Strength in Sight
State of Miami’s Nonprofit Sector 2025
What Generosity Reveals About Miami’s Nonprofit Sector
The Power of Miami Nonprofits
Miami-Dade nonprofits operate the vital services our community depends on, from hospitals to schools, housing programs, food banks, faith-based spaces, and disaster response networks. With 2,541 active nonprofit organizations generating $20.5 billion in annual revenue and employing nearly 77,000 people, Miami-Dade ranks first in Florida for both nonprofit organizations and employees. These organizations make up 5.5% of our workforce and are essential to how Miami thrives.[1]
Nonprofits provide residents across the region with connection and enrichment for our well-being. They help us build the fabric of Miami – our sense of belonging and trust in one another.
Why We Need This Data
To support Miami’s nonprofit sector effectively, we first need to understand it. Locally-gathered data is more valuable than ever, as several major federal datasets have been removed or discontinued in the past year, limiting access to reliable data on issues like public health and food security.[2] That’s why we turned to Give Miami Day, Miami’s largest annual giving day, as a source of insight into the sector.
Using this data to inform action is how we move from well-meaning generosity to strategic investment that builds power, resilience, and sustainability where our communities need it most.
1,466 nonprofits shared data with us through the registration process for Give Miami Day, the country’s largest single-city giving day, collected August-October 2025.3 While not every nonprofit in Miami-Dade participates, this dataset represents the largest and most current pulse of the sector available.
3. You can view the 2026 Give Miami Day registration questions here.
Miami’s Nonprofit Landscape
Half of Nonprofits Operate on Annual Budgets Under $250K
Small nonprofits, organizations with annual budgets under $250,000, make up half of Miami’s nonprofit ecosystem.4 Small does not mean startup: nearly three-quarters (72%) of small nonprofits have been operating for more than 5 years.
4. For the purposes of this analysis, small nonprofits have annual operating budgets under $250,000; medium nonprofits, $250,000–$2.5M; and large nonprofits, greater than $2.5M.
Organization Overview
Nonprofit Organizations by Operating Budget Size, 2025
Note: Small nonprofits have annual operating budgets under $250,000; medium nonprofits, $250,000–$2.5M; and large nonprofits, greater than $2.5M.
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
One-Third of Miami Nonprofits Have No Full-Time Staff
About one-third of Miami’s nonprofits operate without any full-time staff, relying on volunteers, part-time staff, or a mix of both to carry out their work. This is most common among small nonprofits, which make up the majority of this group.
73% of all nonprofits reported having five or fewer full-time staff.
Workforce Overview
Full-Time Staff by Nonprofit Budget Size, 2025
Note: Small nonprofits have annual operating budgets under $250,000; medium nonprofits, $250,000–$2.5M; and large nonprofits, greater than $2.5M.
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Nonprofit Leadership Has Become More Diverse
Nonprofit leadership has become more diverse over time, from around 57% leaders of color in 2021 to 63% in 2025.
Leadership & Equity
Diversity in Nonprofit Leadership, 2021-2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Miami’s Nonprofits Serve a Wide Range of the Community and Its Needs
Our nonprofits serve the cross-section of Miami-Dade County and its 34 municipalities across a number of issue areas. The majority of nonprofits serve broad populations: 54% serve the general population, and a similar share serve youth and children.
About one-third of nonprofits provide education and youth related programming, with the next largest categories serving arts and culture (17.1%) and health and wellness (13.9%) needs. [5] These three have accounted for the majority of Miami nonprofits over the last several years.
Other insights emerge when looking over the last five years of data. Nonprofits doing community care work, which includes mental health, housing support, foster care services, and senior care, have declined as a share of the overall pool, from 14.8% in 2021 to 10% in 2025.[6]
5. Descriptions of each of these mission or issue area categories are available at https://www.givemiamiday.org/p/categorydescriptions. Nonprofits self-categorize their mission area annually during the Give Miami Day registration process.
6. It is difficult to know if this is explained by shifts in the nonprofit sector overall or in how organizations self-categorize and report their mission area.
Organizations serving low-income communities are growing more slowly than the ecosystem overall. Nonprofits serving low-income individuals and families declined as a proportion of the ecosystem, from 40% in 2023 to 36% in 2025. But the absolute number of these organizations grew, from 495 to 527 over that same period.
This might suggest that while the nonprofit sector is expanding overall, growth is concentrated more in general-population programming than in organizations specifically serving low-income communities.
Sector Overview
Nonprofit Organizations by Mission Area, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Nonprofit Funding Health
Most Nonprofits Operate with Limited Budget Flexibility
Budget flexibility relates to the ability of nonprofits to make decisions about where to allocate their funds, and that flexibility depends on whether their funding comes with restrictions. Restricted funding means a donor or grantor specifies exactly what their contribution can be used for, such as a program, a project, a specific expense, as opposed to unrestricted or general operating support, which a nonprofit can allocate wherever it’s needed most.
More than half of Miami’s nonprofits operate with limited budget flexibility, which we define as having anywhere from 0 to 50% of an annual budget being unrestricted or fully flexible. Only about one-third have high flexibility, where more than 76% of their budget is unrestricted.
Financial Flexibility
Percent of Unrestricted Budget, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
That constraint hits some organizations harder than others: Black- and Latino-led organizations are less likely to have flexible budgets compared to white-led organizations. More than half of Black-led nonprofits (56%) and nearly half of Latino-led nonprofits (45%) report having low budget flexibility, compared to 33% of white-led organizations.
Equity & Finance
Budget Flexibility by Nonprofit Leadership Race/Ethnicity, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Financial Structure
Percent of Budget Under Reimbursement Model, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
One-Quarter of Nonprofits Operate on a High-Risk Funding Model
Nearly 25% of nonprofits rely heavily on reimbursement-based funding, meaning more than one-quarter of their budget arrives only after services are delivered. These organizations deliver services first and wait to be paid back, creating constant cash flow pressure.
For 16% of organizations, reimbursement funding is their dominant revenue source (51% or more of their budget), making them especially vulnerable to payment delays or cuts.
More Than Half of Miami Nonprofits Have Three Months or Less of Cash Reserves
More than half of Miami nonprofits are operating with three months or less of cash reserves, including nearly one in five with a month or less on hand. That risk is not evenly shared: small nonprofits face the steepest exposure, with 27% having a month or less of cash reserves, compared to less than 7% of large nonprofits.
Limited cash reserves translate to organizations having almost no cushion to absorb a delayed grant payment, an unexpected expense, or a donor loss.
Financial Health
Months of Cash Reserves by Nonprofit Size, All vs. Small Nonprofits, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Small nonprofits also have fewer resources to adapt: 24% have fundraising staff, compared to 70% of large organizations.
Capacity Building
Fundraising Staff Availability by Nonprofit Size, 2025
Note: Small nonprofits have annual operating budgets under $250,000; medium nonprofits, $250,000–$2.5M; and large nonprofits, greater than $2.5M.
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Nearly One-Quarter of Nonprofits Faced Public-Sector Budget Cuts
Nearly 23% of Miami nonprofits sustained budget cuts in 2025. Organizations that faced reductions saw the majority coming from state-level grants or contracts (55%). Similarly, 23% of nonprofits anticipate losing public-sector funds through 2026.
Budget Pressures
Source of Budget Cuts, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
The anticipated impacts are serious and structural: program reductions, organizational restructuring, and staffing cuts.
Anticipated Impacts
Anticipated Impact of Budget Cuts, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Cuts by Mission Area
Source of Budget Cuts by Mission Area, 2025
Note: Miami-Dade County partially restored some arts and culture funding after this survey period (which closed in October 2025).
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Arts & Culture Absorbed the Most Cuts
Of all organizations that reported cuts in 2025, 39% were Arts & Culture nonprofits, followed by Education & Youth (23%) and Health & Wellness (13%).
This concentration in Arts & Culture is notable given that it represents 17% of the overall nonprofit ecosystem.
Large Nonprofits Face the Greatest Exposure to This Year’s Federal Funding Cuts
Nonprofits of different sizes face different financial vulnerabilities in this period of reduced federal, state, and county funding. Large nonprofits (annual budgets over $2.5M) are more exposed to federal funding cuts than smaller organizations: 46% of large nonprofits reported receiving federal funding, compared to nearly 11% of medium and nearly 2% of small organizations.
Nearly 81% of small organizations do not receive any public-sector funding sources.
Funding Landscape
Percent of Nonprofits by Budget Size and Public-Sector Funding Source, 2025
Note: Small nonprofits have annual operating budgets under $250,000; medium nonprofits, $250,000–$2.5M; and large nonprofits, greater than $2.5M.
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
One in Four Disaster-Response Nonprofits Faced Budget Cuts
Miami faces mounting climate-related risk: the frequency of high-tide flooding in Miami Beach alone has increased more than 400% since 2006,[7] and the region continues to face hurricanes, extreme heat, and sea-level rise.
Miami nonprofits across mission areas provide critical services before, during, and after disasters. At a time when federal disaster funding has faced delays, cancellations, and new eligibility requirements,[8] Miami nonprofits are especially exposed. More than one out of every four Miami nonprofits that provide disaster-related services absorbed budget cuts last year.
Disaster Resilience
Budget Cuts Among Nonprofits Providing Disaster-Related Services, by Service Type, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
About 16% of Miami’s nonprofits provide disaster-related services. Among those doing disaster work, capacity is heavily concentrated in short-term response, with 74% providing short-term disaster relief. About half, or 53%, focus on disaster preparation, and 18% work on long-term disaster recovery.[9]
9. Organizations often work across more than one phase of disaster response. Learn more about The Miami Foundation’s work to support our region’s nonprofit disaster resilience work: https://miamifoundation.org/miamis-priorities/disaster-resilience/.
509% growth from 2015 to 2025
389% growth from 2015 to 2025
251% growth from 2015 to 2025
The State of Generosity in Miami
Miami Has Responded: Record Levels of Giving in 2025
For years, Miami has ranked among the least charitable metro areas in the country.10 Give Miami Day was founded in 2012 to help change that. Thanks to our community’s generosity, it has since grown into the country’s largest single-city giving day, generating a rich annual source of data on generosity in this region.
In 2025, that growth reached a new high: record numbers of donations and participation, with more than 60,000 households raising $43.8M in fully flexible, unrestricted funds for nonprofits across Miami-Dade County. That growth has been a decade-long trend. Since 2015, both the number of Give Miami Day donors and the dollars raised have climbed year after year, reflecting a community showing up for its nonprofits more over time.
10. Source: Based on AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America survey; see https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/is-miami-the-surly-city-metro-area-ranks-among-the-least-helpful-cities-in-the-country/3012166/.
What Miami’s Generosity Supports
Education & Youth nonprofits received nearly 40% of 2025 donations, even though they make up about 33% of all nonprofits. Community Care nonprofits saw the same dynamic, receiving 15% of donations though they comprise 10% of all nonprofits.
Where Giving Went
Percentage of Total Dollars Raised by Mission Area, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Data since 2021 also show the shifts in donor behavior over time. For example, Education & Youth and Arts & Culture nonprofits have generally ranked among the top-funded Give Miami Day mission areas over the past two years. Human Rights, Advocacy, & Civic Engagement nonprofits received a larger share of donations in 2023 and 2024, but returned to earlier levels in 2025.
Giving Trends
Percentage of Total Dollars Raised by Mission Area, 2021 – 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Small Gifts Drive Transaction Volume, While Large Gifts Drive Dollars
Give Miami Day is powered by the volume of small gifts combined with large donors who drive the financial scale of the day. Across all mission areas, the majority of donations (by transaction count) were under $100. The next largest category were donations under $250.
Gift Size Patterns
Donations by Mission Area and Donation Amount (as Percentage of the Number of Donations), 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
- Donations of $25, the minimum giving amount, were the most popular, accounting for 30% of all transactions by count
- Donations under $100 accounted for nearly 7% of total dollars raised
- Donations under $1,000 accounted for 23% of total dollars raised
Gift Size Patterns
Donations by Mission Area & Donation Amount (as Percentage of Total Dollars Raised), 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Grassroots Giving
Donations by Annual Operating Budget Size and Donation Range, 2025
Note: Small nonprofits have annual operating budgets under $250,000; medium nonprofits, $250,000–$2.5M; and large nonprofits, greater than $2.5M.
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
Small Nonprofits Lead on Grassroots Support
Small gifts add up to transformational support, especially for smaller organizations. This is a story about thousands of Miamians giving what they can.
68% of the number of transactions that small nonprofits received were under $100. By comparison, 52% of the number of transactions raised by large nonprofits (budgets over $2.5M) came from donations under $100.
Small organizations have a more grassroots donor base. They attract higher volumes of smaller gifts, showing the importance of deep connections to everyday givers.
The Path Forward
Nonprofits Know What They Need
We asked our nonprofit leaders: “What is the #1 thing, if offered or subsidized, that would serve as a catalyst for your organization’s growth?”
The need for visibility rose to the top (44%) of needs.
Capacity Gaps
Top Needs Identified to Catalyze Organizational Growth, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
- Visibility opportunities: connections to media, platforms to tell their stories, ways to reach new audiences
- Innovative financing: access to loans, lines of credit, endowment-building tools
- Shared services: access to expert consultants including fundraising, grant writing, and accounting/bookkeeping
- Tech infrastructure: software and hardware for programs and operations
Nonprofits Would Pay for Access to Shared Services
Nonprofits shared more insights behind their interest (17%) in fee-based services to catalyze growth. Shared services allow organizations to access fractional support with deep expertise in a particular area, and to pool critical resources in ways that are financially feasible for nonprofits and sustainable for the fractional worker.
The highest demand is for fundraising, grant writing, and accounting and bookkeeping.
Nearly One-Third of Nonprofits Lack Adequate Physical Space
One infrastructure challenge stood out: 30% of nonprofits lack adequate physical space to operate effectively.
Among those needing space, the majority (77%) are seeking community event spaces, meeting rooms, and/or training facilities — not just for collaboration, but to deliver programs, convene stakeholders, and serve their communities.
For many small organizations, the lack of affordable, accessible space is a direct constraint on their ability to grow and meet demand.
Infrastructure
Nonprofits’ Space/Facility Needs, 2025
Source: The Miami Foundation, based on Give Miami Day 2025 data.
* Respondents were able to select multiple options, which is why the bars do not total to 100%. The percentages in the graph represent the percentage of total organizations that selected that option.
Resilience, and the Work Ahead: What We Can Do Together
This data captures Miami nonprofits’ resilience and the real challenges still ahead. Here’s what stood out to us:
- More than half of Miami’s nonprofits operate on budgets under $250,000
- More than half have three months or less of cash reserves on hand
- Nearly one-quarter has faced public-sector budget cuts
- Nonprofit leaders point to visibility and financing as their most pressing unmet needs
The strength was there all along; this data puts it in sight. Every nonprofit behind these numbers is part of the fabric that holds Miami together, and strengthening that fabric takes all of us. Nonprofit leaders told us that visibility is what they need most to grow. We’re asking our Miami community something simple: this year, which local nonprofit will you help spotlight? Get to know them, share their story with a friend, and give if you can.
We, at The Miami Foundation, continue to adapt how we support Miami’s nonprofits:
Community Capital for South Florida: Catalyzing shared prosperity by driving capital toward community development.
Expert access: Pro bono legal support to 40 orgs in 2025, expanding to grant writing and other consulting this year, matching nonprofit leaders’ top-requested shared services.
Visibility support: Funding storytelling videos and media features, because visibility was nonprofit leaders’ #1 named need.
Flexible funding: Community Grants and Give Miami Day 2026 both offer unrestricted support, addressing the budget inflexibility so many nonprofits face.
State of Miami’s Nonprofit Sector powered by:
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