Current Research Agenda

Annually, the Tropman Committee, comprised of community, philanthropic and academic leaders, researches, vets and selects The Forbes Funds Research Agenda based on trends that arise through our grantmaking and sector leadership activities. We present these research findings at our annual Research Conference and in print via the Tropman Reports.

2009 Tropman Research Topics

The 2009 Tropman research focuses on two topics that have become critically important in the nonprofit sector with the recent PA State budget impasse. Click on a topic below to read the key questions and implications of The Forbes Funds 2009 research topics.

Responding to Demographic Shifts — How the nonprofit sector is adjusting to employment needs and understanding the gap.
Key Questions Building off existing local and national studies regarding human resource challenges and demographic shifts in the nonprofit sector, how is our region preparing for change? How are CEOs and Trustees thinking through these issues? How are they responding? How do organizations hire and retain talent? Based on a set of defined “procedural fairness” criteria (generational issues, including work/life balance, workspace, feedback), how are nonprofits preparing for workforce shifts? What is the remaining tenure of the top five staff members of an organization? What is their education level? What are their retirement packages? How financially prepared are they to retire? Implications Drive how The Forbes Funds Sector Leadership resources are distributed. Inform the training programs offered by area schools. Influence the Human Resource practices adopted by nonprofits. Facilitate conversations, information and training through the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership.

Responding to Demographic Shifts — How the nonprofit sector is adjusting to employment needs and understanding the gap.

Key Questions

Building off existing local and national studies regarding human resource challenges and demographic shifts in the nonprofit sector, how is our region preparing for change?
How are CEOs and Trustees thinking through these issues? How are they responding?
How do organizations hire and retain talent?
Based on a set of defined “procedural fairness” criteria (generational issues, including work/life balance, workspace, feedback), how are nonprofits preparing for workforce shifts?
What is the remaining tenure of the top five staff members of an organization? What is their education level? What are their retirement packages? How financially prepared are they to retire?

Implications

Drive how The Forbes Funds Sector Leadership resources are distributed.
Inform the training programs offered by area schools.
Influence the Human Resource practices adopted by nonprofits.
Facilitate conversations, information and training through the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership.

How Human Service Agencies have adapted to their fiscal environments over time.
Key Questions How have nonprofits responded to changing environments? What has it meant to be adaptive? How do CEOs and Trustees think strategically about revenue mix? How are organizations thinking about these issues? What metrics are boards using to assess financials? Implications Nonprofits use partnerships to manage through these current times. Provide information that will allow the nonprofit community to remain competitive and relevant in a constantly changing environment.

How Human Service Agencies have adapted to their fiscal environments over time.

Key Questions

How have nonprofits responded to changing environments? What has it meant to be adaptive?
How do CEOs and Trustees think strategically about revenue mix? How are organizations thinking about these issues? What metrics are boards using to assess financials?

Implications

Nonprofits use partnerships to manage through these current times.
Provide information that will allow the nonprofit community to remain competitive and relevant in a constantly changing environment.

To view previous Tropman Reports click here.

News and Announcements

Financial Management Series

Turning to Social Services

Social service agencies are seeing greater demand as more people turn to them for help. Read More

Neighbor-Aid

The Pittsburgh Foundation announces campaign to support nonprofits. Read More

Rocky Times All Around

Charities face the same rocky times as clients. Read More

Nonprofits Need to Master Change

Study finds that nonprofit leaders need to master changing environment. Read More