2026 Mission & Margin: Nonprofit Insights and Trends

 A new look at what local nonprofits are experiencing now and planning for what’s next

Local nonprofits are navigating a complex environment marked by both stability and uncertainty. Many organizations are confident in core practices and familiar funding sources, while also working through challenges related to fundraising participation, specialized grant capacity and preparedness for funding disruption.

Mission & Margin draws on feedback from nonprofit leaders, board members and employees to highlight what’s happening across the sector and what nonprofits can take away from it as they plan ahead. 

This report explores:

• Where nonprofits are seeing strength in governance and financial oversight

• How organizations are thinking about benchmarking, staffing, and compensation trends

• What leaders are saying about grant readiness, compliance, and funding delays

• How nonprofits are approaching capital planning, leadership transitions, and long-term resilience

If you lead a nonprofit, this report can help you:

• Compare your organization’s experience with peers
• Spot emerging risks and planning priorities
• Strengthen board and leadership conversations
• Think more strategically about funding, operations, and infrastructure

At RKL, we’re committed to understanding how nonprofits serve their communities and helping strengthen the capacity behind that work. This report is one way we hope to support that conversation.

Ready to See What’s Next for Local Nonprofits?

Download the report to explore the trends, challenges and priorities shaping the sector.