CEO Corner: Q1 Reflections on AI, Economic Resilience, and What We’re Watching

Created By: CJ Orr
Updated March 30, 2026

As we close out Q1, even with a cloudy backdrop, I’m encouraged by where philanthropy stands. This quarter brought its share of headlines and uncertainty, but it also reinforced something we’ve believed for a long time: the organizations that stay focused on major gifts, relationships, and fundamentals are the ones that come out ahead.

The Economy: Down From All-Time Market Highs, with Questions Worth Watching

The broader economy entered 2026 on solid footing, though several crosscurrents warrant attention. Equity markets have seen increased volatility, and we’re monitoring whether sustained choppiness begins to affect major gift timing and decision-making, particularly for donors whose wealth is concentrated in public markets.

The conflict in the Middle East is a significant world event with real economic consequences, and we recognize that many people, donors, and nonprofit leaders alike are navigating a heightened sense of uncertainty right now. It’s too early to draw firm conclusions about what this means for philanthropy broadly, and we wouldn’t want to speculate. We’re tracking whether market volatility and donor uncertainty are affecting gift timing and major gift conversations, and we’ll share what we’re seeing as the picture becomes clearer.

On the labor front, unemployment sits at 4.4% and has ticked modestly higher in recent months. That’s not alarming, but it’s a number we’re watching as the AI displacement conversation intensifies.

AI and Jobs: An Honest Assessment

One question we’re hearing frequently from nonprofit leaders: Will AI affect my team? We think the honest answer is: in some roles, yes.

Positions centered on research, writing, and data synthesis are already seeing productivity expectations shift. That doesn’t necessarily mean fewer jobs, but it likely means different ones and a higher bar for what “doing the work” looks like. The broader economic data offers some reassurance: new business formation is up, and historically, productivity-driving technologies have expanded the labor market over time. But historical patterns are cold comfort if your organization is navigating this in real time.

Our view is that relationship-centered work—the kind that drives major gift fundraising—is among the most durable. Not because technology can’t assist it, but because donors give to people and missions they trust, and that trust is built through human interaction. We’re integrating AI into our work precisely to protect that time, not replace it.

The Philanthropic Sector: Focused and Moving Forward

The sector enters Q2 with genuine momentum. The structural conditions—intergenerational wealth transfer, a favorable tax environment, and sustained donor engagement—remain among the strongest we’ve seen in years. We want to be careful not to overstate this: conditions vary significantly by mission area, geography, and donor base. But for organizations positioned to run major gift programs or campaigns, the environment is genuinely favorable.

Two themes are shaping how nonprofit leaders are thinking right now. The first is revenue growth, specifically, how to drive more of it from fewer, deeper donor relationships. The second is operational efficiency, with AI at the center of that conversation. Leaders are asking pointed questions about where technology can save time and reduce cost, and the most productive outcomes we’re seeing across our client portfolio are ones where those savings are reinvested into programs or front-line fundraising capacity.

Orr Group: Growing, Adapting, and Bringing Everyone Along

Q1 brought real growth on our end. We welcomed six new team members to the firm: Kuniya Asobayire, Jennifer Bell, Jericka Handie, Akibu Koroma, Lauren Siegel, and Astha Thapa. Our team will continue to grow in Q2 in response to client demand.

On the AI front, our strategy is simple: use AI to improve the quality of our services and become even better at what we already do well. We’re not chasing disruption for disruption’s sake. We’re building automations, refining our processes, and integrating tools that help our team deliver more for our clients.

And we’re not keeping any of it to ourselves. We’ve been working closely with clients to build automations, share what we’re learning, and bring them along the journey with us. We conducted over 50 AI training sessions in 2025, and we’re continuing that work in 2026, not because AI is a talking point but because we think organizations that understand these tools will fundraise more effectively.

Looking Ahead

 The fundamentals supporting major gift fundraising and campaign investment are strong, and we’re encouraged by the strategic focus we’re seeing across the sector. That said, we’re clear-eyed that the environment has real uncertainties — market volatility, geopolitical disruption, and a labor landscape in transition. Our job is to help clients navigate both the opportunity and the complexity. If your organization is weighing a campaign or a shift in development strategy, we’d welcome the conversation.

Here’s to a strong Q2.

CJ Orr is the Chief Executive Officer of Orr Group. As an expert project and relationship manager with 10+ years of experience in the sector, CJ utilizes data, technology, and financially-backed trends to execute on the development of strategies and tactics to drive effective fundraising plans that not only meet, but exceed targets.