Poorly Managed Org with an Identity Crisis - Anonymous employee Waterford.org Employee Review

Business trips were paid for and well organized, and it was great working with my colleagues as well as the kids during testing. The pay was actually very high for an intern! I had lots of opportunities to grow, but was not overwhelmed with work. Honestly one of the better places to work I have experienced, and if I were still in the US I would try to work here full time.

Having a remote team was a bit difficult, and I felt disconnected from my colleagues

The mission is meaningful: supporting children’s education and uplifting families is work that matters. Dedicated colleagues across many teams who truly care and give their best despite limited resources. Opportunities to take on high-impact projects and build valuable skills. Historically, there have been seasons where collaboration felt strong and progress felt possible.

Current leadership culture is hostile and dismissive. Leaders undermine, contradict each other, and then hold staff accountable for outcomes made impossible by their own directives. Constant shifting of priorities with little alignment across teams; “moving goalposts” is a common experience. Accountability without authority: staff are often tasked with results without the budget, tools, or decision-making power to succeed. Favoritism and board influence drive decisions more than strategy or expertise. Some leaders openly exclude or undermine colleagues. Micromanagement from the top while simultaneously withholding resources creates a climate of fear, not innovation. HR claims to take employee concerns seriously, but follow-through is minimal — “investigations” are surface-level at best.