment
- Mental Health America of California - Sacramento
- NAMI California (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - Sacramento
- Mental Health Association of San Francisco - San Francisco
- Each Mind Matters - Statewide
Substance Abuse Treatment
- Phoenix House California - Various locations
- Aegis Treatment Centers - Multiple locations
- Tarzana Treatment Centers - Tarzana
- Substance Abuse Foundation of Long Beach - Long Beach
Immigrants
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) - Los Angeles
- California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) - Statewide
- International Institute of Los Angeles - Los Angeles
- Centro Legal de la Raza - Oakland
LGBTQ Communities
- LGBT Center of Los Angeles - Los Angeles
- San Francisco LGBT Community Center - San Francisco
- Equality California - Statewide
- The Trevor Project - West Hollywood
- Los Angeles LGBT Center - Los Angeles
General Social Services
- United Way of Greater Los Angeles - Los Angeles
- California Community Foundation - Los Angeles
- Community Action Partnership of Orange County – Garden Grove
- Northern California Grantmakers - San Francisco
- California Association of Food Banks – Statewide
Whatever your career goals or area of specialization as a social work practitioner, California’s nonprofit sector offers you the chance to realize your full potential in the field with the salary, benefits, and workplace culture to meet your financial needs while satisfying your personal values and nourishing your soul.
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for child, family, and school social workers, healthcare social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers, and social workers (all other) are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2023.
Discover more about other social work specializations in California.