.png)
A new narrative on nonprofit burnout:
what thriving organizations
are doing differently.
The 2026 Thrive Profile™ Nonprofit Worker Wellbeing Report
The 2026 Thrive Profile™ Nonprofit Worker Wellbeing Report shares national findings from nonprofit workers across 21 organizations, revealing how burnout is shaped by workload, team culture, leadership priority, and organizational systems.​
800+ Nonprofit
Workers Surveyed
A national dataset from nonprofit workers across participating organizations.
21 Organizations
Surveyed
Direct-service nonprofits across the South and Midwest contributed
to the findings.
Approximately 60% in positive stress categories
Most workers are not disconnected from the work. Many are still engaged, but early strain is visible.
The sector has been asking the wrong question about burnout.
For too long, nonprofit burnout has been treated as a problem of individual resilience: something workers are expected to manage through self-care, coping strategies,
or personal endurance.
​The Thrive Profile™
Report data points to a more useful question.
Instead of asking only, “Why are nonprofit workers burned out?” this report asks:
What workplace conditions make burnout more likely and what are stronger organizations doing differently?
The findings suggest that nonprofit worker wellbeing improves not only when workers are personally supported, but when the systems around them are designed to make sustainable work possible.
What this means for nonprofit leaders
Wellbeing is an operational responsibility, not a peripheral initiative.
What this means for funders
Worker wellbeing is a capacity issue that shapes retention, stability, and mission delivery.
What this means for consultants
Organizations need skilled support to move from wellbeing data to meaningful action.