5 Opportunities I'm Watching for Nonprofits in 2026
Every December, predictions flood the nonprofit sector. Most focus on challenges. I want to focus on opportunities.
Here's what I'm watching - and where smart organizations can position themselves for success in 2026.
Opportunity 1: The Fractional Advantage
More nonprofits are discovering what the for-profit world figured out years ago: you don't need full-time staff for every function.
Fractional CFOs, marketing leads, and IT directors bring something powerful - experience across multiple organizations. They've seen what works (and what doesn't) in dozens of contexts.
The opportunity? Organizations that embrace fractional for back-office functions can redirect those savings toward mission-specific roles. The curator. The program director. The community organizer. The roles that make your organization uniquely valuable.
Opportunity 2: Strategic Combinations
I predict we'll see more nonprofit mergers next year. And I think that's exciting.
Not mergers born of desperation - strategic combinations that create something stronger than either organization alone.
Think about it: Meta acquired Instagram. Google acquired YouTube. Disney acquired Pixar. Most corporate growth happens through smart combinations.
The nonprofit sector is learning this lesson. Organizations that find complementary partners, combining people assets, financial assets, technological assets, or physical assets, will emerge stronger.
Opportunity 3: Foundation Partnerships Deepening
Here's something I'm seeing that gives me hope: foundations are having different conversations with their strongest partners.
Not transactional grant cycles. Real partnerships. Multi-year commitments. Conversations about capacity, not just programs.
The opportunity? Organizations that can clearly articulate their essential role in the community are being treated as true partners. If you can answer "what specifically happens if you close?" with concrete impact, you're positioned for these deeper relationships.
But here's the nuance: even these big, multi-year transformational commitments come with an understanding. Foundations don't want to be in bed with organizations forever—even organizations they've supported for decades. These partnerships are being made with the expectation that you'll build sustainability. That in a few years, you'll replace that foundation support with new individual donors and program revenues. The organizations that understand this—and plan for it—are the ones foundations want to bet on.
Opportunity 4: Technology Finally Making Sense
The tools available to nonprofits today would have seemed like science fiction a decade ago.
Bill pay automation that eliminates manual check signing. Virtual deposit services. AI-assisted financial analysis. Planning tools that actually work.
The organizations that embrace these tools - starting with the easy wins like accounts payable automation - will free up enormous capacity for strategic work.
Opportunity 5: Authentic Thought Leadership
Here's what I love about this moment: funders, board members, and donors are hungry for authentic expertise.
Not polished marketing. Not consultant-speak. Real insights from people doing the work.
Nonprofit leaders who share their thinking - what they're learning, what's working, what questions they're wrestling with - are building credibility and connection at scale.
You don't need to be perfect. You need to be genuinely helpful.
Positioning for 2026
The organizations that thrive next year will be the ones that see these opportunities and act on them now.
Not with massive overhauls. With smart, incremental moves:
One conversation with a fractional provider
One exploratory meeting with a complementary organization
One honest conversation with a key funder about partnership
One technology pilot to test automation
One commitment to sharing your expertise publicly
Small moves. Big positioning.
2026 is full of opportunities for organizations ready to see it.
