Project HOPE Reviews

As accurate 1-star reviews posted in 2020 describe, steer clear of the revolving door that is Project HOPE's Development & Communications ("DevComm") department. Especially if you're a Communications expert or strategist who believes in best practices. There is a serious problem causing toxic conditions, negative staff experiences and the highest turnover rates I've ever seen. Rather than fostering a spirit of solidarity, trust and collaboration, the team is managed in a dated, negative top-down manner. This culture favors a stunning degree of back-stabbing, pitting teams and good people against one another, weaving an "us vs. them" mentality toward colleagues (including toward Global Health, Health Affairs, others) rather than a unified, healthy fabric. Disrespectful behaviors and attitudes are the norm and condoned (don't be fooled by cheery group calls and emails that are performative, acting as though everything is fine when others are watching). In this culture, disparaging and misrepresenting people, their ideas, work and character are common, including existing staff (leadership team included) and people who left the organization. If you are accustomed to a professional workplace and normal standards of professionalism, prepare for culture shock. This DevComm pattern began long before I joined Project HOPE. I was assured during interview stages that "the old PH" had some bad seeds who had to go, and that "the new PH" was cleaned up and full-speed-ahead. Unfortunately, the truth is that many talented, expert and mission-driven professionals leave because serious DevComm management and culture problems do not get addressed. As 2020 reviews note, HR, Legal and the Senior Leadership Team, including the CEO, are well aware of the DevComm problems. Many concerns have been raised over recent years, prior to and during my tenure. Leadership did not respond to staff concerns, including from some highest performers. Many talented employees thus left over a relatively short time. This included: three media personnel in three weeks, four in four months (i.e. the entire media department). Other losses in 2021 included two great fundraising professionals on the Development team, beloved by colleagues. Other staff left in 2020. I understood a series of sudden, startling firings occurred before my arrival. It became hard to count how many people left DevComm. Importantly, there **are** several good, talented, positive professionals on Project HOPE's DevComm team. The toxic workplace issue is limited to an influential small few but has ripple effects that harm the entire organization. Staff can't understand why such problematic behavior is condoned, despite repeatedly flashing red on Senior Leadership's radar. Based on what one Senior Leader told me, the issue reached Board-level awareness before I joined the organization.

The development and communications department is toxic. The turnover is the highest I’ve seen at a company both because of out-of-the-blue firings for no apparent reason and people quitting because they can’t take the stress anymore. There’s a culture of distrust and fear on DevCom. Team leads are either pushed out of the org or pushed to verbally berating their coworkers for fear of losing their jobs. Many people have pleaded with the CEO time and again to please address the toxicity — but the response was near radio silence. Sadly all of the most talented, creative, enthusiastic employees have already left or are on their way out. If you are a communications professional please look elsewhere. The saddest part of this all is that at one point, PH had a wealth of talent and passion on the DevComm team -- and now it's gone.