Omaha, Neb. – Charitable nonprofits in Nebraska are reporting significant difficulties retaining staff and filling vacancies, according to a new survey conducted by the National Council of Nonprofits.

In April 2023, nonprofits across the country completed a workforce shortages survey designed to gauge whether job vacancies continue to be a problem for the missions of those organizations, assess impact on communities, and identify actions taken and proposed for alleviating the challenge. The impact of increased job vacancies is visible in Nebraska’s communities, as demonstrated by the following survey findings:

More than three in five (61.2%) Nebraska nonprofits completing the survey reported experiencing job vacancies.

80.0% of respondents with vacancies identified program and service delivery as a category with vacancies.

Nearly half (49.0%) of nonprofits in the state responded that they have more vacancies compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, and 24.5% have longer waiting lists for services than in March 2020.

69.4% of responding organizations said salary competition affects their ability to recruit and retain employees, followed by budget constraints/insufficient funds (61.2%) and stress/burnout (42.9%).

Almost two-thirds (65.3%) of respondents anticipate the amount of donations will decline or remain flat for 2023. Well more than half (57.1%) expect the number of donors to decline or remain the same this year.

“When nonprofits dedicated to serving the public good don’t have adequate staffing to provide vital services, communities and people suffer,” said Anne Hindery, CEO of the Nonprofit Association (NAM). “By collecting and analyzing data, we can identify problems, raise awareness, propose solutions and take action to protect our communities.”

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is a state association of the National Council of Nonprofits and strengthens the collective voice, leadership and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa.

Nebraska nonprofits have responded to the workforce shortages crisis with several strategies and practices, including increasing salaries, providing remote work options, expanding benefits and providing one-time bonuses. They also have been providing trainings in career advancement and in diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as supporting mental health benefits.

Communities thrive when nonprofits succeed. For more than 30 years, the National Council of Nonprofits has mobilized the largest network of nonprofits in the United States to achieve transformative results. We champion, connect, and inform nonprofits across the country. Join our collective efforts to ensure a connected and powerful nonprofit community equipped to champion the public good. Learn more at www.councilofnonprofits.org.

Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. With NAM’s growing base of nonprofits, the organization is committed to: enhancing public recognition of the importance and role of the nonprofit sector; providing access to high-quality assistance and information on effective nonprofit management and practices; advocating on issues that affect the capacity of all nonprofits to address their communities’ needs; and fostering communication and cooperation among nonprofits. NAM also is recognized as the State Association for Nebraska by the National Council of Nonprofits, the nation’s largest network of nonprofits.