The Nonprofit Wellness Index doesn’t just “add up” all the data—it uses a weighting system to reflect what matters most for sector health. Here’s how it works:
Heavier Weight on What Drives Sector Health:
Job postings (from sites like Volunteer Match, Idealist, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn) receive the most weight. That’s because hiring activity is a strong, direct indicator of real organizational stability and sector momentum.
Supporting Signals:
Data on fundraising and marketing activity (from the Meta Ads Library) is also important, but receives a slightly smaller weight. These signals show how nonprofits are investing in donor outreach and financial growth, which tend to change more often and can indicate shifts in sector confidence.
Context from Layoff Data:
Layoff data (from the Urban Institute) offers a valuable check—when layoffs spike, it’s a warning sign even if hiring or fundraising look healthy elsewhere. Layoff trends are weighted to help moderate or flag sudden changes in the overall sector outlook.
