Wonderful cause, but poor management and not enough of the donor's dollar goes to the cause - Face-to-Face Fundraiser UNHCR Employee Review

1.0
4 Aug 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Got to meet a lot of wonderful people, engage/interact with the community, great cause

Cons

The DC management works in a black box with no transparency and accountability. When questioned about how much of the donor's dollar actually goes to the cause, they do not answer. However, it isn't hard to look up USA for UNHCR on Charity Navigator. ...last year, Charity Navigator listed that ~61% of the donor's dollar went to the cause. Now, ~47% of the donor's dollar goes to the cause. With frontline staff being paid minimum wage and experiences clawbacks [wages arbitrarily taken out of their paychecks] where is the money going? The DC management promotes a high turnover environment while protecting their own positions which means there is no room for growth for the employee. If an employee stays with the agency for a month or more, they will quickly see that a mis-management of funds and resources is the norm: 5 offices, management staff with high salaries, excessive staff travel to other cities. A huge problem is that DC's fundraising management team worked together prior to being with USA for UNHCR. They do not have the experience or desire to improve, nor do they have the insight or ability to invest in employees other than themselves.

Explore other reviews about UNHCR

5.0
3 Nov 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Best Mandate to see people of Concerns benefit. opportunity to be in an international team

Cons

instability of employment contract and job opportunities

3.0
7 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good benefits, you really do help people

Cons

Human Resources takes a highly specialized approach to talent management. In that you cannot really change functions easily in UNHCR. You have to hyper-specialize in one area. So if you are a protection staff, you tend to burn out from trauma without an internal mechanism to alleviate the burnout. The higher you go in UNHCR, the crazier you become.

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