New 2026 Nonprofit Compensation & Talent Strategies Report Highlights Resilience, Progress, and Innovation in the Sector

The 2026 Nonprofit Compensation & Talent Strategies Report from Career Blazers Nonprofit Search offers salary benchmarks by organizational size (from under $2 million to over $250 million) and by geography for executive and mid-level roles. It examines trends in recruitment, retention, compensation, pay transparency, AI adoption, and DEI – equipping nonprofit leaders with the data and insights needed to make informed workplace decisions.

Nonprofits in 2025 face a mixed workforce landscape of gradual improvement and persistent challenges. Recruitment timelines are improving, with more positions filled within 60 days, but 45% of organizations still report difficulty finding qualified staff. Candidate interest in mission-driven work, expanded non-salary benefits, and the use of streamlined processes and AI have contributed to progress. However, applicant quality remains a concern—particularly for hard-to-fill fundraising and program management roles.

Hiring decisions continue to emphasize mission alignment and prior experience, while soft skills and emotional intelligence have risen sharply in importance. Salary alignment has become a key factor in both hiring and retention, underscoring growing compensation pressures. The top reasons for losing candidates remain misaligned pay expectations, lack of required skills, and competition from faster-moving employers.

Retention trends show steady overall turnover, with greater stability than many for-profit sectors. Program management and development roles continue to see the highest attrition, while executive leaders remain in place longer, highlighting the need to strengthen mid-level pipelines. Nonprofits are experimenting with wellness programs, recognition initiatives, and flexible rewards as alternatives to salary increases.

Hybrid work has emerged as the dominant model, though engagement efforts have waned, raising risks for morale and productivity. Pay transparency has largely normalized, shifting from compliance to a tool for equity and trust. AI adoption is growing, mainly for content and research tasks, but remains uneven, with little integration into strategic decision-making.

Finally, financial pressures are intensifying: 40% of nonprofits report staffing decreases tied to funding instability. DEI momentum has slowed considerably, with most organizations shifting their focus from expansion to maintenance. Taken together, the data point to a sector stabilizing in some areas while navigating serious structural challenges, requiring innovation in recruitment, compensation, leadership development, and funding strategy to sustain long-term impact.

The 2026 Nonprofit Compensation & Talent Strategies Report is available from the Career Blazers website.