Isaacson-Syverson Consulting has released its 2026 State of Central Iowa Philanthropic Giving Study, a biennial report measuring giving trends, donor preferences and giving motivation. 

The study found that philanthropic giving will stay largely the same as last year as community needs change and nonprofits’ operation costs rise. Just over half (54%) of Central Iowa donors plan to keep their giving at the same level as 2025, while only one-quarter plan to increase their charitable giving.

The financial uncertainty facing the nonprofit sector is causing uncertainty among donors. The amount of donors who are very confident or extremely confident (53%) is up from the 2024 study but not as high as the 2022 benchmark study, when it was 65%.

According to a news release, many donors commented that they have confidence in the nonprofit sector’s ability to serve the community, but there is concern about securing the level of financial support needed to maintain nonprofits’ budgets.

Donors across all funding sources cited the need for strategic collaboration among nonprofits, saying there are many nonprofits with similar missions competing for the same dollars, the release said.

Isaacson-Syverson conducted the report with Compendium Insights. The survey had a 46% response rate among Central Iowa philanthropic individuals, corporate donors and foundation representatives. Data was collected Oct. 14-Nov. 12, 2025.