Strengthening Nonprofit Effectiveness and Sustainability A report to improve understanding of nonprofit conditions and support actions that strengthen nonprofit leadership, workforce capacity, organizational resilience, funder engagement, and public impact. Submitter's Note: This Performance Plan/Report has been inferred by ChatGPT from the Center for Effective Philanthropy's State of Nonprofits 2026 report. Performance indicators documented in the report have been retained where possible. Baseline values reflect conditions reported by nonprofit leaders. Where the report does not establish specific performance targets, target results have been expressed qualitatively to highlight desired directions for improvement and opportunities for future target-setting. Center for Effective Philanthropy CEP CEP provides data, feedback, programs, and insights intended to improve philanthropic effectiveness and strengthen the nonprofit sector. Seara Grundhoefer Co-Author Performer Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D Co-Author Performer Ellie Buteau, Ph.D. Co-Author Performer A resilient, effective, sustainable, and trusted nonprofit sector capable of advancing the public good despite changing social, political, and economic conditions. To improve understanding of nonprofit conditions and support actions that strengthen nonprofit leadership, workforce capacity, organizational resilience, and public impact. Leadership Strengthen the well-being, effectiveness, and sustainability of nonprofit leadership. 84E953F8-A4DB-44BD-A78B-17AEF9488C9A 1 Burnout Reduce factors contributing to executive burnout and leadership attrition. 3A4A85A9-011D-4C3C-B3A5-25E028B9BE3D 1.1 1.1.1 High Burnout Concern Percent Status 1E6A4631-E18A-45A3-8F5E-0AA9EF000C91 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce the percentage of nonprofit CEOs reporting burnout as very much a concern. 2026-12-31 46 Baseline Percentage of nonprofit CEOs reporting burnout as very much a concern. 2027-12-31 TBD 1.1.2 No Burnout Concern Percent Status 72833D2C-9979-42B5-97F7-C8E3F83DEC1A 2027-12-31 Increased Increase the percentage of nonprofit CEOs reporting burnout is not a concern. 2026-12-31 9 Baseline Percentage of nonprofit CEOs reporting burnout is not a concern. 2027-12-31 TBD Support Improve availability of professional, organizational, and peer-support resources. D9C7A3DB-46B8-4D60-8CE5-E72F6167027F 1.2 1.2.1 Staff Burnout Percent Status 730FAA49-BC98-4546-B4CC-5EA9311BCEF2 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce the percentage of nonprofit leaders reporting that staff burnout significantly impacts staff. 2026-12-31 25 Baseline Percentage reporting staff burnout significantly impacts staff. 2027-12-31 TBD 1.2.2 Burnout Impact Percent Status 142BDFC3-D422-4393-9745-37C4F0E4101F 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce the percentage of nonprofit leaders reporting that staff burnout moderately or significantly impacts staff. 2026-12-31 65 Baseline Percentage reporting staff burnout moderately or significantly impacts staff. 2027-12-31 TBD Workforce Sustainability Improve nonprofit organizations' ability to recruit, retain, support, and develop staff. 4D0CC9D6-1EB3-492F-B4A8-F74862BED533 2 The report documents substantial workforce-related challenges, including staffing shortages, burnout, recruitment difficulties, and concerns regarding staff well-being. Baseline values are drawn from nonprofit leader survey responses reported in the State of Nonprofits 2026 report. Future editions of the report could strengthen performance reporting by establishing explicit targets for workforce sustainability, retention, recruitment, and organizational health. Recruitment & Retention Improve the ability of nonprofits to attract and retain qualified personnel. 7C789D2A-C232-467A-A0D8-CB1FD1FB897A 2.1 2.1.1 Staffing Challenge Percent Status 6D8564C7-7841-4D5C-875C-8FD4C8478051 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce the percentage of nonprofit leaders identifying staffing as a major organizational challenge. 2026-12-31 45 Baseline Percentage of nonprofit leaders identifying staffing as a major challenge. 2027-12-31 TBD 2.1.2 Staffing Reductions Percent Status 54FD2FBB-71B8-4121-A224-2083A8A76E18 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce the percentage of organizations reducing staffing because of financial pressures. 2026-12-31 29 Baseline Percentage of organizations reporting staff reductions. 2027-12-31 TBD Well-Being Reduce staff stress and improve morale, engagement, and organizational health. 53E95861-20C0-44D5-A4C5-6D1FBFDBB156 2.2 2.2.1 Well-Being Concerns Percent Status AB4C3295-82C7-4C95-949F-C0D0034B4A06 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce concern regarding staff well-being. 2026-12-31 38 Baseline Percentage of nonprofit leaders expressing concern regarding staff well-being. 2027-12-31 TBD 2.2.2 Well-Being Percent A240C79B-039A-4F77-80FF-1B0862E18920 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce concern regarding board well-being and capacity. 2026-12-31 22 Baseline Percentage of nonprofit leaders expressing concern regarding board well-being and capacity. 2027-12-31 TBD Organizational Resilience Improve nonprofits' ability to adapt successfully to changing operating and financial conditions. 0A718FF5-01EC-42CC-8595-B66B271A71BA 3 Capabilities Strengthen capabilities for innovation, collaboration, restructuring, and strategic adaptation. 6471441F-6256-446C-B932-4CADF5465112 3.1 3.1.1 Fundraising Percent Status 905067B5-792F-421E-9928-05BC2BAE9C6C 2027-12-31 Maintained Maintain or improve active fundraising efforts supporting organizational sustainability. 2026-12-31 40 Baseline Percentage reporting active fundraising as the most important action taken in response to current conditions. 2027-12-31 TBD 3.1.2 Partnerships & Collaboration Percent Status 97E2A384-D740-47A2-ADEE-88C29A9EDA6B 2027-12-31 Increased Increase productive partnerships and collaborations. 2026-12-31 50 Baseline Percentage initiating new partnerships or collaborations. 2027-12-31 TBD Continuity Sustain mission delivery despite operational and environmental disruptions. C3FB9216-2D9F-4AC6-A9F2-1220FCF141B5 3.2 3.2.1 Service Reductions Percent Status 88C781DB-5D99-418E-AED2-292D0642BB79 2027-12-31 Reduced Reduce service reductions attributable to financial pressures. 2026-12-31 26 Baseline Percentage reporting service reductions. 2027-12-31 TBD 3.2.2 Demand Percent Status 025B7A95-C10A-4B1B-9521-0455A432584D 2027-12-31 Addressed Improve organizational capacity to meet increased demand for services. 2026-12-31 73 Baseline Percentage reporting increased demand for services. 2027-12-31 TBD Financial Adaptation Strengthen financial sustainability through diversification, cost management, and resource stewardship. BB3C226B-5922-4C5C-AA7A-DC4320807874 3.3 3.3.1 New Donors Percent Status F2438097-D149-43B1-B8E8-147F2D4C6584 2027-12-31 Pursued Pursue funding from new donors and funders. 2026-12-31 88 Baseline Percentage considering pursuit of funding from new donors or funders. 2027-12-31 TBD 3.3.2 Engagement Percent Status CA624938-8AA3-4BBF-8A16-E3434B3667DD 2027-12-31 Maintained Maintain and strengthen engagement with existing donors and funders. 2026-12-31 77 Baseline Percentage considering increased engagement with existing funders and donors. 2027-12-31 TBD 3.3.3 Reserves Percent Status BE5FA04A-8988-49EB-AF8F-56BCA70B38E8 2027-12-31 Managed Manage reserve funds strategically to sustain operations. 2026-12-31 44 Baseline Percentage considering use of reserve funds. 2027-12-31 TBD Technology Leverage technology to improve organizational effectiveness and sustainability. AE1AE1F9-A1AA-4C69-AC6C-53E4A85698EC 3.4 3.4.1 AI Percent Status 80207676-E240-4925-91B7-264A7DF80158 2027-12-31 Evaluated Evaluate appropriate uses of AI tools to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. 2026-12-31 20 Baseline Percentage considering use of AI tools to reduce operational costs. 2027-12-31 TBD Sector Understanding Improve understanding of nonprofit conditions, challenges, and opportunities. 99D64D54-F384-45B6-BE4A-782320EC13E5 4 The report documents numerous findings regarding leadership burnout, workforce pressures, funding uncertainty, service demand, financial adaptation, collaboration, and organizational resilience. However, the report does not currently specify metrics for the extent to which its findings are subsequently used by funders, policymakers, nonprofit organizations, or other stakeholders. Additional measures could be specified to track awareness, dissemination, usage, and resulting actions. Data Gather and analyze information on nonprofit experiences, operating conditions, and emerging trends. 5917567C-1311-41CC-897C-8D233FB6764B 4.1 The State of Nonprofits 2026 report is based on survey responses from 380 nonprofit leaders. The survey achieved a response rate of 43 percent. These values provide a baseline for future measurement and trend analysis. 4.1.1 Survey Responses Percent Status 642A1CD4-965A-4E6B-A22D-49E3D675DC58 2027-12-31 Increased Increase participation in future survey efforts. 2026-12-31 43 Baseline Survey response rate. 2027-12-31 TBD 4.1.2 Participating Organizations Number Status 903B2C8A-A5AB-4D8C-AB6B-3C9C2C7F9779 2027-12-31 Increased Increase the number of nonprofit organizations participating in future surveys. 2026-12-31 380 Baseline Number of nonprofit leaders responding to the survey. 2027-12-31 TBD Knowledge Communicate findings to funders, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, and the public. FCB9B082-34EB-40E8-AAD5-884E4A8B780D 4.2 4.2.1 Findings Status 9E5CA293-E65E-464F-9993-E240F695500E 2027-12-31 Published Publish findings concerning nonprofit conditions, trends, and emerging challenges. 2026-12-31 Baseline State of Nonprofits 2026 report published. 2027-12-31 TBD 4.2.2 Findings Status 7D2441D7-3DA4-4734-A801-9F9CCD2EF311 2027-12-31 Used Use findings to improve understanding of nonprofit conditions and inform philanthropic decision-making. 2026-12-31 Baseline The report was produced to inform funders about nonprofit conditions and needs. 2027-12-31 TBD Funder Engagement Strengthen productive relationships between nonprofits and their funders. 483F3631-EF24-40CB-B55D-E39B418498E2 5 This goal highlights one of the most important opportunities for improvement identified by the report. While the report provides extensive measures of nonprofit conditions, it does not currently measure corresponding changes in funder awareness, behavior, funding flexibility, responsiveness, or support. Future editions could strengthen accountability and learning by specifying indicators for those outcomes. Awareness Improve funder awareness of nonprofit operating realities, challenges, opportunities, and needs. E532BF2F-163A-47B8-B4C8-1FB38CB1D4D0 5.1 The report was expressly developed to help funders understand conditions within the nonprofit sector. However, it does not provide measures of funder awareness, understanding, or use of the findings. 5.1.1 Awareness Status F5789360-B420-47A2-A250-F907C3A6ADFF 2027-12-31 Improved Improve funder awareness of nonprofit conditions and needs. 2026-12-31 Baseline No measure specified in the report. 2027-12-31 TBD Support Encourage funding practices aligned with nonprofit needs and circumstances. FF47515F-8B67-439D-8BAE-CA242D5A25BC 5.2 The report documents nonprofit concerns regarding funding uncertainty and financial pressures but does not directly measure the extent to which funders modify their practices in response to the findings. 5.2.1 Alignment Status FD814CDC-2014-4F95-911D-A3E20BECF841 2027-12-31 Improved Improve alignment between funding practices and nonprofit needs. 2026-12-31 Baseline No measure specified in the report. 2027-12-31 TBD 5.2.2 Flexibility Status C318A8CD-A328-46A9-9BBA-10D036A6ED6B 2027-12-31 Increased Increase availability of flexible and responsive funding. 2026-12-31 Baseline No measure specified in the report. 2027-12-31 TBD Public Recognition Increase awareness of the value and contributions of nonprofit organizations. 2AE7E566-3E31-4C91-A40D-A8134E62EFE7 6 The report makes a compelling case that nonprofit organizations play critical roles in addressing community needs, particularly during periods of economic, social, and political uncertainty. However, it does not include measures of public awareness, public trust, public support, civic engagement, volunteerism, or charitable participation. These omissions highlight opportunities for future measurement and reporting. Understanding Improve recognition of nonprofits' role in serving communities and advancing the public good. 993EAD37-748E-48FE-BF97-2634B04145E7 6.1 6.1.1 Recognition Status C175EC4A-3ABB-4969-9773-40ABAB4CAFF1 2027-12-31 Increased Increase public recognition of nonprofit contributions. 2026-12-31 Baseline No measure specified in the report. 2027-12-31 TBD Support Foster durable public support for nonprofit institutions and civil society. 764225D4-3659-4173-89DF-4E7504439D91 6.2 6.2.1 Public Support Status 2F303EFC-A65F-4C5D-A02C-5665A587D6F5 2027-12-31 Increased Increase public support for nonprofit organizations and their missions. 2026-12-31 Baseline No measure specified in the report. 2027-12-31 TBD F8EC3890-9C1C-4673-98C8-0214E0735794 2026-06-07 https://cep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CEP_State_of_Nonprofits_2026_FNL.pdf 240F20BF-24CB-4E67-AD98-93BD975C7422 Owen Ambur Owen.Ambur@verizon.net