5 Steps to Get Proactive About Risk in 2026

Modern life is defined by risk—and in 2026, the organizations that thrive will be the ones that meet uncertainty with clarity, confidence, and a proactive mindset. According to the Blackbaud Institute’s Risk Readiness report, nearly 70% of social impact professionals feel unprepared to tackle their most pressing risks, especially shifting government policies and revenue instability. Yet readiness isn’t reserved for the biggest or best resourced‑ institutions. In fact, the data shows that organizations of every size—from small nonprofits to large educational institutions—appear across all three readiness categories on our Risk Readiness Barometer: Reactive, Responsive, and Proactive. Size wasn’t a predictor of preparedness; mindset was.

This is a hopeful finding. While only 29% of organizations currently qualify as “Proactive”—those who display both higher preparedness and lower concern across all 13 risk areas—the distinguishing factor wasn’t budget, staff capacity, or revenue. What set these organizations apart was their strategic approach: they actively integrated risk into long-term‑planning, invested in technology and talent, engaged their boards, and fostered a culture of innovation.

The stakes are real. Reactive organizations were more than twice as likely to see a decline in revenue compared to their proactive peers (30% vs. 13%), underscoring the cost of staying in a reactive posture. But the report also makes clear that becoming proactive is achievable for any organization—no matter its size, structure, or starting point.

At the Blackbaud Institute, we wanted to know what these resilient organizations were doing differently—and, more importantly, how any organization (including yours!) can move from reactive to proactive in the year ahead. Our exploration of the sector’s most pressing risks revealed the 13 key threats facing nonprofits and educational institutions today, alongside the strategies leaders are using to prepare for them. The good news? Risk readiness isn’t about eliminating uncertainty—it’s about embracing it as a catalyst for smarter planning, stronger teams, and mission aligned innovation.

Naming the Risks

The Blackbaud Institute identified the 13 most pressing risks that could hinder a nonprofit organization or educational institution’s ability to fulfill its mission:

Internal Risks:

• Strategy/mission
• Governance/decision-making
• Organizational reputation
• Revenue/securing sufficient income
• Spending/managing expenses
• Technology
• Cybersecurity
• Compliance
• Operations

External Risks:

• Public perceptions of the sector or broader space in which organizations operate
• Political landscape and government policy
• Competition with similar organizations
• Unforeseen events with significant impacts (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics, etc.)

In addition to these risks, organizations were surveyed on the tactics that they are using to prepare for or mitigate these concerns. By scanning the entire risk spectrum and speaking to hundreds of social impact professionals (approximately 65% worked in nonprofits and 35% worked in education), we found clear drivers for growth and resilience: Proactive zone organizations, those best prepared to navigate risk, shared a common mindset that informed their strategies. They not only accepted and expected unforeseen risks but also embraced the inherent unpredictability of the risk landscape.

The confidence of Proactive zone organizations to face the challenges ahead were determined by their strategic choices and an overall culture of innovation, while organizations overwhelmed by risk were defined by their lack of long-term planning, continuity, and compliance.

Below, we outline five practical steps you can take to cultivate a risk-ready culture in your organization—backed by data, real behaviors from confident leaders, and strategies that work.

5 Steps to Cultivate a Risk-Ready Culture

A risk readiness mindset is necessary for the long-term health of the sector. By embracing uncertainty—getting proactive in your strategies and culture—you are not only shoring up your organization’s future but also finding opportunities for growth and innovation. If you’re reading this, you’ve already started on that path. Consider these steps and share these findings from our report with your team:

1. Understand your risks.

Before organizations can become truly risk-ready, they need a clear picture of where they stand. The survey of professionals shows that government policy changes and revenue instability remain the top concerns across nonprofits and schools, yet only 30% of surveyed professionals feel adequately prepared to address these issues.

This gap between perceived risk and preparedness underscores why cross-departmental conversations are critical. When teams openly name the threats they face, they become better positioned to anticipate challenges and collaborate on solutions. A shared understanding of risk is a defining trait of the 29% of organizations categorized as “Proactive” on the Risk Readiness Barometer.

2. Prioritize a culture of innovation across your organization.

Innovation is more than a buzzword—it’s a clear differentiator. According to the report, technology strategy is one of the strongest predictors of whether an organization is Reactive or Proactive. Professionals in the least prepared group express concern about inefficient technology use, lack of training, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. In contrast, Proactive organizations are far more likely to have upgraded tech systems, integrated multiple solutions, and implemented technology continuity plans.

When you cultivate an innovation-forward culture, you create conditions where your team can streamline processes, experiment responsibly, and turn new ideas into organizational improvements.

3. Take responsibility where you can.

External factors—from policy shifts to economic volatility—will always sit outside your control. But the report illustrates that confident organizations respond by leaning into what is within their control. Proactive organizations are more likely to have recently updated their strategic plans, clarified fundraising goals, and actively engaged their boards to align on forward-looking priorities.

This internal accountability reduces paralysis and builds organizational muscle memory for challenging times. Empowering each team member to identify small, reasonable steps they can take is not only motivating but also reflects the behavior of organizations that demonstrate higher readiness scores.

4. Stay focused on your key objectives.

The survey data shows that Reactive organizations were more than twice as likely to experience a revenue decrease compared to their Proactive counterparts (30% vs. 13%). This finding highlights the downside of spreading focus too thin or allowing operational noise to eclipse core priorities.

By taking stock of your most important goals—and the risks that threaten them—you can focus resources where they will have the greatest impact. Proactive organizations use this clarity to inform planning cycles, refresh strategy documents, and track progress more effectively.

5. Look for opportunities in the risks.

A throughline in the report is that uncertainty can serve as an invitation rather than a setback. Leaders who embrace unpredictability as part of the operating environment are more likely to rethink assumptions, explore alternative pathways, and make strategic adjustments that lead to greater resilience.

Moreover, the report reveals that organizations who adopt a proactive mindset—not necessarily those with the most resources—are the ones most likely to emerge stronger during turbulent periods. This mindset transforms “unforeseen events” from purely destabilizing forces into moments for generative thinking and innovation.

Remember, risk is universal. Readiness isn’t. Set your organization apart from the rest by building an innovative and proactive mindset, so you can lead with confidence no matter what happens. Ready to take the next step? Get tactics and strategies from proactive leaders in Risk Readiness: A Report on Leading with Confidence in Uncertain Times.