Understanding the Impact of Political and Economic Uncertainty SURVEY RESULTS & ANALYSIS | SEPTEMBER 2025

Four Key Factors Shaping the Future of Philanthropy in North Carolina - Reimagine Governance Structure - Educate and Empower Future Workforce - Mobilize Collaboration for Transformative Impact - Build Stronger Philanthropic Relationships

With few exceptions, the nonprofit sector has been on a growth trajectory since its inception. By some estimates, we have been steadily growing by about 5 percent each year since 2013. At our current growth rate, we’re likely to be a sector of over two million organizations within the next three years.

Culture is shaping every decision, every relationship, every result — sometimes in ways that quietly work against the mission. The hardest part is recognizing it and taking action before it becomes the norm.

A simple form board members can use to assess themselves as board members

This presentation was used during the live event, "Collective session Creating Impact from the Start: Setting New Board Members Up for Success." It outlines why board onboarding is a critical driver of engagement and effectiveness, highlights common gaps that leave new board members unclear or underutilized, and introduces a more intentional, staged approach to onboarding. The slides support discussion around setting expectations early, supporting board members through their first 90 days.