The INS Group

06/16/2026

What if your nonprofit's org chart is actually holding it back?

Traditional top-down hierarchies are giving way to something more powerful: liberatory leadership. This approach shifts power from "power-over" to "power-with," where decision-making is shared, accountability is collective, and roles can flex based on what the work actually needs.

The result isn't just a feel-good philosophy. Organizations built this way see stronger staff retention, greater innovation during crises, and a culture that actually mirrors the values they advocate for externally.

Ready to explore what this could look like for your team? Read the full post to find practical first steps for getting started.

https://theinsgroup.com/liberatory-leadership-a-bold-reboot-for-nonprofit-management/

Nonprofit hierarchies are shifting. Liberatory leadership invites us to lead, collaborate, and sustain change in new, transformative ways.

06/11/2026

Is your nonprofit's direct mail strategy collecting dust? It might be time to bring it back.

New research from Giving USA Foundation reveals that 1 in 4 donors plan to give less this year, largely driven by economic uncertainty rather than actual financial hardship. But here's the good news: direct mail is quietly making a comeback, and it's Gen Z leading the charge.

93% of Gen Z donors say they respond to direct mail. And 80% of them want to receive it monthly. At the same time, most of them still give online after receiving that piece of mail, so the two channels work hand in hand.

The research also highlights a major missed opportunity: 75% of donors have no idea the new universal charitable deduction exists, and once informed, 1 in 3 non-donors said they'd consider giving.

At The INS Group, we help nonprofits turn insights like these into action.

Read the full Candid breakdown here: https://candid.org/blogs/nonprofit-direct-mail-donor-engagement/

Candid insights | Direct mail is back—and Gen Z donors are leading the charge. New research reveals how nonprofits can use direct mail and donor insights to maintain giving in an uncertain economy.

06/09/2026

Is your nonprofit's budget built on best guesses and year-end scrambles? You're not alone, and there is a better way.

In our latest blog, we break down three proven strategies that leading nonprofits are using to transform budgeting from a stressful compliance exercise into a genuine tool for growth:
✔ Make finance everyone's business by bringing staff into the process
✔ Budget in ways that actually prioritize the people doing the work
✔ Break free from the 12-month cycle with multi-year financial planning

Organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Colorado Health Foundation have already made the shift. The result? Stronger teams, more confident funders, and financial plans that actually reflect reality.

Your mission deserves a budget that builds capacity, not just covers costs. Read the full blog to find out where to start.
https://theinsgroup.com/budgeting-reimagined-from-routine-process-to-strategic-growth-tool/

Nonprofits can turn budgeting from guesswork and stress into a strategic tool for growth by adopting smarter, more adaptive approaches.

06/04/2026

Is your organization feeling the pressure to "do something" with AI but not sure where to start?

You are not alone. A new article from Stanford Social Innovation Review speaks directly to social impact leaders who are hearing from funders, boards, and staff about AI but haven't yet found a clear path forward.

The answer is not to rush to adopt the latest tool. It starts with four foundational questions:
1. AI for what? Ground the conversation in your mission, not the technology.
2. What will it take? Honestly assess your data, culture, and capacity.
3. How do we lead through this? Hold skepticism and possibility at the same time.
4. What pace is right for us? Move at the speed of trust, not the speed of hype.

One quote from the article says it best: "The loudest voices on AI are selling hype or warning of collapse. Neither is a strategy."
If your team has been putting off the AI conversation, this is the article to spark it.

Read it here: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/ai-strategy-social-impact-organizations

Many social impact leaders feel pressure to engage with AI but are overwhelmed and lack a clear starting point. Four fundamental questions can help frame early conversations, grounding AI strategy in purpose, organizational capacity, and values.

06/02/2026

Who is actually at your table?

In case you missed it — Issue 14 of The INS Group Playbook is out, and it's one you'll want to save.

The theme? Community IS the strategy.

We're diving into why nonprofits that root themselves in community — that show up before the crisis, build coalitions, and create real feedback loops — are the ones with the resilience to outlast disruption.

Here's what's inside:
✅ Why 73% of nonprofits that collaborate achieve measurable success (expanded services, increased funding, better outcomes)
✅ A powerful conversation with Dr. Jovita Lee Miller of Advance Carolina on why trust is a commitment, not a tactic
✅ Why language access and community building are NOT separate strategies — and what happens when you bring them together
✅ The stat that should change how you approach outreach: grassroots campaigns outperform every other advocacy method by 13 percentage points

If you're a nonprofit leader, board member, or community advocate, this one's for you.

Read Issue 14 here:https://theinsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/INSGroup-Playbook-Issue14.pdf

05/28/2026

When a nonprofit faces financial or operational hurdles, is grant funding alone enough to ensure long-term survival? While capital is vital, the most resilient organizations find that sustainable growth happens when funding is paired with strategic mentorship.

Investing simultaneously in infrastructure, people, and systems allows organizations to move from immediate distress to long-term community impact. By bringing together leadership, board members, funders, and mentors, nonprofits can pinpoint root challenges, build clear growth plans, and create lasting stability.

Check out this blog from Candid to discover how a collaborative approach to capacity building can transform your organization's future.

https://candid.org/blogs/nonprofit-capacity-building-funding-mentorship/

Candid insights | Nonprofit capacity building works best when funding comes with mentorship. See how one credit union rebuilt operations, governance, and long-term sustainability with both.

05/26/2026

Did you know that a single word can completely change the meaning of your nonprofit’s message across different regions?

When communicating with diverse communities, literal translation isn't enough. For example, Spanish spoken in Mexico differs significantly from Spanish spoken in Argentina, and key terminology—especially around sensitive topics—doesn't always have a direct translation.

To build trust and create an inclusive environment, nonprofits must look beyond words to cultural sensitivity, regional differences, and accessible communication formats.

Check out our blog for key strategies to help your organization achieve genuine connection and accuracy in your outreach.

https://theinsgroup.com/tips-for-nonprofits-to-ensure-culturally-sensitive-translations/

Looking to bridge the language gap with confidence? The INS Group offers professional, native-speaking language translation and interpretation services designed to ensure your message is linguistically accurate, culturally sensitive, and meaningful.

Reach out to us today to elevate your multilingual outreach!

Translation services are vital for nonprofits working with people across diverse communities. It allows organizations to engage with various stakeholders.

05/22/2026

What an incredible summit! Our President, Ruth Peebles, had the honor of facilitating "The ABCs of Grant Writing" with the North Carolina Community Health Workers Association (NCCHWA) in Cherokee, NC.

For several years, The INS Group has been proud to partner with North Carolina Community Health Worker Association on resource development and sustainability strategy; work that's rooted in supporting CHW professionals who show up every day for the communities they serve. CHWs bring lived experience and deep, trusted relationships to their work, and that's exactly what makes them so effective in reaching underserved and rural communities. Helping build the funding strategies that sustain that impact is at the core of what we do.

One of the most powerful moments of the summit was the Western North Carolina CBO Showcase, where community-based organizations shared the incredible work they are doing, including the dedicated CHWs who stepped up for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene and continue to support rebuilding efforts across the region.

Thank you to NCCHWA for the continued partnership, and to every participant who brought their questions, experience, and commitment into the room. This is what community looks like.

05/21/2026

Charitable giving in the US has remained at the same level for decades, and the latest research from Bonterra explains why that needs to change.

For years, giving and volunteering combined have hovered at roughly 2.5% of GDP. Bonterra's 2026 Impact Report makes the case that reaching 3% by 2033 is not wishful thinking. That half-percentage point alone would unlock more than $155 billion in additional resources for communities each year.

So what is holding us back? The research found that it is not that people do not care. 91% of donors and volunteers say caring for communities is essential to America's future. The gap lies in the systems, infrastructure, and tools that turn good intentions into lasting action.

This is a read worth your time. Check out the full report: https://www.bonterratech.com/blog/bonterra-impact-report-2026-announcement

Charitable giving has stagnated at 2.5% of GDP for decades. See what it will take for nonprofits and funders to reach 3% by 2033

05/19/2026

Most nonprofits are leaving millions on the table, and they don't even know it.

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) aren't filled with anonymous, passive donors. In 2024, DAFs granted a record $64.89 billion to nonprofits, and 95% of those grants included the donor's name and address.

The organizations winning right now are treating DAF holders like the major donors they are: personalized outreach, white-glove stewardship, and proactive legacy conversations.

The National Audubon Society had double-digit non-DAF revenue growth in 2024, and its DAF revenue still grew 6x faster. That's not luck. That's strategy.

Read our latest blog to learn exactly how to build yours: https://theinsgroup.com/dafs-from-passive-grants-to-powerful-partnerships/

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are no longer just "passive accounts" for tax-conscious giver; they are dynamic growth engines transforming philanthropy.