Bonterra’s 2026 predictions: AI and the future of social impact

AUSTIN, TX (January 12, 2026) - Bonterra, a leader in social impact technology, today released its Predictions report for 2026, a comprehensive outlook combining executive predictions with new independent research from Hanover Research. The report captures the top AI and technology trends expected to transform how nonprofits, funders, and communities work together in the coming year.

Drawing on hours of interviews with Bonterra's executive leaders and a quantitative survey of 249 nonprofit and funder decision-makers across the U.S., the report reveals that 2026 marks a threshold moment: economic pressure, declining federal support, and rapid advances in AI are accelerating the shift toward a more collaborative, data-connected, and outcomes-driven social good sector.

"Our latest report confirms what we're hearing every day from the social good leaders we partner with," said Scott Brighton, CEO of Bonterra. "The sector is not asking for incremental improvement. It is demanding clarity, accountability, and technology that strengthens human relationships. AI will reshape how impact gets delivered, but only if it is deployed ethically with rigor and transparency. When innovation amplifies human judgment, the social good sector doesn't just move faster. It unlocks new levels of collective impact."

Among the pivotal shifts outlined in the predictions report, four standout forces that will shape nonprofit operations and funder expectations include:

• Funders will prioritize and reward collective outcomes: Fragmented reporting is no longer tenable. Bonterra leadership anticipates that 2026 will mark a turning point as funders shift toward shared data infrastructure to understand progress across multiple organizations working toward the same goals.
  • Hanover found 63% of funders will factor collective outcomes into 2026 funding decisions, and 74% view shared data as important.
• Nonprofits will replace quarterly reports with real-time impact dashboards: Bonterra predicts nonprofits will increasingly rely on real-time, connected insights that allow teams to evaluate program performance dynamically and collaborate across partners.
  • Hanover discovered that 54% of nonprofit professionals say real-time dashboards will overtake static reports.
• Agentic AI will reduce administrative burden and unlock new capacity: Bonterra leaders expect AI to evolve from suggestion engines to context-aware teammates that autonomously execute tasks like segmentation, research, and initial outreach, with humans maintaining strategic oversight.
  • Hanover uncovered that 47% of nonprofit professionals already save 1-3 hours weekly using AI tools, and 56% are likely to adopt tools to help achieve specific goals in the next year.
• AI-powered personalization will only work if it still feels human: Bonterra emphasizes that as AI scales outreach, authenticity becomes more critical than ever. AI will assist with efficiency, but donor trust will hinge on messages that feel personal, heartfelt, and grounded in real stories.
  • Hanover's study noted that an overwhelming 84% of nonprofit professionals agree AI-powered personalization must remain human-centered, and 75% say authenticity and tone are critical for maintaining donor trust.

"The consistency between executive insight and Hanover's data signals a true inflection point," said Ben Miller, SVP of Data Science and Analytics at Bonterra. "The organizations best positioned for 2026 will be those that pair technological innovation with responsibility, investing in transparent data practices and AI that is explainable, ethical, and grounded in community trust."

Explore all nine predictions and the research behind them in the full report: download here.

About Bonterra

Bonterra is the only solutions network built to connect nonprofits and funders across the social good ecosystem. Supporting more than 180,000 organizations and facilitating over $28B in annual giving, Bonterra helps nonprofits, volunteers, funders, corporate partners, and public agencies turn data into action and amplify impact. As the technology leader advancing the effort raise charitable giving to 3% of U.S. GDP by 2033, Bonterra combines trusted platforms, ethical AI, and continuous innovation to power the next era of good.

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