American Kidney Fund Earns National Recognition on Top Nonprofit Workplace List

ROCKVILLE, Md. (April 7, 2026) — The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is honored to be chosen once again as one of the 2026 Best Nonprofits to Work For, earning fifth place in the medium employer category and 14th overall out of the nation's top 50 nonprofit employers as selected by The NonProfit Times, a leading publication for the nonprofit sector in the United States.  

AKF's 14th overall ranking rose from #26 last year and its ranking in the medium employer category climbed three spots. This is the fifth time in recent years that AKF has earned a spot on the annual list; nonprofit organizations are chosen based on how well leadership has excelled in creating a quality place to work. To be considered, AKF's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics were assessed, and a voluntary, anonymous survey was sent to AKF employees by the Workforce Research Group to capture opinions about their workplace experiences. These data sets are combined to determine the best workplaces.  

"Making the 'Best Nonprofits to Work For' list once again is a reflection of the culture of excellence that the entire team at AKF has built together," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. "We focus on making AKF a great, people-centered place to work. We want to ensure our employees know we value them, and that each team member plays a critical role in our mission to fight kidney disease and help people live healthier lives. With about 1.8 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States, I'm proud that AKF has been recognized once again as a top nonprofit workplace."   

To foster a positive, high‑performing workplace, AKF maintains a Quality of Work Environment (QWE) program that aims to continually improve the workplace and supports achievement of AKF's mission: to fight kidney disease and help people live healthier lives. The program is grounded in AKF's core values: putting patients first, leading with integrity, building a culture of excellence, being a valued partner and making kidney disease a national priority. 

The NonProfit Times awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the nonprofit industry, benefiting the industry's economy, workforce and businesses. Nonprofits from across the United States participated in a two-part survey process to determine Best Nonprofits to Work For.  

More information on this year's program may be found at The Nonprofit Times.