State of Good.

Weekly insights on donor behavior, industry trends, and what’s shaping generosity
9 minute read  •  New every week

Latest Updates

State of Good for Aug 10, 2026

Pure Charity’s State of Good intelligence brief for August 10, 2026 reveals the hidden story behind record-breaking charitable giving numbers. While Americans gave $617.20 billion in 2025 — a new high — donor participation rates fell sharply, creating a concentration crisis for nonprofits. This free analysis combines fresh Giving USA data, Fundraising Effectiveness Project findings, and new research on donor trust to show why fewer donors giving more money fundamentally changes nonprofit strategy. Key insights include the operational reality behind donor retention, why acquisition math is getting harder, and how smart communities build emergency giving infrastructure. Plus: real-world lessons from Washington state’s coordinated wildfire relief response that demonstrates the power of preparedness.

read more

State of Good for August 3, 2026

Pure Charity’s State of Good Report for August 3, 2026 reveals a crucial nonprofit paradox: charitable giving increased 4.3% in Q1, but donor counts dropped 0.8%. This free intelligence brief analyzes the latest fundraising data showing fewer people are giving while existing donors increase their support. The report includes Stanford’s groundbreaking experiment with 2 million PayPal users on digital donor acquisition, new research on what motivates affluent donors (68% cite personal values), and behavioral science findings on how guilt avoidance and social expectation drive charitable decisions. Organizations are riding revenue growth on shrinking donor files — sustainable until it isn’t. The analysis warns that H2 2026 could prove challenging if year-end giving doesn’t build on 2025’s accelerated gifts, making retention and recapture strategies more critical than ever for nonprofit sustainability.

read more

State of Good Report for July 27, 2026

Weekly insights on donor behavior, industry trends, and what's shaping generosity⏱️ 9 minutes | Once a weekSome weeks the news cycle hands us noise. This week it handed us signal. New research on how nonprofits are actually raising money, fresh polling on how the...

read more

State of Good for July 20, 2026

Weekly insights on donor behavior, industry trends, and what's shaping generosity⏱️ 9 minutes | Once a weekThis week's brief covers a funding model experiment worth watching, a regulatory proposal with implications for education nonprofits, and fresh data on a donor...

read more

State of Good for July 13, 2026

Weekly insights on donor behavior, industry trends, and what's shaping generosity⏱️ 9 minutes | Once a weekThe Giving USA Numbers Are In, and They Tell Two Stories The sector's most anticipated annual dataset dropped, and the headline is a good one: U.S. charitable...

read more

State of Good for Jun 15, 2026

Pure Charity’s State of Good for June 15, 2026 reveals a sector paradox: charitable giving grew 5% in 2025 while 90% of nonprofit leaders report burnout and 83% of donors face financial stress. This free intelligence brief examines how federal funding freezes since January 2025, new OMB grant rules, and shifting donor psychology are reshaping nonprofit strategy. The report highlights UC San Diego’s record-breaking $1.1 million Triton Giving Day success and provides actionable insights on revenue diversification, leadership wellness, and millennial donor engagement. Key findings include the concentration of giving growth among fewer wealthy donors, emerging opportunities in financial advisor partnerships, and successful capital campaign adaptations despite sector uncertainty.

read more