State of Nonprofits 2025: What Funders Need to Know

Author: Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D.; Emily Yang; and Christina Im
Publisher: The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Resource Type: Report
Leading Forward Principle:

This report offers funders an up-to-date, data-driven snapshot of nonprofit health: what’s working, where capacity is most stressed, and how external pressures are reshaping nonprofit operations.

Funders and boards can use this resource to:

• Anticipate emerging challenges nonprofits face—financial, operational, or staffing—and align their support accordingly.

• Adjust grantmaking strategies to be flexible, responsive, and rooted in real-time data.

• Explore opportunities to strengthen organizational infrastructure so nonprofits can withstand shocks and transition smoothly when leadership changes.