With 33 years experience in the nonprofit sector, Maryann Kerr will tell you she has seen a lot. Her stories, some personal and some shared through her recent research, paint a picture of a sector that needs to pay attention to organizational health and culture.

Kerr’s research gathered data through individual interviews, focus groups and surveys. She interviewed a range of social profit executives from organizations of varying sizes and reached a diverse group of individuals. Combined, the interviewees represented: 164 years of service to the sector, $463 M in annual revenue and $3.59 B in endowed funds. Focus group participants represented close to 100 years of experience and included individuals with experience as both fundraisers and grantors. The survey sample was small – only 58 responses, 51 of whom worked in the sector. 75% of these respondents had over 10 years’ experience in the sector. 43% had over twenty years’ experience.

The research findings likely won’t surprise you and thankfully Kerr offers sound advice in the resulting report on what to do to fix the problems faced by so many who work in the sector.