Ep 190| 2026 Fundraising Trends: What Leaders Are Quietly Changing to Build Stability

Send us Fan MailHappy New Year! We’re kicking off 2026 with a conversation many nonprofit leaders are already having behind the scenes: What’s actually changing in fundraising…and what’s just noise?Every year, nonprofits get told to prepare for the next big trend. But the shifts shaping 2026 aren’t about shiny tools or louder campaigns. They’re quieter…and far more structural. Leaders are rethinking how fundraising holds up over time, not just how it performs in the next campaign.Join us as Jena Lynch and Britt Stockert walk through five fundraising trends they’re seeing take hold across organizations…not as predictions, but as patterns emerging from real decision-making.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Why predictable revenue is becoming the anchor, not a side goalHow first-year donor retention is moving from “processing” to intentional onboardingWhy reducing friction often outperforms better messagingHow transparency is shifting from polished reports to ongoing communicationWhy technology is increasingly chosen to protect capacity, not chase innovationA question for you:What’s one part of your fundraising system that feels fragile right now - and what would it look like to strengthen it instead of pushing harder somewhere else?Listen in, reflect, and start the year with a steadier foundation for the work ahead.What makes Donorbox the Best Nonprofit Fundraising Platform to Achieve Your Strategic Goals?Easy to customize, available in multiple languages and currencies, and supported by leading payment processors (Stripe and PayPal), Donorbox’s nonprofit fundraising solution is used by 80,000+ global organizations and individuals. From animal rescue to schools, places of worship, and research groups, nonprofits use Donorbox to raise more funds, manage donors efficiently, and make a bigger impact.Discover how Donorbox can help you help others!The Nonprofit Podcast, along with a wealth of nonprofit leadership tutorials, expert advice, tips, and tactics, is available on the Donorbox YouTube channel. Subscribe today and never miss an episode:The Nonprofit Podcast is available every Thursday on all popular podcast platforms.🎙️ Apple Podcasts: The Nonprofit Podcast🎙️ Spotify: The Nonprofit Podcast 🖥️The Nonprofit Podcast 🎙️🎙️ - YouTubeSupport the show