March 24, 2026
Federal flux, DAF strategy, and smarter systems for 2026.
Hi there!
Welcome to The Impact!
If the past year has proven anything, it’s this: funding landscapes don’t stay still.
Federal priorities shift, grant cycles tighten, and donor behavior evolves. Suddenly, the strategies that felt stable last year aren’t working, and organizations that weren’t prepared are left scrambling.
If you want your nonprofit to be solid - no matter how much the landscape is shifting- you need structure. And we can help! In this issue, we’re focusing on:
Long-term impact isn’t built on one strong grant or one reliable funder. It requires balance.
Let’s get into it!
It’s no secret that federal funding priorities have been in flux recently. Shifting regulations, delayed allocations, and changing political landscapes have created uncertainty for many nonprofits.
This moment is a clear reminder: funding environments change. The question is whether your revenue model can absorb the shift.
When one stream - often federal dollars or foundation grants - carries most of your revenue, any policy or priority change becomes a crisis. Without diversification already in place, adaptation becomes reactive, and reactive fundraising streams, strategy, and staff.
Your revenue structure should be ready for change. Here are some tangible ways that fundraisers can start to widen their base now:
When revenue is layered - grants + individual giving + major gifts + legacy - no single shift destabilizes the whole organization.
👀 See how nonprofits are responding to changes - and why diversification matters now.
Tech Impact + TechSoup Virtual CTO Program - a “virtual chief technology officer” support program built to help small nonprofits get the kind of tech leadership they usually can’t afford. It’s designed for nonprofits with operating budgets under one million dollars and focuses on building long-term technology capacity (not just fixing one-off problems).
Technology decisions shouldn’t be treated as basic IT troubleshooting. The greatest value comes when leadership views technology as critical infrastructure.
💻 Learn more about Tech Impact’s Virtual CTO Program.
As Head of Strategy at Chariot - and widely known as “the DAF guy” - Mitch Stein has a front-row seat to one of the fastest-growing revenue channels in philanthropy: donor-advised funds (DAFs).
With federal funding in flux and diversification top of mind for many, Mitch’s message is clear: DAFs aren’t complicated - but most organizations aren’t using them strategically.
Here’s his expert advice:
His core insight? DAFs represent donor-driven dollars rather than institutional funding. When you treat them like relationship-based giving, not mysterious transactions, they become one of the most stable and resilient revenue streams available.
Want to explore how DAFs and private grants can strengthen your revenue mix?
📽️ Watch Mitch Stein's full workshop here.
Median fundraising salaries are rising faster than inflation. According to the 2025 AFP Compensation & Benefits Report, the median US fundraising salary increased from $83,000 to $87,672 in 2024 - a 5.6% jump that outpaced the year’s roughly 2.9% inflation rate, even though average pay remained relatively stable year-over-year.
What this suggests for teams right now:
These figures underscore why compensation - alongside workload, talent retention, and internal culture - remains a key strategic focus for fundraisers and nonprofit leaders in 2026.
📖 Read the full report for more sector trends in compensation and benefits.
Who It’s For: Nonprofits serving communities in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania
Next Deadline: Applications accepted April 1 - 30, 2026
Grant Amount: $5,000-$25,000
The Details:
Who It’s For: Nonprofits across the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada focused on education, homelessness, hunger relief, and other community impact initiatives
Next Deadline: May 1, 2026
Grant Amount: $30,000 - $350,000 (based on award tier)
The Details:
Don’t miss out on more good-fit opportunities!
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
April 9, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Monthly donors are one of the most stabilizing sources of revenue an organization can bIn this free Bloomerang webinar, you’ll learn how ot build (or strengthen) a recurring giving program that creates predictable revenue and reduces pressure on one-time campaigns and grant cycles.
Don’t miss it!
June 22-25, 2026 | Washington, DC
If your team is thinking about long-term sustainability (and how to do more without burning out), this conference is a good fit. It brings together nonprofit leaders and social impact practitioners for sessions on community impact, volunteer engagement, cross-sector partnerships, and organizational resilience - plus plenty of networking with peers facing the same capacity challenges.
Hurry - spots for this conference book up quickly!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
Sustainability isn’t a buzzword - it’s what funders look for when they’re deciding whether your work can last beyond the grant period. This guide breaks down what to include in a sustainability plan (including diversified revenue streams) and how to write it in a way that feels credible, not aspirational.
Ever wonder what happens after you submit a grant proposal? This session from Candid explores how foundations evaluate applications, what funders look for in proposals, and common reasons grants are declined.
A practical conversation hosted by The Nonprofit Podcast about the risk of “betting everything” on one revenue source - and how to start expanding into multiple lanes without overwhelming your team.
Your funding strategy deserves better than spreadsheets and guesswork.
Find more good-fit grants, track deadlines without chaos, and build a pipeline that actually supports your long-term sustainability.
Start your 14-day free trial of Instrumentl today - no credit card required - and see what organized growth feels like.
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