Independent Sector

Nonprofits and philanthropy are stronger together.

Building up that strength requires transparency and open dialog between organizations, Independent Sector President and CEO Dr. Akilah Watkins emphasizes.

👉 Read her latest CEO Views article: https://independentsector.org/blog/dear-philanthropy-call-us-maybe/

How nonprofits understand, engage, and support volunteers matters.

Join us for a live exchange of ideas on the volunteer workforce today. Charitable sector leaders will share their perspectives and we invite you to offer yours!

📅 October 6, 2026
🕐 1:00 pm ET

Be part of the conversation: https://independentsector-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zi4P4UaJQC6NYpjEMxyseg

We’re grateful to The Kresge Foundation for sponsoring Independent Sector’s National Summit 2026!

The Kresge Foundation is a national private foundation that expands equity and opportunity in cities through grantmaking and social investing across arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development.

Join us in Phoenix, October 13–16, to connect with leaders from across the charitable sector, explore innovative ideas, and help us build a better future.

Register today! 👉 https://summit.independentsector.org/

Congress is back, and there’s a lot on the table for the charitable sector. Here’s what we’re watching:

🔹 The December 11 government funding deadline and what comes next.
🔹 Proposed IRS rules that could affect tax-exempt status for private schools.
🔹 New bipartisan efforts to strengthen due process protections for nonprofits.
🔹 What the 2026 midterms mean for nonpartisan voter engagement.
🔹 The proposed overhaul of Form 990 and what's at stake for nonprofits.

Read the latest DC Download:

DC Download | The Most Important Meal of the Legislative Session - Independent Sector Travis Swanson shares the latest on the 9/30 funding deadline, a troubling proposed rule from the IRS, and National Voter Registration Day.

What does it really mean to include volunteers in the nonprofit workforce?

Volunteers are central to nonprofit work, but their role in the workforce is not always clear. How should organizations think about volunteer labor, stipended volunteers, and the relationship between volunteers and paid staff?

Join Independent Sector for a live exchange of ideas as we unpack findings from the 2026 Nonprofit Sector Workforce Survey and explore what they mean for how nonprofits engage and support volunteers.

📅 October 6, 2026
🕐 1:00 pm ET

Register: https://independentsector-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zi4P4UaJQC6NYpjEMxyseg

We are less than one month away! 🎉

Nonprofit and philanthropic leaders from across the country are coming together at Independent Sector’s National Summit 2026 for meaningful connections, new skills, and conversations about what’s next for the charitable sector.

Join us for expert-led workshops, high-impact strategy labs, and valuable networking opportunities.

📅 October 13–16, 2026
📍 Phoenix, Arizona

Register today: https://summit.independentsector.org/

The Do Good Institute, an Independent Sector member, has officially started recruitment for their Summer 2027 Impact Interns program!

Does your organization have a project or internship opportunity that may be a good fit for a University of Maryland graduate or undergraduate student next summer?

💡Learn more about hosting an Impact Intern:

Impact Interns | Do Good Institute Impact Interns connects students with paid, purpose-driven internship opportunities while providing mission-driven organizations with talented and passionate student interns. Since launching with just nine interns in Summer 2020, Impact Interns has grown to facilitate approximately 435 paid internsh...

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Hispanic Heritage Foundation President and CEO Antonio Tijerino and Voto Latino Foundation Co-Founder and President María Teresa Kumar will explore the growing role of Hispanic Americans in shaping our democracy.

And that’s just one of the important conversations happening at Independent Sector’s National Summit 2026.

Join us in Phoenix for expert-led workshops, high-impact strategy labs, meaningful connections, and more!

📅 October 13-16, 2026
📍 Phoenix, Arizona

Register today: https://summit.independentsector.org/

Happy National Voter Registration Day!

Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, organizations across the country are helping people register to vote and encouraging them to participate in American democracy. Last year, over 3,200 local organizations came together to register 300,000 voters.

Want to get involved this year? Visit https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/

Ahead of Independent Sector's National Summit 2026, we're hosting a special one-day event for policy, advocacy, and government relations professionals!

Join your peers at the Policy Professionals Advocacy Intensive (PPAI) for strategies to build bipartisan relationship, strengthen sector resiliency, boost advocacy efforts, and more.

Register for the summit and save your spot for PPAI! https://summit.independentsector.org/register/