Summer 2025 - Trend Spotting - Purposeful Community
Jul 15, 2025
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Trends We're Watching |
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Summer 2025 FutureGood is a consultancy focused on helping visionary leaders build a better future. Through DEI consulting, strategic visioning, keynotes, retreats, and online learning, FutureGood helps thought leaders (like you!) to use futurism. |
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We are watching so many interesting trends each month that we've decided to share them with our community. If you want us to look out for a specific subject, reach out and let us know! |
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Purposeful Community |
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Major donors like MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates, and the Gates Foundation are shifting toward longer-term funding commitments. |
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What this could mean for the social sector: Nonprofits stand to benefit through greater stability, better planning, and more room for innovation. These multi-year investments free organizations from the annual grant cycle. To encourage this model, nonprofits should highlight how long-term partnerships create wins for both communities and donors. |
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AI can boost efficiency, but it can't replace the human need for belonging, empathy, and trust—especially in areas like mental health. |
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What this could mean for the social sector: This means doubling down on human-centered values like empathy, trust, and belonging even as AI tools are adopted. It also calls for stronger engagement strategies and ethical leadership to meet the evolving expectations of younger staff, volunteers, and donors. |
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Learn to spot trends relevant to your work |
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If you want to learn more about futurism, including how to spot and make sense of these trends, you can! Sign up for our online learning program, FutureGood Studio, and empower yourself to be future-ready! |
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Fewer donors dominate the giving landscape as skepticism of the social sector increases. |
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What this could mean for the social sector: We are seeing fewer donors, but they are sometime giving larger gifts. Nonprofits should consider this when structuring growth plans. And with growing public scrutiny of the sector and potential policy shifts, organizations can play a role in shaping perception by very publicly showing off the positive outcomes of collaboration between Foundations and grantees. |
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Nearly a third of U.S. adults are now religiously unaffiliated, and that will affect the social sector. Purpose-driven organizations have an opportunity to become spaces where people find meaning, connection, and shared values. |
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What this could mean for the social sector: As traditional sources of meaning decline, the social sector can fill that gap by creating purpose-driven environments that foster connection, belonging, and shared values. This approach can strengthen engagement, particularly among younger generations seeking meaningful work and community involvement. |
