So, I work in the non-profit sector doing feel good non-profit type work. I have a law degree and so therefore I have significant (150Kish) law school debt, most which is federal and will be eligible for forgiveness in about 7 years. Other than that, my only other debt is 50K or so on my mortgage.
I like my job okay. There is some weird co-worker dynamics and problems crop up from time to time, but I am mostly just a spectator to those. There are parts of my job I am not so fond of (lobbying and fundraising to be specific), but other parts make me feel damn lucky I landed the gig. Been there 2.5 years. Paid in the 50's, with 2-3K raises each year.
I am on the board of directors for a new non-profit org. The new non-profit is looking for an executive director, and a number of other board members are pushing me to apply. I wasn't interested until yesterday, when I became aware that the salary for the ED position was getting bumped to mid-70s. If I am going to put my name in the hat, I'd have to do it by tomorrow. There are various things about this position that I am not interested in, primarily fundraising. Also, the granting agency is totally dysfunctional and they have been nothing but a disaster to work with so far. I almost quit the board because of some unethical shit going on. That aside, the job itself could be awesome. Think something along the lines of kicking ass for the little guy. I am pretty sure that if I put my name in the hat, I would get the job.
I decide to go to my current boss and tell her what is going on. She had a feeling they were going to try to poach me so she wasn't surprised. When I asked if she could at all match that salary, or even get halfway there, she flat out said no, not right now. She then said in her 30 something years of operating a non-profit, she has never considered any employee to fill her shoes until I came along. Total mixed signals, especially since I am the lowest paid (though newest) attorney on staff. She said maybe down the road, but that they couldn't do it then.
So, it's between a known lower paying but not perfect job and an unknown so far dysfunctional but potentially awesome and higher paying gig. Thoughts, oh wise mustachians?