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Critical Sector Issues

The Future Is Now: 2026 Trends, Challenges, and New Opportunities

Audience: Expert Level: Let's take a deep dive

Friday, July 31, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Location: Chesapeake F
As donor behaviors and expectations continue to evolve, staying ahead means rethinking how we engage, acquire, and retain supporters. This session shares donor research exploring how emerging trends in donor experience and acquisition, the rise of mid-value donors and legacy shifts are driving a growing share of revenue.

We’ll unpack shifting demographics, changing motivators, and the increasing demand for relevance and personalization. Learn how leading organizations are adapting their strategies to meet these changes—through intentional experience design, smarter targeting, and full-lifecycle engagement. USA for UNHCR will share how it is looking at the trends and supporting innovations (big and small) across programs in order to engage new audiences and inspire people to do more for their important cause.

Walk away with practical insights to future-proof your fundraising in 2026 and inspire more donors to connect across your programs.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the emerging trends in donor behavior and giving that are shaping fundraising strategies for 2026, including growth of mid-value donors and new engagement strategies for legacy.
  • Discover a new approach to thinking about how demographic changes and evolving donor expectations are driving the need for personalized and relevant engagement across the donor lifecycle in order to think differently about your own strategies.
  • Apply practical strategies for intentional experience design and smarter targeting to enhance donor retention and future-proof fundraising efforts.