Measuring Changemaker Wellbeing (yes, that includes you).

Last week Future of Good published their 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index, a landmark study conducted by Environics Research. It’s one of the first global attempts to measure wellbeing across a representative sample of non-profit workers. It is also the first in what promises to be a decade-long project.

What’s a changemaker, you ask?

You already know the answer. YOU are a changemaker. It’s why you’re here, reading this. And it’s why the Index is so valuable. You may not have been in the sample, but I’m certain you’ll see yourself in the findings.

The full Index and their methodology are worth the read and a share with your network. Here are a few key insights (among many) that we want to highlight.

Meaningful to most, harmful to many  

The Index found that while 93% of non-profit workers feel their work is meaningful, this dedication is overshadowed by significant challenges. Alarmingly:

• 30% face food insecurity, especially so for frontline service workers (49%).

• 34% often feel burned out or exhausted.

• 36% experience poor overall wellbeing.

Disproportionate and disappointing

The burdens in our sector are not shared equally. Women in the non-profit sector are more than twice as likely to report fair or poor mental health (30%) compared to men (14%). And 39% of younger employees (18-29) report feeling burned out or exhausted often or always. When analysing the data by sector, poor wellbeing is notably high in social services (45%) and arts, culture, and recreation (49%).

 “This [poor wellbeing] is not a marginal issue. It is widespread, sector-defining, and impossible to ignore.” – 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index (Excerpt, Pg. 11)

What’s working?

The scope of burnout, poor mental health, and food security that the Index has uncovered is staggering. But, the authors do point to where organizations should invest and re-invest to support the wellbeing of their teams:

1. Formal HR practices can lead to fairer and more consistent compensation. Alleviating financial strain, particularly for frontline workers, might be one of the most potent ways to improve changemaker wellbeing.

2. Racialized and Indigenous changemakers are three times more likely to strongly agree that “everyone is treated fairly” when their organization has DEI policies.

3. Younger and lower-income workers are more likely to thrive if provided better onboarding, mentorship, and support structures from the outset.

Access the full 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index for free: 

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Hang in there everyone. We’re by your side.