In the five years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofits have faced new challenges and, in many cases, changed the way they operate. While some organizations have benefited from increased flexible funding and adapted to more efficient virtual work models, others continue to grapple with financial instability, increased demand for services, and difficulties in volunteer recruitment and staff retention in the post-pandemic nonprofit sector.

When we recently asked the Blue Avocado community “Post-pandemic, what has changed for the better (or worse) in your nonprofit?” — once again, nonprofit leaders came through!

Here’s a summary of some of the best answers about the post-pandemic nonprofit sector we received:

Remote Flexibility: Balancing Connection and Building Trust in the Post-Pandemic Nonprofit Sector

There is more flexibility for people to work in a hybrid work model. This overall has been a positive since it reduces long commutes and lets us recruit and retain staff that might otherwise not apply.

On the downside, the reduction of in-person casual contact does impact the time it takes to build trust amongst team members. Having intentional team-building opportunities has been essential.

— Barbra Silver from Family Paths

Virtual Meetings for Increased Board Accessibility

During the pandemic, we needed to learn how to hold virtual meetings and we acquired the equipment to conduct hybrid meetings.

This has enabled us to include board members who are traveling for work, ill, or need to attend to their families. This makes it easier for our younger board members to participate.

— Paul Gloor from Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy

Thriving Virtual Teams, Diminished In-Person Connections

I think we have established a strong virtual working culture that has allowed us to meaningfully engage staff around the world into a single dynamic team. It has also allowed us to extend our internship program to include interns from the global south, which has been rewarding for us in our work and helping us better achieve our mission.

On the negative side, it has made it hard — if not impossible — for us to meet in person for our team retreat, which I think has been an important element of connection and innovation for us, and we have not been able to replace that experience.

— Julie from Bridges to Development

Read the full article about the post-pandemic nonprofit sector at Blue Avocado.