State of Good for May 4, 2026

State of Good for July 13, 2026

Episode Title: Record Giving, Shrinking Base: What the Giving USA Numbers Really Tell Us Summary: - U.S. charitable giving hit a record $617.20 billion in 2025, but the donor base continues to shrink — raising questions about long-term resilience * Mixed fundraising signals at midyear 2026 mean your strategy and relationships matter more than the economic environment * Nonprofits taking a coordinated, organization-wide approach to AI are seeing significantly larger returns than those experimenting in silos * Generational giving differences demand segmented communication strategies, not one-size-fits-all appeals * The FoodCorps and Healy Foundation story shows how transparency during crisis can deepen funder partnerships Links: - Giving USA 2026 Key Findings: https://givingusa.org/product/2026-key-findings/ * Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — Giving USA Report: https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2026/giving-usa-report-2026.html [https://philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/news-events/news/_news/2026/giving-usa-report-2026.html] * Chronicle of Philanthropy — Giving USA Reports a Record High, But Here's What It Misses: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/giving-usa-reports-a-record-high-but-heres-what-it-misses/ [https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/giving-usa-reports-a-record-high-but-heres-what-it-misses/] * Chronicle of Philanthropy — How Economic and Political Shifts Are Shaping 2026 Fundraising: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-economic-and-political-shifts-are-shaping-2026-fundraising/ [https://www.philanthropy.com/news/how-economic-and-political-shifts-are-shaping-2026-fundraising/] * Chronicle of Philanthropy — AI Alone Isn't Enough: Coordination Is What Really Matters: https://www.philanthropy.com/news/ai-alone-isnt-enough-coordination-is-what-really-matters/ [https://www.philanthropy.com/news/ai-alone-isnt-enough-coordination-is-what-really-matters/] * Blackbaud Institute Generational Giving Report: https://institute.blackbaud.com/the-generational-giving-report/ [https://institute.blackbaud.com/the-generational-giving-report/] * Chronicle of Philanthropy — Nonprofit Leaders Have Some Blunt Advice for Their Funders: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/nonprofit-leaders-have-some-blunt-advice-for-their-funders/ [https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/nonprofit-leaders-have-some-blunt-advice-for-their-funders/] * Chronicle of Philanthropy — FoodCorps Lost Its Federal Funding, A Foundation's Bold Bet Kept It Thriving: https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/foodcorps-lost-its-federal-funding-a-foundations-bold-bet-kept-it-thriving/ [https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/foodcorps-lost-its-federal-funding-a-foundations-bold-bet-kept-it-thriving/] Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview * 0:30 — Giving USA record high and the shrinking donor base * 3:00 — Mixed fundraising signals and fall planning * 4:15 — AI adoption: coordination beats experimentation * 5:00 — Why donors give: generational differences in giving behavior * 6:15 — What changed: nonprofit leaders' blunt advice for funders * 7:00 — The bottom line and three actions for this week * 7:45 — Good in Action: FoodCorps and the Healy Foundation * 8:45 — Sign-off

State of Good for June 15, 2026

Episode Title: Private Giving Rises While Federal Funding Falls: The Nonprofit Paradox of 2026 Summary: - Charitable giving grew 5% in 2025 even as federal funding freezes and grant terminations create budget crises for thousands of nonprofits * 90% of nonprofit leaders report burnout concerns, threatening organizational capacity and donor relationships * 83% of Americans experience financial stress, with only 19% finding joy in giving — signaling a concentration of giving among fewer, wealthier donors * Millennials are reshaping philanthropic expectations, demanding impact transparency and two-way communication * 35% of financial advisors actively use charitable planning tools, presenting untapped partnership opportunities for nonprofits Sources Referenced: - Nonprofit Quarterly — "The Quiet Collapse: Why the Erasure of the Nonprofit Sector Threatens Us All": https://nonprofitquarterly.org/the-quiet-collapse-why-the-erasure-of-the-nonprofit-sector-threatens-us-all/ * NonProfit PRO — "What Proposed Federal Grant Rule Changes Mean for Nonprofits": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/what-proposed-federal-grant-rule-changes-mean-for-nonprofits/ [https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/what-proposed-federal-grant-rule-changes-mean-for-nonprofits/] * Chronicle of Philanthropy — "Nearly 90 Percent of Nonprofit Leaders Worry About Burnout": https://www.philanthropy.com/news/nearly-90-percent-of-nonprofit-leaders-worry-about-burnout/ [https://www.philanthropy.com/news/nearly-90-percent-of-nonprofit-leaders-worry-about-burnout/] * Urban Institute — "Nonprofit Leaders Reported Growing Uncertainty from 2024 to Early 2025": https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/Nonprofit_Leaders_Reported_Growing_Uncertainty_from_2024_to_Early_2025.pdf [https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/Nonprofit_Leaders_Reported_Growing_Uncertainty_from_2024_to_Early_2025.pdf] * The NonProfit Times — "Beware Because Donors Don't Feel Financially Fulfilled": https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/beware-because-donors-dont-feel-financially-fulfilled/ [https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/beware-because-donors-dont-feel-financially-fulfilled/] * Capital Campaign Pro — "2026 Nonprofit Sector Research for Capital Campaign Fundraising": https://capitalcampaignpro.com/2026-nonprofit-sector-campaign-fundraising/ [https://capitalcampaignpro.com/2026-nonprofit-sector-campaign-fundraising/] * NonProfit PRO — "Report: Millennials Are Driving a Shift in Philanthropy": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/while-nonprofits-eye-gen-z-millennials-are-shaping-philanthropic-giving/ [https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/while-nonprofits-eye-gen-z-millennials-are-shaping-philanthropic-giving/] * NonProfit PRO — "New Report Identifies Key Factors That Influence How Financial Advisers Recommend DAFs": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/new-report-identifies-key-factors-that-influence-how-financial-advisers-recommend-dafs/ [https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/new-report-identifies-key-factors-that-influence-how-financial-advisers-recommend-dafs/] * UC San Diego — "2026 Triton Giving Day Breaks Records, Raising $1.1 Million": https://today.ucsd.edu/story/2026-triton-giving-day-breaks-records-raising-1.1-million [https://today.ucsd.edu/story/2026-triton-giving-day-breaks-records-raising-1.1-million] Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview * 0:30 — The Big Picture: Federal funding shifts, 5% giving growth paradox, leadership burnout, and donor financial stress * 3:30 — Why Donors Give: Millennials reshaping philanthropic expectations * 5:00 — What Changed This Week: Financial advisors as untapped fundraising partners * 6:15 — The Bottom Line: Three actions for the week * 7:15 — Good in Action: UC San Diego's record-breaking Triton Giving Day * 8:15 — Sign-off

State of Good for May 18, 2026

Episode Title: Foundation Priorities Are Shifting — Is Your Organization Ready? Summary: - The Center for Effective Philanthropy's State of Nonprofits 2026 report reveals the most challenging operational environment for nonprofits in years, with foundations redirecting dollars toward basic needs programs * A new IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative will change how nonprofits report activities and how the public accesses that information * Research shows donor-advised fund donors are rarely anonymous — opening major relationship-building opportunities for nonprofits * A Cambridge University study confirms that specific, verifiable impact claims build donor trust far more effectively than abstract appeals * The University of Nevada's Giving Day raised over $1 million from 1,900+ donors, proving broad-based community giving is still powerful Links: - Center for Effective Philanthropy — State of Nonprofits 2026: https://cep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CEP_State_of_Nonprofits_2026_FNL.pdf * Community Foundation of Greater Memphis — National Trends in Giving and the Growing Nonprofit Crisis: https://cfgm.org/the-well-must-not-run-dry-national-trends-in-giving-and-the-growing-nonprofit-crisis/ [https://cfgm.org/the-well-must-not-run-dry-national-trends-in-giving-and-the-growing-nonprofit-crisis/] * Inside Philanthropy — 5 Things We Know About the New IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/5-things-we-know-about-the-new-irs-form-990-transparency-initiative [https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/5-things-we-know-about-the-new-irs-form-990-transparency-initiative] * American Heart Association Advisor Insights — Donor Advised Funds 2026 Outlook & Strategic Implications: https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give/planned-giving/professional-advisors-and-trustees/advisor-insights/donor-advised-funds-2026-outlook-and-strategic-implications [https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give/planned-giving/professional-advisors-and-trustees/advisor-insights/donor-advised-funds-2026-outlook-and-strategic-implications] * Cambridge University / Voluntas — Will You Trust Me? How Individual American Donors Respond to Informational Signals: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/voluntas/article/will-you-trust-me-how-individual-american-donors-respond-to-informational-signals-regarding-local-and-global-humanitarian-charities/0BA7A0086C78EDF08DE38726C1750CFD [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/voluntas/article/will-you-trust-me-how-individual-american-donors-respond-to-informational-signals-regarding-local-and-global-humanitarian-charities/0BA7A0086C78EDF08DE38726C1750CFD] * University of Nevada — 2026 Giving Day: https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2026/thank-you-for-giving [https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2026/thank-you-for-giving] Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and weekly preview * 0:35 — Foundation funding shifts and nonprofit sustainability challenges * 3:15 — New IRS Form 990 Transparency Initiative * 4:30 — Why Donors Give: The power of specificity in building trust * 5:30 — What Changed: Donor-advised fund anonymity is rarer than you think * 6:45 — The Bottom Line: Three actions for this week * 7:30 — Good in Action: University of Nevada's record-breaking Giving Day * 8:15 — Sign-off

State of Good for May 11, 2026

Episode Title: Gen Z Is Already Outgiving Other Generations — And What That Means for Your Fundraising Strategy Summary: - New data from GoFundMe and GivingTuesday Data Commons shows Gen Z participating in philanthropy at higher rates than other adult generations, with community-powered fundraising platforms serving as their primary on-ramp * The BBB's Give.org 2026 Donor Trust Report finds 42% of U.S. adults are open to charity outreach, but a persistent trust gap means transparency is more critical than ever * Government funding cuts for social services are creating both pressure and opportunity for nonprofits to position themselves as essential community infrastructure * Legacy giving research reveals that estate planning dramatically increases charitable bequests, driven by donors' desire to extend their impact beyond their lifetime * Delco Gives raised $2.5 million in 24 hours with 300+ nonprofits collaborating in a community-wide giving day Links: - Data Shows Gen Z Is In The Beginning Stages Of Philanthropy (The Nonprofit Times): https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/data-shows-gen-z-is-in-the-beginning-stages-of-philanthropy/ * Gen Z Philanthropy Outpaces That of Other Adults, New Data Shows (Nonprofit PRO): https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/gen-z-philanthropy-outpaces-that-of-other-adults-new-data-shows/ [https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/gen-z-philanthropy-outpaces-that-of-other-adults-new-data-shows/] * Donor Openness Near High Although Trust Gap Persists (Give.org): https://give.org/news/donor-trust-report-2026-openness-trust-gap [https://give.org/news/donor-trust-report-2026-openness-trust-gap] * Government Cuts Are Testing Nonprofits, Creating New Opportunity (The Nonprofit Times): https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/government-cuts-are-testing-nonprofits-creating-new-opportunity/ [https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/government-cuts-are-testing-nonprofits-creating-new-opportunity/] * 'Too Many Nonprofits' Is Not Our Biggest Problem (Center for Effective Philanthropy): https://cep.org/blog/too-many-nonprofits-is-not-our-biggest-problem/ [https://cep.org/blog/too-many-nonprofits-is-not-our-biggest-problem/] * Legacy Giving Research (Foundation for Philanthropy Research): https://leavealegacy.com/research/ [https://leavealegacy.com/research/] * Delco Gives Raises More Than $2.5M (WHYY): https://whyy.org/articles/delco-gives-delaware-county-nonprofits-fundraising/ [https://whyy.org/articles/delco-gives-delaware-county-nonprofits-fundraising/] Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview * 0:30 — Gen Z's philanthropic emergence and the trust gap * 3:30 — Why donors give: the psychology of legacy giving * 5:00 — What changed: government funding shifts and nonprofit sector resilience * 6:30 — The bottom line and three action items * 7:30 — Good in Action: Delco Gives raises $2.5M in 24 hours * 8:30 — Sign-off

State of Good for May 4, 2026

Episode Title: "Survival, Stability, and the 31% Recurring Donor Surge" Summary: - AFP Icon conference reveals fundraisers are focused on survival strategies amid inflation, federal cuts, and tax changes * Recurring donor bases have grown 31% since 2023, offering a blueprint for revenue stability * The IRS announces a formal rework of Form 990, signaling enhanced transparency requirements ahead * New research on 2,000+ donors reveals recurring givers see themselves as mission partners, not just supporters * Action steps: diversify funding sources, optimize recurring giving, and prepare for new reporting standards Sources Mentioned: - Chronicle of Philanthropy — "Inflation, Cuts, Tax Changes: A Tough Year Takes Center Stage at AFP Icon": https://www.philanthropy.com/news/inflation-cuts-tax-changes-a-tough-year-takes-center-stage-at-afp-icon/ * BYU Scholars Archive — "Nonprofit Leaders' Perceived Top Struggles: A Qualitative Study": https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1195&context=joni [https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1195&context=joni] * Nonprofit Pro — "Recurring Donor Base Grew 31% Since 2023, New Data Reveals": https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/recurring-donor-base-grew-31-since-2023-new-data-reveals/ [https://www.nonprofitpro.com/article/recurring-donor-base-grew-31-since-2023-new-data-reveals/] * The Nonprofit Times — "Reworking Of Federal Form 990 Set To Begin": https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/reworking-of-federal-form-990-set-to-begin/ [https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/reworking-of-federal-form-990-set-to-begin/] * NP Tech for Good — "New Research Reveals What Motivates Recurring Donors": https://www.nptechforgood.com/2026/04/28/new-research-reveals-what-motivates-recurring-donors/ [https://www.nptechforgood.com/2026/04/28/new-research-reveals-what-motivates-recurring-donors/] Approximate Timestamps: - 0:00 — Introduction and episode preview * 0:35 — The Big Picture: AFP Icon, economic headwinds, and recurring donor growth * 4:00 — Why Donors Give: The partnership mindset of recurring donors * 5:15 — What Changed: Form 990 rework and transparency implications * 6:15 — The Bottom Line and three action items * 7:30 — Good in Action: Community over competition at AFP Icon * 8:30 — Sign-off