The Pittsburgh Foundation

COVID-19 Impact on Pennsylvania Nonprofits

To document the economic impact of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania’s nonprofit sector, in 2020 The Pittsburgh Foundation commissioned a survey to ask nonprofits how the pandemic has affected a variety of factors, including new operating expenses, revenue losses, numbers of clients served and impacts on their workforce, such as layoffs or pay cuts. Survey findings were captured in a new report, Impacts of COVID-19 on Pennsylvania Nonprofits, which reported revenue losses of $612 million and new operating expenses of $95.3 million, for a total of $708 million. Based on the data collected from 800 nonprofits – 2% of the state’s total – the actual economic toll to organizations ranging from child care centers to arts organizations balloons to billions of dollars.

The survey, conducted by the national community and economic development firm Fourth Economy and coordinated through a partnership of The Pittsburgh Foundation, its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, The Forbes Funds, the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is the most comprehensive data gathered about the economic impact of COVID on the nonprofit sector to date. Survey data is posted below. 

The survey is part of a broader coalition effort to secure dedicated CARES Act funding for the nonprofit sector through NEEDS Act legislation. This letter provides background on that effort. 

The Pittsburgh Foundation | The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County Forbes Funds
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania PANO