Regional Nonprofit Effectiveness Study: The Health of the Nonprofit Sector in Western Pennsylvania

We know that effective nonprofit organizations increase the well-being of the communities they serve and that capacity-building increases the effectiveness of nonprofits. BUT. Did you know… nonprofits that serve communities of color are funded inequitably when compared to white or mixed communities?

PACE partnered with data scientist Pete York of BCT Partners to examine the link between the effectiveness of nonprofits and the health of the communities they serve in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Through the use of machine learning and big data from nonprofit IRS 990s, foundation and government funding, zip code level economic data, and population demographics, we seek to assess local and regional nonprofit effectiveness and the impact on communities.

This information has implications for our entire nonprofit ecosystem including philanthropic, corporate, and government funder; capacity builders; nonprofits; charitable groups; social entrepreneurs, and community members. PACE intends to use the study results to guide our development of future programs and services.

PACE would like to thank an Anonymous Donor and our project advisors for their support and assistance on this project: The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University, The Forbes Funds, and the POISE Foundation.

Regional Indicators of Community and Nonprofit Wellbeing Interactive Map

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Executive Summary * Full Presentation * Glossary

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