As a nonprofit leader, if you have ever wondered whether your financial numbers are normal, you are not alone and we are about to find out the answers to some of these questions e.g.
For the size of my organization:
Are our reserves too low?
Are we spending too much on administration?
How dependent are we on grants compared to similar organizations?
How concentrated is our funding compared to other nonprofits?
How much cash should we have on hand?
Are other organizations reviewing their financials every month—or only when the board meeting is coming up?
How often should we forecast cash flow?
How can we keep up with grant spending, reporting, and compliance?
The challenge is that most nonprofit leaders only see their own numbers and at best get insights from a few other organizations in their network.
However, without the larger context, it's hard to know whether your number is healthy, concerning, or simply typical.
Next week, I will be releasing the 2026 Nonprofit Financial Health Survey and inviting you to answer some of these nagging questions in exchange for free access to the results.
The goal is simple:
To provide participating nonprofits with insights into how their organization compares to peers. This can help you ask better questions, spot gaps, and make more informed decisions.
All responses will be aggregated and anonymized.
No individual organization will be identified.
Experts talk a lot about what nonprofits should do. But what are nonprofits actually doing?
Let's find out.
My hope is that the findings help you as a nonprofit leader make better financial decisions and identify opportunities they may not otherwise see.
Keep an eye out for the survey next week.
I think the results will be fascinating.
Cheers to your impact
Carol
PS: P.S. Between Giving Tuesday and year-end giving, your supporters will make dozens of decisions about where to donate. The organizations that stay visible often have an advantage. That's why I've bundled my newsletter fundraising resources into one package. Use code NPBUNDLE for $70 off the bundle for a limited time.
Here is what you you get in the bundle:
1) The Nonprofit Newsletter Content Vault: $97 so you never wonder what to say in your newsletter or on social media. There are 200+ story prompts covering ALL areas including fundraising, impact, volunteering, education, crises response, subject lines and clear calls to action. You also get story collection form to gather real experiences from your stakeholders.
2) Automated Email Sequence Templates: $225 These are Done-For-You templates to welcome your supporters, nurture them, turn them into donors and keep them engaged year round. Just plug-and-play, set them up once and let them run in the background while you focus on your mission.