Future Directions for Resilience in Non-Profits: Institutionalising Adaptive Capacity
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-rslpsstrldtm-09
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About the Article
Resilience in the non-profit sector must move beyond reactive crisis management toward a fully institutionalised capability embedded in culture, governance, and systems. This article outlines five domains through which adaptive capacity can be strategically developed: digital, ecological, technological, systemic, and leadership resilience. Digital resilience ensures cybersecurity, digital literacy, and operational continuity in an increasingly online landscape. Climate and sustainability resilience integrate ecological foresight into long-term planning and resource diversification. Technological resilience, driven by AI and predictive analytics, enhances anticipation but requires ethical oversight to align innovation with human values. Systemic resilience focuses on inter-organisational networks that share risk and enable coordinated action. Finally, embedding resilience into leadership and governance transforms adaptability into an enduring organisational norm. Collectively, these domains redefine resilience as a proactive, multi-level competency essential for NGOs to sustain mission integrity and thrive amid global volatility.
Key Topics
- Institutionalisation of resilience in NGOs
- Digital and cybersecurity resilience
- Climate and sustainability adaptation
- AI, data systems, and ethical governance
- Systemic and networked collaboration
- Leadership and governance integration
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Future Directions for Resilience in Non-Profits: Institutionalising Adaptive Capacity. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-rslpsstrldtm-09
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