Working as a Director of Communications at a non-profit?

Hello!

I'm a college student researching possible post-college careers. I've been told that I might be a good fit for a marketing role, but I'm not sure I want to have a corporate job per se.

I think it would be cool to get a few years of experience in a corporate marketing role, and then transition to a job working as a communications director at a non-profit, possibly in an arts-related field. I'd like to use my talents to contribute to a cause I find appealing.

The problem is that I don't know very much about working in the non-profit sector at all. Do you think you guys could give me a run-down on working in the non-profit sector? I'm mainly concerned with:

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1. What it takes to succeed as an employee working at a non-profit.
2. What goes into being a communications director at a non-profit.
3. What it's like working at a non-profit in the arts and music sector. Does this particular type of non-profit have a particular culture which I should be aware of? (I'm thinking perhaps live theater, or perhaps something geared toward the literary or film scene.)

I'd appreciate any info I can get.