7 Fundraising Trends to Watch in 2026
After a hectic 2025, let’s look ahead to see what we can expect from 2026 – when we know we must expect the unexpected.
After a hectic 2025, let’s look ahead to see what we can expect from 2026 – when we know we must expect the unexpected.
Join the fundraising movement! Join the fundraising movement!Is it just me, or did 2025 come and go in a blink?
We survived some wild stuff, from the Big Beautiful Bill to the elimination and dramatic restoration of the Combined Federal Campaign to the Federal Government Shutdown and SNAP freeze.
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that the work isn’t getting any easier. Burnout, staffing shortages, and funding uncertainty are all here to stay.
The upside of all these challenges is that we are done pretending we have infinite bandwidth or acting like nonprofit unicorns who never stumble. Next year will be about finding the space – if it exists – to do things smarter, lighter, and together.
Here’s what I see taking the spotlight in 2026:
Donors are changing the game. They want transparency, immediacy, and relational giving.
Platforms like GoFundMe and Flipcause once led the way, but today’s donors are picky. They want trustworthy platforms where their dollars actually reach the people who need them, fast.
Additionally, invisible giving economies like mutual aid, peer-to-peer support, and neighborhood networks are still thriving. Even long after COVID, people are giving groceries, rides, emotional support, and micro-grants directly to neighbors and local families.
Critics will say direct giving bypasses nonprofits. Sure, if done poorly, it could confuse donors or make your organization seem like an unnecessary middleman.
But done thoughtfully, it builds trust, grows donor networks (especially for your individual giving program), and strengthens your mission. It’s a powerful bridge to long-term, engaged supporters.
Find a platform like Donorbox that supports this “invisible” form of giving, where you can make it clear that funds are going directly to those who need them.
Donors have always given to causes around the world, but now it’s more visible and expected.
In fact, the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) found that 64% of people globally donated money to good causes in 2024.
In 2026, nonprofits who show their global impact by making giving accessible for generous donors around the world can grow their networks, keep donors engaged, and build stronger connections.
Online platforms, social media, and easy payment tools let donors see the impact of their gift and give quickly. Still, very few nonprofit tech tools offer true global payment options.
Donorbox OmniGive™ Donation Forms offer over 22 payment methods and are optimized for global giving. Donors see only the most relevant payment methods for their location and device, meaning less friction and more giving.
Recurring revenue isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, it’s going to be even more important in 2026.
With uncertainty about the economy, inflation, and changes in how people give, one-time donations can be risky and unpredictable.
And the data shows us how crucial recurring giving is. While total giving increased by only 3.5% in 2024, monthly giving increased by 5%. (See more examples in our recurring donation statistics roundup.)
In 2026, nonprofits will need a steady base of recurring donors to keep their programs running and meet growing demand.
In these unpredictable times, relying only on one-time gifts is risky. Steward your one-time repeat donors with extra care, because they’re more likely to convert to recurring donors.
And don’t forget your existing recurring donors; ask them to upgrade their gifts when it makes sense.
When you treat your recurring donors like partners, showing them the impact they’re making, inviting them into your story, and making giving easy…that’s when recurring revenue becomes your powerhouse. You’ll have the stability to plan, build, and grow programs, even when things outside your control change.
Almost everything we do, from program design to storytelling to collecting donations, is top-down, one-sided, and transactional.
While this may have worked in the past, 2026 is all about inviting communities in and letting them shape programs, content, and campaigns. Donors and participants who feel like they have some ownership engage, advocate, and give more.
Start small. Add one question to your donation form: “What impact matters most to you this year?” Suddenly, your form isn’t a utility bill but a tool to collect the intel needed to start a larger conversation.
Or, try something bigger. One client I coach invited academics to co-develop public learning programs. Donors who were former academics took notice and didn’t just give – they shared, advocated, and became recurring supporters because the programs reflected their values.
Messy and slower often equals better. Programs hit the mark and donors feel seen, valued, and included.
Yep, AI isn’t going anywhere, and it’s natural for nonprofit leaders to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Concerns about privacy, governance, and data misuse aren’t made up; they’re real. The NTEN AI in Nonprofits Report shows many organizations worry about protecting donor data, staying compliant, and avoiding mistakes.
But let’s not let fear stop us from exploring the huge upside AI offers.
Use AI not just to automate copywriting, but to understand donor behavior, track giving trends, and make smarter, more strategic decisions.
Tools like Donorbox’s Jay·AI can pull detailed reports, generate charts, export CSVs, and create customized donor lists. You can even ask it to analyze total donations over the last quarter, year-over-year performance, or donor engagement trends, making meetings and planning far easier.
AI doesn’t replace human connection. It helps you work smarter so you can focus on what really matters. It takes care of repetitive tasks and provides valuable insights so your team can focus on building relationships, telling stories, and moving your mission forward.
Automation and drip campaigns aren’t going anywhere in 2026. These easy, hands-free workflows enable instant and frequent engagement without extra effort.
However, donors are getting tired of impersonal outreach. It’s time to make this type of outreach feel more human.
Micro-touches, or quick connections, allow you to provide value with a check-in that feels more human.
Send a 15-second audio clip, a candid behind-the-scenes photo, or a tiny video update to make donors feel like you are calling or texting them directly – not sending out a faceless e-blast. Many of my coaching clients are using conversational texting, too, to meet donors where they’re at.
These touches do not ask for a gift immediately. They educate, invite, and show donors non-monetary ways to participate, like attending a small event, giving feedback, signing a petition, or just witnessing the impact their gift has made.
These layered micro-touches can drive donors to give up to three times more than a single appeal. Human storytelling also boosts retention by 45% versus 27% for organizations who don’t use it.
In 2026, get a little more human – even with your automation.
Donors are tired of overproduced, expensive events. It’s time we redefine events as a whole.
2026 is all about authentic, accessible events where donors see impact firsthand. Pop-ups, volunteer dinners, learning circles, and workshops are the types of experiences that connect people with your mission.
Think local, personalized events that bring your donors into the fold.
I’m thinking of a local community dinner my son and I hosted at a church safe park. We were chopping vegetables with a pastor and an unhoused neighbor, while everyone was sharing stories, laughing, and building community together.
We set up QR codes on tables so anyone could chip in what they could afford. It provided an opportunity for real connection and real giving.
Sure, corporate sponsorships and live auctions still work for major donors, but authenticity wins overall.
As 2026 undoubtedly throws more hurdles our way, these trends will be your survival tools. Build donor relationships and protect your energy.
No one wants to work harder; we want to work smarter, and in the process show up more human and real. If we show up with empathy, collaboration, authenticity, and leadership that reflects the humans we serve, we will not just survive, we will thrive.
Looking for a Fundraising Partner? We give nonprofits the tools and guidance to grow donations, engage donors, and simplify your workload.
With hands-on coaching and Donorbox’s powerful platform, you’ll get strategy, support, and tech all in one place so you can focus on what matters most: your mission. Sign up for Donorbox Premium for access to coaching sessions with me, priority support, and more.
Brittan Stockert serves as a Fundraiser Coach at Donorbox. With over 20 years of experience in the public sector, she’s passionate about helping nonprofits, NGOs and social enterprises create effective, sustainable fundraising strategies. Brittan focuses on building stronger donor relationships, refining CRM systems, and simplifying the entire fundraising process to make it easier for organizations to thrive.
She also co-hosts a podcast where she shares practical, no-nonsense tips to help nonprofit leaders feel more confident and less overwhelmed in their fundraising efforts. Outside of work, Brittan serves on the board of an immigrant- and refugee-led nonprofit, volunteers with mutual aid groups, and is an active member of her local PTA.
She’s a proud mom to two kids (one neurodivergent) and a dog mom who loves mountaineering and outdoor adventures. Based in Seattle, Brittan loves connecting with nonprofit professionals and sharing her knowledge to help them succeed.
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