Advice From Our Experts to Kick Off 2026 with Impact
2025 was a challenging year for most nonprofit organizations. From reduced federal funding support and new tax legislation to a news feed that reported crisis after crisis, 2025 often felt like a Whac-a-Mole game that forced fundraisers to think creatively and remain resilient just to avoid the hammer.
Nevertheless, early reports on 2025 trends suggest that, despite these headwinds, fundraising remained strong with an estimated 3.7% increase in dollars raised year-over-year. While these numbers are encouraging, the strategies that helped organizations stay resilient in 2025 may not be enough to carry them through 2026.
Here’s what our experts have to say about their particular areas of expertise:
Nonprofit Fundraising Campaigns
Kelly Quilter, CFRE
Vice President
2026 calls for campaigns led with intention, confidence, and momentum. Donors remain inspired by clear purpose, credible leadership, and meaningful outcomes. They respond to organizations that are prepared to lead in the face of uncertainty.
This year, the most effective campaigns will engage leaders early, present a powerful case that connects vision to impact, and make it easy for donors to align their philanthropy with what matters most to them. Invest in readiness, lean in to trusted relationships, and remain vision and mission centered. Abundance grows when organizations lead boldly, listen carefully, and invite generosity with clarity and purpose.
Talent and Nonprofit Executive Search
Adam Fazio
Vice President
The new year is a time of transition, and for many organizations, that means staff departures in January and February. For leaders, this raises a critical question: how do you maintain momentum and achieve your goals without a full team in place?
The instinct may be to repost the role using the same job description as before. We encourage you to resist that impulse. Instead, pause and review your goals. Before moving forward with a hire, take time to thoughtfully assess the skills, experience, and values your next hire will need to drive long-term success.
Capacity Building
Summers Hammel, CFRE
Senior Consultant
If luck is a combination of readiness and randomness, how do we expand it? A client recently described a “lucky” major gift they received. But luck followed discipline and preparation. They had a plan in place, knew the donor’s passions and motivations, and had a target gift amount in mind. What felt random was timing: the donor was in town, a key project milestone had just landed, and a peer influencer surfaced at exactly the right moment. Luck = readiness + randomness. In 2026, I’m focused on helping clients increase their luck surface area—pairing rigorous, data-driven readiness with strategic exposure.
Strategic Planning
Kaitlyn Kendall-Sperry
Senior Consultant
As you settle into 2026, set aside time to review your strategic plan and chart the course for the year ahead. A static plan grows stagnant, drifting further from the reality and assumptions it was built upon. Effective strategy implementation relies on your ability and willingness to adapt to changing landscapes, grow from successes and challenges, set clear expectations, and maintain accountability.
Gather your organization’s leaders to reflect, plan, evaluate risk, and reaffirm your shared commitment to your vision and strategy. Thoughtful planning sets a steady tone as you head into another year of serving your community.
Board Governance
Jenny Bergman
Senior Consultant
In 2026, nonprofit board governance will be defined less by oversight alone and more by stewardship amid opportunity and change. Boards are being asked to move beyond compliance and to true partnership with executive leadership, balancing fiduciary responsibility with strategic resolve. This means clarifying roles and responsibilities, accelerating decision-making, and investing in board education that builds financial literacy, fundraising confidence, and adaptive leadership. Strong boards will prioritize scenario planning, CEO support, and culture as seriously as they prioritize budgets. In a dynamic environment, governance excellence will not be about avoiding risk, but about making disciplined, values-aligned decisions that position organizations to endure and evolve.
Nonprofit Technology
Lori Gatmaitan
Senior Consultant
It’s the new year, and you may be wondering if this is the moment your nonprofit truly leans into AI, even if you are not sure where or how to begin. The good news is you do not need a big strategy or a long roadmap on day one. Start by listening to your team and noticing where work feels heavy or repetitive. Writing, research, data cleanup, or reporting are often good places to start. Choose one simple use case and try it together. With clear expectations and a human-first mindset, AI can ease pressure and build confidence over time.
Fundraising Communications
Megan Simmons
Senior Consultant
When did your team last review and refresh your case for support? Regular updates are best practice, and each new year offers a natural opportunity for reflection and refinement. As you review: consider how current conditions intensify need, risk, or opportunity for your organization and those you serve. If your team has new fundraising goals or high-priority giving opportunities, ensure they are woven into the case. Capture any new proof points that illustrate why donors can trust you to achieve your stated goals. And as always, continue to build a repository of fresh stories that bring your case to life.
Endowment
Paul Yeghiayan, CFRE
Senior Consultant
In 2026, approach endowment and legacy giving as a steady, long-term effort. It’s not about having more time; it’s about making clear choices. Choose one group of donors to focus on, such as long-term loyal supporters, and prepare one message you can share confidently and one habit your team can practice each week. Build momentum by being consistent. Consistently have a few meaningful conversations, use a simple way to record intentions, and show stewardship that helps donors feel noticed and valued. When someone makes an endowment or legacy gift, they consider you part of their family. Treat them as such.
Conclusion
As 2026 begins to take shape, nonprofit leaders are facing a familiar tension: balancing optimism with realism, and ambition with capacity. While no single strategy will define success in the year ahead, organizations that take time now to reflect, adapt, and align their priorities will be better positioned to respond to whatever comes next. Our nonprofit experts’ insights offer a starting point—grounded in experience, informed by data, and focused on helping nonprofits move forward with intention in an evolving landscape.
If you would like to have a more personalized strategy to face 2026 and prepare for a more sustainable future, please reach out. We’d love to talk about it.
