Steady Ground, Real Opportunity 

Fall 2026 Donor Confidence Report 

If you haven’t felt it yet, you may soon. Calm. Stable. Settled.  

This isn’t wishful thinking — it’s reflected in the data of a new Donor Confidence Report conducted this fall by BBS & Associates in partnership with trusted research firm Campbell Rinker.  

There’s a lot of good news to share about how donors are feeling now compared to recent years, especially in contrast to a difficult spring.  

But will this mean increased generosity to your organization?  

This report digs into all of it — providing a variety of key findings and updates on the current state of donor giving, as well as insightful takeaways and recommendations to help you leverage the calming waters of donor sentiment to your ministry’s greatest advantage in the remainder of 2026.  

Key Insights for Christian Nonprofits

Donors are settling into a steadier posture this fall. Belief in the importance of giving is holding firm, and sentiment about household finances continues to improve after a difficult spring. 

• The share of Christian donors who say, “Giving is essential” remains steady. It currently stands at a majority of 57%, falling slightly since March 2026, but still over the low of 54% measured last August.  

• Among Christian donors in particular, financial pressure has eased noticeably. Household income has climbed to its highest level recorded in this study, and the share describing their finances as challenging has fallen to its lowest point in a year and a half. But this renewed breathing room is not yet translating to stronger giving intentions. 

• Christian donors are now less likely than they were in March to expect their household finances to improve in the coming months (down from 42% to 34%). The share who expects their finances to stay the same also increased substantially — and has peaked at the highest point measured in this study. This suggests Christian donors are now less likely to expect either boom or bust, but for things to hold steady. 

• 49% of Christian donors are planning to give money to at least one Christian ministry by the end of the year.  

• About a third are open to giving to an organization they have supported in the past and are interested in monthly giving.  

• Estate planning opportunities also remain, especially among Evangelical donors, pointing to real opportunity for organizations.  

Top 3 Recommendations to Engage Donors and Inspire Generosity

While the fundraising landscape continues to shift and the future of America’s economy and world events cannot be known for certain, research shows that donors remain willing to be generous to the ministries they support. You can encourage this by:  

1. Reminding donors often of your “why” and “what.” Regularly communicate the importance and uniqueness of your organization’s work.  

2. Focusing more on lapsed donor reactivation — thanking donors for their past generosity, reinforcing the impact of their giving, and providing them a compelling reason to “resume” their giving (a time-sensitive project or match/challenge campaign).  

3. Giving donors a clear opportunity to sign up for monthly giving on your response devices and landing pages. For donors who give three or more gifts in a 12-month period, create an automated series (in multiple channels) to try and convert them to a monthly donor.  

Access the Full Donor Confidence Report

What you’ve read here is just scratching the surface — there are additional relevant findings and key recommendations on how to connect with your donors most successfully in the full Fall 2026 Donor Confidence Report, available for download now! 

There is a window of real opportunity opening right now. The report will show you how to leverage that opportunity throughout the rest of 2026 and into the new year! 

[Download Now] 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at jmatthews@servantheart.com with any questions or concerns. 

I look forward to hearing from you!