How a Nonprofit Boosted Employee Morale and Retention and Built Community Trust
“We are able to share our concerns and ideas in real time—which makes a big difference in how supported we feel—and that positivity shows up in the community, too.”
Program Coordinator
Overview
A nonprofit organization with multiple community service sites faced challenges in strengthening its reputation in the community, and improving staff morale and retention.
Results
21%
Reduction in annual staff turnover.
+14
Points improvement in employee scores.
36%
More positive community mentions in 6 months.
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Challenges
- High turnover made it difficult to keep experienced staff in programs, increasing recruitment and training costs, and negatively impacting program effectiveness.
- Low morale and satisfaction with employees reporting that they felt disconnected from leadership and unsupported in their roles.
- Community reputation was at risk with external perception and false rumors impacting donations and partnerships.
Targeted Actions to Drive Results
Boost Retention
- Send supportive messages, wellness resources, and recognition texts directly to employee mobile devices.
- Use regular pulse surveys to identify and address issues and drivers of turnover.
Improve Morale
- Collect real-time feedback on workloads, supervisor support, and program effectiveness.
- Share quick wins and leadership responses to show employees their voices are heard and valued.
Community Branding
- Use regular surveys for early identification of emerging false rumors and to gain real insights into community perceptions.
- Deliver messages about success stories and organization’s efforts via SMS to build trust.