As nonprofit organizations continue to navigate funding uncertainty, workforce challenges and growing community needs, OneTable QC is hosting two nationally recognized leadership and burnout researchers to discuss how to sustain the people behind the mission.
“From Burnout to Fortitude: Sustaining Nonprofit Leaders” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Junior Achievement Inspiration Center, 6600 44th Ave., Suite 3, in Moline.
The free community conversation features Dr. Laurence Weinzimmer, Caterpillar Inc. Research Professor of Leadership at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and Dr. Stephen Hippler, a retired physician, former chief clinical officer at OSF HealthCare, and associate clinical professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
OneTable QC is a regional, nonpartisan campaign created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Quad Cities Chapter and Wastyn & Associates, a Davenport consultancy that works with nonprofit agencies.
The community conversation comes as nonprofit leaders nationwide report unprecedented burnout levels. According to the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s 2026 State of Nonprofits Report, 89% of nonprofit leaders report concerns about their own burnout, while nearly every organization surveyed said burnout is affecting staff. The percentage of leaders who are very concerned about burnout increased from 29% to 46% in just one year, the report shows.
The event will introduce attendees to emerging research on fortitude – a research-backed framework that examines how organizations can reduce burnout while strengthening engagement, resilience, and long-term retention.
“Nonprofit leaders have spent the past year responding to funding uncertainty and increasing community needs,” Linda Wastyn, president of Wastyn & Associates and co-founder of OneTable QC, said in a news release this week. “Now it’s time to focus on sustaining the people carrying that responsibility.”
She added: “This conversation is about equipping leaders with practical, evidence-based strategies that strengthen both individuals and organizations.”
About the speakers
The men have co-authored multiple groundbreaking studies exploring the relationship between fortitude, burnout, employee engagement, and turnover. Together, they bring decades of experience in leadership research, healthcare, executive leadership, and organizational performance.
The pair recently published four innovative studies on the concept of fortitude and its relationship to burnout, engagement and turnover. Here’s a brief look at their careers:
- Dr. Laurence Weinzimmer is a sought after business advisor to numerous Fortune 100 companies and author of four books including two best sellers. His most recent book was ranked No. 1 on the Barnes & Noble Best Sellers List, No. 3 on the Wall Street Journal Best Sellers List, and was rated the top leadership book in North America. His book ranked No. 8 on Forbes Magazine’s “15 Best Leadership Books You Must Read Once in Your Lifetime.”
A heavily published researcher, his research appears in more than 15 languages and he has been widely honored for his research accomplishments in leadership, strategy and work
engagement.
- Dr. Steve Hippler is a retired physician and retired chief clinical officer at OSF HealthCare System, where he was the accountable executive leader overseeing more than 4,000 employees and 1,500 physicians and advanced providers. During this time, he developed a passion for understanding the causes and solutions to the burnout epidemic.
The principal investigator for 50+ clinical trials and an accomplished author, Dr. Hippler is sought out as an expert for physician education. In retirement, he actively researches the topics of burnout.
OneTable Quad Cities
OneTable QC’s mission is to build a shared, data-backed narrative that cements nonprofits as critical to the Quad Cities’ economy and social fabric.
The event is open to nonprofit professionals, board members, funders, and community leaders. To learn more or reserve a seat, visit here. Registration is free, but seating is limited.
