Nonprofit leader burnout has become an all too familiar storyline.
We talk about it constantly. At conferences, in boardrooms, and in hushed conversations between peers. We all know it – leaders are stretched thin and tenures are short.
When someone leaves, the narrative often lands in the same place: they took on too much, they didn’t have enough support, or they just weren’t the right fit.
In this episode, I’ll challenge this framing.
Drawing on decades of experience coaching nonprofit leaders, I argue that burnout isn’t a personal failure, but a systematic one. We are not setting leaders up to succeed in a world where turbulence is no longer occasional, but constant. And yet, we continue to treat leadership development as optional, expendable, or simply as a “nice to have.”
This episode takes a hard look at the forces that prevent leaders from getting the support they need: board cultures that don’t prioritize leadership development, sector norms that label it as overhead, and leaders themselves who hesitate to advocate for their own growth.
I make the case that none of these barriers are inevitable, and all of them are changeable.
Most importantly, I’ll end by outlining five concrete strategies nonprofit leaders, boards, and funders can use to shift how leadership development is valued, funded, and embedded into organizational life.
Because if we want leaders who can navigate ongoing turbulence, motivate teams through uncertainty, and stay in their roles long enough to make real change, then we have to invest in them like we mean it.
Leadership development isn’t a luxury. It’s a retention strategy.
And it may be one of the most powerful tools our sector is underutilizing. It’s time to change that.
TUNE IN TO LEARN:
- Why burnout isn’t a leadership failure: How the nonprofit sector’s systems – not individual leaders – are driving short tenures and unsustainable expectations.
- What investing in leaders actually makes possible: How continuous learning, coaching, and community can directly strengthen organizational credibility, funding, and impact.
- Why leadership development is not optional anymore: What today’s constant turbulence demands from leaders and why “waiting for calm seas” is no longer a strategy.
KEY QUOTES:
- “I believe we are not setting our leaders up to succeed, especially now.”
- “[T]he object of the work for a leader is not to manage through turbulence in the hopes of calm seas, but to just embrace the turbulence, motivate their teams to do especially hard work.”
- “If we want our fantastic leaders to stay ten years instead of five, we simply can’t accept the obstacles.”
- “Leadership development should be a critical criterion for your organization getting an A.”
RESOURCES:
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
- Perinatal Health Equity Initiative
- Nonprofit Leadership Lab
- Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership – 2nd Edition by Joan Garry
- FREE WORKSHOP: Let’s Build the Nonprofit Board of Your Dreams!
- FREE WORKSHOP: The 5 Practices of Outstanding Nonprofit Leaders
- Music by Jukebox the Ghost
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Sponsored By DonorPerfect
DonorPerfect provides nonprofits with powerful fundraising tools to drive success. Built on a foundation of integrity and innovation, the company prioritizes its clients over investors, cultivating a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and a commitment to making a difference. Check out their resource(s) below.
Sponsored By DRG Talent Consulting Experts
DRG is a talent advisory group helping nonprofit organizations to identify, attract, and nurture innovative, diverse leadership. Our team of 40+ experts serves over 200 nonprofits a year of all sizes and in various sectors across the country. Learn more at drgtalent.com.
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