In response to the nationwide economic downturn, The Forbes Funds launched an education series and developed a fund that would support nonprofits as they seek to implement alternative operating models to increase efficiencies and decrease costs. In the end, our goal was to support a management infrastructure that will assure that we do not fail the end user. The Forbes Funds partnered with seven other community partners to deliver the following opportunities to learn about collaborative innovative operating models:

• Education Series 2010: Three sessions were held in the summer of 2010 focused on Financial Management. The executive manager, the board treasurer and a finance staff person from regional nonprofits were invited to learn about organizational and system controls, data analysis and finance team roles and responsibilities.  Over 125 people attended each of the three sessions.  
• Seeking Innovation Mini Grant Program: The Forbes Funds provided grants ranging from $5,000—$20,000 to agencies that demonstrated preparedness in moving toward or implementing any of the three types of collaboration: program based, shared services/back office and/or restructure or merger. 
• Strategic Restructuring Learning Circle Cohort: The Forbes Funds developed a year long cohort group of 11 agencies that identified acquisition as a growth strategy and to ensure that their infrastructure is prepared to further strengthen the organization, the overall service delivery system and, most importantly, the end user.