Teaching Paper: Advancing Burnout Research in NGOs – A Strategic Research Agenda

Although burnout has been extensively researched in organizational psychology, its manifestation in the non-profit sector presents distinct challenges that remain insufficiently understood. This Teaching Paper outlines a strategic research agenda to advance knowledge and practice in NGO burnout prevention. Four key areas are identified: cross-cultural comparisons, volunteer versus staff dynamics, digital wellbeing interventions, and longitudinal trajectories. The agenda highlights the need for studies that capture diverse global contexts, account for differences between volunteer and staff experiences, evaluate emerging digital interventions, and track burnout processes over time. For academics, this agenda offers pathways to address theoretical blind spots and contribute to comparative, context-sensitive scholarship. For practitioners, it signals the potential for evidence-based prevention strategies that reflect the realities of mission-driven, resource-constrained environments.