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INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT PRACTICE HOSTS WELL-BEING SUMMIT, ANNOUNCES WELL-BEING INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT SOCIAL IMPACT LEADERS & SECTOR AT LARGE

New Initiative to Address Rising Burnout, Turnover in Social Impact Sector

November 9, 2023, Boston — The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP), which works to transform the social impact sector to be more effective, connected, equitable, and diverse announced the launch of its Well-being Initiative on Monday, November 6th during a full-day Well-being Summit. The summit, which convened INP community members to learn tangible practices to foster individual and organizational well-being, took place at Gillette Stadium in partnership with the New England Patriots Foundation and Kraft Family Philanthropies, and with sponsorship from The Boston Foundation.

INP’s Well-being Initiative will address rising levels of burnout, turnover, and workforce shortages facing the social sector – an issue so widespread that it has become a top priority of the U.S. Surgeon General. Over the next three years, INP will continue to research the subject, integrate new practices that promote well-being and retention and mitigate burnout into INP programming, and share information with the sector broadly to help shift organizational and philanthropic practice in service of a healthier, more sustainable sector.

During the summit, INP shared findings on the current state of workforce burnout and well-being, distilled from a combination of existing peer reviewed publications and new research completed by INP and Community Science on how these trends are directly impacting INP’s alumni. This research and the work to develop the Well-being Initiative were funded by the Fidelity Charitable Trustees’ Initiative.

Some findings are not surprising: COVID-19 and the racial reckoning of 2020 exacerbated burnout. Other top burnout contributors include unreasonable expectations, screen fatigue, long hours, and the emotional toll of the work. One study found that 43% of employees report they are exhausted, and more than one-third of nonprofit leaders think that workplace burnout is “very much” a concern.

Josh Kraft, President of the New England Patriots Foundation attended the Well-being Summit and affirmed the need for the Well-being Initiative, saying “The issue of burnout and turnover in the social sector is pervasive and deeply concerning, and INP is uniquely positioned to address this challenge head-on. The New England Patriots Foundation and Kraft Family Philanthropies are honored to host the Institute for Nonprofit Practice community at Gillette Stadium for their Well-being Summit, providing the rare opportunity for hundreds of social sector leaders to come together, restore, and learn new practices to take back to their organizations that will help promote greater well-being and sustainability for people working within the social sector. We believe INP’s Well-being Initiative represents a significant step towards ensuring that leaders have the support and tools they need to continue their invaluable work.”

INP President and CEO Yolanda Coentro said “Addressing the well-being of leaders has always been part of our work at INP, and we’ve integrated practices throughout our programs to help leaders combat stress and prioritize self-care. But this is a new day, and the challenges facing leaders are like nothing any of us have ever experienced. If we do not act swiftly, we risk losing some of the sector’s most talented and proximate changemakers – and preventing emerging leaders from pursuing careers in the sector altogether. Through the Well-being Initiative, we have the opportunity to learn more about what is causing people to burnout and leave the sector, and what is helping them feel whole and stay the course, and we can share this information and other promising practices with the INP community and beyond. We are deeply grateful to Fidelity Charitable Trustees’ Initiative for funding our research on the topic, the New England Patriots Foundation and Kraft Family Philanthropies for hosting our Well-being Summit, and The Boston Foundation who quickly stepped up to be our first Well-being Initiative sponsor.”

INP’s partnership with The Boston Foundation dates back to the organization’s founding in 2007. Through grants, thought partnership, and collaboration, TBF has catalyzed INP’s work to build a more effective social impact sector with leadership that is representative of communities served – in Greater Boston and beyond. TBF has continued its support of INP by providing critical flexible funding to help launch the Well-being Initiative. Leigh Handschuh, Senior Program Officer, Nonprofit Sector Infrastructure at TBF said, “At The Boston Foundation, we recognize the imperative of addressing burnout, turnover, and workforce shortages in the social sector to strengthen the foundation of our communities, and we believe that investing in the well-being of those who lead the charge for social progress is a key driver of sector effectiveness. We are proud to support the Institute for Nonprofit Practice’s Well-being Initiative and all they are doing to promote a healthier, more resilient, and more impactful social impact ecosystem for the benefit of all.”

Donors who are interested in learning more about how they can support INP’s Well-being Initiative should contact Audrey Gillis, INP’s Chief Advancement Officer, at agillis@nonprofitpractice.org.

The Well-being Summit featured opening remarks from New England Patriots Foundation President Josh Kraft, followed by a keynote conversation with Dr. Laurie Santos, professor of the most popular class in Yale University’s history and host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast, on the science of well-being, which was simultaneously livestreamed as part of INP’s Leadership Learning Series sponsored by the Allstate Foundation. Managing Director of INP’s Black Leadership Institute (BLI) Obenewa Amponsah moderated a panel discussion, Well-being in the Workplace, which included Director of the Office for Well-being at Massachusetts General Hospital Dr. Darshan Mehta, Hopewell Chief Human Resources Officer Leah Janey, and East Boston Social Centers Executive Director Justin Pasquariello.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT PRACTICE

The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) equips the nation’s social impact leaders with the skills, resources, networks, and confidence to boldly advance their organizations and missions, creating a more equitable future for all. Through a suite of comprehensive leadership development programs, alumni engagement, thought leadership, and community convenings, INP trains and connects executives, managers, and emerging leaders nationwide in an effort to foster a more effective, interconnected, equitable, and diverse social impact sector. Central to INP’s work is a commitment to advancing social justice and supporting women and people of color to confidently step into leadership roles of greater influence. For more information, visit nonprofitpractice.org.

For press inquiries, please contact media@nonprofitpractice.org.

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