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Guttmacher Institute

Is this your company?

Good luck advocating for SRHR and yourself! - Anonymous employee Guttmacher Institute Employee Review

2.0
Feb 12, 2021
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Smart colleagues, great work, domestic/global portfolio

Cons

There are people at Guttmacher who have worked here for 15+ years. In some cases, it has been their only job since graduating. I think they feel that in order to have a senior title, you need to dedicate multiple years to the organization to "earn" it. Unfortunately, this means there is not a lot of room for growth for junior staff. Management will keep you in the same position for as long as possible. They'll make you feel like you should take on more work -- almost always work your supervisor should be doing. When you realize they aren't going to promote you, you'll be trapped and expected to keep those extra responsibilities. If you try to say no to work you shouldn't be doing, they will label you as difficult and might even threaten to let you go if you continue to speak up or ask questions (it has happened to at least 2 people during my time here). If you try to negotiate for higher pay, they'll say "I'm glad you're advocating for yourself!!! :) :) :) but no." Then, they'll post new job openings for director-level positions with 3x as much salary as you make now. Although Guttmacher does great work, it does NOT treat its staff fairly across the board. There is no reason assistants should make only 40k in NYC. If you are a junior manager, good luck negotiating because they will not give you a raise for multiple years unless you dance and beg for it yourself. If you plan on interviewing here, please know that your experience will largely depend on who your supervisor is. Be careful if you plan to join the policy or communications team. I'd encourage you to ask questions about the previous person who held the role before it opened AND what their trajectory has been like at the org. I doubt they will be truthful in the ways you need to hear, but I hope this review helps you make better decisions about the next steps in your career.

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5.0
Mar 15, 2024
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Pros

The offer good work life balance

Cons

They don't offer a lot of career advancement

2.0
Oct 16, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

The benefits are very good (health insurance, retirement, vacation/sick leave). Mission-driven work where you can feel that you are making a contribution to important public health/social science research. Some teams are a good group-oriented work environment. Opportunities to work with and learn from highly talented staff.

Cons

Career progression is sometimes stifled, particularly for junior level staff from minority/underrepresented groups. The organization markets itself as diverse and inclusive, but in reality, some staff (especially minorities) may feel undervalued and disrespected. The culture can be quite performative at times, smiles don't always mean they're on your side. It requires a certain level of emotional intelligence and emotional resilience to handle office politics.

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