“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” Frodo says.
“So do I,” says Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide… All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
--- JRR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
I get it, Frodo. I wish we didn’t have to face this challenging time, either.
2025 kicked off with a bang, and not in a good way: looming funding cuts in the nonprofit world, growing threats to vulnerable communities, devastating wildfires, ongoing wars across the globe, and deep economic uncertainty.
I’m sure you’re feeling the weight of it, too—whether it’s as an individual, a nonprofit professional, or a concerned community member. One thing is clear: we’re going to need to dig deep and build up some serious resilience to get through this.
So, What is Resilience, Anyway?
Resilience is more than just flexibility or adaptability—it’s about bouncing back from the toughest times, stronger and more equipped for whatever comes next. It’s the inner grit that allows us to face setbacks, disappointments, and even failure without losing our sense of purpose and direction.
But resilience isn’t just about enduring hardship; it’s about learning and growing from it. Think of it like a muscle—the more we challenge it, the stronger it becomes. Every difficulty we navigate, every uncomfortable moment we push through, helps build the endurance we need for the next challenge.
Building Personal Resilience
Right now, many of us feel uneasy—afraid to show our true selves, our beliefs, or our values. It’s easy to feel vulnerable, especially for those in marginalized communities. Refugees, immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, people of color, and individuals practicing faiths other than Christianity are especially at risk.
So, while self-care is important (and let’s be real, it’s essential), let’s focus on something that lasts even longer—resilience. Personal resilience is all about bouncing back when life knocks you down, and it’s essential if we want to create meaningful, lasting change.
Personal resilience is made up of four key parts:
Psychological: Your mental strength to face challenges and uncertainty.
Emotional: The ability to accept what’s happening and manage your feelings in tough situations.
Physical: Your body’s ability to handle stress and adapt. This can be improved through healthy habits.
Social: The strength of your relationships. The more connected we are, the better we can weather the storm together.
By strengthening these resilience “muscles” we can equip ourselves to not only endure hardships, but to emerge stronger, more connected, and ready to create the change we want to see in the world.
Growing Resilience in Our Communities
While personal resilience is key, as nonprofit professionals, we also have an opportunity to foster resilience in our organizations and communities. The reality is, the nonprofit sector is no stranger to uncertainty—funding shifts, policy changes, and crises can upend even the best-laid plans.
In the world of risk management, resilience is often considered the secret sauce for thriving during tough times. And right now, if our organizations are going to make it through, we’ll need to embrace best practices in change management—because change is necessary for survival.
Effective change management doesn’t happen by accident. Healthy organizations move through four key stages when navigating change:
Anticipate: What changes might impact our organization? Recognize when change is on the horizon. Identify vulnerabilities. Consider possible scenarios.
Prepare: How can we strengthen our organization before the change happens? Get ready for change. Reduce weaknesses and seize opportunities.
Respond: How will we support our team through uncertainty? Implement the plan. Manage unexpected challenges. Provide clear leadership.
Recover: What can we learn from this experience? Adjust to new circumstances. Evaluate the response process. Refine strategies for future challenges.
Throughout each step, communication is central to success. Not only do we need to communicate with our nonprofit teams, but also with our participants and donors. Transparency is key: we may not have all the answers, but we can assure our stakeholders that we are committed to adapting, learning, and doing our best.
Learning from Fire Ants
Nature has mastered resilience. From a hedgehog’s quills to an armadillo’s ability to curl into a ball, animals have developed remarkable survival strategies. But resilience isn’t just about individual strength—it’s also about collective action. And that’s where fire ants come in.
I know, I know—fire ants aren’t exactly cute and cuddly creatures. But, they can teach us about group resilience. After a hurricane, fire ants come together in a big way. Rather than getting washed away, they work as a community, forming huge floating “rafts” that can survive the storm for weeks. Up to 100,000 ants can huddle together, and not a single one will drown.
If these tiny ants can hold on to each other and survive, maybe we can do the same. As a nonprofit sector, we represent about 10% of the U.S. workforce. We provide critical services that people depend on—food assistance, shelter, education, healthcare, and so much more. But when the waters rise—whether it’s a funding crisis, a policy shift, or an unexpected disaster—our strength lies in each other.
You Are Here for a Reason
Like Frodo, we might wish we didn’t have to go through this right now. But the reality is, we’re here…and we’re needed more than ever. We can’t just weather the storm alone—we have to link arms, lift each other up, and make sure no one gets left behind.
By strengthening our personal resilience and finding ways to build resilience in our communities, we can get through this, together.
Photo by Max LaRochelle on Unsplash
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