Jenny Bergman
Senior Consultant
As nonprofits look ahead to 2026, many are still navigating the aftershocks of 2025—economic volatility, leadership transitions, and rapidly shifting community needs. In times like these, a strong board is not simply a governance asset; it is an organizational stabilizer.
In the past, we’ve explored the four traits—work, wisdom, wealth, and wit—that distinguish high-performing boards. Those principles still hold true. But the landscape has changed, and the expectations placed on board members have grown more complex. To meet this moment, boards need something else to add to the framework: the fifth W being Will.
The organizations that will emerge strongest in 2026 will be those with boards that bring a balanced blend of work, wisdom, wealth, wit, and a new essential trait: will. No board member needs to have all five qualities for the board to succeed; what matters is the collective balance. Still, this new trait may prove especially instrumental moving forward—and it’s a powerful bonus when every board member demonstrates it.
Work
The work board members contribute has taken on renewed significance. Over the last year, nonprofits confronted rising service demands, fluctuating revenue streams, and shifting community expectations. Many boards relied on members who could apply their professional expertise in focused, strategic ways: financial modeling to guide budgeting during economic swings, human resources insight to support leadership transitions, communications guidance during moments of pressure. In 2026, organizations will continue to benefit from board members whose knowledge aligns with the mission—clinicians advising health organizations navigating workforce shortages, educators shaping youth-focused strategies, technologists bolstering cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. Work, when offered with intention and without overstepping into staff responsibilities, strengthens the organization’s strategic capacity.
Wisdom
If 2025 taught boards anything, it is that wisdom is not a matter of having all the answers but of knowing how to approach uncertainty. Wise board members prepare thoroughly, listen carefully, and ask questions that reveal the heart of an issue. They help the board navigate polarized environments with steadiness. They understand their role as stewards rather than operators, offering guidance without slipping into management. And once a decision is made, they support the organization’s direction with clarity and consistency. In a year defined by shifting donor behavior, public scrutiny, and evolving community needs, board members who exercise measured judgment became invaluable partners to staff. That need will only grow in 2026.
Wealth
Economic turbulence can make the fundraising role of board members more visible than ever. Some donors may delay commitments, others lean in, and foundations sharpen their focus on resilience and measurable impact. Amid this variability, boards with balanced philanthropic leadership served as stabilizing forces. Board members contribute according to their individual means and help bring new supporters to the table. A board composed entirely of wealth can lack perspective and collaboration; one with too little philanthropic capacity may struggle to resource its ambitions. The strength lies in a thoughtful mix—financial leadership complemented by mission and community insight. As organizations plan for 2026, boards that model meaningful giving and active engagement will set the tone for donor confidence.
Wit
Wit remains the cultural ingredient that enables a board to function as more than a collection of individuals. It reveals itself in curiosity, collegiality, and the tone board members set in their work together. In 2025, many boards evolved their meeting formats, rethought community engagement, and rediscovered the value of gathering with purpose. Those that sustained a culture of inquiry and mutual respect were better able to navigate difficult decisions and maintain energy during challenging seasons. Wit strengthens psychological safety, fosters innovation, and encourages board members to remain engaged between meetings. It is a reflection of culture, and a great board culture often harbors great organizational culture.
Will
The newest W—will—captures a quality increasingly essential in today’s environment: resolve. Will reflects a board member’s commitment to lean in when challenges emerge, to remain engaged even when uncertainty stretches the organization, and to act in service of the mission rather than wait for conditions to improve. Board members who possess will champion the organization publicly during moments of scrutiny, initiate conversations with potential supporters when fundraising needs to intensify, and stay present through leadership transitions or strategic shifts. In 2025, many nonprofits found themselves relying on board members who displayed this persistence and steadiness. As organizations enter 2026, will may well be the distinguishing attribute of boards that not only endure turbulent periods but position their missions to thrive beyond them.
A Stronger Board for a Stronger Future
Boards operate as collectives; their authority is realized only when they act in unison. But when a board blends work, wisdom, wealth, wit, and will, it becomes more than the sum of its members. It becomes an engine for stability, strategic clarity, and sustained impact. As nonprofits step into 2026 with lessons from a challenging year, the five Ws offer a refreshed, forward-looking framework for cultivating boards capable of guiding organizations through whatever comes next.
For more information or support on strengthening your board’s governance, let’s connect.
