The Forbes Funds
The Forbes Funds is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit intermediary supporting 500+ regional nonprofits through the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership coalition, Management Assistance Grants, training cohorts, and an AI-powered referral network (More Power Together), operating as a supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Forbes Funds does
The Forbes Funds, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a nonprofit intermediary and a supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation that strengthens the regional nonprofit sector through capacity-building programs, coalition-building, and applied AI tools. It operates the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (GPNP), a coalition of more than 500 nonprofits across a 10-county southwestern Pennsylvania region, which the organization describes as the largest metropolitan association of nonprofits nationwide. Core offerings include Management Assistance Grants (MAGs) that fund collaborative capacity-building projects with third-party consultants (averaging $5,000-$10,000 per organization and totaling over $1.2M across nearly 60 awards since 2019), training cohorts (ACCEL, tHRive, Anti-Racism Cohort, Resilience and Collaboration Cohort), research publications (Tropman Reports, Annual Pittsburgh Leaders' Well-Being Index), and assessment tools (Financial Risk Scanning Tool, Equity Indicator Tool, Consultant Directory, Strategic Design in a Box with Carnegie Mellon University and maad labs).
The organization's AI capability was materially expanded in 2024-2025 through the deployment of the Charly AI chatbot (the first AI digital employee at a nonprofit, deployed at the Kingsley Association) and the December 2025 launch of More Power Together, an AI-powered digital referral network connecting conversational AI Guides across 346+ member organizations. Both AI products are built in partnership with technology provider Skilly. The biennial GPNP Summit at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center draws 1,400+ nonprofit leaders, funders, and policymakers and is sponsored by UPMC, Baker Tilly, Benter Foundation, and other regional funders.
The Forbes Funds' revenue model is philanthropic: it receives contributions and grants from regional foundations (Heinz Endowments, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, BNY Mellon Foundation of SW PA, The Buhl Foundation, Grable Foundation, Benter Foundation) and corporate sponsors (UPMC, Huntington Bank, Alcoa Foundation), supplemented by an OpenAI Foundation grant in 2025-12. GPNP membership is structured as a freemium-to-membership model delivering thousands of dollars of value per member through discounted workshops, professional development, legislative visits, and CANDID Foundation Directory access. The organization claims a $7-in-capacity value for every $1 invested, reflecting the leveraged nature of coalition-based delivery rather than top-line revenue.
The Forbes Funds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Forbes Funds
- Legal name
- The Forbes Funds
- Website
- https://forbesfunds.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Forbes Funds is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit intermediary supporting 500+ regional nonprofits through the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership coalition, Management Assistance Grants, training cohorts, and an AI-powered referral network (More Power Together), operating as a supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Forbes Funds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Capacity Building
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO)
Keywords
Where The Forbes Funds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Forbes Funds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Grantmaking: The Forbes Funds operates as a supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation, receiving funding from foundations and philanthropic sources to support nonprofit capacity-building programs, Management Assistance Grants, and coalition-building activities.
- Capacity-Building Services: Provides capacity-building services including Management Assistance Grants (MAGs) for nonprofit collaboratives, training programs, consulting resources, and member benefits valued at thousands of dollars per member.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Management Assistance Grants (MAGs) - reimbursement-based grants for nonprofit collaboratives |
| Freemium | Annual | GPNP Membership - valued at thousands of dollars per nonprofit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Forbes Funds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Forbes Funds is a 501(c)(3) supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation that provides capacity-building services, training, leadership programs, and AI-powered tools to help other nonprofit organizations strengthen their operations. Founded in 1982, it serves more than 500 nonprofits across the Greater Pittsburgh region through programs focused on board development, financial sustainability, equity, and organizational resilience.
Product overview
The Forbes Funds is a nonprofit support organization offering a unified suite of capacity-building programs for the Greater Pittsburgh nonprofit sector. The core offerings include the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (GPNP) membership coalition (500+ nonprofits), Management Assistance Grants (MAGs) for collaborative capacity-building, and the More Power Together AI-powered referral network. Supporting programs include ACCEL training, Anti-Racism Cohort (ARC), Resilience and Collaboration Cohort, tHRive HR enhancement, the Annual Well-Being Index survey, Financial Risk Scanning Tool, Equity Indicator Tool, Consultant Directory, Strategic Design in a Box, Funding Finder, and the biennial GPNP Summit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (GPNP): A coalition of over 500 nonprofits across the 10-county region working to position the nonprofit sector as a collaborative driver of social change.
Products and services
- GPNP (Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania) A regional program supporting grantmakers in Western Pennsylvania with peer learning, research, and collaboration opportunities.
- More Power Together An AI-powered nonprofit research and information platform that uses intelligent search tools to help funders and nonprofits access nonprofit data in the region.
- ACCEL A program providing structured capacity-building and organizational development support for nonprofit organizations.
- tHRive A human resources and workforce development program designed to help nonprofit organizations strengthen their HR practices and organizational culture.
- ARC (Achieving Resilient Communities) A program supporting nonprofit and community resilience through capacity-building, peer learning, and strategic support.
- Resilience Cohort A cohort-based peer learning program that brings together nonprofit leaders to develop resilience strategies and share best practices.
- Charly AI Chatbot An AI-powered chatbot tool that helps users search nonprofit information within the More Power Together platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- For every $1 invested, The Forbes Funds delivers $7 worth of capacity-building services to the nonprofit sector
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Forbes Funds
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Forbes Funds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature3 records
The Forbes Funds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered pilot, core, major and flagship.
- Kingsley AssociationpilotNonprofit community center that deployed AI chatbot Charly as first digital employee, built in partnership with Skilly and Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Association, funded by a Forbes Funds grant.
- Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit AssociationcorePartner in AI chatbot development, co-deployed the More Power Together network connecting 346+ AI agents across local nonprofits.
- SkillycoreTechnology provider for More Power Together AI-powered digital referral network, enabling conversational AI Guides for 24/7 nonprofit service access and intelligent referrals.
- The Segal Family FoundationcorePartnership to increase equity in the local nonprofit sector through the Emerging Directors of Development program, recruiting and training BIPOC professionals for nonprofit development roles.
- Risk Alternatives LLCmajorPartner in Resilience and Collaboration Cohort, providing risk management training and assistance to help nonprofits build organizational resilience.
- Lawyers for NonprofitsmajorPartnership to co-host inaugural 'Meet with a Lawyer Day' providing legal support resources for nonprofits.
- INFLUENCE|SGmajorPartnership with Benter Foundation providing high-quality fundraising capacity training for nonprofit leaders through the ACCEL program.
- Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership (GPNP)flagshipGPNP is a project of The Forbes Funds - a coalition of 500+ nonprofits across the 10-county southwestern Pennsylvania region, positioning the nonprofit sector as a collaborative driver of social change.
- Carnegie Mellon UniversitycoreAcademic partner in Strategic Design in a Box program, bringing design thinking methodology to nonprofit strategic planning.
- maad labscorePartner in Strategic Design in a Box program with Carnegie Mellon University and The Forbes Funds.
- Black Equity CoalitionmajorCollaboration on equity initiatives, COVID-19 response, and policy advocacy addressing racial disparities in the Pittsburgh region.
- Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO)majorPolicy partnership for Advocacy Day at GPNP Summit, advancing nonprofit sector advocacy efforts.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Forbes Funds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Council of Nonprofits: National network serving state and regional nonprofit associations with policy advocacy and capacity resources — a broader incumbent in the same nonprofit-support space as Forbes Funds' GPNP and policy work.
Direct peers
- TCC Group: Consulting and research firm serving foundations and nonprofits on strategy, evaluation, and capacity — closely comparable to Forbes Funds' consulting/research work with MAGs awardees and funders.
- La Piana Consulting: National consulting firm focused exclusively on nonprofit capacity building, strategy, and organizational realignment — directly comparable to Forbes Funds' core consulting/MAG-style capacity-building mission.
- Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy: University-based philanthropy and nonprofit research center producing reports, training, and sector tools — comparable to Forbes Funds' Tropman Reports and research/training mission.
- Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO): Statewide nonprofit membership association and policy advocate — directly comparable to Forbes Funds' GPNP coalition model and public-policy programming.
- The Patterson Foundation: Florida-based foundation focused on capacity building and long-term partnerships with regional nonprofits — directly parallel to Forbes Funds' role as a Pittsburgh-area capacity-building intermediary.
- CompassPoint Nonprofit Services: Bay Area nonprofit support organization providing leadership development, fund development training, and equity-centered capacity-building — directly comparable to Forbes Funds' ACCEL, tHRive, and cohort programming model.
- Center for Nonprofit Management (Nashville): Mid-size nonprofit support organization offering training, consulting, and resource directories for a regional nonprofit sector — closely parallel to Forbes Funds' Greater Pittsburgh coalition and consulting directory.
Regional players
- Barr Center for Nonprofit Management (Dallas): Texas-based nonprofit management support organization offering consulting and training to a regional nonprofit sector — comparable to Forbes Funds as a regional capacity-builder in a different geography.
Emerging players
- Lodestar Foundation: Phoenix-based nonprofit focused on improving effectiveness of nonprofits and foundations through research, convening, and innovation — partial overlap with Forbes Funds' capacity-building and innovation agenda.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Forbes Funds social profiles
Digital presenceThe Forbes Funds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Forbes Funds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Forbes Funds subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Forbes Funds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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The Forbes Funds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Forbes Funds
What does The Forbes Funds do?
The Forbes Funds is a 501(c)(3) supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation that provides capacity-building services, training, leadership programs, and AI-powered tools to help other nonprofit organizations strengthen their operations. Founded in 1982, it serves more than 500 nonprofits across the Greater Pittsburgh region through programs focused on board development, financial sustainability, equity, and organizational resilience.
Is The Forbes Funds a public or private company?
The Forbes Funds is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Forbes Funds founded?
The Forbes Funds was founded in 1982. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Forbes Funds based?
The Forbes Funds is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Forbes Funds make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Grantmaking is the primary driver. The others are capacity-Building Services.
Who are The Forbes Funds's main competitors?
National Council of Nonprofits is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are TCC Group, La Piana Consulting, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), The Patterson Foundation, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and Center for Nonprofit Management (Nashville). Barr Center for Nonprofit Management (Dallas) is listed as a regional player. Lodestar Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Forbes Funds have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Forbes Funds.
What industry is The Forbes Funds in?
The Forbes Funds's product category is Nonprofit Capacity Building. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAO, Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8600.