This article serves as a warning, an exhortation, and a guide to nonprofit trustees, executives, and human resource (HR) managers. The United States has experienced cumulative national shock waves during the past 2 to 3 years of a magnitude not previously experienced before—at least not in the past 50 years. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, alone would have changed the environment faced by America's nonprofit organizations. But there have been other shock waves on top of September 11. Each added new strains to the existing ones. Thus, organizations in the nonprofit sector face difficult HR challenges that may continue to become more acute in the upcoming months and years. This environment requires skillful management, particularly of human resources. This article is an exploratory study to identify how the post-September 11 environment is affecting nonprofit organizations and tried-and-true management tools to help cope in this era of uncertainty.
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