2025 Australian Community Boards Wellbeing Report

Many not-for-profit (NFP) board members in Australia are burnt out, overwhelmed and considering stepping down, according to the first national study of board member wellbeing.

The 2025 Australian Community Boards Wellbeing Report, just published by Community Directors, has lifted the lid on the emotional and governance pressures facing volunteer board directors.

The survey of 575 board members and NFP leaders across Australia found that while the vast majority (89 per cent) of respondents felt strongly aligned with their organisation’s mission or were confident about their effectiveness (75 per cent), more than two-thirds had considered stepping off their board because of stress or overwhelm.