Hello & Happy 2026, Subscriber First Name 💫

The subject line of this newsletter is the same one I used in January 2025. At the time, many of us were experiencing the whiplash of a turbulent start to the year. I chose to recycle the subject line because the message feels both simple and essential for the moment we’re in: wellbeing is going to matter more than ever.

Before diving into why that’s true, I want to invite a moment of reflection on wellbeing in 2025:

Were you able to prioritize your wellbeing?

Did your definition of wellbeing shift?

What supported you the most in 2025? What did last year teach you about wellbeing in today’s leadership landscape?

As a social entrepreneur who tracks nonprofit wellbeing trends, I can say with confidence that 2025 was a formative year for the wellbeing movement. What was difficult (though not surprising) was seeing wellbeing sidelined during the first half of 2025. In the face of executive orders that sought to decimate nonprofits, wellbeing got dumped squarely into the “nice-to-have” camp. Although, so many of us knew deep in our hearts that wellbeing was critical.

But something shifted during the summer. As leaders looked toward the second half of the year, there was a collective recognition: if we’re going to endure this sh*t show, then something’s gotta give. These aren’t like COVID times—we don’t have a PPP loan waiting in the wings with relief. This has forced a renewed urgency around wellbeing strategy, and a willingness to experiment with what might be possible.

That’s when our team started tracking wellbeing trends more intentionally. We launched the Bi-Weekly Wellbeing Brief, a resource that synthesizes what is happening across the sector (available via LinkedIn subscription and archived on our website). Through this work, we’ve seen an uptick in burnout research, yes, but also movement and innovations that actually spark hope. From Seattle’s local government investing $25 million in nonprofit workers, to research from National Council of Nonprofits showing that even modest wellbeing investments can meaningfully improve staff sustainability… the tide is shifting.

Here in San Diego, Do Good Leadership Collective has been doing its part to thoughtfully experiment. We’ve partnered with the Kinship Fund to explore how a wellbeing ‘third space’ could support nonprofit leaders. This willingness to test, learn, and adapt is essential right now.

And even still, I sense some real hesitation—among philanthropic partners and nonprofit leaders—about experimenting with wellbeing. Perhaps because we’re learning what many of us suspected all along: wellbeing is complex. Especially across different identities, lived experiences, and generations.

We know there is no one-size-fits-all wellbeing solution. Case-in-point: I just returned from a 12-day road trip to the Redwoods, where my wellbeing was revitalized by chopping wood and picking splinters out of my fingers, tending to a fire pit for hours on end, and venturing alone into the dense forests without a lick of cell service. Does this type of “wellbeing experience” appeal to everyone? Of course not! And that’s precisely the point. Developing sustainable wellbeing support across an entire organization takes time, intention, care, and a willingness to listen.

And this is reason that Do Good Leadership Collective exists.

In a world where speed and uncertainty have become our baselines, we are here to remind you that wellbeing still matters—and always will. We are standing 10 toes down on this commitment in 2026. This newsletter (in your inbox every 3 weeks) will aim to do the following:

• Share trends and celebrate progress in nonprofit and philanthropic wellbeing initiatives

• Offer accessible, practical resources to support you and your people

• Keep the invitation open for deeper partnerships as you navigate your wellbeing journey for you and your teams

In short, we’re here to walk along side you as your nonprofit wellbeing bestie all year long, Subscriber First Name 🫂