The State of Impact
Funder Edition (TSOI 2026)
A nationwide survey designed to inform improvements in impact evaluation, measurement and outcomes for the anti-trafficking sector.
The State of Impact: Funder Edition is the second sector-wide survey as part of our 10-year research initiative to improve impact infrastructure. The survey offers invaluable inquiry into how Funders are navigating this moment in anti-trafficking efforts — priorities, pressures, emerging trends, and what they feel the field needs next.
Take the Funder Edition Survey
All answers are anonymous. Open through February 12.
Are you a Nonprofit or Collective?
Please consider sharing the survey with a Funder
Why This Matters
Why this survey will shape the future of impact?
Funders often see early signals — the changes, constraints, and opportunities shaping what’s possible for nonprofits and communities.
By bringing hundreds of Funder perspectives together, we can build a more accurate view of where impact is heading in 2026 and beyond, and identify crucial gaps and areas of alignment between Funders and Nonprofits.
This survey helps the field:
Understand emerging priorities and funding strategies
See how peers are navigating pressure and change
Spot early trends in funding and impact practices
Strengthen the infrastructure the impact sector relies on
Why is the survey
only for Funders?
All sector perspectives are essential!
The State of Impact is a 10-year research initiative designed as a sequenced, multi-year effort. We alternate between Nonprofits and Funders every two years so each group’s experiences can be explored more thoroughly and the areas of inquiry can build on one another to facilitate greater sector-wide understanding, alignment, and strategies over time.
In 2024, we conducted a State of Impact: Nonprofit Edition survey, which collected insights from nearly a third of U.S. anti-trafficking NGOs and offered a detailed overview of trends, practices, and needs in impact measurement within the anti-trafficking sector. You can learn more about our Nonprofit survey and download the report here.
This 2026 edition shifts the lens to Funders, whose decisions, constraints, and priorities also shape what becomes possible across the field. The areas of inquiry build on the 2024 nonprofit work, and future waves will continue alternating between Funders and Nonprofits to reflect and advance the whole ecosystem over time.
If you are a Nonprofit or Collective that believes in this effort, our aim is to reach 1,000 Funders of all levels with this survey. Please share this link with your Funders to help ensure their perspective is included in the future of the sector.
How It Works
Designed for Impact
The survey takes just 30 minutes.
All responses are anonymous.
Survey open till February 12th.
About Impact Rising
Impact Rising helps Funders, Nonprofits, and Collectives strengthen what’s working and build the impact infrastructure the sector needs.
We see impact as the great uniter — a shared pursuit that can bring leaders together around clearer outcomes, stronger capacity, and meaningful, measurable change.
Our team brings deep experience from nonprofit and for-profit spaces that have excelled in impact, helping leaders translate vision into measurable outcomes and move toward greater collective impact.
Through shared insights, strategic services, and a 10-year effort to pave the way for the future of impact. Our work spans three connected pillars:
Accelerating impact systems
Like an accelerator, we help Funders, Nonprofits, and Collectives build the tools and skills to measure and strengthen their impact. Our sector expertise and proven approach enable practical, sustainable systems that grow with each organization.
IR Academy
Illuminating sector-specific research
At the heart of Impact Rising is our ability to listen and learn from the field. Through our first-of-its-kind State of Impact survey and custom research, we deliver clear, trusted insights that create shared understanding and support better decision-making.
IR Lab
Collaborative capacity-building
Funders support nonprofit growth by covering the cost of our Academy services. This lowers reporting burden, strengthens evaluation capacity, and enables more confident investment through shared alignment on what works.
IR Fund
FAQ
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A Funder is anyone who donates any amount money to a Nonprofit. We welcome all Funder perspectives to enrich our Funder Edition surveys.
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Findings will be shared publicly in Summer 2026.
If you’re interested in being part of the results preview and analysis please email info@impactrising.com
