National Trust for Historic Preservation Reviews

I have been working at National Trust for Historic Preservation full-time for more than a year

Pros – The mission of the National Trust--saving places that matter to the American people--and the good work that it does across the country is in line with my values.

Cons – This is a challenging time financially for all non-profits right now, but it's not a "con" in regards to the National Trust.

Advice to Senior Management – Stay on course with strategy and plans. The National Trust has an exciting future.

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

I worked at National Trust for Historic Preservation full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – free admission to historic places
discounted hotel stays
overall nice people to work with
nice office building

Cons – employees who have been in the same role for 10+ years and have lack of motivation
no job growth
lack of work ethic easy to find
poor management
stuck in old ways
low pay

Advice to Senior Management – hire some fresh blood. a logo change is the least of the issues, so bring in some new people with new ideas and get rid of the people who have been in their roles since the beginning of time.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I worked at National Trust for Historic Preservation full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – There are some very dedicated staff. The current headquarters is a lovely historic building and well-situated near public transportation in a dynamic neighborhood.

Cons – Focus on financial woes and internal restructuring has drained all resources to the point where there is no longer a clear mission, other than institutional survival. Funders and other professionals in the field regard the organization as lacking prestige, purpose and efficacy.

Advice to Senior Management – Listen to your critics, not just your paid consultants.

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

I have been working at National Trust for Historic Preservation full-time

Pros – Some incredibly talented and dedicated staff. It's a great starter organization - to get your foot into the historic preservation field.

Cons – Senior management either has no idea how their decisions affect those of us lower down the chain or they don't care. Departments and sites are run with skeleton staffs, yet the workload is increased instead of decreased. People are burning out. Fired employees have been replaced by cheaper new hires with little experience. Sites are getting cosmetic upgrades but the underlying structural problems are not addressed.

Advice to Senior Management – Stop wasting money on parties, T-shirts, mugs, pins, etc. and invest in your employees.

– I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

I have been working at National Trust for Historic Preservation

Pros – Friendly work environment where they generally appreciate hard work.

Cons – Not much room for advancement due to the small size of the organization. Departments are fairly compartmentalized.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at National Trust for Historic Preservation

Pros – People are extremely dedicated to the cause and love their work. The mission is valuable and valuable changes are underway to make the organization more profitable and more effective in their mission. I have high hopes for the future.

Cons – While the changes being made are for the better and will ultimately, I believe, be good for the organization. Not enough emphasis is being put on how to work more efficiently. Staff would and could work so much smarter with a fully staffed and skilled IT department. The recent survey done that showed strong dissatisfaction was interpreted incorrectly. The problem is not with the staff. It's that there is not sufficient infrastructure, capacity, or budget to be able to serve the needs of the organization.

Work life balance is talked about, but with departing staff's positions not being replaced and the work not being discontinued, dedicated staff are taking on more and more work and senior management seems unaware of how this dedication is the ONLY reason the great work is being accomplished.

Advice to Senior Management – Stop getting toys - I-phones are for play, not work. Also, please start taking a real look at the workload people are taking on in order to continue projects after staff has left. Please revisit the stop doing list.

non-management staff work extremely well together. We communicate well and support each other in our work. I'd suggest taking a harder look at how senior and mid-level management communicates and works with each other and take some lessons from your staff.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I worked at National Trust for Historic Preservation

Pros – Pay was higher than the market dictated.

Cons – Unorganized from the top to the bottom.

Advice to Senior Management – Good people will continue to leave until you get involved, really look at your assets and make clear policies.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I worked at National Trust for Historic Preservation

Pros – Great cause, great people -- some of the smartest and most dedicated I have known. Experts in the niche field of historic preservation -- it's the place to be if you want to learn the biz. Major staff changes with the new CEO could make it a great place -- or a terrible place to be in the future. The jury is still out.

Cons – After the departure of a 17-year CEO, a new CEO came in and significant change (which was welcomed by most staff) began. However the communication and implementation around that change has been poorly managed -- generally destroying the tremendous excitement and good will that greeted the new CEO -- and the willingness to work together to forge a new path even in light of difficult economic times. Many staff feel "baited and switched" since the culture of the first four months of the new administration has seen a 180 degree turn, becoming significantly less transparent and open. Could be that it will be a great place to work again once the staffing and programmatic changes are fully in place, but right now, it's not a fun place to be. Really hope that changes, because it is a great organization.

Advice to Senior Management – Change is tough but get on with it already. You're not doing yourself or staff any favors not pulling off the band aid. It has been over a year now and committed staff deserve to know -- really know -- where the organization is going and how (or if) they will be part of its future.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

I worked at National Trust for Historic Preservation

Pros – Staff wholly dedicated to the mission, refreshing sense of purpose. Opportunities for education in the field are great and their expanse in to all areas of the U.S. is great. If you are in to preservation, it is the most beneficial place to gain breadth and experience.

Cons – Little growth potential, weak (yet stable) management.

Advice to Senior Management – More interaction and performance feedback. More opportunity for growth and increased responsibility.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

I have been working at National Trust for Historic Preservation

Pros – Working for an organization you can feel good about. Positive work environment with people who are dedicated to a good cause. For people involved in historic preservation and community revitalization, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the premier places to work in this field. For those with more general career paths - membership development, marketing, accounting - people who could take their skills to work anywhere stick wiht the National Trust because it's such a rewarding place to work. Especially for anyone interested in history, cultural heritage, creating unique and interesting communities for people to live in. We have lots of people who've been with the Trust for 15, 20+ years.

Cons – Very leanly staffed, so there's often not an opportunity/resources to reach out to new projects or ideas, without becoming overworked or letting something else fall through the cracks.

Advice to Senior Management – Keep in mind the weight that falls on support staff when managers take on new initiatives - either staff up, or be careful about engaging in new activities without ending current projects first.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend