Stephanie Gilbert

It's International Self-Care Day, a global reminder that caring for ourselves—body, mind, and spirit—is not only essential, it's critical. For those of us who work in the nonprofit sector, the message hits especially hard.

The nonprofit sector thrives on compassion—but at what cost? Passion drives us to serve, support, and strive for justice, but that same dedication can lead to burnout and secondary traumatic stress. In this post, YNPN Phoenix explores the emotional toll of nonprofit work, why young professionals are especially vulnerable, and how we can shift toward a culture of sustainability, boundaries, and collective care.