Best Nonprofits To Work For 2021

<p>Even for the Best Nonprofits To Work For, 2020 was a difficult year. The <a href="https://www.usta.com/en/home.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">United States Tennis Association Mid-Atlantic Section</a> (USTA MAS) rarely has any voluntary turnover among its 21 employees. But like at many nonprofits, the pandemic forced difficult decisions. The organization laid off about one-third of its staff in July. It was among 10 of the <a href="https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/report/covid-dei-response-to-civil-unrest-set-these-best-npos-apart/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2021 Best Nonprofits To Work For</a>&nbsp;that reported laying off or furloughing staff last year.</p> <p>Chief Operating Officer Beth Twomey&nbsp;joins this episode of the <em>Fresh Research</em> podcast, to talk about how the organization kept employees engaged and some of the challenges and successes of thep ast year. The Herndon, Va.-based <a href="https://www.usta.com/en/home.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">USTA MAS</a> ranked No. 1 among small nonprofits and No. 1 overall in the <a href="https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/report/covid-dei-response-to-civil-unrest-set-these-best-npos-apart/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2021 edition of the <em>Best Nonprofits To Work For</em></a>.</p> <p>After months of working through the pandemic, employees received a care package in October from CEO&nbsp;Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro. It included a personal thank you note as well as a branded mask, Yeti coffee mug, a hooded sweatshirt, T-shirt and tennis ball chocolates. “I can’t tell you what a giggle it brought to everybody,” Twomey said. “It’s a way for staff to know that she’s thinking of them, and that her door is open, and she’s available, and she’s here to make their life a little bit sweeter."</p> <p>As part of the&nbsp;<em>Best Nonprofits To Work For</em>&nbsp;process,&nbsp;<em>The NonProfit Times&nbsp;</em>works with Harrisburg, Pa.-based Best Companies Group (BCG). Participating nonprofits go throug