Heightened Development’s Post

"I'm not sure what it is, but since the pandemic, our whole team is busier than ever. There are more meetings. It is the new normal for us to hop to five different meetings every single day." A quote from a nonprofit leader I spoke with recently "Our team saw and experienced so much trauma during the pandemic and our way of serving individuals changed. The trauma still runs deep for our front-line workers, and they have to just keep going. " A quote from a second nonprofit leaders I spoke with recently. Here is yet another article on burnout among #nonprofit leaders, with this one citing staffing shortages as one cause. Despite the negative headline, there is some good news within the article. For example, more nonprofits surveyed by the Center for Effective Philanthropy have larger operating reserves. There was an increase in financial sustainability overall. Still, many leaders surveyed were considering cutting staff or not re-filling unfunded positions once they go vacant. How do we make sure our healers have time to heal? I'd love to hear your thoughts and tips on how you have found balance between preparing financially for the unexpected and ensuring your team is equipped to approach their work with less risk of burnout.

A respected leader in #socialimpact who I met for coffee the other day shared this article from the Chronicle of Philanthropy with me and so much of it resonated. It's a #TBT from just the other day but worth a read if you are, or have been, a C-suite leader at a #nonprofit and/or a nonprofit #consultant . Nonprofit leaders are some of the most creative, resourceful, multi-dimensional, passionate humans who I'm lucky to have learned from in my own journey, but far too many have since moved on from the sector because they were overworked and underappreciated. Just some of the quotes from this piece: "...hiring for executive positions proved much harder than she’d expected.... (she) did all the fundraising work herself in addition to her job as CEO."... "It’s been a challenge for nonprofits to retain and recruit staff at all levels since the height of the pandemic. CEOs are turning over at rates experts have never seen before."... “In the world of fundraising, the goals are often unrealistic. There’s high pressure... The fundraisers are expected to be these single-person crusaders to financially save the organization.” There are important perspectives shared throughout this article that I think ultimately comes back to how people are valued. People want to do meaningful work that serves others but not at the expense of undermining their own worth.

🌟 Nonprofit burnout is real! 🌟 Having spent nearly 20 years working in nonprofits, I’ve seen so many talented individuals leave due to burnout. The latest “Research Snapshot” report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy highlights concern for foundations inaction regarding burnout. 70% of funders are concerned about burnout, but only half are actively supporting staff wellbeing. To address this, I propose: 1. Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits 2. Flexible work schedules and remote work options 3. Fund organizational capacity to reduce workloads 4. Invest in leadership training and career development 5. Create unique experiences like a “Shark Tank” type event to encourage innovation 6. Build and encourage mentor/coaching roles It's time to prioritize the mental and physical health of nonprofit workers to sustain their invaluable contributions. Let's work together to create a healthier and more supportive environment for those dedicated to making a difference. 💪💼❤️ Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gXRCnq_m #NonprofitLeadership #BurnoutPrevention #SupportNonprofits #Innovate 

Leaders in the nonprofit sector face unique challenges that often lead to burnout. In this article from Blue Avocado, explore strategies nonprofit leaders can use to better sustain their well-being and effectiveness in their roles. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gdYza6p5 #NonProfitConnect #NonprofitResources #NonprofitArticles #NJNonprofits

A new survey of nonprofit leaders finds staff burnout is a major concern. The 2024 "State of Nonprofits" report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy finds 95% of nonprofit leaders say staff burnout over the last year is worrying - and 57% name staff issues as one of their biggest challenges. The Center's Vice President for Research Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D. said the problem is getting worse. "Burnout remains a top concern for most nonprofit leaders, which was also true last year," said Arrillaga. "But this year, we also find that half of nonprofit leaders are feeling more concerned about their own burnout than this time last year. And so that's really disconcerting to hear." 239 nonprofits took part in the survey. Researchers also found most nonprofits had a balanced budget or a surplus, this fiscal year and last. Rusty Stahl - founder, president and CEO of the nonprofit Fund the People - said many nonprofit leaders hesitate to hire more staff because of unstable funding or restrictions on how money can be used. But, he noted some progress. Recently, some of the country's biggest foundations moved to loosen limits on what can be spent on so-called indirect costs - such as staff and benefits. "Nonprofit staff are not overhead," said Stahl. "They're the bedrock of organizational effectiveness. You would want to invest significantly in making sure that that bedrock is in place because everything else rides on it." Stahl said nonprofit leaders can reduce turnover by focusing on staff wellness and improving organizational culture, employee engagement, pay, benefits, and workflow. #burnout #nonprofitjobs

NONPROFIT BOARDS: Look to your left, look to your right. One of the three of you is losing your ED in the next two years. That may not be what The Chronicle of Philanthropy wants as a key takeaway from this month's cover story. But it jumps off the page at me. 👀 96% of nonprofit leaders say they feel tremendous satisfaction in their job. But yet: 9️⃣0️⃣ % feel tremendous pressure to succeed 8️⃣8️⃣ % say the demands of the job are "never-ending" 5️⃣8️⃣ % say they struggle with work-life balance ❓But yet 97% say the benefits outweigh the negatives. Really?! 🤔 So WHY do: 3️⃣3️⃣ % say they plan to leave their current jobs within two years? and 2️⃣2️⃣ % say they plan to leave the nonprofit sector altogether? The nonprofit sector churns through leaders. Uses us up. Burns us out. But the article says it doesn't have to be this way: ☑ Boards need to be more engaged, especially in fundraising. ☑ CEOs can/should be more candid with their teams. ☑ Leadership coaches should be provided to every CEO. ☑ Leaders of color, especially if they're the first, need to be backed up by the Board, and internal inequities must be addressed. I BELIEVE that nonprofit CEOs love their job and feel satisfaction. But aren't we fooling ourselves by not attending to these underlying problems? ------------------- ⤵ Link to the Chronicle article is in the comments.

The #Nonprofit sector is at a critical juncture. The #Leadership pipeline crisis, if left unaddressed, will have severe consequences for organizations and the communities they serve. https://lnkd.in/gainuqKg #LTDGlobal can support you with new and creative #Recruitment strategies, #Training and #Diversity programs. #HRServices #WomenOwned #BayArea

Before launching into #nonprofitconsulting full-time six years ago, I talked to A LOT of consultants. Almost all of them had left #nonprofit executive-level positions due to a need for better work/life harmony and flexibility. The reasons for moving into consulting haven't changed. Nonprofits who want to attract and retain talent at top positions need to be more mindful of how they can create workplaces of well-being. #nonprofitburnout #consulting #executivedirector #worklife #wellbeing

This interesting article discusses the loss of nonprofit executives to the quickly growing consulting pool of experts. Several of my most impactful and successful executive level non-profit colleagues have left their organizations to open a consulting company. I have peripherally observed the detrimental effects their departures have caused internally in their former organizations, and in some cases the negative outcomes from their departures have been quite negative and immense. Are you seeing this trend in your work as well?

Painful illustration of the challenges we are facing across the nonprofit sector. It doesn’t have to be this way! Staff retention comes from treating your teams right, building a positive culture, investing in your staff (compensation, professional development, appreciation, respect), and offering flexibility (4 day work week, hybrid, remote, time off). It’s time for a change! #orgculture #leadership #nonprofits