An Assessment of the Nonprofit Workforce Needs

For over a decade, headlines have claimed that there is an impending crisis in non-profit leadership due to the retirement of the baby boomers. While previous economic downturns have delayed retirements, the pandemic-related recession accelerated people leaving the workforce (Fry 2021). Given these changes, it is critical to understand nonprofit organizations’ current and projected needs. These include anticipated staffing changes, along with the types of skills that are valued in prospective employees. This information can be used to update or create curricula for university degree programs and professional development. Using a survey of nonprofit organizations, focus groups, and interviews, we have gathered information that identifies where the largest anticipated gaps are expected, along with the general and specific skillsets that non-profits are looking for both now and in the future.