What does this research mean for the field?

Frontline nonprofit workers navigate the paradox of high turnover and high satisfaction through a transformative five-stage journey that allows them to survive and thrive in difficult organizational environments. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the holistic experiences of frontline nonprofit staff and volunteers assisting material-goods beneficiaries, explaining the paradox of concurrent high job satisfaction and high turnover.

September 8, 2026Journal of Social Service ResearchOpen Access

“It Can Be Challenging…But It Can Be More Rewarding:” A Grounded Theory Study on Surviving & Thriving in the Nonprofit World

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Authors

SPStephanie E. Patton

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Overview

Qualitative grounded theory study reveals a five-stage transformative pathway balancing rewards and stressors in frontline nonprofit workers, highlighting mechanisms for surviving and thriving.

Key Points

To examine the holistic experiences of frontline nonprofit staff and volunteers assisting material-goods beneficiaries, explaining the paradox of concurrent high job satisfaction and high turnover.
Constructivist Grounded Theory approach utilizing N=22 intensive interviews conducted between October 2023 and November 2024.
Sample comprised frontline nonprofit staff and volunteers aged 24 to 86 years (68% female; 68% White, 32% Black) assisting beneficiaries receiving material goods.
Identified five core conceptual categories: wanting to do nonprofit work, receiving intangible benefits, acknowledging role drawbacks, responding to organizational rules, and experiencing personal transformation.
Synthesized these categories into a qualitative theoretical framework detailing how frontline personnel navigate operational constraints and emotional burdens to endure and flourish in nonprofit settings.

Cite This Study

Stephanie E. Patton (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82f58e84d0ff5b4787d https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2026.2726854

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September 8, 2026Journal of Social Service ResearchOpen Access

“It Can Be Challenging…But It Can Be More Rewarding:” A Grounded Theory Study on Surviving & Thriving in the Nonprofit World

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SPStephanie E. Patton

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Qualitative grounded theory study reveals a five-stage transformative pathway balancing rewards and stressors in frontline nonprofit workers, highlighting mechanisms for surviving and thriving.

Key Points

To examine the holistic experiences of frontline nonprofit staff and volunteers assisting material-goods beneficiaries, explaining the paradox of concurrent high job satisfaction and high turnover.
Constructivist Grounded Theory approach utilizing N=22 intensive interviews conducted between October 2023 and November 2024.
Sample comprised frontline nonprofit staff and volunteers aged 24 to 86 years (68% female; 68% White, 32% Black) assisting beneficiaries receiving material goods.
Identified five core conceptual categories: wanting to do nonprofit work, receiving intangible benefits, acknowledging role drawbacks, responding to organizational rules, and experiencing personal transformation.
Synthesized these categories into a qualitative theoretical framework detailing how frontline personnel navigate operational constraints and emotional burdens to endure and flourish in nonprofit settings.

Cite This Study

Stephanie E. Patton (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82f58e84d0ff5b4787d https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2026.2726854

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark