About
Over the past year, Mission Partners and the Chronicle have been carefully tracking the ways in which mission-driven leaders across nonprofits and foundations have navigated complex changes. During this time, several questions were identified as worthy of deeper exploration among nonprofit and foundation leaders:
Resilience: How resilient and ready do these organizations feel about advancing their missions and strategies?
Financial: How are these organizations addressing and responding to demands for their support as it relates to the financial resources they have?
Purpose: How are these organizations confronting challenges to the work they do and adjusting their communications as a result?
Technology: How are these organizations resourcing change management in a time of such rapid change?
The Insights on Purpose Report and the research that informed it were designed to explore these questions and offer specific recommendations and resources to help nonprofit and foundation leaders better understand the moment and guide their planning and decision-making in the year ahead.
The Research
Our research engaged more than 400 nonprofit and foundation presidents, CEOs, and other senior leaders to understand how their organizations are experiencing and responding to the current moment. The research that informed the 2026 Insights on Purpose Report was conducted between August 28 and October 27, 2025.
About Mission Partners
Mission Partners is a Certified B Corporation™ and a Certified Women-Owned® social impact communications firm that counsels global nonprofits, foundations, and purpose-driven organizations across the U.S. and around the world, as well as the partners who fund and support their work. Their expertise is in guiding organizations to realize their greatest moments of impact to effect positive and lasting social change. Learn more: mission.partners
About the Chronicle of Philanthropy
The Chronicle of Philanthropy is a nonprofit media organization that provides nonprofits and foundations with trustworthy information, actionable insights, analysis, and training they need to carry out their essential missions. Thousands of people across the social sector rely on the Chronicle to stay informed about key issues, learn new approaches, broaden their perspectives, and accelerate their careers. Find out more at philanthropy.com.