What Skills Do Leaders Need to Thrive in 2026?

Kate Averett Anderson

The Blackbaud Institute has spent the last year exploring what sets some organizations apart from others when it comes to building a culture of innovation and confidently facing uncertainty. You can check out our latest report here for those insights.  

 I’d love to know: What skills or strategies do you believe leaders need to adopt for social impact organizations to thrive in the year ahead? 

Bobby Steurer

I read a pretty profound quote last year that was in an AFP newsletter - something to the effect of: "Nonprofit is a tax status, not a business model."

It's important to at least explore workflows, automations, API's, and other tools that can enhance your CRM and build donor pipelines, journeys, and more. A single software doesn't seem to cover all the bases in 2026. And for leaders, investing in your data team. The days of a single "database guy/girl/person wearing many hats" are long gone.

Kate Averett Anderson

@Bobby Steurer I adore that quote! It's so freeing to think about what's possible if you break out of the constraints of what a nonprofit model looks like and the kinds of skills to invest in.