Nonprofit fundraising and grant statistics

The funding environment for nonprofits has shifted faster than most teams can adapt to. Federal support is retreating, private grant competition is intensifying, and the administrative weight of grant writing is quietly consuming capacity that should be going toward mission. These statistics, drawn from the Bonterra Network flagship report, put the problem in plain terms and show exactly where the friction lives.

What the data shows:

• 52% of nonprofits relying on federal funding are reporting financial instability, and 60% are now competing for private grants to make up the difference.
• The average nonprofit professional spends 3+ days crafting a single grant application, and 26% of leaders say complex applications are a direct barrier to getting funded.
• 43% of donors say they would give more if they had clearer proof of where their contributions were going.
• 78% of nonprofit professionals want to use AI at work, but only 21% trust the tools currently available to deliver reliable results in their specific context.
• Organizations using Bonterra Que see an average 44% increase in donations.

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The state of nonprofit fundraising in six statistics.

Funding is tightening. Grant writing is consuming weeks of staff time. Donors want to give more but need a reason to trust. These statistics, drawn from the Bonterra Network flagship report, tell the full story of where the sector stands and what it takes to move forward.