Knowledge zone

The professional burnout among third-sector employees stems not only from a deep commitment and demanding work areas, but also from the funding mechanisms of non-governmental organizations. Short-term grant funding, a lack of employment stability, excessive bureaucratic burdens, and a lack of budgetary flexibility indeed cause stress within NGO teams. As part of the Burnout Aid project, we gathered the experiences of organizations and experts. Moreover, we proposed specific recommendations for changes in the public grant system that can improve well-being and help counteract burnout in the sector.

15 years of the Culture Shock Foundation! We established it to provoke and break people out of the routine, believing that culture can be a space for real social change. What have we witnessed in that time? What has changed, what has survived, and what still moves us? We discuss our evolution, from urban activities to combining technology with well-being. Additionally, we share our thoughts on counteracting burnout and structural violence in the NGO sector, as well as survival in the world of grants, which is not an economic success, but evidence for perseverance, adaptation, and holding on to purpose, even when the system fails. Enjoy the read!

Activist burnout in the third sector is a topic that remains insufficiently researched, although the everyday experiences of NGO workers indicate that it is a widespread issue. As part of the international Burnout Aid project, we conducted a unique study between 2019 and 2020 that consisted of desk research and in-depth qualitative interviews with teams and female experts from Poland, Croatia and Slovenia. This deepened our understanding of where burnout in NGOs originates, how it affects individuals and organizations, and which changes – from individual to systemic – can help us regain balance and agency.

Creativity is one of those skills that enables teams to think more broadly and work more effectively. Without it, it's easy to get bogged down in patterns and feel that nothing makes sense anymore. Burnt-out teams lose their creativity the fastest. Using the example of an environmental organization, we explain what tunnel vision is, where it comes from, and how to overcome it to regain a sense of agency and a fresh perspective.

Magda Adamowicz shares the story that gave rise to the Mokuteki project. Working as a coach, she quickly encountered emotions that are rarely expressed openly: helplessness, anger or anxiety. It became clear to her that classic coaching models do not work in the conditions of a permanent crisis, such as the war in Ukraine. Along with Paulina Jędrzejewska, she developed a program for those who support leaders of human rights organizations operating in such circumstances.

Burnout is not an individual problem – it results from fixed relational patterns within teams and organizations. The Drama Triangle describes the roles taken on in destructive relationships: a persecutor, a victim, and a rescuer. We show that it is possible to overcome the draining dynamics of the Drama Triangle by transforming it into the Winner's Triangle – with the roles of assertive, vulnerable, and caring.

The Burnout Aid portal is the result of research on professional and activist burnout in the third sector in Central and Eastern Europe, initiated in 2019, as well as more than a decade of work with organizations and their teams.

How can you support others when you are on the verge of exhaustion yourself? The author shares her experience of participating in the Mokuteki training program for those supporting Ukrainian civil society. Several months of meetings preparing participants for coaching leaders of Ukrainian organizations are not only training; above all, they are part of the systemic response to burnout in wartime conditions.

This year was dynamic for us: we developed the Burnout Aid portal, our working methods, and the Foundation. It is a consistent and stable development – in line with our values and mission. We based our activities on work culture, mental well-being, and digital balance. We kept cooperating with the third sector and cultural institutions, strengthening individuals, teams, and organizations in Poland, Ukraine, and Europe.

Welcome to the Burnout Aid Knowledge Zone! Here you can pause and reflect on the working and operating conditions in NGOs and cultural institutions. We write about what affects the well-being of these sectors' employees – including systemic conditions, organizational culture, team relationships, activist burnout, mental health & body, and technologies. We share our reflections that can help you look at yourself, your organization, and your surroundings differently.