Historically, volunteers have been undervalued. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the term invisible work was used to refer to volunteer labor, domestic labor, and other non-wage-earning work. As a result, a culture of underrepresentation became the norm for the volunteer workforce. Volunteer work came to be seen as business savings rather than valuable contributions. 

As time progressed, organizations wanted to account for the contributions of their volunteers. Volunteer hours became the most popular metric for demonstrating volunteer contributions. It started with counting hours, and eventually, organizations realized the quantifiable relationship between volunteer hours and monetary savings, transactional volunteering. Independent Sector publishes state and national averages of the monetary value of one hour of volunteer time for non-professional general tasks. The 2026 report values the national rate at $36.14 and the Arizona rate at $35.27 per hour of volunteer time.  The true value of volunteer contributions cannot be measured in terms of money alone. It needs to be connected to program outcomes, mission statements, and strategic objectives. 

Both quantitative and qualitative metrics are needed to convey the full picture of how volunteers positively impact the organization by helping to meet organizational goals. Transactional volunteering needs to become strategic volunteer engagement. Then there needs to be a cultural shift,…

Additionally, nonprofits are facing increasing financial pressure. While donations continue to grow, the overall number of donors has declined, particularly at lower giving levels. This, while demand for services continues to rise. The result is a deeper reliance on the very systems that people distrust: high-net-worth individuals and government funding.

Compounding these challenges is the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Tools such as chatbots and large language models are reshaping how people engage with information and evaluate credibility. As AI-generated content floods online spaces, organizations must meet their communities’ needs in ways only the nonprofit sector can, through authenticity and human-to-human connection.

How, then, can nonprofit organizations build and sustain trust in this environment?

As nonprofits face growing threats to trust, including political instability, skepticism toward high-net-worth donors, and the rise of artificial…

Donor motivation is shaped by leadership behavior, not fundraising mechanics.

Mission clarity is the spark that starts donor engagement

Donors give when they understand—and believe in—the mission.

Mission clarity isn’t just a marketing task. It’s a leadership responsibility. When leaders consistently reinforce the mission, donors feel grounded in purpose and confident that their support is making a difference.

Leadership takeaway: Mission clarity must be modeled from the top. When leaders communicate purpose consistently, donors stay connected.

Trust and transparency build donor loyalty

Trust came up repeatedly in both interviews. Donors want to know that their contributions are used responsibly and that leadership is accountable. Transparency can be described as an ongoing practice—not a one‑time report. Responsible financial management and clear communication are essential to…

Prepare now for the future

The only future certainty is change. Because of this, it is imperative for organizations to prepare now. One of the most important steps is to incorporate leadership change specifics early in the life of the organization. This is constructed by the board of directors and executive director and lays out plans for both emergency and non-emergency situations. It is imperative for a number of reasons.

Preparation provides stability

When stakeholders view an organization in flux, it is easy to look for weaknesses. An organization that has taken steps to create leadership transition strategy in advance conveys foundational stability, predictability and preparedness, ability to navigate change while continuing their work, and leadership which has included the entire organization in the process. These are qualities which reassure all types of donors that the organization is working to avoid mission drift, while maintaining transparency and accountability.

The first steps involve an organization’s board…

In today’s increasingly digital world, nonprofit organizations are forced to adapt to new technologies in a way that remains ethical and mission-driven. Many new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, can provide benefits to nonprofit organizations, given the accessibility among many free-to-use platforms, as well as potentially serving as the power behind many fundraising efforts, community outreach programs, and marketing campaigns. Such tools can help organizations operate more efficiently even in the face of limited resources. While the integration of these technologies for nonprofit organizations is seemingly useful, nonprofit leadership and management must tread carefully in the face of potential risks to ensure long-term sustainability as well as to avoid any potential damage to an organization’s reputation. Technology can assist by streamlining processes, summarizing data, and strengthening communication, yet without the proper safeguards, these same tools can result in severe consequences, having negative effects on the overall success of an organization.

Data privacy

One of the most pressing challenges faced by nonprofit organizations when taking advantage of new technologies is the threat of cybersecurity risks and potential data breaches. Given that many nonprofits help care for communities in need, specific personal data might be necessary for collection in order for the organization to better serve the community's needs. In this case,…