Coffee & Community is our annual gathering for nonprofit partners across Sonoma County, a chance to step out of the day-to-day and come together to listen, learn, and connect.
This year, more than 130 nonprofit leaders joined us for a morning of conversation, reflection, and collective visioning. Together, we explored what nonprofits are navigating right now, where there are opportunities to move forward, and how we continue to show up for our communities in a changing landscape. The time together included breakout sessions, opportunities to connect with peers, and conversations about how we can continue working together to support a strong and resilient nonprofit community.
The morning was guided by Nikko Kimzin of Kimzin Creative, who led us through a series of conversations and exercises rooted in connection and shared purpose. We also heard from Nicole Lim, Executive Director of the California Indian Museum & Cultural Center, who grounded us in a thoughtful conversation on true partnership with Native communities.
Amid everything nonprofits are navigating right now, we wanted to hold a space not just to name challenges, but to reconnect, reflect, and find some joy together.
In advance of the event, 69 nonprofits shared insights on the challenges and opportunities they’re facing right now. From this data, a few clear themes emerged:
Challenges
Organizations were asked "What are the biggest challenges facing your organization’s resilience in 2026? (Select up to 3)."
When asked about the biggest challenges to resilience in 2026, nonprofits pointed first to funding pressures. Competition for limited funding was the most common response (67%), followed by anticipated reductions in funding. Among responses to questions about reduced funding, 39% anticipate a reduction in funding in 2026, with 73% indicating that government funding cuts are expected to be the largest of these cuts.
"The loss of federal funding has been significantly compounded by the fact that many organizations have lost federal funding and are now all applying for the same limited non-federal sources. We have noticed competition for grant proposals has become even more fierce in an already competitive funding landscape."
This perspective reflects what we heard across many responses, as organizations navigate increasing pressure and competition for limited resources.
Opportunities
Organizations were asked, "What are the greatest opportunities to strengthen your organization’s resilience in 2026? (Select up to 3).
Nonprofits pointed to two clear areas of opportunity: diversifying funding and deepening connection.
Exploring new and more diverse funding streams, including earned income and other innovations, was a key focus for many organizations as they look toward long-term sustainability.
At the same time, respondents consistently emphasized the importance of relationships, collaboration, and opportunities to learn from one another as a path forward:
“We have found that the most effective path forward is collaboration, not competition.”
There was also a strong recognition that connection itself is a strategy for resilience, with one respondent noting, “Strengthening relationships within the sector is itself a strategic investment in long-term effectiveness.”
Together, these responses point to a path forward grounded in both innovation and connection.
What we can do together:
We also asked nonprofits how we can best support their resilience beyond grantmaking. A few priorities came through clearly.
“Many capital-intensive solutions require patient, flexible investment and deeper donor education.”
For donors and funders, this points to a meaningful opportunity: to provide flexible, sustained support and invest in the long-term strength of nonprofit partners. This can look like multi-year funding, supporting emerging organizations, and trusting nonprofits with the resources they need to adapt and respond in real time.
“When nonprofits understand that they are not rivals for scarce resources but potential collaborators, trust increases, duplication decreases, and collective impact grows.”
Nonprofits are looking for stronger connection and shared learning, through convenings, collaboration, and opportunities to learn from one another. There is also a clear desire for support in navigating a changing funding landscape, including sharing information about additional grant opportunities and helping educate donors on key issues.
At the same time, organizations are looking for practical support, from trainings in key areas to thought partnership and ways to streamline administrative work.
Gatherings like this are one way we begin to respond to those needs. We bring what we hear directly into our work, helping guide where resources and support can be most responsive.
This input will shape this year’s Resilient Organizations program, ensuring it reflects what nonprofit partners need most right now. Since launching in 2024, the program has supported organizations in strengthening their operations, adapting to change, and continuing to show up for our community. Through trainings, peer learning, and targeted support, nonprofits build the tools and relationships they need to stay effective in a complex and shifting landscape.
We look forward to sharing more about this year’s program soon.
Thank You
The Community Foundation would like to extend huge thanks to the human joy machine, Nikko Kimzin of Kimzin Creative, for guiding the morning, and to Nicole Lim, Executive Director of the California Indian Museum & Cultural Center, for grounding us in a thoughtful conversation on true partnership with Native communities. And, finally, thank you to our nonprofit community, for coming out, sharing dreams and visions for the future, and diving into how we continue to move forward in the spirit of collaboration.
