June 2025
Articles and News
Black Imagination as Strategy: Reclaiming Creativity in Nonprofit Leadership
“As nonprofit leaders confront shrinking budgets, shifting funder priorities, and a growing divide between mission and means, one thing is clear: Survival alone is not enough. This moment demands imagination.” (Coniqua Johnson-Reed for Nonprofit Quarterly)
From $100,000 to $185 Raised: The Toll of Job Losses, Federal Cuts on Fundraising
Fundraisers’ experiences in places where many donors have lost jobs may offer a preview of what to expect elsewhere if the country slides into a recession. (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Learning from a Near-Death Experience: How to Survive a Budget Crisis
An article from the Post Growth Institute on how when they lost half of their funding in 2023 and their bank balance evaporated—right down to $50—they they managed not to lose a single employee. (Nonprofit Quarterly)
Studies and Resources
Nonprofit Finance Fund’s State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey
NFF’s annual in-depth analysis of financial and operational data from 2,206 nonprofits across the country found that last year more than a third of respondents ended 2024 in a deficit. See also the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s summary of the report here.
The State of Grantseeking™ 2025 Report
Built on responses from nearly 1,258 nonprofit organizations, this report delivers the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping grant funding today. (Grant Station)
2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI)
A new research study assessing the enabling environment for philanthropy in 95 countries and economies. “Despite global challenges, the sociocultural factor of giving remains strong, highlighting that generosity is a shared human trait across cultures, societies, and countries.” (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)
Foundation Giving Forecast Survey
More than a third of foundations expect to boost giving in 2025 but outlook remains unpredictable. (Candid)
For Funders
For my fellow nerds, Michele Fugiel Gartner offers an outline of the history of foundation staff role development. (HistPhil)
