Research Study
Momentive Research Study
2026 Talent Retention Report for the Mission-Driven Workforce
New research on talent retention, career development, technology, and belonging across nonprofits and associations
Mission-driven professionals are committed to their work—but that commitment isn’t always translating into long-term retention. This report, conducted by Wakefield Research and commissioned by Momentive Software, examines the priorities, challenges, and experiences of nonprofit and association employees, identifying the key factors shaping engagement, career mobility, and organizational sustainability. These insights can help leaders make data-driven decisions to improve employee satisfaction, effectiveness, and impact.
Get the Full Report: Retaining Mission-Driven Talent in 2026
Insight 1
Why employees leave—and what gets them to stay
Most mission-driven professionals don’t see a clear path forward at their organization, which creates flight risks for organizational leaders. Employees with career clarity are twice as likely to stay, and those without it report significantly higher dissatisfaction across work-life balance, skills development, and compensation. The gap holds nearly equally across nonprofits (65%) and associations (63%).
of professionals don’t see a clear career path at their organization
of employees with clear career paths are not considering leaving, vs. only 27% of those without
agree that intentional employee development would make their organizations more effective
would choose focused skills development over a pay raise to improve job satisfaction
Insight 2
How disconnected tech is driving staff burnout
Disconnected systems and manual workarounds consume the time employees need for professional development and are creating a level of burnout that pushes people out the door. The two challenges compound each other: among employees experiencing tech-driven burnout, 71% also lack clear career paths. Leaders who invest in integrated technology project benefits well beyond productivity.
agree disconnected systems contribute to burnout
experiencing tech-driven burnout are actively exploring other jobs
of employees with tech burnout also lack clear career paths
of leaders projected that integrated platforms would reduce burnout
Join our upcoming webinar revealing what the data says about retaining staff
Join Momentive and Wakefield Research for a deeper look at what the data reveals and how leaders can better support, engage, and retain their teams. Future sessions in this series cover workforce trends applicable to all mission-driven organizations, with additional conversations focused on donor, volunteer, and member retention.
