Awana reviews

2.9

44% would recommend to a friend

(75 total reviews)
avatar

Matt Markins

61% approve of CEO

33% positive business outlook

Awana has an employee rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on 75 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Awana employee rating is 22% below average for employers within the Nonprofit & NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

75 reviews
1.0
Oct 8, 2017

Where to begin...

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nice facilities. Good work/life balance.

Cons

Management, especially the president and CEO, are ill-equipped to lead the organization. They're in over their head, and they allow members of the executive team to threaten the staff over Glassdoor reviews. It's like working for the Trump administration. They protect older employees who don't add much value and discard younger, forward-thinking employees trying to implement change. They hit the panic button every time their fiscal year ends and make rash decisions to stop the bleeding rather than taking a hard look at the future. It's not a good place for women to work because white men run the show, as is the case in most conservative Christian organizations. Most people whose intelligence I respected have been let go in order to keep older employees moving closer to retirement. They give awful severance packages and don't handle layoffs well. I could go on about their "missionaries" in the field, their stunningly old school theology, or their inability to implement cultural change among staff. The organization and its employees are not in good hands with current leadership.

1.0
Oct 5, 2017

Great place to work???

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Awana's office space is nice and they generally have good balance between work and personal life. People try to be hospitable.

Cons

The culture at Awana is toxic despite management attempts to turn it around. Layoffs are a regular event and they never seem to affect the executives. If the board wants to implement true change, wouldn't it make sense to start at the top? Several years ago, The Best Christian Workplace Institute labeled Awana as a toxic workplace and the founder of the Institute came out to consult with management about all the issues. Many of the executives who were around at that time are still at Awana. Self-awareness is a critical management skill in any organization but the executives here seem to live in their own bubble and create an us vs. them culture, demeaning those who may have different opinions or perspectives. There are some people who drink the koolaid here and are "all in" with management's approach but there are many of us who recognize the damage that management has done and continues to do.

5.0
Sep 30, 2017

Good mission

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The core of Awana is to reach kids with the gospel and train them in lifelong discipleship. Working at a company that has that mission is an incredible blessing. Recognizing that what we do can impact kids across the world is humbling. Awana has given me an opportunity to use my talents and abilities in a unique way. The facilities are nice and it is a workplace that encourages friendships.

Cons

Our offices are often moved and it's hard to keep up with where people are located.

Viewing 43 - 45 of 75 Reviews

Glassdoor has 82 Awana reviews submitted anonymously by Awana employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Awana is right for you.