2026 Nonprofit Leaders Report
Nonprofit Survey: 85% Planning Mission Expansion
A survey of 100 nonprofit finance and accounting leaders finds mission-driven organizations enter 2026 with unmistakable signs of financial maturity — partnered, stable, and organized for growth even as funding pressures persist.
81%
Nonprofits now work with an F&A partner
Up from 30% in 2025 — outsourced finance went mainstream in 12 months.
76%
Reported zero voluntary finance turnover
A reversal of the talent strain that defined the prior year.
85%
Have six months or less of unrestricted reserves
Funding fragility remains despite growth ambitions.
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100 nonprofit finance leaders · Surveyed by BTQ Financial & Cascade Insights · 2026
About This Report
The only 2026 benchmark built specifically for mission-driven finance leaders.
A survey of 100 nonprofit finance and accounting leaders, segmented by partnership status, leadership title, and annual revenue. Use it to benchmark your own finance function against mission-driven peers — and to make the case to your board for what to strengthen next.
Proof Points
The partnership turning point.
Three benchmarks that defined the year. The full report has methodology, segment cuts, and the 2026 playbook.
Source · BTQ 2026 Nonprofit Leaders Report
N = 100 nonprofit finance leaders
+170%
30% → 81% · 2025 to 2026
Partnerships went mainstream
Share of nonprofits working with an F&A partner
Outsourced finance is no longer the exception — it is the operating model.
+111%
38% → 80% · 2025 to 2026
The talent crunch broke
Share filling open finance roles within 1–3 months
Hiring time more than doubled in speed. The five-month vacancy is no longer the sector default.
+197%
29% → 86% · 2025 to 2026
Audit prep, a partner benefit
Partners cited for audit preparation and support
Compliance complexity outran in-house capacity. Audit prep is now a partner-led function.
What You’ll Get
Benchmarks across the 2026 nonprofit finance function.
Where the sector is accelerating, where the gaps still are, and how nonprofit boards are stepping into a more active financial role. The full report has segment cuts by revenue band and partner status.
59%
Rate partner impact significant or transformational
Among partnered nonprofits, 98% report at least moderate improvement.
40%
Exposed to a 60–90 day government funding delay
And 22% already see payments arrive 60+ days late. Funding fragility is the year's hidden tension.
79%
Still run finance on manual spreadsheets
Only 18% use dedicated FP&A software. Partnership maturity is outpacing tech maturity.
85% plan to expand programs. 85% have six months or less of reserves.
Same number, opposite stories. The 2026 Nonprofit Leaders Report explains how partnered organizations are absorbing the gap — methodology, segment cuts by revenue band and partner status, plus the 2026 playbook.
Your mission is to create a better world. Ours is to help.
BTQ partners with nonprofit finance teams to stabilize operations, strengthen compliance, and unlock the capacity to focus on mission. If you’d like to talk through how the 2026 trends apply to your organization, let’s connect.