In 2003,The Forbes Funds surveyed the population of nonprofits in Allegheny County. In 2006,The Forbes Funds again commissioned the Allegheny County Nonprofit Benchmark Survey and upon receiving responses called upon researchers from Carnegie Mellon University not only to make sense of the data but also to contextualize the findings against what we already know about the county's nonprofit sector as well as what we know about the state of things generally. Findings from the Nonprofit Benchmark Survey demonstrate the resilience as well as the fraying of our region's nonprofit sector.
Dr. Kevin P. Kearns, Dr. Leon L. Haley, Dr. Paul J. Nelson, Dr. Nuno Themudo, Dr. George Dougherty, with assistance from Ms. Bobbi Watt Geer, M.S. The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
In the nonprofit world, aspirations often exceed capacity. Many nonprofits obtain "adequate" results but spend much of their energy trying to survive. They operate steadily from year to year, perhaps even growing marginally, but they rarely cross the threshold to truly outstanding performance. This brief report addresses the question: What distinguishes nonprofit organizations that achieve "outstanding" results from those that achieve "adequate" results
The Pittsburgh area faces an array of plausible futures, some hopeful, others not; some calm, others turbulent. As the events of September 11th showed, old expectations about the future can collapse within moments, while new futures can emerge without warning. Organizations, cities, even nations that do not think and plan in futures (plural tense) can easily find themselves left behind as their more agile competitors move ahead.
The Digital Library contains listings (and links where possible) to research papers, articles, books, Web sites, forums, programs, and materials related to social enterprise. This library, developed by Olszak Management Consulting, is provided in partnership with the Social Enterprise Alliance, an organization committed to building sustainable nonprofits through earned income.
The library is a great resource for anyone interested in the field of social enterprise-including businesses, nonprofits, consultants, researchers, academicians, students, funders and investors.
The objective of The Study of Social Enterprise in the Pittsburgh Region was to determine whether using a set of specific steps or "promising practices" (as defined by leaders in the field of social enterprise) increases the likelihood of success for nonprofit social ventures.
In response to the Pittsburgh Area Social Enterprise Committee's discussions about enterprise training programs in the region, Olszak conducted a study of models and best practices in existence for enterprise training and support, on a national and international level.
The Heinz Endowments undergo a major shift in strategy.
“The critical ingredient to ensuring western Pennsylvania’s future is a willingness to experiment and innovate; a willingness to jettison the “It’s good enough” attitude that has been so self-limiting.”
Maxwell King, Opportunity Builders, h, the Magazine of the Heinz Endowments Summer 2005
Welcome to The Gauge--Pittsburgh's best source for business networking, professional development, and idea sharing for social entrepreneurs, ventures and investors. We invite you to be a part of these vibrant bi-monthly forums dedicated to advancing social enterprise in this region. Click here for a complete schedule of Gauge events and sessions.
The Accelerator and Olszak Team Up!
We're working with Olszak Management Consulting, Inc., to help nonprofits interested in social enterprise...Read More
November Gauge:
Mix, Mingle, Meet!
Come and Celebrate a Successful '08 Gauge with the Accelerator Team.
Check out the new digs and our spectacular view of the city.. Read More
