Learn How Sector Experts are Building Resilience, Trust, and Impact
Our current environment is shaped by change and uncertainty as we navigate economic challenges, more competitive funding, policy changes, unpredictable political environment, and more. To keep moving forward, nonprofits and educational institutions must be more agile, innovative, and forward-thinking to find practical ways to succeed in the evolving landscape.
Blackbaud’s essay collection eBook, The Forward-Thinking Nonprofit: Leading Through Change, responds to this reality with insights from 19 sector experts across Canada, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. These essays offer inspiration, data insights, case studies, and practical advice—each designed to help you adapt, grow, and lead with confidence.
In this blog post, we offer a glimpse into the first part of our eBook, focused on exploring the current landscape and inspiring and helping nonprofits to navigate and embrace the unpredictable successfully. We look at uncertainty in the sector, explore often undervalued audiences and strategies, and discuss the importance of love, trust, and transparency.
What’s Love Got to Do with It?
By Adrian Sargeant PhD, Co-Director, Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy
Adrian Sargeant challenges nonprofits to shift their focus from money to the deeper motivation of love in philanthropy. He argues that reframing fundraising as “stewarding the human capacity to love” can unlock both increased participation and value, even though giving rates have remained stubbornly fixed amidst the ongoing economic challenges.
“In a sense, this is actually a very old idea. Love is, after all, quite literally at the Latin root of philanthropy. So why is it that we have slipped so easily into using the language of money, as though it were only money that was worthy of our attention?”
Change Is Not on the Horizon—It’s Already Here.
By Katherine Raskob, Chief Executive Officer, Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA)
Katherine Raskob takes inspiration from Fundraising Institute Australia’s FIA Code, a set of ethical standards and professional conduct guidelines, and discusses trust in fundraising. She frames trust as the essential asset in an era of constant change—especially with social media and digital-first fundraising ensuring news travel faster than ever before.
“In an environment where change is rapid and often unpredictable, trust is the bedrock that sustains our sector. Donors, stakeholders, and the broader public want to know that their contributions are being used ethically, responsibly, and for genuine social impact. That trust does not happen by chance. It’s earned through consistent actions, transparency, and accountability.”
Fundraising in Economic Uncertainty
By Charlotte Sherman, Growing Giving Policy and Partnership Manager, Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF)
Charlotte Sherman explores the economic environment shaping today’s fundraising, backed by research findings and data. She notes that while inflation has squeezed both donors and charities, many supporters still see importance in giving.
“The economy has always played a role in shaping the giving landscape. Over the last five years, however, charities have had to navigate unprecedented levels of economic uncertainty, brought on by soaring inflation, changing fiscal policies, and stock market fluctuations.”
The Funding Landscape—Leading Through Change
By Jo Garner, CEO and Founder, Strategic Grants
Jo Garner explores the challenges of the current funding landscape and discusses how to secure funding amidst growing competition and changing grantmaker expectations. She stresses the importance of strong governance, a clear strategic plan, internal collaboration, and robust relationships with funders.
“At the end of the day, we need to remember fundraising 101—people give to people (or the cause) they are passionate about helping. Human emotion and connection cannot be underestimated. In major donor and grant fundraising, for example, the charities that do best will always be those with trusted partnerships.”
Thriving Through Change: Why Volunteer Management Might Be the Most Important Thing You’re Not Doing Right
By Casper Harratt, General Manager, Rosterfy UK
Casper Harratt spotlights the transformation in modern volunteer management and describes it as central to nonprofit resilience. He explores how digital tools have turned volunteer coordination from an “admin task” to a strategic advantage—simultaneously enabling nonprofits to measure, adapt, and scale their impact through these better data insights.
“The forward-thinking nonprofits we work with know who is volunteering, what they are doing, and how that maps to outcomes. That gives them a powerful edge, not just for growing their volunteer base or for winning funding bids, but for taking meaningful strides towards their mission. In the age of AI, the real risk isn’t over-automating. It’s “under-knowing”.”
Women Are a Giving Superpower
By Fiona Atkinson, Content Manager, F&P
Fiona Atkinson shares compelling evidence that women are both a growing force in philanthropy and an essential audience for fundraisers. Despite the long history of inequalities, women today give more frequently, give a larger proportion of their income, and are set to control an increasing share of global wealth.
“With so much data and research that proves women’s giving is already thriving and will only grow stronger, there isn’t much more to say other than, what are you waiting for? Women’s philanthropy is a force to be reckoned with—so let’s spotlight it, encourage it, and support it in every way we can.”
From Attendees to Advocates: Why Events Are the Key to Long-Term Donor Relationships
By Justin Goodhew, Co-Founder and CEO, Trellis
In his essay, Justin Goodhew explores the strategic power of events in building lasting donor relationships and enhancing resiliency for the future. He explains that events offer more than short-term revenue: they create moments of belonging, generate actionable data, and provide opportunities to convert attendees into advocates.
“Events are not the end of a fundraising journey, but the beginning of a relationship. By focusing on long-term donor conversion, nonprofits can secure not just tonight’s revenue, but tomorrow’s resilience.”
Surviving the Storm: Legal Issues for Nonprofits and Charities in Tough and Uncertain Times
By Mark Blumberg and Caitlin Lee, Lawyers, Blumbergs Professional Corporation
Mark Blumberg and Caitlin Lee, specialists in charity law, provide guidance for compliance and risk management during challenging times. They advocate for proactive measures such as scenario planning, strong internal controls, board engagement, robust cash flow management, volunteer strategy, and transparency in reporting to build resiliency, agility, and trust.
“Ignoring the complexity of the world we live in can be very costly or detrimental to a nonprofit’s mission. While some more obvious options, such as deferring purchases, selling assets, closing programs, or using reserves, may provide temporary relief, there are proactive considerations and steps that can be taken to provide long-term benefits to the nonprofit amid these difficult circumstances.”
Navigating the Unpredictable
While each expert brings their unique insights and perspectives, we could identify some commonly occurring advice for nonprofits to remain agile and thrive amidst ongoing change and uncertainty. The following distilled strategies highlight how to build resilience and amplify your impact:
1. Build Trust Through Transparency
Trust is the sector’s most valuable asset, especially in challenging times. You should communicate openly about their mission, activities, successes, and setbacks, ensuring that every message aligns with their core purpose. Honest reporting about how funds are used and the difference they make foster long-term supporter loyalty.
2. Invest in Experience—Whether Supporters, Volunteers, Employees, or Stakeholders
Delivering a seamless, positive experience across all touchpoints enhances trust and engagement. For example, simplifying event participation and donation processes encourages ongoing involvement. Similarly, supporting internal teams through upskilling and connection equips your staff to adapt and excel. Investing in the people in your network—both externally and internally—strengthens your institution’s mission delivery.
3. Diversify Income Streams
Depending on a single income source can put your nonprofit at risk. Sustainable, forward-thinking nonprofits and education institutions proactively expand their funding base with grants, corporate partnerships, individual giving, events, legacy gifts, and more to ensure greater stability against economic fluctuations.
4. Foster Collaboration
Breaking down silos encourages innovation and improves the quality of your activities. When fundraising and service delivery teams collaborate, they generate new ideas, better reflect the needs of your community, and create stronger internal cohesion—all of which drives better outcomes.
5. Identify Untapped or Undervalued Opportunities
As some of the essays highlight, you might be overlooking the impact of valuable opportunities like volunteers, female donors, or events. Review your current activities to spot areas that you are not yet exploring to their fullest potential—then focus your efforts on opportunities that align with your long-term goals.
6. Explore Opportunities to Collaborate Externally
Partnerships with other nonprofits, education institutions, businesses, and community groups can help you extend your reach, pool expertise, or even access new funding. By working together with selected partners, you can achieve more than you could alone, building collective resilience and expanding the impact of the sector.
To learn more from the experts, download the free Forward-Thinking Nonprofit: Leading Through Change eBook, tailored to your region:
