Nonprofits need revolutionary thinking in audience engagement if they want to survive

The nonprofit sector is facing a perfect storm due to changes in government funding and audience behavior. For decades, nonprofits relied on government grants and institutional donors, but this model is no longer reliable. The Trump administration's policies led to a loss of at least 14,000 nonprofit jobs. Meanwhile, audience behavior is shifting towards mobile donations, video content, and digital engagement. Nonprofits that cling to outdated models face extinction, but there is an opportunity to pivot and become more sustainable. Three core strategies to achieve this are to lean into digital experiences by creating mobile-friendly platforms that engage audiences, to use data to drive engagement and convert attention into behavior, and to create subscription revenue streams to build immunity against political whiplash. Organizations that make this pivot will emerge stronger, more sustainable, and more connected to their missions. The key is to focus on building audience relationships rather than relying on institutional approval. This transformation is not just about survival, but about discovering what nonprofits can become when they are built on audience-centric strategies.