Beyond Burnout: Why Supporting Black Nonprofit Leaders Is Critical for Community Survival

Supporting nonprofit leaders, particularly those leading Black-led organizations, is crucial not just for the survival of their missions but for the broader impact they have on communities. We are often the lifeblood of movements that address critical social issues, yet we are consistently burdened with stressors that many other sectors do not face. The irony is stark: in industries that create products with no immediate impact on human well-being, leaders are handsomely compensated for their ideas, while nonprofit leaders must often justify their salaries despite the transformative work they do.

Black-led nonprofits face a unique set of challenges that contribute to the burnout of their leaders. Financial instability is a significant factor. According to a study by Echoing Green and The Bridgespan Group, Black-led organizations have 24% less revenue and 76% less unrestricted net assets compared to their white-led counterparts. This disparity forces many Black nonprofit leaders to dip into their personal funds to keep their operations afloat, further straining their financial health.

But the issue extends beyond finances. The weight of leading an organization dedicated to serving marginalized communities comes with an immense emotional toll. As leaders we often carry the hopes, dreams, and traumas of the people we serve, leading to severe mental health challenges. According to the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, 45% of nonprofit leaders reported feeling "burned out" in their roles. This figure is likely higher for Black leaders, who must navigate both the pressures of their work and the systemic racism that permeates society.

The personal relationship stress that comes with this work cannot be ignored either. Ask me how I know… The demands of running a nonprofit—long hours, limited resources, and the emotional labor involved—often strain relationships with family and friends. This isolation only exacerbates the feelings of burnout and helplessness. And that doesn’t allow us to be our best to make an impact and serve well.?

It’s time to normalize demanding better support for nonprofit leaders. This starts with fair compensation. The idea that nonprofit leaders should accept lower pay because they are “doing good” is both outdated and harmful. In reality, we should be compensated in a way that reflects the importance and impact of their work.?

Leadership development and skill scaling are other critical areas where support is lacking. Nonprofit leaders often wear multiple hats—fundraiser, program manager, HR director—without the necessary training or resources to excel in these roles. Offering opportunities for professional development not only benefits the individual leader but also strengthens the entire organization.

Self-care is another area that needs to be prioritized. Burnout is often seen as a badge of honor in the nonprofit sector, a sign that a leader is truly committed to their cause. It just means they are doing it because someone else won’t. But this mindset is unsustainable and damaging. As leaders, we need the time and resources to care for our mental and physical health, which in turn will allow us to lead more effectively.?

Retirement planning is an often-overlooked aspect of nonprofit leadership. Many of us do not have retirement plans or savings, as they have been too busy pouring every available resource into our organizations. This leaves us vulnerable in our later years and perpetuates the cycle of financial instability within Black communities. It’s essential that funding opportunities include provisions for retirement planning to ensure that these leaders can retire with dignity.

The broader society needs to shift its narrative around nonprofit leadership. The work done by us is invaluable, yet it is often undervalued because it does not produce a tangible product that can be easily quantified. But the impact of our work—empowering communities, advocating for justice, providing essential services—cannot be overstated. As nonprofit leaders we are change-makers, and our compensation and support should be reflective of the transformative power of our work.

It’s also crucial to acknowledge that Black-led nonprofits are often on the front lines of addressing the most pressing issues facing society today, from racial justice to economic inequality. We should not have to justify our salaries or the need for self-care. The work we do is vital to the health and well-being of our communities, and we deserve to be supported in every possible way.

Supporting us, particularly those of us leading Black-led organizations, is not just a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of survival for the communities we serve. By normalizing the demand for better pay, self-care, leadership development, and retirement planning, we can ensure that we have the resources we need to continue the critical work. It’s time to stop asking us to sacrifice our well-being for the sake of their cause and start providing the support they need to thrive. And you do ask us every time a grant prohibits inclusion in budgets of salaries or low balled in fiscal support because we have to do more with little.?

In a world where industries that develop inanimate objects are willing to invest millions in their leaders, we must demand the same, if not more, for those whose work directly impacts human lives. The future of our communities depends on it.