Forbes Fund

Forbes Fund
Name	Forbes Fund
Type	Nonprofit foundation
Founded	2000
Location	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Focus	Philanthropy, nonprofit capacity building, grantmaking
Key people	David Gartenberg, Deborah Novak
Revenue	$3–6 million (approx.)

Forbes Fund The Forbes Fund is a Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation and capacity-building organization that provides grants, consulting, and programmatic support to nonprofit organizations. It focuses on strengthening nonprofit management, technology adoption, financial sustainability, and leadership development across the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Fund has worked with cultural institutions, social service agencies, and civic organizations to improve operational effectiveness and long-term resilience.

History

The organization was created in the aftermath of transitions in regional philanthropy associated with families and foundations in southwestern Pennsylvania, linking to philanthropic traditions established by the Mellon family, the Heinz family, and the Buhl legacy. Early milestones include grant programs modeled after practices seen at the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Gates Foundation in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The Fund’s formative years intersected with civic initiatives such as those led by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and collaborations with universities including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Over time the organization adapted to technological shifts tied to Microsoft philanthropy and to sector-wide capacity efforts influenced by the Aspen Institute and Independent Sector.

Mission and Programs

The Fund’s stated mission centers on strengthening nonprofit organizations through targeted investments in leadership, finance, technology, and strategic planning—approaches aligned with grantmaker strategies used by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Knight Foundation. Programs have included management consulting partnerships with firms that consult for museums like the Andy Warhol Museum and performing companies such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, leadership fellowships comparable to programs at the Lilly Endowment and the Kresge Foundation, and technology initiatives echoing efforts by Code for America and the Technology Association of Pittsburgh. The Forbes Fund has offered capacity grants, organizational assessments, and training workshops resembling curricula from the Nonprofit Finance Fund and BoardSource.

Governance and Leadership

The board structure reflects governance models prevalent among regional foundations, with a board of directors composed of civic leaders from institutions like PNC Financial Services, Allegheny Health Network, and UPMC. Executive leadership has included nonprofit executives with prior experience at cultural institutions such as the Mattress Factory and Point Park University, and business leaders with ties to regional chambers of commerce and economic development agencies. The organization has worked with advisory committees drawing expertise from the Heinz Endowments, the Pittsburgh Foundation, and national consultants formerly affiliated with McKinsey & Company and Bridgespan.

Funding and Financials

Funding sources for the organization have included an endowed fund component, program-related investments, and philanthropic gifts in the vein of seed capital used by entities such as the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the William Penn Foundation. The Fund’s grantmaking budget and revenues have been modest relative to national foundations like the Ford Foundation but comparable to regional funders such as The Pittsburgh Foundation. Financial oversight practices draw on accounting standards used by community foundations and audit procedures common at firms like Deloitte and KPMG. The organization has employed multi-year grant commitments and capacity-building contracts similar to those used by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Partnerships and Impact

The Fund has partnered with cultural institutions including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, neighborhood development organizations like the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and social service agencies such as local chapters of the United Way. Collaborations have included technical assistance delivered jointly with local universities, incubator relationships comparable to those run by the Social Innovation Fund, and joint initiatives with workforce programs connected to Allegheny County. Impact assessments have referenced metrics used by Charity Navigator and GiveWell-style outcome frameworks; reported outcomes include strengthened financial management at museums, improved board governance at community organizations, and expanded digital capacity for arts and human service nonprofits.

Controversies and Criticism

Critiques of the organization mirror common critiques of regional funders: questions about influence relative to larger institutions like the Heinz Endowments, concerns over grant selection transparency similar to debates faced by the Kresge Foundation, and debates about prioritization between arts funding and direct social services akin to controversies that have affected the Mellon Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. Some community stakeholders have argued for greater geographic equity and more participatory grantmaking practices modeled by foundations such as the Marguerite Casey Foundation. The Fund has responded by adjusting program criteria and engaging in stakeholder convenings with representatives from neighborhood coalitions and city officials.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Pennsylvania