Why Donor Retention Matters (and What Nonprofits Can Do About It!) By: Evelina Erickson April 2026 If your organization feels like it’s constantly chasing new donors just to stay in place, you are not alone. Across the nonprofit sector, donor retention remains one of the most persistent—and costly—challenges that non-profits face. Research from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project shows that, on average, nonprofits retain only about 40–45% of their donors year over year.