2026 Lane Reports

The Biggest Threat to Nonprofits Isn't a Lack of Money
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
America does not have a nonprofit funding problem. It has a nonprofit dependence problem. Every year, Americans donate hundreds of billions of dollars to charitable organizations. Foundations distribute billions more. Governments contract with nonprofits to provide essential services. Corporations sponsor social initiatives. Major donors establish...
The Metrics That Move Missions: Essential KPIs Every Social Enterprise Should Track
Monday, August 3, 2026
Social enterprises live at the crossroads of purpose and performance. The only way to know whether they are succeeding is to measure what matters. The best organizations don't drown in spreadsheets. They focus on a handful of Key Performance Indicators that reveal whether their mission is producing real results. When One Acre Fund tracks changes in farmer...
Data Science With Purpose: A Commitment to the Public Good
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Data science has become one of the most influential forces shaping modern life. With that influence comes a responsibility to use it in service of the public good. Across the world, public‑interest technologists and civic‑tech organizations are already demonstrating what responsible, community‑centered data work can achieve. Code for America partners...
America’s Most Ignored Crisis of Violence—and How to Reverse It
Monday, June 1, 2026
The United States pours extraordinary attention and resources into the violence that is rare -- including terrorism, mass attacks, geopolitical threats -- while neglecting the violence that is common. The everyday harms that shape American life come not from foreign enemies but from homicides concentrated in a handful of neighborhoods, from partners who...
Accelerating the Circular Economy: Why Speed Matters Now
Monday, May 11, 2026
The idea of a circular economy has been circulating for years, but the urgency behind it has never been sharper. As global demand for materials rises and waste volumes climb, the old linear model of producing, consuming, and discarding is hitting its limits. A circular approach—where products are designed to last, materials are kept in circulation,...
Rethinking Giving: The Rise of Regenerative Philanthropy
Friday, April 10, 2026
For decades, philanthropy has been framed as a way to solve problems, a mechanism for directing resources toward the most urgent needs. But a growing movement is challenging that paradigm, arguing that traditional giving often reinforces the very systems that create inequity in the first place. Enter regenerative philanthropy, a mindset shift that’s...
Illinois Offers Relief to Charities Facing Declining Donations
Monday, March 2, 2026
Charitable giving in Illinois has been declining in recent years, driven by economic uncertainty, donor skepticism and broader national trends. Among those trends, high inflation has reduced donors’ disposable income. As a result, nearly 74% of Illinois nonprofits report job vacancies, and many have longer waitlisted for services. Inevitably. staffing...
MIGHT TAX-DAY CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS BE IN OUR FUTURE?
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
The impact of last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act on charitable tax deductions, particularly for high-income donors, has prompted scholars and policymakers alike to rethink the incentives around charitable giving. Starting this year, only charitable gifts exceeding 0.5% of a taxpayer’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) will be deductible, so if...
Ex-Aurora Mayor Backed $450K Line of Credit Without Council Approval; Nonprofit Leader Racked Up Charges at ATMs and Strip Clubs
Friday, January 2, 2026
Entrepreneurial nonprofits and for-profit social enterprises alike are embracing the opportunities the Low-profit Limited Liability Company (L3C) offers. It can facilitate impact investments, optimize tax efficiency, and attract mission-aligned stakeholders. But what the L3C can’t do is help its managers dodge their fiduciary responsibilities. ...


Capital & Conscience
Driving Change Through Law, Capital, and Policy
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Announcing Marc J. Lane's 35th Book:

The Mission-Driven Venture: Business Solutions to the World's Most Vexing Social Problems

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