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5 Forces Shaping the 2026 Nonprofit Fundraising Outlook

by Tim Sarrantonio

Nonprofits are heading into 2026 on uneven ground. Some communities are stabilizing, while others are still carrying the weight of financial strain, burnout and rapid shifts in how people connect and give. Sector research and conversations I’ve had with thousands of practitioners keep surfacing this same pattern.

As I transition out of a long-term role in nonprofit technology, I have had the space to step back and look at the broader environment without focusing on any single platform or product. So I reflected on what fundraisers themselves are describing, what the national data shows and what community leaders say they need. These five predictions offer a practical view of how nonprofits can prepare for 2026 with clarity and steady decision-making.

1. Grassroots Energy Will Outpace Institutional Strategy

Trust continues to shift toward local groups, mutual aid networks, and community-rooted efforts. National surveys, including Independent Sector’s recent trust research, show that people have more confidence in the people and organizations in their local communities than in large national institutions such as big business, the news media and the federal government. This pattern is especially pronounced among younger adults, who report high trust in peers, neighbors, nonprofits and local government but far lower trust in major institutions. For many communities of color, trust is often built first through local organizations, faith communities and mutual aid networks rather than through national systems.

This is a structural change in how people solve problems, not a passing trend. Grassroots organizations communicate faster, adapt quicker and earn trust through proximity. Yet resources have not kept pace. Many of the groups closest to community needs operate with minimal staff and limited funding. In 2026, expect more local collaborations and community-owned narratives. The question will be whether funding infrastructure can keep up with the creativity and urgency coming from the ground.

2. Belonging Will Become the Core Driver of Engagement

Loneliness and social fragmentation are reshaping how people seek connection. Recent federal data show that about half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness. Research from the American Psychological Association links loneliness and social isolation to poorer mental health and social outcomes. These shifts matter for nonprofits because belonging has become one of the strongest predictors of donor retention.

Supporters who feel personally connected to an organization are more likely to stay involved year over year. Identity-driven communities on platforms like Discord and TikTok continue to grow, especially among Gen Z. But belonging is not evenly distributed. Communities with histories of marginalization expect cultural fluency, authenticity and transparency. Organizations that meet these expectations earn deeper loyalty. The work of 2026 will require nonprofits to create real connection, not just message into the void.

3. Economic Strain Will Shape Generosity Beneath the Surface

Even as broad economic indicators look steady, read more...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Adventure Crew is excited to welcome Lisa Benzinger to its board.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Best Point Education & Behavioral Health celebrated the grand opening of the Western & Southern Childcare & Wellness Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 21. The event marked the completion of a state-of-the-art, two-story building designed to expand early childhood education and therapeutic wellness services, enabling Best Point to serve more than 200 children and families in the community.

Gold Star is proud to announce the donation of $40,000 after its successful 2025 National Chili Month campaign to support the Freestore Foodbank's fight against childhood hunger.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Walnut Hills will welcome visitors during special Winter Hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00am-4:00pm December 5, 2025, through January 3, 2026. This seasonal experience invites guests to explore two pivotal eras of the home's history—1840 and 1940—while enjoying a new hands-on holiday activity inspired by the site's mid-20th-century residents.

Frankies Furry Friends of Alexandria, Kentucky would like to thank the Emma Loves Dogs Foundation for their generous $1,000 grant to support vet care for our Senior and Hospice Dogs. Frankies Furry Friends is an all-volunteer, all-foster based small breed dog rescue.

Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) hosted its ninth annual Dining in the Dark fundraising gala on Saturday, November 15. This year's theme, "May the Force be with You", celebrated the magic of Star Wars while raising awareness about vision loss. The Dining in the Dark gala raised more than $260,000. Funds will benefit CABVI's programs and services that empower people who are blind or visually impaired to live independently and fully.

Visit Save the Animals Foundation on Sunday, December 7th for the Holiday Open House, 2:00pm-5:00pm, 4011 Red Bank Rd. The community is invited to tour the shelter and meet our dog and cat residents.

Cincinnati Animal CARE announced details for its largest on-site adoption event of the year: the annual Black Friday Adoption Event, taking place Friday, November 28 from 1:00pm - 8:00pm at both Northside shelter locations. For just 99 cents, adopters can bring home a dog or cat six months or older. (Puppies are $200 and kittens are $60 each or BOGO) Every adoption includes spay/neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, and a microchip.

The LaRosa Family Foundation recognized November’s Game Changers MVP honoree with a presentation at Mount Notre Dame High School on Tuesday, November 18. Senior Kara Busemeyer, manager for the girls’ varsity basketball team, was recognized for her commitment to service, unwavering team support and selfless dedication to putting others first.

FUNDING AND RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES

Ingage Partners, a purpose-driven technology consulting company, and Pay It Forward Cincinnati, are excited to announce that the 2026 Social Impact Fund is now accepting applications. The 2026 Social Impact Fund is awarding a $14,000 grant and up to 100 pro bono hours from Ingage Partners. This opportunity is open to local 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that are implementing solutions to address the root causes of some of our region's greatest challenges in one of these focus areas: children's health & wellness and financial security. Apply by January 5, 2026 for consideration.

The 10th annual Cincinnati Gives Challenge kicks off on December 1st. The Cincinnati Gives Challenge is a friendly fund-raising competition where local charities compete to raise the most money with the top teams winning cash prizes from Cincinnati Magazine. There is no cost to participate. Registration is open through November 24. All nonprofits who are interested in participating in the Challenge are required to submit a short registration form which will be reviewed by the Challenge host team for approval. Cincinnati-area nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status are eligible to participate. Find more information and register here.

bi3, Interact for Health, and The Joe Burrow Foundation are calling on Greater Cincinnati schools serving grades 7–12 to participate in World Teen Mental Wellness Day on March 2, 2026. Students can apply for up to $1,000 in funding to plan and lead creative, student-driven activities that promote mental wellness. World Teen Mental Wellness Day raises awareness about the mental health challenges teens face and encourages open dialogue, connection, and support. Many local teens report struggles with anxiety and depression, but stigma and lack of awareness often keep them from seeking help. Learn more and apply here.

Impact 100 launched its 2026 grant process on Monday, November 3. The online Letter of Intent application is now open and is due Dec. 10, 2025. Nonprofits across the 10-county Greater Cincinnati region may apply for a $100,000 grant in the focus areas of Culture, Education, Environment, Family, or Health & Wellness. A recording of our information session and details about the grant process are available on the website. A virtual webinar including a Q&A session and a panel of past grant recipients is Monday November 10, 3:00pm-4:00pm. Register here.

Social Venture Partners Cincinnati presents Project WLR8. SVP believes that a socially innovative idea aims to change the world – it enhances opportunity; creates effective, sustainable and just solutions to our society’s challenges; and reflects the lived experience of the people it is meant to serve. We invite organizations who have a socially innovative idea and are a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) to apply for Project XLR8; there are no minimum requirements for budget or staffing.

The bi3 Fund announces a new Request for Proposals (RFP), inviting local youth-serving nonprofit organizations to apply for funding to co-create or reimagine community spaces that help youth ages 12–24 build connection, belonging, and mental wellbeing. Organizations can apply for grants ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million. In total, bi3 will grant up to $5 million to fuel solutions in response to this RFP. Letters of Intent are due December 3, 2025.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Join the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (NKY Chamber) for Eggs 'N Issues: State of Retail in NKY, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7:30am-9:00am at Receptions Banquet and Conference Center - South (1379 Donaldson Road, Erlanger, KY 41018). Dr. Abdullah Al-Bahrani, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Professor of Economics with Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University, moderates a panel consisting of business owners, retail leaders, and economic experts to discuss shifts, challenges, and more in our local retail sector.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Volunteers at Crossroads Hospice spend time with patients compiling Life Journals to gather stories and experiences. The volunteer works with family members gathering photographs of the patient's life. Photos and stories are combined to create a beautiful hardback book, a Life Journal, for the family to cherish for years to come. Find more information here.

Conflict is good - 5 ways to make it even better!

Conflict is not a bad thing, even though it feels so bad. In fact, it’s necessary and important. It brings out ideas that might not get thought of and strengthens proposals before they’re proposed.

Who me, generous?

What donors’ self-perception can teach us about thanking them.

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