Description

Send us Fan Mail

A four-day work week is not a gimmick. Done right, it can reduce burnout, stabilize output, and help you keep great people. Our guest today shares that after two years of doing a 4-day work week model, they saw a 46% increase in staff morale and wellbeing. This is only one of the many amazing benefits Imagine Canada has seen! 

In this episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, Maria Rio sits down with Jodene Baker, Vice President of Research, Advocacy and External Relations at Imagine Canada. Jodene oversees national research and policy efforts supporting Canada’s nonprofit sector. Imagine Canada also builds tools like Grant Connect and advocates federally to strengthen the sector. Maria and Jodene discuss the challenges of starting, decent work practices, and how to measure the unmeasurable. 

4-Day Work Week for Nonprofits - The Highlights: 

1. Why try a four-day week in the first place 
   The sector is stretched: lower average pay, rising demand, and chronic burnout. Imagine Canada saw the same internal pressures and chose to test a four-day week to improve staff wellbeing and retention while holding impact. 
2. Their model is 100 percent pay, 80 percent time, 100 percent outcomes 
   Imagine Canada works Monday to Thursday and closes Fridays. There is no pay cut and no compressed schedule. This pilot began in January 2023 and is now extended through 2026. It remains a pilot so they can keep measuring and adjust if needed. 
3. Preparation made the shift workable 
   They joined the Four Day Week Global pilot, created a cross-functional staff group, set clear goals, and defined success metrics. They also cleaned up calendars: 
   • Audited and shortened meetings 
   • Made Monday afternoons meeting-free internally 
   • Blocked Fridays well in advance to build the habit 
4. Measured results: wellbeing up, sick days down, impact stable 
   They track roughly 50 metrics across wellbeing, productivity, and outputs.  
5. Recruitment and retention improved 
   Candidates now cite the four-day week as a reason to apply. Staff attrition has dropped exponentially.  

🎧 Listen to more episodes for actionable fundraising tips and insights on nonprofit leadership, nonprofit governance, productivity & tools, and donor engagement strategies that work. We're here to eliminate nonprofit burnout and boost your donations! 

✨ Key Quote 

“The four day work week is a tactic - to help tackle wellbeing and equity challenges without needing to increase wages.” – Jodene Baker 

4-Day Work Week for Nonprofits: 3 Actionable Tips:  

1. Do a calendar cleanse before you change schedules 
   Remove

If this episode was useful, grab the 30-Day Board Fundraising Challenge at gofurthertogether.ca/boardchallenge — it's free and it gives your board actual structure.

Book a Discovery Call with Further Together if you need help raising money in a way aligned with your values. 

Support the show

• Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded! 
• Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising?  See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.