The 2025-2026 Moving Toward Equity Survey & Report: A compensation, benefits, & work culture study for RVA nonprofits.
Written by Esther Nand
Introduction
We’re excited to share that the 2025–2026 Moving Toward Equity Survey and Report, a compensation, benefits, and work culture study for RVA nonprofits is underway! This second addition of this survey and report is supported by a collaboration of local funders. Its goals are threefold:
- Educate RVA nonprofit employers on how their pay, benefits, and practices position them in their local market.
- Provide quality data that helps make impactful board presentations and educate funders.
- Enable nonprofit employers to better recruit and retain employees by making strategic changes to their pay, benefits, and work culture.
The 2023-2024 report proved to be a valuable tool for local nonprofit employers. In a recent survey of nonprofit leaders who participated in the last study, 100% of respondents confirmed that their organization would be interested in participating in another Compensation, Benefits, and Work Culture survey of RVA nonprofits. In its next iteration, we face new challenges, and our hope is that the 2026 report will be instrumental in showing the true cost of doing business and local market demand, as well as serving as a tool for setting priorities during periods of downsizing and contraction.
Registration is now open to participate in the 2025–2026 survey. The survey will be released on January 5, 2026, and those who participate will receive a copy of the full report once the data has been gathered and analyzed. The next report is scheduled for publication in Spring 2026.
If you’d like to register to participate and receive the survey findings, click here. ** Participation is completely free. **
The 2026 Report Structure
As in the 2024 report, the 2026 report will continue to evaluate foundational pieces of compensation, recruitment and retention, including data on benefits, pay practices, and work culture. In addition, the 2026 report will provide a legal memorandum of federal and state updates designed for nonprofit leaders, and evaluate pay for 28 key positions, including:
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- Executive Director
- Finance Director
- Accounting Manager
- Accounting Clerk
- Human Resources Director
- Human Resources Generalist/Manager
- Communications Director
- Communications Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Volunteer Manager
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Development Director
- Development Manager
- Development Specialist
- Grant Administrator
- Grant Writer
- Grants and Contracts Manager
- Operations Director
- Operations Manager
- Administrative Assistant
- Policy Analysis Director
- Policy Analyst
- Program Director
- Program Manager
- Case Manager (4 types)
Meet the Funders and Task Force
We are grateful for the 2026 report’s funders: the Bob and Anna Lou Schaberg Foundation, the Community Foundation, the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, and the Robins Foundation. We are proud to have designed the survey with the input of the 2026 report’s task force:
- Beth Vann-Turnbull, Housing Families First
- Elvira de la Cruz, Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center
- Dionne Henderson, Partnership for the Future
- Karen Legato, Health Brigade
- Katina Williams, United Way
- Rachael Deane, Voices for Virginia’s Children
- Robert Bolling, ChildSavers
- Sheree Hedrick, Hanover Safe Place
***
Warren Whitney consultant Esther Nand oversees the implementation of this project. Esther works with organization leaders to strategically evaluate the best path forward. In addition to collaborating on projects, she provides a range of HR consulting services and solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each organization. Esther’s expertise includes nonprofit HR, planning, project management, and policy development. If you would like to learn more about our services, please call us at 804.282.9566 or email Kyle Ficker at kficker@warrenwhitney.com. We do not charge for the initial call. We want to learn more about your business needs.
MAKING POTENTIAL HAPPEN
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