In the years since COVID-19, the volunteer landscape in the United States has been quietly transformed. Nonprofits say the same thing again and again: we have more people in need – and fewer people to help run our programs. That’s partly true. But it’s also incomplete. According to AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America […]

How to protect your mission from the risks no one talks about. Every year brings new nonprofit risks — some obvious, some hidden. If you work at a nonprofit, you already know about familiar worries: funding cuts, staff burnout, donor fatigue. But some of the most serious risks are not the ones people talk about […]

Strategic planning for nonprofits has never been more complex. Nonprofits are planning in a paradox: on the one hand, donations in the U.S. just hit a record high, buoyed by strong markets. On the other, leaders report thinner cash cushions, rising demand, and growing anxiety about government funding. The picture is bright and stormy at […]

When people talk about philanthropy, the conversation often stops at the U.S. border. Look a little farther south and a richer picture comes into focus: neighborhood mutual aid living alongside modern foundations, city funds working with mayors, and coalitions that bring volunteer time and in-kind help into the same picture as cash. Mexico is a […]

Audio: ~10 minutes Reading time: 5 minutes TL;DR Who signs: In Model A (Comprehensive), the fiscal sponsor signs. In Model C (Pre-approved Grant Relationship), the sponsor is grantee of record and then regrants under a written subgrant. Money flow: Awards are received as the sponsor’s revenue and tracked as restricted funds for the project’s charitable […]

In our previous article, we explored why nonprofits are turning to consultants – and the risks that come with overreliance. But knowing when to hire a consultant is only part of the equation. Equally important is understanding how power, influence, and expectations shape the consulting relationship. Who really sets the agenda — the nonprofit, the […]

Nonprofit consultants have become an increasingly familiar presence in the sector. From strategic planning to fundraising and communications, outside experts are being called upon more than ever to help organizations navigate complex challenges. This surge in nonprofit consulting comes at a pivotal moment: nonprofits face high staff turnover, funding pressures, and demands for greater impact […]

Donors today increasingly expect nonprofits to be transparent and data-driven, seeking detailed reports on how funds are used and what impact is achieved. In response, a growing ecosystem of charity rating platforms and services has emerged. Charity Navigator, for example, now rates over 230,000 organizations and serves 11+ million donors annually, reflecting donors’ hunger for […]

Crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular way for nonprofits to raise money and engage supporters. In fact, the global crowdfunding market is projected to reach reached approximately $18.4 billion in 2024, and the average nonprofit crowdfunding campaign raises around $9,000. By tapping the “wisdom of the crowd,” charities can fund specific projects, emergencies, or creative endeavors […]

Nonprofit organizations in 2025 face a burnout crisis that goes far deeper than long hours and tight budgets. Fresh data from the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s new State of Nonprofits 2025 report shows an alarming level of strain: nearly two-thirds of nonprofits can’t fill critical staff vacancies and over half lack sufficient funding to pay […]