About FEP

About the Fundraising Effectiveness Project

The Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) delivers trusted data insights that help fundraisers improve their outcomes, driving growth and increasing generosity across the nonprofit sector. We envision a sector where actionable data guides every fundraiser’s decisions, helping nonprofits become more effective and adaptive. Since its founding in 2006, FEP has become a leading resource for data-driven insights. FEP is a collaborative project of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy and GivingTuesday.

Purpose

The quarterly Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) report serves a vital role in our mission to provide trusted data insights that enable fundraisers to improve their outcomes. By delivering a comprehensive overview of the current trends and metrics in the nonprofit sector, the report equips fundraisers with actionable data to guide their strategic decisions.

This aligns with our vision of a sector where data-driven insights foster increased generosity. This report not only reflects the reality of philanthropic trends but also embodies our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, reinforcing the trust and credibility that fundraisers place in our resources.

By highlighting both challenges and opportunities within the sector, the report supports fundraisers in navigating the complexities of donor engagement and retention, ultimately contributing to the growth and effectiveness of their fundraising efforts.

Letter from the Team

Thank you for reading the FEP Q1 2026 report, which provides critical insights into the nonprofit sector’s full-year performance. This report is made possible by the generous support of our collaborating data providers, including BetterUnite, Bloomerang, Bonterra, DonorDock, DonorPerfect, Donorbox, FundraiseUp, Givebutter, Givesmart, GoFundMe Pro, and Neon One.

This quarter’s release also marks the debut of FEP’s first major methodology update in five years: refinements to how the report builds its panel of organizations, adjusts for late-arriving data, weights the data, and breaks down results by organization size, all aimed at making the sector’s most important fundraising data more accurate, transparent, and consistent. These are refinements, not reversals: the trends FEP has reported under the prior methodology have proven directionally reliable, and this update is meant to put the report on a firmer footing. Future improvements include improved visualizations and working toward a benchmarking tool that lets organizations compare themselves against similar peers. See here for a full breakdown of what’s changing and why.

Despite the challenges of continued donor base decline, the report highlights a 4.3% increase in dollars raised in Q1 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, still healthy but decelerating from 5.4% growth a year earlier. This performance underscores the importance of the work we do together in providing trusted data insights that empower fundraisers to improve their outcomes and drive greater generosity.

Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Your ongoing support and advocacy help us continue to make a significant impact in the nonprofit community.

With sincere appreciation,

Fundraising Effectiveness Project Team

HOW TO USE THIS REPORT BY ROLE

Nonprofit Leader

Use the insights from this report to empower your strategic and tactical adjustments, ensuring that your organization can adapt to the changing landscape and maximize fundraising efforts.

Data Provider (Initiative)

The insights from the FEP report provide immense value to your clients by offering actionable data to enhance their fundraising strategies and drive better outcomes.

Data Provider
(Not in Initiative)

New providers joining the initiative signals the growing momentum for industry benchmarking, showcasing the importance of being part of this collaborative effort to provide valuable insights.

Nonprofit Consultant

The FEP report delivers crucial insights that help you advise your clients more effectively, offering data-driven strategies to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

Researcher

This report offers a wealth of data that can fuel your studies and provide a solid foundation for understanding trends in philanthropy, aiding in the development of more effective theories.

Policy and Government Relations

The FEP report highlights the critical need for support of nonprofits, regardless of political views, emphasizing that now more than ever, nonprofits in the US need our assistance.

Read our Ambassador’s Spokesperson Policy.