Florida Nonprofit Alliance Survey Reveals Pay is the Top Workforce Challenge for Florida Nonprofits, Even as Benefits and Flexibility Hold Steady

First ever comprehensive study of nonprofit compensation and benefits in Florida finds 70% of organizations that struggle to hire can’t match candidates’ salary expectations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Compensation has emerged as the leading workforce challenge for Florida’s nonprofit organizations, with employers struggling to keep pace with salary expectations as they compete for qualified employees, according to a new study released by the Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA). Conducted in partnership with PeriscopeIQ, the survey drew responses from 395 nonprofit organizations across 35 of Florida’s 67 counties, offering the sector’s most complete benchmark for salaries, benefits and workforce trends.

“Florida’s nonprofits are competing for talent in the same labor market as businesses and government employers, but they often face very different financial constraints,” said Sabeen Perwaiz, president and CEO of Florida Nonprofit Alliance. “This research gives nonprofit leaders comprehensive Florida-specific data they can use to evaluate salaries, benefits and workplace practices, a resource they have not had before. It also helps funders, boards and community partners better understand what it takes to recruit and retain the skilled professionals that nonprofits need to deliver essential services.”

Key findings of the 2026 Compensation and Benefits Survey Report include:

• Pay is the sector’s central workforce challenge. It is the leading reason positions are hardest to fill (43%) and hardest to retain (48%), and 70% of organizations that struggle to hire cite an inability to match candidates’ expected salaries.
• Nonprofits invest in their employees. More than four in five organizations (82%) gave a raise in 2025, and the typical organization plans a 3% increase this year. Three-quarters of organizations offer medical coverage and two-thirds offer retirement plans.
• Benefits are holding steady. Most organizations kept their benefits package unchanged year-over-year, and improvements (27%) far outnumbered reductions (2%).
• Workplace flexibility is now standard. Hybrid work is the most common arrangement (62%), and where flexibility is offered, it usually extends to all staff rather than select groups. These arrangements also appear durable: 93% of nonprofits do not expect to bring remote or hybrid employees fully back in-person in the next 12 months.
• Leadership is largely stable and locally grown. Approximately 18% had a CEO transition in the past two years, and new executives come overwhelmingly from within the sector (89%) and the local area (84%).

In addition to examining workforce and benefits trends, the 2026 report provides detailed compensation benchmarks for a wide range of nonprofit positions. Organizations can compare compensation based on factors including organizational size, annual budget, geographic region, mission area and, where sufficient data is available, county.

“Competitive compensation is about more than filling open positions,” Perwaiz added. “Nonprofits depend on talented people to serve communities across Florida. Having credible market data allows organizations and their boards to make thoughtful decisions about investing in those employees and building organizations that can remain strong over the long term.”

To read the full report, click here.

About the Florida Nonprofit Alliance
The Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA) is the Florida state association of nonprofits focused on research, collaboration and advocacy. Our mission is to advance Florida's nonprofits as their advocate and collective voice. We work at the state and national levels, educating elected officials and constituents, and serve as a central resource and referral center for and about nonprofits. Florida's nonprofit sector is a powerful economic driver. The state’s 23,224 nonprofits employ more than 517,550 people and pay annual wages of nearly $35 billion. This equates to 5.2% of Florida's workforce, in line with the state’s construction and manufacturing sectors. For more information, visit www.flnonprofits.org.