The Implications of COVID-19 for Emerging Leaders in the Nonprofit Sector

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in drastic changes related to how nonprofits operate. Leaders have had to navigate reorganizing programs and resources. According to the Independent Sector, almost a million nonprofit jobs have been lost, and it is estimated that seven percent of nonprofits have or will close down because of the pandemic (October 2020 Report). Yet, issues surrounding inequality, health and livelihood, climate collapse, population and migration, extremism, war, and corruption have become more evident and even more crucial for nonprofit organizations to address. Now that the initial disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic is subsiding and more information about the last year is being revealed, this is the time to reflect and think about the future of the nonprofit sector. How did nonprofit organizations navigate the uncertainty of the last year? What can emerging nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, planners, and evaluators learn from this experience? This study explores these questions and seeks to  contribute to the conversation of how nonprofits will operate after this pandemic in an ever-changing environment.