Leading Through Uncertainty: Strategies for Advancement Leaders in 2026

Over the last year, university advancement organizations have been navigating through significant challenges: NIH funding concerns, institutional budget cuts, hiring freezes, and staff morale and motivation issues.

Advancement leadership has always required heart, strategy, and courage.

As budgets continue to shift and the urgency of our work remains, here’s how you can lead your advancement team through continued uncertainty in 2026:

• Communicate clearly and compassionately (even when you don’t have all the answers).

  Your team looks to you for steadiness. Provide context when possible. Give your staff timely talking points on how to talk with donors about the university’s opportunities and challenges, and model the calm, confident presence they can rely on.

• Stay focused on your mission and values.

  When priorities shift, your purpose becomes even more important. Let your institution’s mission and your team’s values be the guidepost for decisions, messaging, and fundraising strategy.

• Prioritize your team.

  Your leadership matters more than your strategy. Make time for your team members, even when it’s hard to come by. Remind them of the challenges you’ve already successfully overcome together. Create space for honest conversations about what they’re hearing from donors and campus partners, while still moving forward toward your goals.

• Support team resilience and wellbeing.
  When working through ongoing change, offer ways to increase recognition and ownership, both of which research shows contribute to engagement and retention. Recognize progress and small wins. Help people feel seen, not only for what they do, but for who they are.

• Lead for efficiency without losing connection.

  Yes, budgets are tightening, and this is your chance to reinforce connections by engaging team members in change. Reevaluate processes and priorities together with your team. Streamline where possible, but keep investing in what keeps your culture strong: trust, collaboration, and learning.

These challenging moments reaffirm why I made this Bold Move: to support higher education advancement leaders through joy and challenge—and everything in between.

Together we’re redefining leadership in our profession:

• We believe how we get the best of each other in our organizations is the work.

• We have the important conversations, even when we don’t have all the words.

• We lead with both compassion and directness.

• We care deeply about each other and our organizations.

• We don’t have all the answers, but we commit to figuring them out together.

In the ultimate AND moment for all of us, as you navigate these challenges, may you also find moments that remind you of your calling—and may you achieve more than you ever thought possible.

This post was originally published in March 2025 and updated January 2026 with new insights to support advancement leaders and teams through continued uncertainty.

Hocking Leadership helps you lead your team through the uncertainty with clarity, confidence, and compassion, so you can maintain your fundraising momentum at a time when your university needs it most. Message me to schedule a confidential conversation.