Philanthropy continues to shape the pace of change within the nonprofit sector—but the dynamics behind that change are shifting. While overall giving remains strong, fewer donors are participating, and expectations for engagement, connection and trust continue to rise.

In this session, The Curtis Group Vice President Abby Webster and Senior Consultant Rachel Kimble will explore the latest national fundraising and economic trends, drawing on Giving USA 2026—the Annual Report on Philanthropy. Moving beyond the data, Abby and Rachel will share perspective on how these shifts are influencing donor behavior and what they mean for fundraising and generosity in practice.

Grounded in experience working with nonprofits across a range of sectors and communities, this session will offer practical ways to interpret these trends and apply them with greater focus and intentionality.

This engaging presentation will provide you with:

• Key findings from just-released data on nationwide charitable giving from Giving USA 2026 

• Insights on trends in donor participation and giving across different sources and nonprofit subsectors

• Practical recommendations for applying these insights to strengthen your strategies for engagement

• Opportunities to reflect and learn from peer experiences within the Central Virginia fundraising community

Guest Speakers:

Abby Webster

Vice President, The Curtis Group

As vice president with The Curtis Group, Abby has worked with a wide array of organizations across different sectors and geographic regions, successfully leading campaign planning studies, campaign management and fundraising capacity building efforts. In addition to her work with her clients, Abby has conducted trainings to support the broader nonprofit community through a variety of organizations, including the Virginia Fund Raising Institute, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Virginia Gift Planning Council and multiple AFP chapters.

Abby currently serves on the board for the AFP Central Virginia Chapter as a member of the program committee and is a past board member of AFP Hampton Roads Chapter. She is co-chair of the Virginia Fund Raising Institute and an active member of the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives.

Rachel Kimble

Senior Consultant, The Curtis Group

The chance to bring about meaningful change and create more equitable communities is why Rachel Kimble is excited about her work in philanthropy. As a senior consultant with The Curtis Group, Rachel partners with a diverse group of nonprofit clients, helping them formulate long-term strategy, set realistic objectives and ultimately achieve their goals.  

She brings experience from both higher education and independent school arenas. As a former associate consultant at Marts&Lundy, Rachel has worked alongside dozens of organizations, overseeing assessments and studies as they aim to build strong donor relationships and strengthen their fundraising programs. Rachel currently serves as co-chair of the Giving USA Editorial Review Board, which provides oversight to the editor and authors of the Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy.