5 takeaways on the state of nonprofit teamwork 

We may assume that teamwork is central to the way a mission-driven organization operates. But what do we know about how nonprofit employees see and experience teamwork? How can teams work together most efficiently? Is the perception of teamwork at nonprofits different from in other sectors?  

The State of Nonprofit Teams, a companion report to Atlassian’s The State of Teams 2025 study, highlights findings from a survey of 207 nonprofit knowledge workers (defined as “ primarily involved in creating, applying, and sharing knowledge”) in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Germany, and France. 

Here are five survey findings about how these nonprofit professionals feel about teamwork: 

1. Only 51% of respondents feel their team is focusing on the work that matters most 

Despite the mission-oriented nature of nonprofit work, the share of respondents who say their team is focused on what matters most is lower by 11% than the average across other sectors.  

Why do nonprofit knowledge workers feel their teams are unable to focus fully on mission-driven work? Two related findings suggest contributing factors: First, 52% of respondents feel the pace of work is more overwhelming than it was a few years ago. Second, and more importantly for teamwork, on average, they report spending 47% of their time in a typical week sharing information, tracking people down, waiting for answers or direction, and resolving misunderstandings. These concerns would suggest the need to improve nonprofit teamwork processes to enhance, instead of slow, individual team members’ work processes. 

2. A third of nonprofit knowledge workers say they could work faster if they had clearer goals 

Asked what would help them work faster, respondents were most likely to say if they “had clearer goals” (33%) and if “all teams at my organization used the same processes to get work done” (33%). Some respondents also said they could work faster if their “goals didn’t conflict with other teams’ goals” (23%) and if they “had fewer goals” (15%). 

3. Nearly two-thirds say successful nonprofit teamwork requires information from other teams 

According to the report, the lack of accessible, transparent information is a challenge for all teams. The survey found that 28% of nonprofit knowledge workers said they could work faster if it were easier to find the information they need, and 64% said for their team to be successful, they usually need information from other teams. 

4. Nonprofit knowledge workers are more ‘AI hesitant’ than those in other industries 

About half (51%) of respondents say they believe AI will improve the speed and quality of their team’s work, 15% below the average across other industries. The report’s authors note there could be multiple reasons behind this AI hesitancy among nonprofit knowledge workers, including a lag in technology adoption due to small budgets. Those at understaffed organizations likely have little time to learn a new tool, and their focus on serving stakeholders may leave no room for contemplating different ways of working and enhancing nonprofit teamwork. 

5. Nonprofit knowledge workers are less likely to believe AI helps teamwork 

Perhaps more importantly, only 32% of respondents agree that AI helps them be a better teammate, 22% below the average across other industries.  

While access to technology is key for nonprofits to achieve their missions and retain talent, the report concludes. But just as essential, if not more so, are practices that support individuals in improving teamwork at nonprofits. “It’s the common set of tools AND practices that make teamwork feel less like work,” the authors write. 

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