San Antonio Area Foundation

Nonprofit work is hard. There is never a smooth path, enough money, or an easy answer. And yet people (you) choose this work even when – or because – it’s most challenging. Some may say “it’s a calling.” Perhaps. If we follow science, however, it might be something else: grit. While this trait may not be unique to nonprofit work, it might be the “secret sauce” to both success and long, happy careers. Through familiar examples and stories, this workshop will unpack the behavioral elements behind grit (and its “cousin” resilience) so that the concepts come to life. We’ll take an inventory of where students are in their respective “grit” and “resilience” journeys and provide tactical tools to enhance both. Finally, we’ll look at the concept of “organizational grit” and ways students can both assess their organization’s status and find practical ways to strengthen it.