2026 Nonprofit Sector Survey Results
As a membership based organization, we will regularly gather input from members to develop priorities and programming. Our first step, prior to launching this organization, was to ask the nonprofit community about the specific benefits nonprofit organizations would find most valuable. To inform this effort, an interest survey was distributed to nonprofit organizations across Nevada to assess their interest in joining a membership-based organization and identify the programs, resources, and services that would provide the greatest value to their organizations.
The survey results demonstrated strong interest in a collective voice for Nevada's nonprofit sector and revealed key priorities among potential members. Respondents were asked about their likelihood of joining a membership association, the challenges facing their organizations, preferred membership benefits, professional development needs, advocacy interests, and opportunities for collaboration. Your feedback provided important insight into how Nevada Nonprofits can best support nonprofits of varying sizes, missions, and geographic locations.
The findings shaped the association’s core mission, programming, advocacy agenda, and resource offerings. Most importantly, the survey ensured that the association is being designed in response to the needs and priorities identified by nonprofit leaders themselves. The results presented in this summary offer the roadmap for how we build this organization together to strengthen the nonprofit sector, advance public policy priorities, and provide practical value to organizations serving communities throughout Nevada.
Results Overview
Below is a high level snapshot of the survey results:
- We received responses from a diverse set of organizations ranging in size, geography, service areas, and experience with policy advocacy.
- The Sector’s Toughest Challenges: Broadly, nonprofits largely agreed that limited time, financial resources, and understanding of the policymaking process were barriers to participating in policy advocacy. Nonprofits are concerned with the legal restrictions and reputational risks associated with lobbying and hope to increase their knowledge base on how to do this work effectively.
- What Nonprofits Need From Nevada Nonprofits: The most requested benefits from nonprofits are closely aligned with Nevada Nonprofits’ mission of promoting knowledge and influence in decision-making. These included: timely policy information & analysis, training & support for advocacy, connections to policymakers, connections to other nonprofits, sector data (economic impact, etc.), and a full-time statewide advocate,
- How Nonprofits Already Engage: The experience with policy advocacy varied among nonprofit providers. Some have had broad experience with policy advocacy while others occasionally monitor ongoing policy challenges or participate in coalitions, some have dedicated staff and make direct connections with lawmakers consistently. Nevada Nonprofits aims to close this resource gap by providing key information, timely policy updates, and in-depth guides to navigating the complexities of the policy and legislative process. Additionally, nonprofits expressed a strong interest in bolstering existing collaborative efforts and forming new support networks. Across respondents, nonprofits want an association to support breaking down silos, convening organizations across shared goals, and developing coordinated advocacy efforts for the betterment of the sector
- Data Needs: Beyond advocacy, nonprofits reported needing data to make key funding and program delivery decisions. Demand for data and research around wages, economic impact of the sector, and status of the nonprofit sector were all identified as research needs.