by Adell Neal
At The Healing Trust, employee wellness is not treated as an extra benefit; it is part of how we sustain a healthy workplace and support mission-driven work over time. As nonprofits continue to navigate demanding workloads and the realities of burnout, we have worked to create policies and practices that encourage rest, flexibility, connection, and professional growth. Our hope is that by sharing what supports our team, other organizations may find ideas worth adapting in their own settings.
Flexible Work That Supports Well-Being
- Four-day work week. Workplace flexibility can strengthen staff well-being, reinforce organizational culture, and help sustain mission-driven work. In 2025, The Healing Trust adopted a four-day work week as standard operating procedure. This shift reflects our belief that rest and sustainability are essential to doing meaningful work well.
- Hybrid work schedule. Team members also have the flexibility to work from home on one of their four workdays. This hybrid approach supports focus, balance, and the ability to meet personal needs while staying connected to the work and to one another.
Workplace Spaces That Support Well-Being
The Healing Trust’s workplace is intentionally designed to give staff both the individual space they need to do focused work and shared spaces that encourage connection, reflection, and renewal.
- Individual workspaces: Staff have dedicated spaces that support concentration and help them do their best work.
- Gathering areas: A large back porch, furnished with dining tables, chairs, comfortable sofas, and rockers, offers a welcoming place for conversation, meals, and informal connection.
- Reflection spaces: A meditation garden replete with the sound of a perpetual fountain provides a quiet setting for pause and reflection.
- Wellness room: A dedicated wellness room gives staff a place to work or decompress while walking on the treadmill or practicing yoga.
Creating Space for Connection and Care
- Quarterly team days. Dedicated time together helps strengthen relationships, reflect on shared goals, and build connections across the team. These gatherings create space for collaboration that can sometimes be difficult to maintain in the pace of everyday work.
- Monthly staff wellness lunches. Regular opportunities to pause and share a meal help reinforce the idea that wellness includes community, not just individual self-care. These lunches offer a simple but meaningful way to nurture connection and appreciation.
- Annual wellness stipend. A generous wellness stipend gives employees resources they can use in ways that best support their own health and well-being. This approach recognizes that wellness looks different from person to person and is most effective when support is flexible.
Investing in Growth and Sustainability
- Professional development support. We provide funds for conferences, workshops, travel, meals, and lodging so staff can continue learning and growing in their roles. Investing in development supports both individual fulfillment and organizational effectiveness.
- Membership in professional organizations. Supporting participation in professional networks helps staff stay connected to broader conversations in the field, deepen their expertise, and bring new ideas back to the organization.
Employee wellness is not separate from organizational success—it is a foundation for it. By offering flexibility, encouraging connection, and investing in growth, The Healing Trust aims to create a workplace where people can thrive while doing meaningful work. We continue learning as we go, and we hope our experience can contribute to a broader conversation about what it means to build healthier, more sustainable nonprofit workplaces.