Teaching Paper: Key Concepts in Resilience for Non-Profits – A Practical Glossary for Leaders and Teams

This Teaching Paper offers a curated glossary of 24 key resilience-related concepts specifically adapted for the nonprofit sector. By defining terms such as adaptive capacity, psychological safety, trauma-informed practice, and systemic resilience, it provides a common vocabulary that connects academic theory with organizational practice. Each entry combines scholarly definition and practical guidance, making it useful for leadership training, self-assessment, and reflection. The glossary complements other resilience resources—such as curricula, reflection guides, and checklists—by ensuring conceptual coherence across leadership and staff development initiatives. It positions shared language as a cornerstone of organizational learning, adaptive capacity, and sustainable leadership in mission-driven environments.