Nonprofit Sector Faces Alarming Job Losses -- A Closer Look at the Chronicle’s New Layoff Tracker
In a sobering development for the nonprofit world, The Chronicle of Philanthropy has launched a Nonprofit Layoff Tracker that documents a sharp uptick in job losses across the sector. According to the tracker, at least 10,000 full-time nonprofit jobs were cut between January 20 and March 31, 2025—an average of 140 jobs lost per day over a 70-day span.
This surge in layoffs coincides with major federal budget cuts and broader economic uncertainty. Many nonprofits that depend heavily on government funding, particularly through grants and contracts, are bearing the brunt. International affairs, human services, and health care organizations have been especially hard-hit.
One of the most notable examples involves Johns Hopkins University, which announced the elimination of 2,000 jobs after losing approximately $800 million in U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding. Similarly, international aid organizations and other federally dependent nonprofits have begun widespread downsizing, citing reduced support from agencies like USAID and other federal bodies.
The Chronicle’s tracker compiles data from state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act filings and media coverage to provide an evolving picture of job reductions. However, even these figures likely underrepresent the true scope of the challenge. Many nonprofits, especially smaller ones, are not subject to WARN reporting requirements and may not make public announcements about job cuts. As a result, the real number of layoffs could be significantly higher.
While it is incredibly informative and helpful that The Chronicle has launched this new tracker—it brings much-needed visibility to a rapidly unfolding crisis—the results are hard to stomach. Behind every data point is a development officer, program manager, social worker, educator, or medical professional whose work was abruptly halted. And the downstream impact extends beyond just the job loss; donors lose trusted contacts, beneficiaries lose services, and missions lose momentum
Looking ahead, the 10,000 layoffs reported in just over two months may only be the beginning. With continued economic uncertainty, tighter federal and state budgets, and rising costs of service delivery, more nonprofits are expected to make painful cuts in the months to come. Philanthropic leaders and boards must now prepare not only for immediate fiscal resilience, but for long-term operational rethinking and prioritization.
To stay informed, the Nonprofit Layoff Tracker will be updated monthly, with the next release anticipated in early May. It’s a tool that all nonprofit leaders should monitor closely—as both a warning signal and a call to adapt.
