Based on survey responses from more than 400 nonprofit leaders and 200 foundation leaders from August to September 2025, this first look at the survey data offers a stark picture of the challenges facing nonprofits and philanthropy. With increasing demand for the services nonprofits provide clashing with a political climate that has had a notable negative impact on their ability to carry out their work, nonprofits are asking for additional support from their funders.
November 2025
This data was first released at CEP’s 2025 conference. You can now watch a recording of the plenary, “Civil Society Under Threat,” including a presentation of the data from CEP’s Vice President of Research, Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D. and a discussion featuring: Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits; Marcus Walton, President and CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations; Tony Richardson, President and CEO of the George Gund Foundation; Ben Soskis, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute; Smith Arrillaga; and moderator Phil Buchanan, President of CEP.
To ensure we are able to share this data in as timely a manner as possible, we are releasing this first-look data. Look for a full report with additional analysis and data in early 2026 and read reporting about CEP’s new data from The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
