The State of Fund Management Report 2025

It’s no secret that non-profits have been facing increasing pressure over the past year, in the form of tightened budgets, competing priorities, and shrinking donor pools. Fund management and stewardship teams at these organizations have not been immune from these challenges and are struggling with their own downstream effects.  

But just how widespread are these challenges? And how are these pressures manifesting at different organizations? 

Our 2025 Global Benchmarking Survey on Fund Management & Stewardship, with insights from over 130 fundraising organizations, shines a light on the reality behind the scenes. The results reveal a sector working hard to keep up with donor expectations, compliance demands, and internal goals, often with too few people, too many competing priorities, and limited tools for the jobs at hand. 

Below is a preview of some of the themes that emerged from the survey. FundMiner will be hosting a live webinar covering the full results from the survey on Thursday July 11th.  

Key Findings:  

Only 4% Call Their Program “Optimized and Strategic” 

Most organizations admit they’re not where they want to be. In fact, 43% say their fund management program is still ad hoc or reactive — far from the managed, data-driven models that today’s donors expect. This means the majority are missing opportunities to build trust and drive future giving through more effective fund management. This highlights the tremendous opportunity that already exists within the organizations.  

77% of Fund Managers Say Manual Processes Are a Major Barrier 

From tracking fund utilization to producing impact reports, the weight of manual work is overwhelming teams. It’s slowing down operations, increasing risk, and keeping fund managers from focusing on what really matters: stewarding donor relationships and driving impact. Many respondents told us they’re spending more time wrestling with systems than telling their donors the impact of their gifts. 

93% Struggle with Small Team Size 

Fund management and stewardship teams are often just a handful of people — or even a team of one. And yet, these teams are tasked with safeguarding millions in donor funds, managing compliance, and communicating impact. Over half of respondents called small team size a major or significant challenge. Despite their small size, these teams are often responsible for both internal relationships across the organization and external engagement with all donors 

Interested in the full survey results? 

Whether you’re just starting to build your fund management program or you’re pushing to move from reactive to strategic, this report offers benchmarks, peer insights, and practical takeaways.  

👉 [Register for our webinar] to join a deeper conversation on the results and what they mean for the future of fund management.