U.S. Fundraising Salaries Continue to Grow While Rising Benefit Costs Present New Challenges, According to AFP Foundation for Philanthropy's 2026 Compensation and Benefits Study

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy has released the 2026 Compensation and Benefits Study, providing one of the nonprofit sector's most comprehensive analyses of compensation, benefits, and workforce trends among fundraising professionals in the United States and Canada. Based on responses from nearly 2,700 AFP members, the report highlights modest salary growth in the United States, stronger gains in Canada, continued attention to pay equity, and the growing impact of employee benefit costs on nonprofit organizations. The 2026 report is made possible with the support of DRiWaterstone Human Capital.

In the United States, the average fundraising salary increased 0.9 percent, rising from $96,449 in 2024 to $97,280 in 2025. In Canada, average compensation increased by 6.2 percent, reaching $104,442. Median salaries followed different trajectories, decreasing slightly to $85,000 in the United States while increasing to $93,000 in Canada. These findings demonstrate that while compensation remains relatively stable overall, organizations continue to balance competitive salaries with increasing financial pressures.

"Fundraising professionals remain essential to the success of nonprofit organizations, and this year's study demonstrates the importance of taking a comprehensive view of compensation," said Ann Hale, CFRE, executive vice president for AFP Foundations for Philanthropy. "Salary is only one part of the equation. Benefits, workplace flexibility, professional development, and long-term organizational sustainability all play critical roles in attracting and retaining talented fundraising professionals."

"The Association of Fundraising Professionals has been one of DRiWaterstone's most valued partners for decades. The AFP Compensation and Benefits Study provides essential insights that strengthen organizations and support fundraising professionals throughout their careers," said Doug Trout, chief executive officer, DRiWaterstone. "As a firm dedicated to advancing nonprofit leadership through our extensive executive search and philanthropic and fundraising consulting practices, we're proud to sponsor this important resource and to continue our longstanding partnership with AFP in service to the profession."

Rising Benefit Costs Continue to Challenge Employers

The study finds that nonprofit employers continue to experience increasing employment costs, particularly related to healthcare. Among organizations offering health insurance, 43 percent of U.S. respondents and 28 percent of Canadian respondents reported increases in employee health insurance premiums over the previous year. Despite these rising costs, nearly all fundraising professionals continue to have access to employer-supported health coverage, and approximately nine in ten organizations offer retirement benefits.

Organizations are also increasingly providing additional benefits—including professional development funding, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and technology allowances—to strengthen recruitment and employee retention in an increasingly competitive labor market.

Equity Remains an Important Priority

The report continues to examine compensation through an equity lens. In the United States, women reported an average salary of $93,753, compared with $118,038 for men, representing a compensation gap that underscores the continued need for equitable pay practices across the profession. The report encourages nonprofit leaders to regularly review compensation practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and competitiveness.

Fundraising Profession Demonstrates Stability

Despite ongoing economic pressures, fundraising professionals continue to demonstrate strong commitment to their organizations and the profession. Only 18 percent of respondents indicated they were actively seeking employment with another organization, suggesting that while compensation remains important, workplace culture, mission alignment, and employee benefits continue to influence long-term retention.

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy provides this research at no cost to AFP members, who can access the complete 2026 Compensation and Benefits Study for detailed salary benchmarks, benefits analyses, and workforce trends across nonprofit subsectors, organization sizes, and geographic regions. Non-AFP members may purchase the report for $399. 

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About the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy’s mission is to advance philanthropic investment and impact in the nonprofit sector.

We accomplish this by:

• Serving as a catalyst for the nonprofit sector to address the sector’s greatest issues
• Acting as a convener between the professional fundraiser and the philanthropist to solve society’s most-pressing challenges
• Conducting and supporting in-depth research leading to strategic insights and innovative thinking in philanthropy

More information about the foundation can be found at www.afpglobal.org/USFoundation