2026 planning: Sharpening focus, expanding capabilities
As we head into our second year with ABM for Good, we’ve been reflecting on the work we’ve done, what we’ve heard from nonprofit and corporate social impact leaders, and how we can deliver even more value next year.
Looking ahead, it seems clear that the complex social, economic, and political turmoil that defined 2025 is far from over. For the nonprofits that we work with, this translates into increased pressure, heightened scrutiny, and greater competition for limited resources. As such, the need for ABM- style approaches—ones that help nonprofits prioritize and grow support from high-potential funders and sponsors—seems greater than ever.
To maximize our impact in 2026, we’re focusing on three simple questions:
What types of organizations are the best fit for our approach?
What ABM for Good offerings can deliver the most value?
How can we improve the way we deliver value?
Best fit organizations
Through our first year, we’ve refined how we assess whether or not a nonprofit is a strong fit for ABM for Good. Four questions now guide our thinking:
Size and sophistication: Is the organization large and mature enough to implement an ABM approach (but not so large that pro bono support isn’t meaningful)?
Development strategy: Is the nonprofit focused, at least in part, on building the types of high-value, long-term partnerships for which ABM has proven so effective in the business world?
Issue focus: Does the organization work in one or more of our priority areas: sustainability and climate resilience, community and local development, or civic engagement?
Commitment: Are there champions and executive sponsors willing to commit the time and energy required to adopt and sustain a new approach?
Of these, commitment is the most important. As many of us have learned in the business world, ABM requires a mindset shift away from traditional mass appeal tactics along with the patience to test, learn, and iterate the new approach. Without this commitment, even well-designed programs can stall before reaching their full potential.
Core offerings
Building on our early work, we’re moving into 2026 with three primary ways to support nonprofits:
ABM strategy and activation: In-depth consulting engagements designed to develop and activate an ABM approach. These typically include a 6-12-week sprint covering an organizational assessment, an ABM charter and focus, a prioritized list of high-potential sponsors and partners, an initial campaign plan, and ongoing coaching and review.
ABM exploratory workshops: Hands-on collaborative sessions that introduce the ABM for Good approach and help teams apply it in a practical, tailored way. Workshops typically run 4-8 hours (plus pre- and post-work) and focus on partner priorities, stakeholder mapping, messaging frameworks, and targeted engagement plans.
ABM mini projects: For nonprofits that aren’t ready for a full ABM program, these shorter, tactical engagements focus on one or two ABM building blocks, e.g., aligning development and communications, building high-priority sponsor lists, crafting customized value propositions, or personalizing campaign plans and activities.
As in Year One, all ABM for Good work remains 100% volunteer-led and pro bono.
Value delivery
Expanding our impact also means getting better at how we deliver our work. Some of this is classic consulting discipline: more upfront research, clearer expectations, stronger collaboration, and more actionable deliverables. We all know this but applying them consistently takes clear intention.
It also means growing our capabilities: Building a stronger knowledgebase, making better use of delivery partners, assembling the right teams for each engagement, and integrating AI more thoughtfully into our work.
In 2026, our focus is on solidifying our methodologies and core assets, expanding our volunteer and partner network, and continuing to learn from every project and conversation.
If you’re interested in volunteering, partnering, or learning more, we’d love to hear from you!
*Our next ABM for Good volunteer call is February 10, 12-1pm ET.