Focus on the Family Reviews

I have been working at Focus on the Family full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Talented like-minded co-workers. Exciting, innovative initiatives. Creativity guided by Christian values. Good benefits for a non-profit. Stunning physical location in Colorado Springs. Challenging work. Your work is meaningful - positively impacting the lives of literally millions of people.

Cons – Revenue is mainly from donations, which are subject to the vagaries of the economy. Currently flat - not growing nor contracting from a revenue perspective. This makes advancing new programs difficult, but also inspires prudent innovation -- how do you make the most with what you have?

Advice to Senior Management – Communicate a little more often. Look around and see what each other are doing more - you will be amazed and inspired.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Focus on the Family full-time

Pros – Vacation time. Three weeks a year

Cons – No mater if you are right or wrong, managers are the only ones who are right and smart. If you disagree, they simply fire you. Don't believe me? Ask how many people have been fired in the last year. I've been with this company for about four years, but I'm here, only because I need a job.

Advice to Senior Management – I won't say anything simply because they won't listen.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

I worked at Focus on the Family full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Smart, capable people throughout.
Strong reputation among many other non profits.

Cons – Current lack of vision.
It is in transition still, and change feels very slow and painful at times.

Advice to Senior Management – Focus on the family will not grow again until a leader is named.
Typically, an organization brings on a cost cutter personality to simply maintain what was started after a founder leaves. Focus is no different. The leader is a fine man, but is not a visionary leader like the founder, so the organization is shrinking.
Change is needed.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at Focus on the Family full-time for more than a year

Pros – - Chapel time. - They say they are Christian

Cons – - No advancement opportunities. - Treat people like robots. - They literally control how many times and for how long people go to the bathroom (relationship services dept). - Only Sr. VPs are the smart ones. - Career killer and not advancement. - Lots of bureaucracy. - Focus has big campaigns for requesting donations, but people don't know that managers have their meetings at expensive restaurants (at the Broadmoor) and fly in first class.

Advice to Senior Management – Focus on your workers. -I know far more people that hate their job at Focus than the ones that like it.

I worked at Focus on the Family full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – Flexible times, and sometimes employees can work from home. Management works hard to keep salary competitive. Lots of vacation.

Cons – Always budget cuts and layoffs. Not always clear in goals and strategies.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I worked at Focus on the Family as an intern for less than a year

Pros – -was given REAL work, learned a lot
-had my own space
-free housing
-free lunches
-devotionals every morning
-great location, loved living in the Springs

Cons – -unpaid...unpaid...unpaid
-there would be some days where it was pretty slow, but they tried really hard to always give me something to work on

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I worked at Focus on the Family full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Great Opportunity. Good People for the most part.

Cons – Salary was extremely low for the amount of work and responsibility expected * Upper management not willing to or unable to communicate with staff. Very "Machine" driven organization with red tape blocking progress at every level. No "family" consideration for flexible work hours or daycare provision. Very poor supervisor management. Poor employee relations. HR More concerned with what the ministry "can do legally" regarding employees than "what's the right thing to do".
Enormous stress on employees due to impossible expectations, numerous lay-offs, experienced employees being laid off due to salary levels leaving inexperienced employees to deal with it.

Advice to Senior Management – Practice what you preach and CARE for your employees the way Christians should. FOCUS on what the ministry was founded on; Helping Parents, Marriages and Families. Leave the rest to those who do it better (especially the political issues) and stop trying to be everything to everybody. Support those organizations with resources and funding but let them handle those issues.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I worked at Focus on the Family full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – The have a great mission, dedicated employees who have significant technical experience and a great team atmosphere and culture. Overall the management is very competent.

Cons – If there was one aspect of Focus on the Family that I would describe as a con it might be compensation, but really it is pretty competitive within the non-profit industry.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

I have been working at Focus on the Family

Pros – Great people who share a common passion for faith and family. Very open to personal family priories. Good pay and benefits for a non-profit org.

Cons – Low pay, limited career advancement and training opportunities. Be prepared to settle into a job that is clogged with administration and red tape. Too much time is spent on process than productive work.

Advice to Senior Management – Focus has faced many structural challenged in recent years. Don't be afraid to make some radical changes that address the real needs of the family. Provide clear paths for career growth and rewards.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I worked at Focus on the Family

Pros – Some great people, beautiful buildings in a gorgeous area, family-friendly work environment, excellent benefits.

Cons – Chronic "old boys' club," overly hierarchical structure, and rigid dogma. Women rarely are promoted to significant positions unless they're married.

Advice to Senior Management – Stop surrounding yourselves with "yes men" -- and truly implement an open door policy for people at so-called "lower levels" to contribute ideas and other constructive input.