Benchmarks · edition 2026-09-30
Nonprofit fundraising benchmarks by mission and size.
Medians and quartiles for 173,008 U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with $250,000 to $250 million in revenue, computed from public Form 990 filings for tax years 2023 and 2024. Compare within a mission group and revenue band; the overall figures are context, not targets.
- Median fundraising efficiency
- $14.60
- raised per fundraising dollar
- Median contribution growth
- +3.6%
- a year over three fiscal years
- Median program expense ratio
- 85%
- of spending on programs
- Median fundraising investment
- 4.1%
- of spending on fundraising
- Median net asset trend
- +11%
- over three fiscal years
Fundraising efficiency and fundraising investment rate count only organizations that report fundraising expense above zero (79,508 of 173,008). Every table below shows the count behind its medians.
Benchmarks by revenue band
Every mission group combined, by total revenue on the newest filing. Medians unless marked.
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency | Contribution growth | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment rate | Net asset trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 88,166 | $15.23 | +3.3% | 87% | 4.5% | +8.1% |
| $1M to $3M | 41,196 | $14.02 | +4.8% | 84% | 4.7% | +13% |
| $3M to $10M | 25,127 | $14.27 | +4.5% | 84% | 4.1% | +15% |
| $10M to $15M | 5,328 | $14.95 | +3.5% | 85% | 3.0% | +13% |
| $15M to $22M | 3,856 | $15.01 | +2.7% | 85% | 2.5% | +14% |
| $22M to $30M | 2,431 | $14.24 | +1.0% | 86% | 2.3% | +13% |
| $30M to $250M | 6,904 | $13.45 | -0.7% | 87% | 1.7% | +13% |
| All bands | 173,008 | $14.60 | +3.6% | 85% | 4.1% | +11% |
Benchmarks by mission group
Every revenue band combined, by NTEE major group. Medians. Sorted by the number of organizations.
| Mission group | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency | Contribution growth | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment rate | Net asset trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHuman services | 23,750 | $17.56 | +3.7% | 86% | 3.3% | +12% |
| BEducation | 22,650 | $12.40 | +3.4% | 86% | 3.0% | +15% |
| AArts, culture, and humanities | 13,047 | $9.76 | +0.3% | 80% | 6.0% | +6.9% |
| EHealth care | 10,928 | $13.87 | -0.5% | 85% | 3.9% | +10% |
| LHousing and shelter | 8,057 | $19.07 | +3.0% | 87% | 3.5% | +3.4% |
| XReligion | 7,812 | $17.87 | +4.3% | 87% | 4.4% | +11% |
| NRecreation and sports | 7,382 | $11.02 | +3.9% | 92% | 3.7% | +15% |
| TPhilanthropy and grantmaking | 6,475 | $15.85 | +4.2% | 87% | 5.1% | +9.8% |
| SCommunity improvement | 5,510 | $18.96 | +6.5% | 84% | 4.0% | +13% |
| OYouth development | 4,565 | $12.38 | +6.2% | 83% | 5.8% | +13% |
| DAnimal welfare | 4,402 | $16.39 | +6.6% | 88% | 4.3% | +14% |
| FMental health and crisis intervention | 4,296 | $18.11 | +5.5% | 85% | 2.8% | +14% |
| CEnvironment | 4,276 | $16.01 | +8.4% | 82% | 5.6% | +15% |
| QInternational affairs | 4,112 | $18.36 | +4.8% | 88% | 4.9% | +8.4% |
| MPublic safety and disaster relief | 2,774 | $28.86 | +7.6% | 93% | 2.2% | +12% |
| ICrime and legal services | 2,708 | $20.11 | +8.2% | 84% | 4.4% | +17% |
| KFood, agriculture, and nutrition | 2,482 | $27.25 | +8.6% | 91% | 3.1% | +15% |
| GDisease and disorder organizations | 2,150 | $11.36 | +4.9% | 83% | 5.8% | +11% |
| JEmployment and workforce | 2,065 | $16.87 | +3.8% | 85% | 2.9% | +14% |
| WPublic and societal benefit | 1,801 | $15.95 | +6.8% | 84% | 5.2% | +12% |
| RCivil rights and advocacy | 1,576 | $13.53 | +7.3% | 80% | 6.6% | +16% |
| HMedical research | 1,042 | $11.07 | +4.3% | 83% | 6.1% | +9.1% |
| UScience and technology | 908 | $14.70 | +7.2% | 83% | 3.9% | +6.6% |
| VSocial science | 356 | $17.15 | +2.5% | 81% | 4.9% | +5.3% |
| YMutual and membership benefit | 167 | $11.38 | +3.0% | 90% | 5.6% | +7.1% |
Benchmarks by mission group and revenue band
The cohorts the lookup uses. Only cohorts with at least 30 organizations in the exact band are listed here; the lookup combines adjacent bands for the rest and says so. Fundraising efficiency and contribution growth show the middle half (25th to 75th percentile) around the median.
PHuman services 23,750 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 11,125 | $7.79 · $18.19 · $47.88 | -12% · +3.4% · +19% | 86% | 4.2% |
| $1M to $3M | 5,982 | $8.54 · $17.78 · $47.84 | -8.7% · +5.4% · +22% | 85% | 3.8% |
| $3M to $10M | 3,797 | $8.56 · $17.39 · $44.05 | -10% · +4.3% · +19% | 86% | 3.2% |
| $10M to $15M | 883 | $6.79 · $16.37 · $41.23 | -18% · +2.5% · +16% | 86% | 2.2% |
| $15M to $22M | 592 | $5.96 · $15.34 · $42.91 | -17% · +2.7% · +18% | 88% | 1.7% |
| $22M to $30M | 415 | $5.45 · $14.22 · $48.59 | -29% · -0.4% · +15% | 87% | 1.4% |
| $30M to $250M | 956 | $5.42 · $14.46 · $44.39 | -27% · -0.4% · +14% | 88% | 0.9% |
BEducation 22,650 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 9,805 | $6.24 · $14.66 · $43.61 | -15% · +2.8% · +20% | 88% | 3.8% |
| $1M to $3M | 5,308 | $5.86 · $13.54 · $37.48 | -16% · +3.3% · +23% | 85% | 3.5% |
| $3M to $10M | 4,234 | $5.83 · $13.00 · $37.15 | -12% · +5.1% · +23% | 84% | 2.7% |
| $10M to $15M | 931 | $4.43 · $13.15 · $41.11 | -11% · +5.8% · +23% | 84% | 2.3% |
| $15M to $22M | 694 | $3.88 · $9.35 · $29.58 | -12% · +4.5% · +21% | 83% | 2.3% |
| $22M to $30M | 385 | $3.32 · $7.63 · $24.47 | -21% · +2.2% · +14% | 84% | 2.4% |
| $30M to $250M | 1,293 | $3.77 · $6.92 · $15.31 | -21% · -0.6% · +17% | 85% | 2.1% |
AArts, culture, and humanities 13,047 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 8,041 | $5.27 · $11.07 · $28.67 | -17% · +0.8% · +20% | 80% | 5.3% |
| $1M to $3M | 2,977 | $5.23 · $9.24 · $20.30 | -17% · +0.2% · +22% | 78% | 6.6% |
| $3M to $10M | 1,386 | $4.81 · $8.31 · $17.34 | -21% · -0.6% · +21% | 78% | 7.4% |
| $10M to $15M | 207 | $4.76 · $8.20 · $16.41 | -22% · -4.2% · +18% | 79% | 6.3% |
| $15M to $22M | 141 | $6.06 · $10.30 · $15.83 | -16% · +3.6% · +21% | 79% | 6.9% |
| $22M to $30M | 92 | $5.03 · $8.76 · $17.12 | -19% · -5.2% · +23% | 81% | 6.0% |
| $30M to $250M | 203 | $5.07 · $8.55 · $14.61 | -22% · -6.5% · +7.9% | 80% | 5.9% |
EHealth care 10,928 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 3,552 | $6.15 · $13.29 · $34.50 | -12% · +2.8% · +21% | 84% | 5.6% |
| $1M to $3M | 2,164 | $6.56 · $15.05 · $38.20 | -12% · +5.0% · +26% | 85% | 4.6% |
| $3M to $10M | 1,872 | $6.46 · $14.38 · $41.82 | -20% · +0.3% · +20% | 84% | 4.0% |
| $10M to $15M | 614 | $5.34 · $12.92 · $33.58 | -28% · -4.1% · +15% | 85% | 2.5% |
| $15M to $22M | 579 | $5.77 · $13.92 · $49.70 | -37% · -8.1% · +10% | 84% | 1.0% |
| $22M to $30M | 395 | $6.88 · $15.63 · $55.89 | -42% · -9.6% · +9.0% | 85% | 1.0% |
| $30M to $250M | 1,752 | $4.72 · $13.64 · $44.48 | -50% · -17% · +8.1% | 85% | 0.4% |
LHousing and shelter 8,057 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 4,094 | $8.76 · $19.12 · $54.73 | -6.3% · +1.8% · +12% | 88% | 3.5% |
| $1M to $3M | 2,066 | $8.38 · $19.50 · $54.53 | -9.2% · +3.9% · +22% | 87% | 3.9% |
| $3M to $10M | 1,208 | $9.41 · $18.79 · $41.83 | -16% · +4.4% · +26% | 86% | 4.0% |
| $10M to $15M | 250 | $7.88 · $17.89 · $39.32 | -21% · +5.4% · +31% | 87% | 2.6% |
| $15M to $22M | 175 | $5.97 · $13.48 · $30.38 | -20% · +7.0% · +43% | 87% | 3.0% |
| $22M to $30M | 104 | $8.01 · $22.98 · $59.08 | -21% · +1.0% · +20% | 86% | 2.5% |
| $30M to $250M | 160 | $14.10 · $22.29 · $86.51 | -26% · +3.9% · +32% | 90% | 0.6% |
XReligion 7,812 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 5,427 | $9.01 · $19.52 · $48.24 | -8.3% · +3.7% · +18% | 87% | 4.3% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,564 | $7.72 · $16.27 · $46.28 | -6.6% · +5.8% · +24% | 86% | 4.5% |
| $3M to $10M | 593 | $8.07 · $17.62 · $39.46 | -6.7% · +6.8% · +23% | 86% | 4.6% |
| $10M to $15M | 73 | $9.07 · $16.89 · $33.18 | -7.5% · +4.0% · +22% | 85% | 4.9% |
| $15M to $22M | 67 | $7.84 · $13.29 · $23.32 | -6.1% · +2.1% · +17% | 83% | 5.6% |
| $22M to $30M | 39 | $6.95 · $16.54 · $24.69 | -5.7% · +4.7% · +17% | 87% | 4.7% |
| $30M to $250M | 49 | $8.40 · $18.89 · $39.91 | -6.9% · +1.3% · +13% | 90% | 4.4% |
NRecreation and sports 7,382 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 5,161 | $4.81 · $12.15 · $33.90 | -13% · +4.2% · +22% | 94% | 3.4% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,490 | $4.79 · $9.15 · $23.83 | -19% · +3.4% · +24% | 88% | 3.6% |
| $3M to $10M | 555 | $6.13 · $10.09 · $23.51 | -14% · +4.6% · +27% | 85% | 4.3% |
| $10M to $15M | 61 | $6.58 · $11.04 · $28.21 | -42% · -4.5% · +10% | 86% | 3.8% |
| $15M to $22M | 48 | $6.27 · $12.96 · $25.32 | -19% · +5.3% · +24% | 81% | 4.7% |
| $30M to $250M | 45 | $3.67 · $7.97 · $35.97 | -5.1% · +5.2% · +25% | 85% | 3.5% |
TPhilanthropy and grantmaking 6,475 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 3,187 | $5.90 · $13.10 · $36.09 | -13% · +3.2% · +20% | 88% | 6.1% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,539 | $7.34 · $13.79 · $35.87 | -9.6% · +5.5% · +24% | 86% | 5.7% |
| $3M to $10M | 1,008 | $8.89 · $17.55 · $45.66 | -12% · +4.5% · +27% | 87% | 5.0% |
| $10M to $15M | 215 | $10.60 · $24.38 · $61.40 | -12% · +6.0% · +37% | 89% | 3.7% |
| $15M to $22M | 143 | $11.88 · $24.96 · $63.89 | -11% · +2.5% · +24% | 88% | 3.6% |
| $22M to $30M | 101 | $10.92 · $23.45 · $51.68 | -13% · +8.5% · +39% | 89% | 3.5% |
| $30M to $250M | 282 | $14.29 · $33.01 · $90.66 | -11% · +3.7% · +22% | 91% | 2.4% |
SCommunity improvement 5,510 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 2,968 | $6.91 · $15.77 · $44.43 | -11% · +4.8% · +24% | 83% | 4.6% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,400 | $8.45 · $17.68 · $48.49 | -8.3% · +8.7% · +35% | 85% | 4.2% |
| $3M to $10M | 763 | $11.88 · $24.80 · $60.53 | -7.0% · +8.5% · +33% | 85% | 3.4% |
| $10M to $15M | 132 | $7.25 · $22.38 · $57.13 | -16% · +3.4% · +20% | 89% | 3.5% |
| $15M to $22M | 102 | $15.28 · $33.52 · $99.42 | -6.9% · +7.0% · +25% | 90% | 2.0% |
| $22M to $30M | 45 | $9.84 · $28.29 · $70.27 | -5.2% · +7.8% · +26% | 88% | 2.4% |
| $30M to $250M | 100 | $11.82 · $41.98 · $156.41 | -9.4% · +7.2% · +24% | 91% | 0.9% |
OYouth development 4,565 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 2,662 | $6.27 · $13.57 · $37.70 | -9.6% · +6.0% · +24% | 85% | 5.4% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,160 | $6.60 · $11.60 · $25.93 | -7.4% · +7.5% · +28% | 82% | 6.4% |
| $3M to $10M | 564 | $5.32 · $10.57 · $24.50 | -16% · +4.8% · +26% | 81% | 6.1% |
| $10M to $15M | 80 | $7.74 · $14.90 · $30.83 | -11% · +10% · +27% | 83% | 4.8% |
| $15M to $22M | 44 | $5.84 · $12.60 · $21.11 | -18% · +2.1% · +23% | 80% | 5.7% |
DAnimal welfare 4,402 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 2,776 | $10.29 · $26.80 · $76.91 | -8.5% · +6.7% · +23% | 91% | 2.7% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,021 | $6.86 · $14.08 · $39.34 | -9.4% · +6.7% · +29% | 86% | 4.9% |
| $3M to $10M | 389 | $5.64 · $10.02 · $17.35 | -7.2% · +6.8% · +26% | 83% | 7.5% |
| $10M to $15M | 83 | $5.44 · $8.43 · $14.71 | -7.0% · +9.3% · +28% | 82% | 8.0% |
| $15M to $22M | 32 | $4.22 · $6.59 · $13.76 | -14% · -0.6% · +14% | 81% | 8.0% |
| $22M to $30M | 39 | $4.79 · $8.41 · $14.23 | -6.8% · +4.9% · +15% | 81% | 8.7% |
| $30M to $250M | 62 | $6.65 · $11.29 · $23.27 | -12% · +4.2% · +16% | 83% | 5.3% |
FMental health and crisis intervention 4,296 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 1,941 | $7.32 · $18.02 · $45.63 | -9.4% · +5.0% · +22% | 85% | 3.7% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,005 | $7.17 · $17.59 · $46.12 | -7.5% · +5.8% · +26% | 84% | 3.0% |
| $3M to $10M | 699 | $7.65 · $17.06 · $48.15 | -10% · +6.5% · +21% | 85% | 2.2% |
| $10M to $15M | 186 | $7.41 · $15.92 · $55.27 | -14% · +6.6% · +29% | 85% | 1.8% |
| $15M to $22M | 144 | $9.35 · $34.74 · $113.02 | -7.1% · +4.7% · +22% | 85% | 0.9% |
| $22M to $30M | 103 | $9.20 · $21.82 · $71.04 | -9.8% · +6.9% · +21% | 84% | 1.3% |
| $30M to $250M | 218 | $6.31 · $18.66 · $61.49 | -14% · +3.0% · +16% | 86% | 0.7% |
CEnvironment 4,276 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 2,111 | $6.98 · $14.67 · $37.16 | -12% · +4.5% · +24% | 82% | 5.4% |
| $1M to $3M | 1,218 | $7.50 · $15.75 · $35.95 | -6.0% · +12% · +34% | 81% | 5.8% |
| $3M to $10M | 676 | $8.61 · $17.52 · $42.33 | -5.8% · +13% · +40% | 83% | 5.8% |
| $10M to $15M | 94 | $8.68 · $19.87 · $54.45 | -4.9% · +12% · +31% | 84% | 4.3% |
| $15M to $22M | 58 | $11.20 · $20.16 · $46.45 | -4.9% · +13% · +47% | 84% | 4.9% |
| $22M to $30M | 33 | $10.51 · $13.48 · $30.19 | -9.2% · +11% · +38% | 82% | 7.1% |
| $30M to $250M | 86 | $8.92 · $20.36 · $74.94 | -5.0% · +7.7% · +39% | 83% | 4.9% |
QInternational affairs 4,112 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 2,242 | $8.65 · $19.26 · $60.72 | -10% · +3.8% · +19% | 90% | 4.7% |
| $1M to $3M | 969 | $8.65 · $16.55 · $45.84 | -8.6% · +5.0% · +27% | 86% | 5.2% |
| $3M to $10M | 506 | $8.67 · $16.06 · $35.76 | -7.5% · +5.6% · +25% | 86% | 5.5% |
| $10M to $15M | 120 | $9.98 · $19.64 · $60.95 | -6.0% · +8.8% · +41% | 87% | 4.0% |
| $15M to $22M | 63 | $12.32 · $25.54 · $60.86 | -9.1% · +4.3% · +22% | 88% | 3.0% |
| $22M to $30M | 38 | $10.89 · $25.25 · $74.76 | -6.0% · +13% · +31% | 85% | 3.5% |
| $30M to $250M | 174 | $10.49 · $22.20 · $75.18 | -1.7% · +9.1% · +23% | 86% | 3.3% |
MPublic safety and disaster relief 2,774 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 2,040 | $11.25 · $29.53 · $73.11 | -5.8% · +6.7% · +25% | 94% | 2.3% |
| $1M to $3M | 518 | $8.34 · $23.65 · $70.08 | -3.2% · +11% · +29% | 92% | 1.8% |
| $3M to $10M | 167 | $15.28 · $43.70 · $84.08 | -11% · +5.6% · +29% | 92% | 1.5% |
ICrime and legal services 2,708 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 1,349 | $8.78 · $18.64 · $49.45 | -5.8% · +5.7% · +21% | 83% | 4.6% |
| $1M to $3M | 720 | $8.57 · $18.43 · $40.16 | -0.7% · +9.3% · +25% | 83% | 5.1% |
| $3M to $10M | 418 | $10.77 · $19.46 · $48.91 | -1.7% · +11% · +26% | 84% | 4.5% |
| $10M to $15M | 87 | $14.43 · $43.15 · $100.22 | -0.2% · +8.5% · +19% | 87% | 1.9% |
| $15M to $22M | 57 | $15.10 · $37.04 · $63.58 | -13% · +11% · +23% | 87% | 2.1% |
| $30M to $250M | 48 | $20.55 · $50.21 · $133.60 | +0.9% · +9.1% · +29% | 89% | 1.6% |
KFood, agriculture, and nutrition 2,482 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 1,279 | $10.09 · $25.52 · $65.39 | -5.5% · +7.5% · +24% | 90% | 3.3% |
| $1M to $3M | 647 | $10.24 · $24.36 · $63.33 | -3.7% · +9.7% · +29% | 88% | 3.6% |
| $3M to $10M | 305 | $12.06 · $24.72 · $55.95 | -2.9% · +9.1% · +34% | 91% | 3.6% |
| $10M to $15M | 57 | $24.09 · $42.05 · $77.19 | +1.4% · +9.9% · +25% | 93% | 2.4% |
| $15M to $22M | 43 | $13.38 · $29.89 · $66.03 | -2.3% · +6.5% · +14% | 93% | 3.2% |
| $22M to $30M | 35 | $20.73 · $38.97 · $51.79 | -2.1% · +8.7% · +15% | 95% | 2.3% |
| $30M to $250M | 116 | $27.70 · $44.11 · $90.63 | +3.2% · +8.7% · +16% | 96% | 2.1% |
GDisease and disorder organizations 2,150 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 1,077 | $5.29 · $11.30 · $31.00 | -12% · +5.6% · +23% | 82% | 6.8% |
| $1M to $3M | 540 | $5.46 · $10.66 · $24.59 | -7.2% · +5.4% · +25% | 82% | 6.3% |
| $3M to $10M | 290 | $6.45 · $12.53 · $34.10 | -7.9% · +5.5% · +24% | 84% | 5.0% |
| $10M to $15M | 67 | $3.65 · $10.95 · $35.16 | -17% · +4.2% · +16% | 86% | 2.2% |
| $15M to $22M | 53 | $7.30 · $16.91 · $39.62 | -20% · -1.3% · +14% | 89% | 1.9% |
| $22M to $30M | 31 | $9.46 · $17.06 · $45.65 | -8.0% · +2.1% · +18% | 89% | 1.3% |
| $30M to $250M | 92 | $4.20 · $8.85 · $30.10 | -22% · -2.9% · +7.4% | 86% | 1.1% |
JEmployment and workforce 2,065 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 683 | $6.75 · $15.53 · $39.27 | -17% · +4.1% · +23% | 84% | 4.8% |
| $1M to $3M | 532 | $6.90 · $13.90 · $34.94 | -17% · +3.8% · +20% | 84% | 3.8% |
| $3M to $10M | 501 | $7.78 · $15.90 · $39.43 | -18% · +3.0% · +19% | 86% | 2.4% |
| $10M to $15M | 91 | $10.28 · $18.08 · $59.59 | -22% · +3.5% · +19% | 86% | 2.1% |
| $15M to $22M | 72 | $13.94 · $34.79 · $68.25 | -8.8% · +7.6% · +28% | 87% | 1.5% |
| $22M to $30M | 58 | $6.71 · $22.04 · $33.49 | -5.8% · +4.3% · +16% | 87% | 1.6% |
| $30M to $250M | 128 | $16.04 · $39.64 · $85.37 | -5.4% · +4.1% · +15% | 90% | 0.7% |
WPublic and societal benefit 1,801 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 960 | $6.95 · $16.22 · $38.78 | -11% · +4.6% · +24% | 85% | 4.8% |
| $1M to $3M | 447 | $7.54 · $15.38 · $36.34 | -5.8% · +9.3% · +34% | 83% | 5.4% |
| $3M to $10M | 250 | $8.09 · $16.77 · $40.26 | -6.6% · +9.6% · +28% | 84% | 5.7% |
| $10M to $15M | 51 | $9.19 · $14.77 · $35.32 | -11% · +2.2% · +23% | 84% | 5.7% |
| $15M to $22M | 31 | not reported · not reported · not reported | -2.3% · +4.8% · +21% | 85% | not reported |
| $30M to $250M | 46 | $5.66 · $11.30 · $38.60 | -3.6% · +9.7% · +24% | 82% | 5.5% |
RCivil rights and advocacy 1,576 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 781 | $6.68 · $12.42 · $31.63 | -7.5% · +6.5% · +21% | 79% | 6.4% |
| $1M to $3M | 474 | $6.89 · $12.89 · $28.90 | -6.9% · +9.0% · +30% | 79% | 7.0% |
| $3M to $10M | 223 | $8.76 · $15.95 · $37.77 | -3.8% · +7.7% · +26% | 81% | 5.8% |
| $10M to $15M | 33 | $10.30 · $16.30 · $25.85 | +0.9% · +20% · +57% | 81% | 7.1% |
HMedical research 1,042 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 481 | $5.63 · $10.33 · $28.38 | -15% · +3.4% · +20% | 85% | 6.0% |
| $1M to $3M | 252 | $5.41 · $11.79 · $26.20 | -8.4% · +5.9% · +22% | 82% | 6.9% |
| $3M to $10M | 176 | $6.68 · $9.74 · $31.27 | -7.0% · +3.8% · +16% | 82% | 6.7% |
| $10M to $15M | 45 | $6.00 · $11.59 · $23.09 | -4.5% · +8.0% · +30% | 85% | 8.1% |
| $30M to $250M | 47 | $12.49 · $23.01 · $48.86 | -6.3% · +7.1% · +18% | 84% | 1.8% |
UScience and technology 908 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 372 | $5.71 · $12.18 · $38.81 | -14% · +6.1% · +27% | 84% | 4.1% |
| $1M to $3M | 239 | $5.64 · $12.70 · $25.63 | -16% · +6.2% · +34% | 80% | 4.7% |
| $3M to $10M | 156 | $8.06 · $14.79 · $45.08 | -11% · +9.0% · +34% | 83% | 4.1% |
| $10M to $15M | 35 | not reported · not reported · not reported | -6.6% · +6.2% · +40% | 81% | 4.3% |
| $30M to $250M | 66 | $11.47 · $18.66 · $31.53 | -11% · +9.0% · +27% | 84% | 2.2% |
VSocial science 356 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 163 | $5.66 · $14.42 · $38.45 | -17% · -2.5% · +19% | 82% | 5.4% |
| $1M to $3M | 97 | $5.94 · $17.02 · $50.42 | -21% · +2.4% · +17% | 80% | 3.8% |
| $3M to $10M | 53 | $7.39 · $17.79 · $30.29 | -10% · +7.9% · +30% | 78% | 5.8% |
YMutual and membership benefit 167 organizations
| Revenue band | Organizations | Fundraising efficiency (25th · median · 75th) | Contribution growth (25th · median · 75th) | Program expense ratio | Fundraising investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1M | 77 | $9.36 · $11.47 · $21.11 | -9.2% · +2.7% · +17% | 90% | 6.7% |
| $1M to $3M | 35 | not reported · not reported · not reported | -13% · +0.4% · +14% | 88% | not reported |
How to read these numbers
- Compare within a cohort. Mission and size explain most of the spread. A food bank and a research institute in the same band have different economics by design.
- Medians, not averages. Form 990 ratios have long tails. Every figure here is a median or a quartile, so a few extreme filers do not move it.
- Fundraising expense is self-allocated. Organizations decide how shared costs split across program, management, and fundraising. Small differences in the two fundraising ratios are noise.
- In-kind gifts count as contributions. Mission groups with large donated-goods programs show high fundraising efficiency for that reason.
- The data lags. Filings become public a year or more after the fiscal year ends. These are the newest complete tax years.
Method in brief
Each organization’s newest full Form 990 (tax year 2023 and 2024) supplies the six figures; the two trend metrics compare it with the filing two tax years earlier. Cohorts are NTEE major group by revenue band, minimum 30 organizations. Percentiles come from 101-point quantile tables per cohort and metric.
Read the full methodology and caveats
Cite as: StratusLIVE, Nonprofit Fundraising Benchmarks, edition 2026-09-30, from IRS Form 990 e-file data (tax years 2023 and 2024). stratuslive.com/nonprofit-fundraising-benchmarks/
Questions about nonprofit fundraising benchmarks.
What is a good fundraising efficiency for a nonprofit?
Across 173,008 501(c)(3) organizations with $250,000 to $250 million in revenue, the median organization that reports fundraising expense raised $14.60 for every dollar spent on fundraising (tax years 2023 and 2024). The middle half of organizations fall between $6.63 and $39.82. The spread by mission is wide: organizations with large in-kind programs report far higher ratios, so compare within a mission group and revenue band, not against the overall median.
What share of expenses do nonprofits spend on fundraising?
The median fundraising investment rate is 4.1% of total expenses among organizations that report fundraising expense, with the middle half between 1.4% and 8.8%. Many filers report no fundraising expense at all because of how they allocate shared costs, which is why the counts on this page are lower for the two fundraising ratios.
How fast are nonprofit contributions growing?
The median annualized growth in contributions and grants over three fiscal years is +3.6%, measured on each organization’s newest filing against the filing two tax years earlier. A quarter of organizations grew faster than +21% a year and a quarter shrank by more than 12% a year.
Where do these benchmarks come from?
Public IRS Form 990 e-file data as released by the National Center for Charitable Statistics, plus the IRS Business Master File for mission codes. The methodology page lists every line used, how cohorts are defined, and the comparability caveats. The same dataset powers the Peer Benchmark Lookup, where any 501(c)(3) can be placed against its own cohort.
Place your organization against its cohort.
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