2026 Webinar Series
Investing in Nonprofit People: Research, Funding, and Leadership in Action
Nonprofit organizations are navigating mounting pressure — financial instability, workforce strain, political volatility, and rising community needs. At the same time, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership are being asked to respond in more meaningful, sustainable ways.
Throughout 2026, Fund the People will host a curated series of live webinars exploring how research, funding practices, and leadership decisions can better support the nonprofit workforce. These conversations build on the Funding that Works framework and move beyond surface-level reform to examine how we intentionally invest in the people who power nonprofit impact.
Each session stands on its own — but together, they create a deeper conversation about how we fund, support, and sustain nonprofit work.
Upcoming Webinar
March 12, 2026 @ 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET - Funding People on Purpose: Exploring Staff Operating Support (SOS)
What would it look like to intentionally fund nonprofit staff and the systems that support them?
This moderated panel explores the promise, tensions, and practical implications of Staff Operating Support (S.O.S.) — a funding concept designed to directly invest in nonprofit people and internal systems.
Featuring:
- Kim Almeida, Director of Programs, Levi Strauss Foundation
- Maria Cabildo, CEO, The Durfee Foundation
- Annie Chang, Vice President, Community Engagement, Nonprofit Finance Fund
- Janelle Moravek, Executive Director, Youth & Family Counseling
- Rusty Stahl, President & CEO, Fund the People
FEBRUARY RECAP: Using sector research to advocate for your people
Our February session featured Elisha Smith Arrillaga of the Center for Effective Philanthropy in conversation with Rusty Stahl, exploring new national research on the growing pressures nonprofits face — and the disconnect between nonprofit and funder perceptions of sector health. The conversation highlighted how nonprofit leaders can use credible research and data to strengthen conversations with funders about staffing, sustainability, and long-term impact.
Missed the session? Listen to the conversation on the Fund the People Podcast.
Watch our October 2025 webinar: Long-Haul Grantmaking
This conversation explored findings from Long-Haul Grantmaking, Fund the People’s research on how sustained, multi-year investments strengthen nonprofit staff and organizational impact. Watch the recording below, and explore the report and related podcast episode with report author, Betsy Leondar-Wright, to dive deeper.