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William Blair’s Nonprofit Practice

Empowering nonprofit resilience.

Philanthropic giving has reached historic highs, trillions of dollars are expected to transfer across generations in the coming years, and public charities are being called upon to address increasingly complex social, educational, environmental, and community needs. William Blair’s nonprofit practice enables us to help both funders and public charities build enduring financial resilience, thoughtfully steward their resources, and strengthen their capacity to advance impact for generations to come.

By serving the public charities that receive and deploy charitable investments, we have a unique opportunity to help nonprofit leaders build financial strength, improve organizational sustainability, and maximize the impact of every philanthropic dollar invested in them. Our nonprofit practice equips public charities with resources, tools, insights, and networks needed to achieve long-term resiliency and mission success.

Through sophisticated advisory expertise, thought leadership, and sector convenings, we help nonprofit leaders navigate complexity, strengthen stewardship, and position their organizations for sustainable growth.

About Us

Supporting Nonprofits at Every Stage of Growth

Public charities exist along a continuum of organizational maturity, ranging from venture and early-stage, founder-led organizations to large, institutionally supported enterprises with complex operations and significant assets. Public charities of all sizes are making important and lasting community impact. Our Nonprofit Practice serves our community partners, clients, and client grantees during each phase of their growth.

Within these public charities, we serve their executive directors, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and Chief Development Officers, as well as their board chairs, chief investment officers, treasurers, finance committees, and development committees.

  • Emerging nonprofits

    Organizations building operational capacity and financial infrastructure. We support emerging nonprofits with practical financial education, board empowerment, and planning tools.

  • Growing nonprofits

    Organizations experiencing growth in assets, donor engagement, and organizational complexity. We help growing nonprofits strengthen financial resiliency strategies, fundraising, capital allocation, and strategic planning.

  • Established nonprofits

    Organizations with sophisticated governance, investment, and fundraising needs. We support institutional and established nonprofits through executive roundtables, strategic convenings, investment policy, and advanced benchmarking and endowment insights.

Partnerships Built on Innovation and Engagement

Our Nonprofit Practice connects organizations to the resources, relationships, and insights needed to strengthen financial health and advance mission impact.

  • Convenings

    Curated convenings that provide opportunities for nonprofit leaders, board members, advisors, and funders to connect, learn, and collaborate with each other and trusted experts in the field of finance and philanthropy.

  • Webinars

    Timely programming with industry experts on topics impacting nonprofit organizations ranging from the global economy, trends in philanthropy, board effectiveness, and technology.

  • Financial Advisory

    Discussions designed to facilitate meaningful dialogue around markets, economics, investment policy, stewardship, and financial sustainability.

  • Thought Leadership

    Research-driven insights that translate complex financial topics into practical actions for nonprofit leaders and boards.

  • Strategic Connections

    Facilitating relationships between nonprofit organizations, philanthropic partners, and professional networks that strengthen organizational capacity.

Why the Nonprofit Practice

Today's Nonprofits Face Increasing Financial Complexity

Nonprofit organizations are navigating increasingly complex environments while raising capacity for their work. The vital nature of their work calls for new fundraising strategies, financial partnership and expertise, strategic guidance, and peer networks. We believe financial resiliency is essential to mission success.

Our Nonprofit Practice was created to serve as a trusted resource for nonprofit executives, board members, finance committees, donors, and philanthropic partners seeking practical insights and strategic perspectives on nonprofit financial resiliency. Our aim is to deploy our expertise and network more broadly to help public charities thrive.

Our Commitment

Supporting Stronger Communities Through Financial Resiliency

The Nonprofit Practice reflects William Blair's commitment to helping communities thrive. By supporting the sector with financial knowledge, strategic connections, and educational resources, we seek to strengthen not only nonprofit organizations, but also the people and communities they serve.

Our Areas of Focus

Helping organizations build financial strength.

  • Governance Excellence

    Supporting effective board leadership, financial oversight, and fiduciary stewardship.

  • Capital Planning

    Helping organizations think strategically about growth, funding, planned giving, the wealth transfer, and investment opportunities.

  • Endowment & Investment Stewardship

    Providing insights that help organizations manage financial resources responsibly for both current and future impact.

  • Innovation & Emerging Trends

    Exploring topics such as artificial intelligence, rising gen philanthropists, the wealth transfer, and evolving philanthropy models.

Featured Programs

Capital Conversations

A series of intimate discussions bringing together nonprofit executives, board leaders, philanthropic investors, and William Blair professionals around today's most pressing organizational challenges.

  • Financial resiliency
  • Board governance
  • Strategic growth
  • Donor engagement
  • Capital markets
  • Technology and AI

Nonprofit Leadership Forums

Our signature annual gathering is designed to inspire and equip nonprofit leaders with actionable strategies, peer connections, and perspectives from across the philanthropic and financial sectors.

  • CEO panels
  • Board leadership discussions
  • Capital markets outlooks
  • Peer learning opportunities
  • Networking experiences

Insights & Resources

Practical Perspectives for Nonprofit Leaders

A year-round digital resource hub featuring actionable content and tools designed specifically for nonprofit organizations.

  • Venture Philanthropy: A New Era of Innovative Giving

    Venture philanthropy bridges traditional giving and impact investing by combining mission-first intent with greater potential, accountability, engagement, and measurement.

    Read more
  • Unlocking Corporate Philanthropy

    William Blair hosted a panel discussion with corporate philanthropy leaders, during which they shared the successful strategies behind their companies' philanthropic efforts and how nonprofits can best engage with corporations.

    Read more
  • High-Performing Nonprofit Boards Driving Sustainability and Success

    From rising program costs and greater demand for services to uncertainty of revenue resulting from federal funding cuts, the fiduciary and strategic role of a nonprofit board is mission-critical for the sustainability and success of an organization.

    Read more
  • Philanthropy Strategy Insights

    Our thought leadership resources are designed to inform, inspire, and empower philanthropists and nonprofits at every stage of their charitable giving journey.

    Read our insights
  • Market and Economic Insights

    Our timely perspectives on macro events and market trends shaping the global financial markets.

    Read our insights

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Our Team

  • lauracoy

    Laura Coy

    Partner, Head of Philanthropy and Sustainability

    +1 312 364 8037
    View profile
  • Nancy Bonges

    Nancy Bonges

    Director of Community Engagement

    +1 312 364 5292
    View profile
  • William Blair "WB"

    Becky Altman

    Manager and Philanthropic Advisor

    +1 312 364 8042
    View profile

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For disclosure information, please visit www.williamblair.com/disclosures