Observations of the Philanthropic Field | June 2026
By: Kaky McGinness Grant, Founder and Principal
We’re rolling into a slower pace of summer at Grant Philanthropic Advisors. Just as we encourage our clients to flex their “moral imaginations,” we use this time to reflect on the field and adjust our sails to where the field is headed and what our clients need. Last summer, our team published a series titled Philanthropy in Flux where we attempted to unpack the disruption happening in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector due to a shift in funding policies. This year, I am focusing on the theme of human connection and how we’re showing up for each other to maximize our philanthropic potential.
Reflecting on 2026 thus far, I am heartened by the transformative power of our collective moral imaginations – what we are capable of when we pause to dream and imagine the world we want. Our imaginations are limitless when we allow ourselves the time to be still and find meaningful human connection. Below are 5 themes that stand out to me:
1. The nonprofit sector is still reeling from last year’s shifts in the funding landscape, and yet, it persists.
The nonprofit community remains significantly stressed, reeling from shifts in the funding landscape that have forced many organizations to make difficult operational trade-offs, consider mergers, and shed programs. This strain is widespread; according to the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s State of Nonprofits 2026 report, 57% of nonprofit CEOs report that securing foundation grants has become harder since the start of 2025, with 44% experiencing a direct reduction in foundation funding. While this difficult funding climate has contributed to 39% of nonprofits reporting financial deficits and heightened concerns over organizational stability, the sector’s resilience continues to define it, as many leaders actively tighten operations and diversify revenue streams to persist through these mounting headwinds.
One example of courageous adaptation exists in my own backyard. The International African American Museum announced this month that due to significant reductions in their funding, they bravely decided to furlough staff rather than terminate positions and cut their talent. While a hard decision, I applaud this pivot in the face of tough circumstances. It took 20 years for the idea of the Museum to come to fruition; a speedbump like this will not derail its vision for storytelling and memorykeeping. They will endure.
2. Philanthropic field building has never been stronger.
We’re proud to partner with organizations like the National Center for Family Philanthropy, Women Moving Millions, Philanthropy Southwest, and Philanthropy Southeast, working to educate and convene philanthropic leaders. These field builders are deftly reading the philanthropic “room” and adapting their programming to amplify philanthropic leaders’ work. These organizations are driving compelling conversations focused on:
- next gen engagement and succession planning
- scaling for community impact
- effective family governance
- time horizons
- flexing advocacy as a lever
- designing giving portfolios with a gender lens
We look to these entities for our own continuing education and we also enjoy opportunities to serve as facilitators for in person and virtual sessions. We’ll be facilitating Philanthropy Southwest’s CEO Fly In conference in July and leading multiple panel discussions at the NCFP Forum in November, to name a few.
3. People continue to surprise me… in the most beautiful ways.
We work alongside kind, curious, and empathetic people. We have the privilege of holding their stories; they’re beautiful, inspiring, and humbling. This spring, we’ve encountered people who faced painful hardships within their families. They chose to forgive and embrace life’s pivots to prioritize family harmony, which in turn, yielded more effective decision making in order to move philanthropic capital. This takes humility and courage.
We recently completed an executive search for a private foundation. In our interviews, we found candidates advocating for themselves in the role while also lifting up other colleagues who may be a fit for the mission, too. What a generous spirit!
We’ve observed examples of women-led collective giving. As we’ve written about countless times, women prefer to give together, learn about their community’s needs together, and seek inspiration from each other’s philanthropic journeys. Women Moving Millions and our client convened passionate and curious women leaders – many of whom did not know each other – to share each other’s philanthropic journey and celebrate the arts by attending a production of Spoleto’s Mary Queen of Scots.
The through line in these stories is that we are all capable of forgiveness; uplifting each other in service of something bigger than ourselves; showing vulnerabilities with our family and strangers; and imagining “what could be” together.
4. Expressing one’s moral imagination is a collaborative experience that has never been more important.
Collaboration has always been core to our work; in fact, it is one of GPA’s values. What’s been reaffirmed for me this year is that one person cannot dream their philanthropic dreams alone. Having thought partners – like family and a trusted advising team – can supercharge imaginations. This year, we’ve facilitated families working together to design funding pilots, learn and iterate, and adapt their theory of change. We’ve helped families come together, in a way that only siblings can, to honor their parents’ values and philanthropic philosophy. We’ve watched next gen leaders create a new funding intermediary that actuates their family’s vision for making change in their region.
5. AI will never replace the human side of philanthropic advising.
AI is a dominant narrative in any industry these days and our team has been thinking a lot about it. Can AI help us work and communicate more efficiently as a team? Absolutely. Can AI provide an “assist” in conducting specific parts of financial due diligence of a nonprofit? Sure.
But, AI has significant limitations in most parts of our work. AI cannot wonder and it cannot imagine a better world through the lens of a philanthropist’s values and life experiences. AI cannot empathize with a client as they process emotions tied to their family relationships and the purpose behind their wealth. AI cannot help a family operationalize its values and mission statement and move philanthropic capital effectively. AI cannot lift up visionary leaders in the nonprofit sector or highlight an effective strategic plan. This is deeply nuanced work; it is deeply human work. After all, philanthropy is the love of humanity.
The Future of Philanthropy is Human-Centered
Sitting here in June of 2026, my conclusion is, without a doubt, the future of our field is human-centered. In order to fully express our moral imaginations, we must think out loud together, learn from each other, and process our emotions with community. Effectively facilitated convenings, well-curated curricula in; and being proximate to nonprofit leaders affecting change are the most effective paths to impact. AI just can’t compete.
About Grant Philanthropic Advisors:
We’re an independent firm helping clients to focus and maximize their philanthropy—in turn, strengthening the fabric of our communities. Founded in 2019, we help donors move from responsive patterns of giving by assisting clients to identify values and become more strategic in their philanthropy. Our goal is to help donors to become more effective as change-makers. We work with foundations (large and small staff teams), donor advised fund holders, multi generational families, individuals, philanthropy supporting organizations and corporations to design philanthropic strategies.