2026 Fundraising Signals Report

11 predictions. Watchpoints. Decision rules.

Built for fundraisers who need clarity they can use — not trend commentary.

Fundraising leaders are making high-stakes calls on acquisition, retention, upgrading, channel investment, and digital experience while costs rise, platforms shift, and “AI advice” multiplies. Most of what’s out there adds noise.

This report is different. It translates what we observed across real programs in 2025 into a practical outlook for 2026: the signals that tend to move first, what they mean for revenue, and the decision rules that help teams act without burning a quarter.

Inside the report, you’ll get:

  • 11 forward-looking predictions grounded in donor behavior and performance reality
  • Watchpoints that tell you whether a shift is already hitting your program
  • Decision rules that turn insight into action (what to fix, what to scale, what to stop)
  • A repeatable operating lens across Donor Science™ (truth), Creative Science (meaning), and Media Science (delivery)


Who it’s for:
Fundraising and marketing leaders responsible for growth — especially those balancing acquisition and retention, running integrated programs, and trying to make smarter decisions with constrained teams and budgets.

Published by VeraData, shaped by our strategists, donor science and data experts, with specialized expertise from our partner agencies Faircom New York and Teal Media.