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.
LIVE PODCAST CONVERSATION
APRIL 20, 2026 @ 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET / 11:00 - 12:00 PM PT
Burnout, Funding, and the Future of Nonprofit Work: A Conversation with Vu Le
Join us in April for a live webinar and podcast recording featuring nonprofit leader, writer, and speaker Vu Le, author of Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector and creator of the blog Nonprofit AF. This interactive conversation will explore the current challenges facing the nonprofit sector, including funding pressures, workforce sustainability, and the need for new approaches to supporting nonprofit staff and leaders.
As part of Fund the People’s ongoing webinar series, this session will invite participants to reflect on what it will take to build a healthier, more sustainable nonprofit workforce — and how funders and nonprofits alike can help make that possible.
MARCH RECAP: Funding People on Purpose: Exploring Staff Operating Support (S.O.S.)
In March, Fund the People hosted a live podcast conversation introducing the concept of Staff Operating Support (S.O.S.) — a funding approach designed to put nonprofit workers at the center of nonprofit impact and philanthropic strategy. The discussion featured perspectives from philanthropy and nonprofit leaders on why investing directly in staff compensation, benefits, and workplace sustainability can strengthen organizations and improve program outcomes. Panelists also explored how S.O.S. connects to broader conversations about full-cost funding, trust-based philanthropy, and long-term nonprofit sustainability.
Missed the session? Listen to the conversation on the Fund the People Podcast.
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.