This report examines changes in nonprofit leaders’ outlooks for their organizations’ ability to successfully pursue their missions from 2024 to spring 2025. In it we ask, What can be learned from how these leaders’ outlooks changed during a period of uncertainty? And how can that inform our understanding of the current moment and how nonprofits can prepare for the years to come?

Key Findings

• Forty-eight percent of nonprofit leaders reported worsened outlooks from 2024 to spring 2025, while only 19 percent reported improved outlooks.
• Leaders of larger organizations and arts, culture, and humanities organizations; education organizations; and public, societal benefit organizations were more likely to report worsened outlooks.
• Leaders whose organizations experienced government funding disruptions or reported financial challenges were more likely to report worsened outlooks.

How We Did It

This is a mixed-methods analysis using qualitative and quantitative data from the Nonprofit Trends and Impacts Study, which provides nationally representative insights about nonprofit programs and services, staff and volunteers, fundraising, donations, finances, government engagement, and more.