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The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout
Steer your organization away from burnout while boosting all-around performance The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit presents realistic strategies for leaders looking to optimize organizational achievement while avoiding the common nonprofit burnout. With a uniquely holistic approach to nonprofit leadership strategy, this book functions as a handbook to help leaders examine their existing organization, identify trouble spots, and resolve issues with attention to all aspects of operations and culture. The expert author team walks you through the process of building a happier, healthier organization from the ground up, with a balanced approach that considers more than just quantitative results. Employee wellbeing takes a front seat next to organizational performance, with clear guidance on establishing optimal systems and processes that bring about better results while allowing a healthier work-life balance. By improving attitudes and personal habits at all levels, you'll implement a positive cultural change with sustainable impact.
Nonprofits are driven to do more, more, more, often with fewer and fewer resources; there comes a breaking point where passion dwindles under the weight of pressure, and the mission suffers as a result. This book shows you how to revamp your organization to do more and do it better, by putting cultural considerations at the heart of strategy.
Find and relieve cultural and behavioral pain points Achieve better results with attention to well-being Redefine your organizational culture to avoid burnout Establish systems and processes that enable sustainable change At its core, a nonprofit is driven by passion. What begins as a personal investment in the organization's mission can quickly become the driver of stress and overwork that leads to overall lackluster performance. Executing a cultural about-face can be the lifeline your organization needs to thrive. The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit provides a blueprint for sustainable change, with a holistic approach to improving organizational outlook.
Nonprofits are driven to do more, more, more, often with fewer and fewer resources; there comes a breaking point where passion dwindles under the weight of pressure, and the mission suffers as a result. This book shows you how to revamp your organization to do more and do it better, by putting cultural considerations at the heart of strategy.
Find and relieve cultural and behavioral pain points Achieve better results with attention to well-being Redefine your organizational culture to avoid burnout Establish systems and processes that enable sustainable change At its core, a nonprofit is driven by passion. What begins as a personal investment in the organization's mission can quickly become the driver of stress and overwork that leads to overall lackluster performance. Executing a cultural about-face can be the lifeline your organization needs to thrive. The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit provides a blueprint for sustainable change, with a holistic approach to improving organizational outlook.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2016
46 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 22, 2018
Where to start? Prepare for a bit of a rant, friends. First off, I read, write, and think quite a bit about healthy and sustainable organizations. My work is about helping support organizations to be healthy, trauma-informed, sustainable systems that support their employees, and therefor the trauma survivors that they work with daily.
So, when I saw this book, I got excited and ordered it right away. And when I read this book, I got angry and a little bit sad.
Let me start by saying that I believe that each of us is responsible to do whatever we need and can to care for ourselves - spiritually, physically, emotionally. And that I believe organizations have a lion's share of responsibility for creating happy, healthy non-profits, not individuals. The infrastructure is as important, if not more important, than individual effort.
All that said, in Kanter and Sherman's book, the first 100 pages or so (more than 1/2 the book) is dedicated ENTIRELY to the ways that individuals can/should change or modify their own behavior toward happiness and healthiness. To the degree that it felt reductive, paternalistic, and oppressive at times. In my opinion, whole chapters should have been replaced with the sentence, "Do whatever you can/need for your body to feel as good as you can, whenever you can" rather than food-shaming, promoting self-care planning that prioritizes one cultural way of health, and ignoring the forms of past trauma and other issues that may play into individual's lives and abilities to prioritize things like getting 8+ hours of sleep.
Even when the book delves into organizational culture and policies, the first discussion of culture and policies promoted were about paid time off to exercise and monitoring their progress. I want to point out that this AGAIN is actually about individual responsibility, though we are starting there to see a bit more of an organizational approach.
Later, the book also suggests walking meetings as an organizational strategy for wellness -- with NO discussion of an organization's many employees who may or may not be able to participate due to mobility or other ability issues.
Over and over again, this book let me know that the authors believe that INDIVIDUALS are responsible for the health and happiness of the non-profit that they are giving their labor to in pursuit of mission. NOPE.
So, when I saw this book, I got excited and ordered it right away. And when I read this book, I got angry and a little bit sad.
Let me start by saying that I believe that each of us is responsible to do whatever we need and can to care for ourselves - spiritually, physically, emotionally. And that I believe organizations have a lion's share of responsibility for creating happy, healthy non-profits, not individuals. The infrastructure is as important, if not more important, than individual effort.
All that said, in Kanter and Sherman's book, the first 100 pages or so (more than 1/2 the book) is dedicated ENTIRELY to the ways that individuals can/should change or modify their own behavior toward happiness and healthiness. To the degree that it felt reductive, paternalistic, and oppressive at times. In my opinion, whole chapters should have been replaced with the sentence, "Do whatever you can/need for your body to feel as good as you can, whenever you can" rather than food-shaming, promoting self-care planning that prioritizes one cultural way of health, and ignoring the forms of past trauma and other issues that may play into individual's lives and abilities to prioritize things like getting 8+ hours of sleep.
Even when the book delves into organizational culture and policies, the first discussion of culture and policies promoted were about paid time off to exercise and monitoring their progress. I want to point out that this AGAIN is actually about individual responsibility, though we are starting there to see a bit more of an organizational approach.
Later, the book also suggests walking meetings as an organizational strategy for wellness -- with NO discussion of an organization's many employees who may or may not be able to participate due to mobility or other ability issues.
Over and over again, this book let me know that the authors believe that INDIVIDUALS are responsible for the health and happiness of the non-profit that they are giving their labor to in pursuit of mission. NOPE.
May 1, 2023
If I was just starting out in nonprofits and thinking about the culture of my workplace, this would be a great read. I am familiar with many of their suggestions and my work environment encourages many of them.
July 29, 2018
I wouldn’t recommend this book for exploring the topic of burnout in any real depth, but it’s a nice introduction for anyone who has no familiarity with the concept of burnout.
The book is intended to be a practical guide to identifying the symptoms of burnout and creating an organizational culture that prevents it. I didn’t learn anything new in terms of symptoms and prevention strategies. While the suggestions for creating a healthy culture in your organization were sound, it didn’t account for the nuance or politics of an organization. The book was heavy on suggestions for self-care and preventing burnout (all of which I found to be unoriginal), but light on practical and thoroughly-considered suggestions for changing an organization’s culture.
There were areas that were barely discussed which I thought could have made for really interesting conversation. For example, the role funders currently play and could play in the prevalence of burnout was merely a paragraph, but could be really thought-provoking reading. Also, generational differences in work style and self-care were barely mentioned but I think expounding upon it would have enriched the conversation.
Overall, I think the topic of burnout needs more books that provide practical steps for prevention on both micro and macro levels. The most helpful part of this book were the assessments for evaluating your own burnout, coping mechanisms and healthy/unhealthy behaviors. I would have much preferred the book focus on this and take the shape of a workbook of sorts.
The book is intended to be a practical guide to identifying the symptoms of burnout and creating an organizational culture that prevents it. I didn’t learn anything new in terms of symptoms and prevention strategies. While the suggestions for creating a healthy culture in your organization were sound, it didn’t account for the nuance or politics of an organization. The book was heavy on suggestions for self-care and preventing burnout (all of which I found to be unoriginal), but light on practical and thoroughly-considered suggestions for changing an organization’s culture.
There were areas that were barely discussed which I thought could have made for really interesting conversation. For example, the role funders currently play and could play in the prevalence of burnout was merely a paragraph, but could be really thought-provoking reading. Also, generational differences in work style and self-care were barely mentioned but I think expounding upon it would have enriched the conversation.
Overall, I think the topic of burnout needs more books that provide practical steps for prevention on both micro and macro levels. The most helpful part of this book were the assessments for evaluating your own burnout, coping mechanisms and healthy/unhealthy behaviors. I would have much preferred the book focus on this and take the shape of a workbook of sorts.
July 6, 2018
I don't read self help type books willingly.
I was asked to read this one for work, and being the ambitious person I am I agreed.
The Goods
It's a good reminder and overview of the idea of self care and all the facets it involves. Not everything is bathbombs and coloring books. Somethings are cleaning, bathing, breathing, and getting up and moving around.
And the nonprofit workplace conceptually exists to do good and fill a public need. Therefore, it only makes sense for nonprofits to embrace and cultivate a culture of self care.
The bads
My nonprofit environment is much different from the one they describe. My environment is much more unpredictable. I'm on my feet.
I think some of the solutions they provide are a bit reductive.
And I think for a book focused on an environment of "WEcare" there's still too much focus on individual self care. Albeit this was definitely written for higher ups and executive director types, but I think there could be some advice tailored toward us little folk. How do we as non directors and non department heads help people, particularly the leaders, take self care seriously? How do we as non leaders create and environment conducive to our coworkers well being?
I think answering these questions and thinking from this point of view would be a great follow up.
I was asked to read this one for work, and being the ambitious person I am I agreed.
The Goods
It's a good reminder and overview of the idea of self care and all the facets it involves. Not everything is bathbombs and coloring books. Somethings are cleaning, bathing, breathing, and getting up and moving around.
And the nonprofit workplace conceptually exists to do good and fill a public need. Therefore, it only makes sense for nonprofits to embrace and cultivate a culture of self care.
The bads
My nonprofit environment is much different from the one they describe. My environment is much more unpredictable. I'm on my feet.
I think some of the solutions they provide are a bit reductive.
And I think for a book focused on an environment of "WEcare" there's still too much focus on individual self care. Albeit this was definitely written for higher ups and executive director types, but I think there could be some advice tailored toward us little folk. How do we as non directors and non department heads help people, particularly the leaders, take self care seriously? How do we as non leaders create and environment conducive to our coworkers well being?
I think answering these questions and thinking from this point of view would be a great follow up.
September 25, 2020
Nice easy read with clear writing and digestible chapters. This is a new area for me to be thinking about how I can grow professionally and starting something new can be overwhelming to figure out where to start.
I thought this gave a nice overview of the universe of being intentional about wellness at work, and lots of examples.
I read it through and made underlines and notes on my reactions and questions. I’m definitely going to read through again with an eye towards building a priority list of next steps to start building better habits for myself and my team.
I thought this gave a nice overview of the universe of being intentional about wellness at work, and lots of examples.
I read it through and made underlines and notes on my reactions and questions. I’m definitely going to read through again with an eye towards building a priority list of next steps to start building better habits for myself and my team.
April 15, 2018
Very simple and repetitive recipes for creating a happy, healthy organization. Ins spite of being based on interviews and studies of nonprofit organizations across America, the solutions and strategies presented are general and vague.
It contains good points and strategies that can be successfully applied in organizations, but are explained in a very lengthy and unnecessary manner. This book should be half the size it is and would be more useful in my opinion.
It contains good points and strategies that can be successfully applied in organizations, but are explained in a very lengthy and unnecessary manner. This book should be half the size it is and would be more useful in my opinion.
February 22, 2020
Whether you work for a nonprofit or not, ‘The Happy Healthy Nonprofit” will help you identify and address the elements of your job detrimental to your health and wellness as well as your work productivity. If you feel burned out and unhealthy or struggle to find time for you and your family, this book can help you find time by implementing programs and activities promoting good health and wellness choices from which your fellow employees and your organization can benefit.
June 20, 2017
What a great surprise! Found this book by chance at the public library and thought it was a start up manual for entrepreneurs. Turned out to be an incredibly practical manual for how to incorporate wellbeing as major personal and work goals. Quick read at < 200 pages. No fluff. Can be skimmed. Lots of pearls to inspire change in mindset and behavior.
June 2, 2017
Examination of how to prevent burnout among nonprofit executives, professionals and staff. Great strategies and approaches that can be used by both individuals and organizations to keep nonprofits and those working in them healthy and productive
May 19, 2017
Must read for all nonprofit directors!
May 21, 2017
Not really any new ideas, but a good reference and a good one to review once in a while.
February 13, 2017
This is a great book that everyone that longs for "work life balance" should read. Nonprofit staffers can identify with the real life stories.
Kanter & Sherman offer real world suggestions on how to prevent burn out...or bounce back from it if it's already happened to you. The suggestions are small and easy to implement - with immediate positive impact for your well-being.
Kanter & Sherman offer real world suggestions on how to prevent burn out...or bounce back from it if it's already happened to you. The suggestions are small and easy to implement - with immediate positive impact for your well-being.
March 14, 2017
What a revelation! Was reading this when I went to a Villages presentation (organization to support aging in place, on one's own home)--the volunteer director talked about how many hours she's put in to getting the org going, how little sleep she's had--and I had the book with me, and simply showed it to her at the end. Making self-care OK in a nonprofit can be hard, but this book is the roadmap. When the audio comes out, people working at nonprofits will want to listen during their commute! So many examples of how to make the nonprofit happy and healthy--I cheer Kanter and Sherman on and hope this movement spreads!! Every non-profit should have a book group discussion on this book! Having burned out in the past, I wish I'd had it then. Read and be happier and healthier!!
November 6, 2016
I've known Beth for several years now in being involved with different nonprofits. I was very excited when this book came out because it is a book that desperately needed to be written. There are so many resources out there on the importance of wellness, but those resources don't help with creating a workable plan. This is a great read! Plus, I've e en bought a copy to give to my Executive Director.
February 8, 2020
This book is geared towards larger non-profits and focused more on the healthy than happy part of workplace culture. Some of the sections on health verge into perpetuating diet culture. There were a couple good take always, but not a book I'll be passing around our office.
July 3, 2019
Great book with lots of great examples!
March 24, 2020
The book was helpful in providing alternative ways to keep a non-profit from becoming an all consuming venture. Relatable writing style.
April 2, 2017
This richly-resourced book offers a fresh take on personal and organizational well being.
Read
January 28, 2019Good overview for workplace wellness activities.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews