Research

A five-state effort to understand the capacity of nonprofits in the Northwest produced two studies to date: the comprehensive 2024 Survey of Capacity and the 2026 Deep Dive into evaluation capacity.

The 2024 Survey of Capacity was conducted to provide a scan of nonprofits throughout the 5-state region, providing a snapshot of relative strength in 10 core capacities.

The 2026 Deep Dive was a qualitative study to explore the dynamics of the lowest rated capacity for 4 of the 5 participating states: evaluating impact

Study 2 — the 2026 report

Study 1 — the 2024 report

Explore by state

Study • 2026

Interviews with nonprofit leaders in each state, late 2025–early 2026, conducted by each state association with Dialogues In Action. Interviews recorded, transcribed, analyzed for themes; identifying details removed.

How: the 2026 Evaluation Impact studies

- evaluation practice
- culture of learning
- program adaptation
- listening to diverse voices
- making the case
- vision for the future
110+ nonprofit leaders sampled for representation across nonprofit size, subsector, region, and type ofcommunity served.

Study • 2024

How: the 2024 Five-State Capacity Survey

Designed Spring 2024; administered by the five associations, their partners, and the Trust. Scaled and open-ended items; six indicators for each of ten capacity domains.

- Mission
- People
- Governance
- Culture
- Strategy
- Resource
- Evaluation
- Operations
- Engagement
- Partnership
- 967 responses;
- 62% executive directors;
- budgets from under $100K to $20M+;
- early, developing and advanced-stage organizations;
- sectors from arts to human services.

Why

Charitable nonprofits represent the best traits of the people of the Northwest states — Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Nonprofits keep our communities vibrant and healthy. They create and magnify public benefits, catalyze opportunities to participate in civic affairs, and enrich cultural life.

Nonprofits are a powerful network of organizations and change agents creating positive systemic change. They provide much-needed services, address inequities, and create innovative solutions to community issues. Nonprofits also generate significant economic impact in our states and communities.

Because the nonprofit sector is vital to the flourishing of communities throughout the Northwest, the capacity of nonprofits is critical.

Guided by the shared leadership of the five state nonprofit associations, The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust first brought the Northwest state nonprofit associations together to build a tool for evaluating whether capacity-building services strengthen nonprofits over the long term. The findings held up, but the lasting result was the partnership itself. The five associations have chosen to keep working together ever since, each independent, joining forces when it makes sense. This research is one product of that partnership. [Read the story →]