Giving USA 2026: The Nonprofit Leader’s Practical Guide

Key Findings, Takeaways & Presentation Slides

While the Giving USA 2026 report tells us what happened in philanthropy over the past year, it does not always tell nonprofit leaders what they should do next. Below is both a summary of the key findings from the report and actionable next steps organizations can consider moving forward.

The big picture is positive at first glance, but if you look deeper, it’s clear that a real shift is happening. The takeaway for nonprofit leaders is that while charitable giving continues to grow, the landscape is shifting. Individual giving remains the largest source of philanthropy, but fewer households are participating. Corporate giving is not keeping pace with economic growth, and long-term opportunities such as bequests continue to gain momentum.