New Research: Here’s what U.S. donors are telling us about giving in 2026

October is always a critical planning moment for fundraisers. This year, it also lands in the final stretch of a competitive midterm election, with donors facing no shortage of asks for their attention and support. 

To be as prepared as possible, we checked in with donors to see how they plan to show up in 2026. Blue State analyzed more than 6,000 survey responses across five waves from 2024 to 2026 to understand who is poised to give more, what’s shaping their intent, and how they’re discovering new causes. Download the full report by completing the form on this page. 

The encouraging news: Donors still want to give. And some of the audiences you might expect to be the most tapped out are among the most motivated. 

Here’s what we found: 

  • Giving intent is holding up heading into year-end. Giving intent rose 3.8 points from 2025 to 2026, returning to roughly 2024 levels. That’s an encouraging baseline as fundraisers enter the busiest months of the year.
  • Political donors are among the most motivated nonprofit donors. In 2026, donors who also give politically reported giving intent 9.2 points higher than other donors. The relationship holds even after accounting for income, age, and giving history – an encouraging signal as election fundraising reaches its peak.
  • Household income has become less of a predictor for future giving. Previous gift size remained one of the strongest predictors of increased giving intent, compared to household income, which was not statistically significant in the latest wave. Heading into year-end fundraising, that’s useful to keep in mind for retention and upgrade strategies.
  • Younger donors show strong potential for growth. Age remained significantly associated with giving intent after accounting for income and giving history, with donors under 45 more likely to say they plan to give more. That makes younger audiences an even more promising acquisition and growth opportunity heading into 2027.   
  • Donor discovery continues to evolve. 64% of donors under age 45 discover causes through social media, compared with 43% of those 45+, while podcasts show a similar age gap (21% vs. 12%). That points to clear opportunities to broaden how and where organizations reach prospective supporters.

We’d also love to hear what you’re seeing in your own donor program. Get in touch at hello@bluestate.co to share what’s changing for your audiences, or the questions you’re thinking about as you head into peak fundraising season.