What’s on your nonprofit calendar for 2026?
While planning out your organization’s upcoming fundraising campaigns, major events, and communications outreach, it’s important to keep some key dates in mind.
Depending on your audience, mission, and goals, there are a few days – like major holidays – you may want to avoid altogether. On the other hand, recognizing certain holidays or awareness days could extend your reach and improve engagement.
Here, we share a list of nonprofit dates in 2026 that every organization should save on their nonprofit calendar. Plus, find a few tips and tricks to engage your audience throughout the year!
MVP Playbook Resource: Save yourself the hassle of manually entering the dates shared here by downloading our free 2026 Notable Nonprofit Dates Calendar!
2026 U.S. Federal Holidays
The first dates we recommend saving when a new year rolls around? Major holidays!
These holidays are officially recognized by the U.S. government, meaning that most government employees will have the day off. Many other companies are closed for these days as well!
Here are the 11 U.S. federal holidays coming up in 2026:
- New Year’s Day – Thursday, January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 19
- Washington’s Birthday (also known as Presidents’ Day) – Monday, February 16
- Memorial Day – Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – Friday, June 19
- Independence Day – Saturday, July 4 (observed on Friday, July 3 this year)
- Labor Day – Monday, September 7
- Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Monday, October 12
- Veterans Day – Wednesday, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day – Friday, December 25
It’s typically a good idea to avoid scheduling big events or appeals directly on these days. Unless, of course, your mission directly aligns with that holiday! For example, organizations serving veterans could benefit from a celebration or fundraiser held on Veterans Day.
If the holiday is one your audience celebrates, sending a celebratory email or posting on social media could boost your engagement.
More Holidays for Your Nonprofit Calendar
Next up, let’s take note of other holidays that will be celebrated by many people in the U.S. in 2026.
Not everyone will have the day off on these days. But, you’ll still want to be aware of religious gatherings or family celebrations that could be taking place before you set the date for your next gala or trivia night.
Tip from the Playbook: If your mission aligns with a holiday in this list, celebrating it could help you stand out from the crowd. Check out our seasonal fundraiser blogs for several creative ideas you can steal during winter, spring, summer, or fall.
February 2026
- Valentine’s Day – Saturday, February 14
- Ramadan – Anticipated to begin the evening of Wednesday, February 18
- Lent – Begins on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 18
March 2026
- Holi – Wednesday, March 4
- St. Patrick’s Day – Tuesday, March 17
- Eid al-Fitr – Anticipated to end Ramadan the evening of Thursday, March 19
April 2026
- Passover – Begins the evening of Wednesday, April 1
- Good Friday – Friday, April 3
- Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 5
May 2026
- Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 10
- Eid al-Adha – Anticipated to begin Wednesday, May 27
June 2026
- Flag Day – Sunday, June 14
- Father’s Day – Sunday, June 21
September 2026
- Patriot Day – Friday, September 11
- Rosh Hashanah – Begins the evening of Friday, September 11
- Grandparents’ Day – Sunday, September 13
- Yom Kippur – Begins the evening of Sunday, September 20
October 2026
- Halloween – Saturday, October 31
November 2026
- Election Day – Tuesday, November 3
- Diwali – Sunday, November 8
- Black Friday – Friday, November 27
December 2026
- Hanukkah – Begins the evening of Friday, December 4
- Christmas Eve – Thursday, December 24
- Kwanzaa – Begins Saturday, December 26
- New Year’s Eve – Thursday, December 31
Note: Several religious holidays are featured in this list. We recognize that it is not fully inclusive of all religious celebrations – if your audience includes members of a certain religion, we also recommend adding all of their holidays and observances to your nonprofit calendar.
2026 Awareness Days & Giving Days
A great way to boost engagement for your nonprofit is to observe fun awareness days and giving days throughout the year.
For some, simply capitalize on trending topics by posting on social media (do make sure to use any applicable hashtags). On other days – especially those that closely align with your mission – plan an event, fundraising appeal, or volunteer opportunity. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
Here are a few nonprofit-specific awareness days and giving days to be aware of in 2026:
- Tax & Acknowledgement Letters Due to Donors – Saturday, January 31
- Good Deeds Day – Sunday, April 12
- Tax Day – Wednesday, April 15
- Volunteer Recognition Day – Sunday, April 19
- National Volunteer Week – Sunday, April 19 – Saturday, April 25
- National Nonprofit Day – Monday, August 17
- World Humanitarian Day – Wednesday, August 19
- International Day of Charity – Saturday, September 5
- Giving Tuesday – Tuesday, December 1
- International Volunteer Day – Saturday, December 5
And here are some fun awareness days and other holidays that just about any organization – regardless of your mission – could add to your nonprofit calendar:
- National Trivia Day – Sunday, January 4
- Groundhog Day – Monday, February 2
- Super Bowl Sunday – Sunday, February 8
- National Random Acts of Kindness Day – Tuesday, February 17
- Share a Smile Day – Sunday, March 1
- Pi Day – Saturday, March 14
- International Day of Happiness – Friday, March 20
- National Pet Day – Saturday, April 11
- Earth Day – Wednesday, April 22
- National Superhero Day – Tuesday, April 28
- National Smile Day – Sunday, May 31
- National Best Friends Day – Monday, June 8
- National Selfie Day – Sunday, June 21
- National Ice Cream Day – Sunday, July 19
- World Friendship Day – Wednesday, July 30
- National Friendship Day – Sunday, August 2
- World Kindness Day – Friday, November 13
Tip from the Playbook: Look through websites like Days of the Year and National Day Calendar to find awareness days, weeks, and months for just about everything!
Other Dates to Add to Your Nonprofit Calendar
When building a nonprofit calendar for your organization, make sure to add your own important dates. This could include the anniversary of the founding of your nonprofit, or the birthday of your founder, board director, or another person who is heavily involved with your mission or a related cause.
You’ll also want to include giving days or community events specific to your city or state. In short, if you want to remember it or promote it, put it on the calendar!
Get Ready for a Great 2026!
Are you ready to have a great year? Mark these dates down on your nonprofit calendar – or, better yet, download our free Notable Nonprofit Dates Calendar for 2026!
If you’re looking for a team of experienced nonprofit consultants to help you plan out your year, MVP Advisors has you covered. We are here to help your organization celebrate these nonprofit dates, plan fundraising appeals, reach new donors, and more. Email us today or set up a call to get started!