A New Blueprint for Nonprofit Survival and Growth

BURLINGTON, MA – March 03, 2026 – In a direct response to the mounting financial pressures squeezing the nonprofit sector, NEACH Payments Group (NPG) and Greg Nanigian & Associates (GNA) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at providing a comprehensive lifeline to organizations struggling to stay afloat. The collaboration merges modern payment solutions with professional fundraising training, creating a holistic model designed to bolster nonprofit resilience and sustainability.

This initiative arrives at a critical juncture for the charitable world. While facing increased demand for their services, many nonprofits are caught in a perfect storm of rising operational costs, fluctuating government support, and evolving donor behavior. The new partnership seeks to address these challenges head-on by tackling two fundamental pillars of nonprofit viability: the technology used to collect donations and the human skills required to solicit them.

A Sector Under Pressure

The financial landscape for nonprofits has become increasingly treacherous. While total charitable giving in the U.S. saw a nominal increase in recent years, when adjusted for inflation, the value of those donations actually declined by over 2%, eroding the purchasing power of vital funds. This inflationary pressure is compounded by rising operational expenses, creating a difficult financial reality for organizations of all sizes.

Data from the Nonprofit Finance Fund paints a stark picture, with a recent survey revealing that more than a third of nonprofits ended the year with an operating deficit—the highest rate in a decade. More alarmingly, over half reported having three months or less of cash on hand, leaving them dangerously exposed to any unexpected disruption in funding. This precarity is exacerbated by shifts in giving patterns, with a long-term decline in the share of donations coming from individuals, and uncertainty surrounding government funding, which many organizations rely on.

Simultaneously, donor expectations have fundamentally changed. The modern donor expects the same seamless, secure, and convenient digital experience when making a charitable contribution as they do in any other transaction. Yet, many nonprofits have been slow to adapt, with studies showing a significant portion still do not offer popular digital wallet options like Apple Pay or Google Pay, creating friction in the giving process and potentially losing out on crucial support, especially from younger demographics.

A Dual-Pronged Approach to Sustainability

The partnership between NEACH Payments Group and Greg Nanigian & Associates, an affiliate of the Sandler training network, is structured to address this complex environment with a two-pronged strategy. It pairs the “how” of collecting money with the “why” and “who” of fundraising.

NEACH Payments Group, a respected authority in the payments industry, brings deep expertise in optimizing electronic payment systems. Rather than acting as a direct payment processor, NPG serves as a strategic advisor, helping nonprofits navigate the complex world of digital transactions. This includes implementing efficient and secure systems for accepting electronic funds, particularly through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, which is ideal for establishing stable, recurring donation programs.

“Making it easy for people to give is no longer optional — it’s essential,” said Sean Carter, President & CEO of NEACH Payments Group, in the announcement. “Electronic payments and recurring donation options reduce friction in the giving process and help nonprofits build more predictable, sustainable funding streams.”

Complementing this technological guidance is the human-centric approach of Greg Nanigian & Associates. GNA provides the “Fundraising Success Series,” a set of interactive workshops designed to equip nonprofit staff with the art and science of effective donor engagement. The training focuses on practical skills, from building rapport and communicating an organization's value to confidently and effectively soliciting donations.

“Donor engagement requires not only passion for your cause, but also skill, behavior, and resilience,” noted Greg Nanigian. “We help executive directors and donor engagement teams build those competencies so they can succeed in today’s demanding fundraising environment.”

Closing the Digital and Skills Divide

This integrated model directly targets a pervasive weakness in the nonprofit sector: a chronic underinvestment in both technology and professional development. For years, organizations have been forced to do more with less, often leaving them with outdated systems and overworked staff. The struggle to recruit and retain talent is a significant challenge, with recent surveys indicating nearly three-quarters of nonprofits have job vacancies, citing salary and competition as major barriers.

By providing access to both state-of-the-art payment strategies and professional skills training, the NPG-GNA collaboration offers a pathway to alleviate some of this pressure. Efficient payment systems can automate administrative tasks, freeing up valuable staff time to focus on mission-critical work and relationship-building. At the same time, empowering staff with proven fundraising techniques can boost their confidence, improve results, and increase job satisfaction, potentially mitigating the high rates of burnout that plague the sector.

Organizations like the Boston Center for Pregnancy Choice, T.R.U.E. Diversity, and the Michael J. Dias Foundation are already participating in the Fundraising Success Series, signaling an appetite for this kind of skills-based support. The partnership’s holistic approach recognizes that a new payment portal is only as effective as the fundraising team that drives donors to it.

Ultimately, this collaboration serves as a blueprint for how cross-sector expertise can be combined to create a more powerful and comprehensive solution. It acknowledges that for nonprofits to not only survive but thrive, they need more than just a digital donation button; they need a sophisticated and well-supported strategy that marries technological efficiency with the timeless power of human connection.