Samwise Nonprofits and Charities Newsletter
Monday, June 8, 2026
Commentary: More Than 300 Proposed Changes To Federal Grant Rules
The federal Office of Management and Budget and awarding agencies have proposed 323 changes to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations—the rules governing how federal grant dollars flow to nonprofits. Grant management expert Henry Flood calls the package “a stick of dynamite” aimed at a stable 52-year system. Among the most alarming changes: agencies could terminate active grants for convenience or political reasons, and political appointees would gain final say over awards, overriding expert reviewers. Small nonprofits would face higher barriers competing for funding. Public comments are due July 13, 2026, with a projected effective date of October 1.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
MissionWired Expands With Acquisition of BWF
Nonprofit fundraising firm MissionWired—formerly Anne Lewis Strategies and backed by Stone-Goff Partners—has acquired BWF, formerly Bentz Whaley Flessner, a provider of campaigns, donor engagement, analytics, and technology services for higher education, healthcare, and nonprofits. BWF will merge with Zuri Group, which MissionWired acquired in 2023 and which holds accredited partner status with Blackbaud, Salesforce, and Kindsight, to form BWF Zuri. MissionWired CEO Kate Kline said the acquisition combines strategy, data, and human discernment across all fundraising channels. BWF CEO Josh Birkholz was also quoted. The deal’s financial terms were not disclosed.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
5 Health Conversion Funders to Watch
Health conversion foundations—created when nonprofit hospitals or insurers were sold to for-profit buyers—number in the hundreds across 44 states and collectively hold roughly $13 billion. Many have raised their payout rates in response to federal Medicaid and ACA cuts. Inside Philanthropy spotlights five to watch: California Endowment ($4.4B assets, $141M granted in 2024), Mother Cabrini Health Foundation ($3.9B, $172M in 2024), Colorado Health Foundation ($2.8B, $102M in 2024), Missouri Foundation for Health ($1.37B), and California Wellness Foundation ($1B, $50M in 2024). Several lean into racial equity as a core grantmaking priority.
Sources: Inside Philanthropy
NPT’s Executive Session: AI Might Damage Your Ability To Raise Money
Nonprofits risk losing control of their public narrative as AI bots scrape website content and surface it in donor searches—often inaccurate or stripped of context. Bennett Weiner, president and CEO of BBB Wise Giving Alliance (Give.org), sounded the warning in an NPT Executive Session interview. When a prospective donor uses an AI tool to research a charity, the response is built from scraped data, not the organization’s own messaging—potentially undermining the fundraising relationship before it starts. Weiner also flagged common financial reporting mistakes in nonprofit statements and confirmed new BBB accountability guidelines are in the pipeline.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
Beware Because Donors Don’t Feel Financially Fulfilled
Only 16% of U.S. adults feel financially fulfilled, while 83% experience financial stress, strain, or uncertainty, according to a Gallup and Edward Jones survey of 5,075 U.S. adults conducted in March–April 2026. For fundraisers, the finding carries a direct implication: just 19% of respondents say giving, helping, or caring brings them joy. Among the financially stressed group, 52% say finances “often” or “always” control their lives. The survey also found gratitude is the most common financial emotion, cited by 63% of respondents. Top sources of joy include travel and experiences (41%) and togetherness with others (26%), with charitable giving ranked third at 19%.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
Nonprofit Finance Teams Seem To Be Staying In Place
Nonprofit finance departments appear to be stabilizing, according to a new BTQ Financial survey of 100 nonprofit finance and accounting leaders. The survey found 76% reported zero voluntary turnover in the past year, and the share filling open roles within one to three months jumped from 38% in 2025 to 80% in 2026. Among organizations using an outsourced finance partner, 98% reported at least moderate improvement, with 59% calling the impact significant or transformational. A cautionary note: 85% of nonprofits can sustain operations for six months or less on unrestricted reserves, and 40% would face disruption if government funding were delayed 60 to 90 days.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
Report: Donors Provide More Than Money
Fundraising campaigns create lasting value well beyond the dollars raised, according to a new report from Twin Point Insights and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy analyzing 58 U.S. and Canadian hospital systems. More than 60% of surveyed organizations saw yearly gift commitment volume grow moderately or significantly during campaigns. Most added dedicated donor relations staff, and at one participating institution, 70% of campaign donors were first-time contributors. Organizations also overhauled policies—two-thirds revised campaign counting rules and 71% revised gift acceptance policies. While naming rights for physical spaces remain the most valued recognition form, campaigns now routinely incorporate programmatic and endowment priorities.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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