70 Nonprofit Trends for 2015

For decades, the nonprofit sector relied heavily on tradition and what worked in the past to raise money, run the organization and set out to achieve missions. It led to nonprofits settling in to a comfort zone, so to speak, able to count on the generosity of the public to support such great causes. But just as technology changed the business world forever, changes that occur increasingly faster the more advanced and connected we get as a society, the same is true of nonprofits.

The rapid shifts in technologies; donor preferences, behaviors and expectations; and the rise of for-profit best practices integrated into nonprofit management has forced the sector to adapt and evolve. So while the tried-and-true methods of yesterday still reap major benefits for nonprofits of all shapes and sizes, it’s more imperative than ever for all nonprofits professionals to keep up with the trends — both those on the precipice and on the horizon.

To get a handle on what’s in store for 2015, NonProfit PRO rounded up some of the nonprofit industry’s finest, who were kind enough to share these 70 trends for this new year — everything from leadership to staffing to fundraising and more.

ACCOUNTING
Erika McNichol, senior product manager, Abila
1. Data visualization: Presenting an organization’s financial story and success visually will be key in 2015. Board members and supporters want to be able to quickly and easily consume and understand data an organization is presenting to showcase how they are accomplishing their mission and insight into how funds are being used.

2. Non-financial reporting: The ability to report on impact beyond financial measures is a must. Younger generations expect greater transparency and accountability from the organizations they support. Nonprofits need to show the journey of a dollar toward supporting a mission — from reporting on a project that is happening to tracking activity related to the project to how the dollar donated had an impact on the project.