Nonprofit Talent Trends Q4 2025
In Q4 2025, our latest analysis of recruitment activity in the Irish nonprofit sector evidences a decrease in the number of senior management opportunities being advertised versus Q4 of the previous year. Through assessment of a range of websites and job platforms, 2into3 has identified 183 management roles that were advertised by 151 organisations – a 19% decrease compared to 186 organisations in Q4 2024.
Activity by Subsector
In Q4 2024, alike previous years, the trend of organisations advertising roles anonymously remained present. As 22 of the 151 organisations that advertised were anonymous, the breakdown of roles by subsector below is based on 129 known organisations.
Roles by Subsector:
We saw less movement in the Local Development and Housing Subsector, with a 44% decrease in recorded advertised roles (from 41 in Q4 2024 to 23 in Q4 2025) and in the Philanthropy and Voluntarism Subsector, with a 58% reduction in recorded advertised roles versus Q4 2024 (down to 5 in Q4 2025 from 12 in Q4 2024). Other subsectors saw a stable or consistent number of advertised roles.
Activity by Role Function
Our data reveals increased demand for those with Fundraising, Business Development, and CEO skillsets. Fundraising and Business Development saw a small increase from 13% of roles advertised in Q4 2024 to19% of roles advertised in Q4 2025, signalling an organisational focus on investment into diversifying income streams and/or movement of fundraisers within the sector.
The proportion of Service Delivery and Operational Management roles recorded dropped from 51% in Q4 2024 to 38% of recorded roles in Q4 2025, while the proportion of recorded CEO/Executive Director positions doubled, from 6% in Q4 2024 to 12% in Q4 2025, which aligns with the volume of CEO leadership transitions we have witnessed in recent months which has resulted in a more competitive market for boards engaging in CEO recruitment.
Activity by Income Type
Excluding those where such information was not available, either because the role was posted anonymously or the organisation does not disclose its income, noteworthy findings were made regarding the income of 113 known organisations in Q4 2025. Of those, 40 (35%) organisations have an annual income of over €10 million, while 19 (17%) organisations have an annual income of less than €1 million.
Key Observations
Our Q4 2025 data points to a sector in transition, with organisations appearing to prioritise essential strategic leadership and income generation roles over operational expansion.
The doubling of CEO recruitment activity suggests a significant generational shift at the executive level, while the marked increase in fundraising roles indicates that boards are investing in long-term financial sustainability amid an evolving funding landscape.
Posting these findings at the beginning of 2026, we can anecdotally share that we have witnessed renewed momentum and growth within the sector, so while overall volume of recruitment slowed in Q4 2025 versus Q4 2024, this likely reflects a more considered approach to talent investment rather than sector-wide retrenchment.
Get in Touch
Our Talent Management Team monitors senior hiring across the nonprofit sector and publishes quarterly insights. To explore previous Nonprofit Talent Trends Reports, visit our Talent Insights page. For more information, contact Shannon Barrett, Principal – Talent Services, at Shannon.barrett@2into3.com.
