The 2013 study, UnderDeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising, revealed that many nonprofits are stuck in a vicious cycle that threatens their ability to raise the resources they need to succeed.

A joint project of CompassPoint and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the report found high levels of turnover and lengthy vacancies in development director positions throughout the sector. More significantly, the study reveals deeper issues that contribute to instability in the development director role, including a lack of basic fundraising systems and inadequate attention to fund development among key board and staff leaders.