The philanthropic sector is standing at a crossroads. Pressured by economic shifts, rising social demands, and growing expectations for transparency, the world of giving is being pushed to evolve. The 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2025 report by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy highlights the forces driving this transformation, many of which are influencing not only American donors but the global philanthropic landscape.
Beyond identifying the challenges, the report offers insight into emerging practices that point toward resilience, relevance, and renewed community focus, signaling the need for bold decisions, fresh partnerships, and long-term commitment to social impact.
Community Power: Collective Giving Gains Momentum
The resurgence of collective giving marks a major shift in how philanthropy is practiced. Community-led resource pooling — a practice embedded in cultures worldwide — is growing rapidly and formalizing through structured giving circles. As the report highlights, this approach is changing “the profile of who is seen as a philanthropist” by creating more space for diverse participation beyond established foundations or wealthy individuals.
The resurgence of collective giving marks a major shift in how philanthropy is practiced. Community-led resource pooling — a practice embedded in cultures worldwide — is growing rapidly and formalizing through structured giving circles. As the report highlights, this approach is changing “the profile of who is seen as a philanthropist” by creating more space for diverse participation beyond established foundations or wealthy individuals.
Nonprofits Step Into the Policy Arena
An increasing number of nonprofits are embracing advocacy and lobbying as part of their core mission. Beyond delivering services, organizations are recognizing the need to engage directly with policymakers to drive long-term change. This growing involvement is reshaping the traditional boundaries between charitable work and public policy influence.
An increasing number of nonprofits are embracing advocacy and lobbying as part of their core mission. Beyond delivering services, organizations are recognizing the need to engage directly with policymakers to drive long-term change. This growing involvement is reshaping the traditional boundaries between charitable work and public policy influence.
Urgency Over Indefinite Operations
The decision to set a planned endpoint for charitable foundations is gaining ground. Many foundations are turning to spend-down models that prioritize immediate impact over indefinite existence. The report highlights this trend as a practical response to the pressing nature of today’s social challenges. “There is a strong argument that philanthropic resources can, and in some cases should, be fully utilized for the most critical issues we face today,” the report notes.
A Shifting Tax Environment
Changes in tax policy remain a central concern for the philanthropic world. While the report specifically addresses an impending U.S. tax deadline, the larger trend — the impact of regulatory and fiscal policy on charitable giving — is a global concern. As governments reassess tax incentives and wealth policies, the sector faces a future where long-held financial assumptions may no longer apply.
Changes in tax policy remain a central concern for the philanthropic world. While the report specifically addresses an impending U.S. tax deadline, the larger trend — the impact of regulatory and fiscal policy on charitable giving — is a global concern. As governments reassess tax incentives and wealth policies, the sector faces a future where long-held financial assumptions may no longer apply.
Preparing for an Aging World
The report also draws attention to the growing impact of aging populations on the social sector. As life expectancies increase, philanthropy is being called upon to support systems that address not only elder healthcare but also inclusion, dignity, and quality of life for older adults.
The report also draws attention to the growing impact of aging populations on the social sector. As life expectancies increase, philanthropy is being called upon to support systems that address not only elder healthcare but also inclusion, dignity, and quality of life for older adults.
The Evolving Landscape of Volunteering
Volunteering is shifting as younger generations redefine the meaning of civic engagement. Flexible, skills-based, and digitally organized volunteering is becoming more attractive, challenging nonprofits to rethink how they structure roles for both long-term and short-term support.
Volunteering is shifting as younger generations redefine the meaning of civic engagement. Flexible, skills-based, and digitally organized volunteering is becoming more attractive, challenging nonprofits to rethink how they structure roles for both long-term and short-term support.
Giving Days Mature Into Strategic Tools
The rise of Giving Days — concentrated fundraising campaigns — continues to reshape donor habits and organizational strategies. No longer treated as one-off events, these campaigns have matured into reliable tools for attracting new supporters and sustaining donor relationships. “These campaigns have grown beyond their early novelty to become established, strategic components of many organizations’ fundraising and engagement calendars,” notes the report.
Confronting Healthcare Workforce Shortages
Philanthropy’s role in addressing the healthcare workforce shortage is expanding as well. The shortage of trained healthcare professionals is placing new demands on philanthropic investment. Beyond funding service delivery, the sector is being called upon to invest in long-term solutions for recruitment, retention, and training of healthcare professionals — a trend relevant to both local systems and global health equity to help close critical gaps.
Philanthropy’s role in addressing the healthcare workforce shortage is expanding as well. The shortage of trained healthcare professionals is placing new demands on philanthropic investment. Beyond funding service delivery, the sector is being called upon to invest in long-term solutions for recruitment, retention, and training of healthcare professionals — a trend relevant to both local systems and global health equity to help close critical gaps.
Navigating Polarization in Social Justice Philanthropy
The drive for equity and justice continues to shape the field of social justice philanthropy. Yet in many contexts, funders are operating in increasingly polarized environments, where the path to supporting human rights and systemic change is neither neutral nor straightforward. As the report notes, this branch of philanthropy is “facing critiques from all sides, with some calling for more overt political engagement and others challenging its legitimacy altogether.”
The drive for equity and justice continues to shape the field of social justice philanthropy. Yet in many contexts, funders are operating in increasingly polarized environments, where the path to supporting human rights and systemic change is neither neutral nor straightforward. As the report notes, this branch of philanthropy is “facing critiques from all sides, with some calling for more overt political engagement and others challenging its legitimacy altogether.”
Learning Hard Lessons in Democracy Funding
Efforts to support democracy and civic participation are evolving as funders reflect on the limits and possibilities of their influence. The report points to the importance of patience and relationship-building in this space, suggesting that quick fixes are rarely effective in strengthening democratic institutions.
Efforts to support democracy and civic participation are evolving as funders reflect on the limits and possibilities of their influence. The report points to the importance of patience and relationship-building in this space, suggesting that quick fixes are rarely effective in strengthening democratic institutions.
A Sector-Wide Workforce Crisis
The final trend highlights the mounting strain on the nonprofit workforce. Underinvestment in staff, limited pay, and rising workloads push many organizations to a breaking point. The report warns that “underpaid, overburdened, and under-resourced staff” could weaken the sector’s ability to meet rising public service demand.
The final trend highlights the mounting strain on the nonprofit workforce. Underinvestment in staff, limited pay, and rising workloads push many organizations to a breaking point. The report warns that “underpaid, overburdened, and under-resourced staff” could weaken the sector’s ability to meet rising public service demand.
A Sector at a Turning Point
Taken together, these trends reveal a sector in flux. Philanthropy is being pushed to move beyond the language of generosity and into the harder work of adaptation, accountability, and strategic risk. Whether through collective giving, advocacy, funding system change, or confronting internal challenges like workforce strain, the future of philanthropy will depend on its willingness to evolve.
As the report concludes, the moment calls for more than goodwill — “the call to support and sustain these organizations is louder than ever.” The path forward, it suggests, will be defined not by tradition but by bold, decisive action in response to a world that no longer waits.
Taken together, these trends reveal a sector in flux. Philanthropy is being pushed to move beyond the language of generosity and into the harder work of adaptation, accountability, and strategic risk. Whether through collective giving, advocacy, funding system change, or confronting internal challenges like workforce strain, the future of philanthropy will depend on its willingness to evolve.
As the report concludes, the moment calls for more than goodwill — “the call to support and sustain these organizations is louder than ever.” The path forward, it suggests, will be defined not by tradition but by bold, decisive action in response to a world that no longer waits.
