Kate Dewey to step down as Forbes Funds president
Search begins for successor to lead mission of empowering region’s nonprofits
PITTSBURGH, Pa., June 14, 2017 – After five years as president of The Forbes Funds, Kate Dewey announced today that she will leave that leadership position at the end of this year.
Forbes Funds Board Chair Scott Lammie, chief financial officer and senior vice president of UPMC's Insurance Services division lauded Kate’s leadership. “Kate has shown organizations how to succeed and establish their enduring value. She has done a fabulous job supporting and advancing Forbes’ mission to strengthen the management capacity and impact of community nonprofits individually and collectively. On behalf of our Board, we thank Kate for her dedicated service to our Community.”
Dewey will remain president through the search process and assist in her successor’s transition until the end of the year. She’ll then move into a consulting role, focusing on the organization’s signature social innovation agenda, which includes the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, The Catalyst Fund, and related initiatives directed at positioning nonprofits to embrace tomorrow’s opportunities. Dewey will also continue advising nonprofits engaged in progressive strategic restructuring.
“This is a challenging time for nonprofits in western Pennsylvania and The Forbes Funds' work is more essential than ever,” said Maxwell King, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation, where Forbes is a supporting organization. “Thankfully, the organization is stronger than ever due to the exceptional leadership of Kate. Her innovation and skill shine throughout the many nonprofits that have benefited from Forbes’ guidance, and our larger community is greatly indebted to her.”
According to Dewey, “The community-based nonprofit sector is navigating an environment of accelerated change and competition. Demographically, that means considering strategic adjustments to anticipate the exponential graying of our population; the millennials’ mindset about work, giving and volunteering; and the shrinking workforce. Nonprofits must also have the technological capacity and systems to remain competitive. This is not an easy adjustment given that this sector has historically been undercapitalized,” she said.
With all these challenges, Dewey anticipates a large number of strong candidates for the top position. “The presidency of The Forbes Funds is a unique opportunity to have exponential impact on the nonprofit sector, which is a cherished asset in our community,” she said.
That regional nonprofit sector is critically important, she said, to the Western Pennsylvania’s economic health: nonprofits employ 9 percent of the workforce, which is more than manufacturing or construction; and generate $9 billion in total economic output.
With her Forbes Funds commitment dialing back to part-time, Dewey, of Carnegie, says she will have more opportunity to enjoy family, especially new granddaughter, Dakota, who was born in December.
The Search Committee of the Forbes Funds Board has engaged executive recruiting firm NonProfit Talent to assist with the search for the next president. The search will be conducted throughout the summer with plans for announcement of the next president later this calendar year.
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About The Forbes Funds: The Forbes Funds, as a supporting organization of The Pittsburgh Foundation, focuses on building the management capacity and impact of community-based nonprofits individually and collectively. It is also the home of The Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership, which serves as “The Chamber of Commerce for Nonprofits” to well over 450 area nonprofits. In 2016, The Forbes Funds provided management assistance services to 170 organizations and training opportunities to more than 2,500 nonprofit employees. The Forbes Funds was recognized in 2015 by The Independent Sector American Express Fellows as the leading example of organizations driving community innovation.
About Kate Dewey: Kate Dewey assumed the presidency of The Forbes Funds in January 2013. She has more than 40 years of direct experience with a variety of nonprofit organizations, foundations, public agencies, and corporations, locally, regionally and nationally. Dewey was a 2014 finalist for the Chase Manhattan Bank Smart Business Award, 2008 winner of the ATHENA Award in Pittsburgh, which is recognized internationally as the premier honor for excellence in leadership, and the 1999 Recipient of the Greater Pittsburgh YWCA's Tribute to Women Award. She also founded and led Dewey & Kaye for more than 20 years, which was then the country’s fifth-oldest consulting practice serving community-based nonprofits. She has extensive board-service experience and currently serves as a Trustee of the Shirley Jordan Foundation. She is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh. Her full biography is available at the website for The Forbes Funds.