Trista's 2026 Philanthropy Predictions
Nov 06, 2025Each year, the FutureGood team and I scan the horizon for the trends shaping the next era of the social sector. This year feels different. The world is spinning faster, the stakes are higher, and the old ways of working just cannot keep up. The good news is that inside all this uncertainty is a massive opportunity to reimagine how we lead, care for one another, and build the future we actually want.
Here’s what’s coming for 2026:
Moving Out of Freeze State and Into Action
The chaos coming out of Washington has left much of the sector paralyzed. Leaders are waiting for clarity before taking bold action. Spoiler alert: it’s not coming. The future is not going to get less confusing.
This year, the organizations that thrive will be the ones that stop waiting and start building. Having a clear picture of the future you want to create will let you use volatility as your greatest advantage. When everyone else is stuck, you’ll be moving forward.
Boards Need to Get Brave and Fast
The days of cushy board seats are over. These are not honorary roles, they’re opportunities to shape the future. In 2025, boards need to get trained, get clear, and get courageous.
That means clarifying who has authority to make which decisions, defining risk tolerance including the risk of not meeting your mission, and backing your staff leaders publicly and privately. A brave board is a game changer. The future belongs to organizations whose boards are aligned, decisive, and ready to act.
AI Is Changing Everything
AI isn’t a passing fad you can wait out. It’s reshaping every aspect of how we work, communicate, and solve problems. The organizations that lean in will exponentially expand their impact.
From automating repetitive tasks to analyzing data and improving strategy, AI will let nonprofits focus on what humans do best: empathy, creativity, and vision. The question isn’t whether to use AI, but how to use it wisely and ethically. Get smart about it now, because this wave is not slowing down.
Joy Is the Revolution
Burnout has become the unofficial uniform of the social sector, but here’s a radical idea: joy is not a distraction from your mission, it’s the fuel for it. The nonprofit sector has been running on fumes, and it’s showing up in turnover, exhaustion, and shrinking creativity.
In 2025, we’ll see more leaders realize that making time for joy, rest, and connection actually makes their organizations more effective. When teams laugh together, celebrate small wins, and pause to appreciate beauty, they access the creativity and resilience required to tackle impossible problems. Joy is not a luxury, it’s a strategy.
FutureProof Your Organization
The biggest shift we’re seeing is toward continuous learning and adaptive strategy. The days of a plan sitting on a shelf are long gone. Thriving organizations make strategy a daily practice, adjusting to new information, experimenting, and reflecting constantly.
Building organizational resilience means investing in your people, your systems, and your foresight. The organizations that win the future will be those that stay curious, flexible, and aligned around a long-term vision.
The future is not waiting for us to catch up. These trends are already reshaping how we work, lead, and care for our communities. The organizations that thrive will be the ones that approach this moment with curiosity, courage, and a willingness to evolve.
If your organization needs help harnessing these trends, reach out to FutureGood. We have a team of expert strategists who can help you predict and shape the future.
