The 2025 Advancement Leaders Playbook

Today’s advancement leaders are navigating mounting pressure with fewer resources. Staffing shortages persist. Donor pipelines are thinning. Expectations for digital, data, and AI sophistication are rising faster than teams can realistically keep up.

To understand how advancement leaders are responding—and where real opportunities exist—EAB surveyed 160+ advancement leaders nationwide. The 2025 Advancement Leaders Playbook distills those findings into a clear view of the challenges shaping advancement today and the strategic moves leaders are making to protect revenue, strengthen pipelines, and build sustainable teams.