American Cancer Society Reviews

Pros

I was happy to support the mission of the organization.

Cons

Wish that all Division were created equal. It was unfortunate that Great West Division did not have good leadership

Pros

Great people, talented staff, ACS does a great job of hiring qualified professionals and pays well among similar NGOs (for international staff, at least). Interesting and challenging work, lots of opportunities to learn with an organization that has lots of resources and tools.

Cons

Upper layers of hierarchy are completely disconnected from the needs and realities of our patient populations. Very little room for promotion, so no long-term prospects. I saw countless brilliant young people leave because ACS had no way of retaining them.

Advice to Senior Management

Promote people who have strong on-the-ground experience to the upper echelons, so that they can inform the strategies to take, based on the real needs of the patient populations. Nurture your brilliant people so you can keep them doing great things for ACS, instead of letting them go to work for other public health NGOS and taking all their brainpower with them elsewhere!

Pros

The work environment was laid back, but everyone was passionate about their work.

Cons

It was hard to see a project through from beginning to finish.

Advice to Senior Management

Set firm goals to achieve.

Pros

The ACS was one of my favorite places to work. The staff you work with is great and the cause is meaningful. Obviously they can't pay you a lot because money has to go to the cause, but there is a great work life balance.

Cons

Technology can be improved, but they are working on it.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing a great job

Pros

Great opportunities for career advancement and professional growth in some Divisions.

Cons

Opportunities for advancement and growth not equally available in all Divisions.

Pros

Fulfilling work - I truly felt like I was making a difference every day on the job. Interacting with constituents was very rewarding.

Cons

Outdated technology equipment especially for non-exempt employees, contributed to inefficiency of the position. Needs to be more up-to-date with social media trends.

Advice to Senior Management

Great work culture and very competent upper management. Please focus on more effective and organized delegating to avoid employee downtime and confusion.

Pros

Benefits: Health insurance, retirement and vacation

Cons

Middle and upper management is inconsiderate, unreliable and non supportive in issues they know should be implemented. Very political and top heavy. Donor dollars stay at the top with the upper management... and more and more big dogs are fed the fruits of labor.

Advice to Senior Management

Middle managers do not 'get it".. pay attention to what goes on within.

Pros

Alot of paid time off. Fairly good benefits. Family friendly. Great people who want to make a difference.

Cons

Completely lacking in terms of leadership and vision. Leadership can not articulate clear direction, and many are in way over their head. Organization charts change constantly. Very few opportunities for advancement and skill development. Executives make astronomical salaries, which creates resentment based on the problems the organization is facing.

Pros

Pretty good retirement benefits (if you can work there long enough to enjoy them, which vast majority cannot do.) Professional office environments. Excellent technological support.

Cons

Little if any flexibility for work creativity. Human Resource department with no backbone that changes rules as soon as they make them. Inconsistent performance evaluations and plenty of kiss-my-ass favoritism on display throughout the organization.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen and pay attention, then listen some more. The organization is much more about raising money than delivering its mission. Alter that view.

Pros

Large, well-known organization, volunteers are great to work with and will make you feel good about what you are doing. I would recommend it as a first job.

Cons

The leadership is not great and it's a non-profit so they are always looking for ways to cut money (staff) in a down economy.

Advice to Senior Management

Act like leaders and not like you are entitled because you are working for a large national non-profit.