Nonprofit
Resources to Help You Deliver More Impact
Running programs in the public and nonprofit sector is harder than ever—budgets are tight, compliance requirements are strict, and staff are stretched thin. The FORWARD Resource Hub brings you the knowledge and tools you need to navigate these challenges with confidence.
What Responsible AI Navigation Actually Looks Like for Nonprofits: A Practical Guide
Every few months, a new AI tool lands in someone's inbox with a promise to transform how nonprofits connect clients to services. Some of those tools are genuinely useful. Others are not built for the realities of direct service: the multilingual populations, the complex eligibility criteria, the staff workflows, the data privacy obligations, and the fact that if something goes wrong, a real person in a difficult situation is on the other end of it.
May 129 min read
The Hidden Cost of No Front Door: What Direct Service Nonprofits Lose Before Intake Ever Begins
The navigation gap is the distance between a client who qualifies for your programs and that client successfully completing intake. It exists in nearly every direct service organization, and it tends to widen as program portfolios grow and staff capacity doesn't keep pace.
May 127 min read
Nonprofit Program Administration: What to Get Right Before Your Budget Is Finalized
Budget season forces hard decisions for nonprofits. Here is what program administrators need in place before funding is finalized, from funder reporting to audit readiness.
Apr 226 min read
Why One Front Door Matters for Nonprofit Stability
A One Front Door model is an operational approach in which clients access all of an organization’s programs through a single, coordinated entry point, rather than navigating separate intake processes for each program.
Mar 269 min read
Why Operational Reliability Will Define Nonprofit Success in 2026
In 2026, nonprofit performance will be determined less by strategy and more by operational reliability. Organizations that protect their mission-critical functions—intake, eligibility, service delivery, reporting, and client communications—will sustain services and funding. Those that do not will experience backlogs, audit risk, and staff burnout.
Jan 275 min read
2025 Year-End Impact Report: How Governments and Nonprofits Delivered Programs When It Mattered Most
A 2025 year-end impact report examining how governments and nonprofits delivered relief, housing, and equity programs with speed, trust, and accountability.
Jan 146 min read
Modern Program Administration: Key Considerations for 2026
Modern program administration in 2026 is about delivering public and nonprofit programs that are faster to launch, easier to access, compliant by design, and transparent in outcomes—despite tighter budgets and rising accountability demands.
Dec 18, 20256 min read
Top 10 Operational Bottlenecks Nonprofits Face (and How to Fix Them)
The most common operational bottlenecks nonprofits face include manual intake, fragmented data, slow eligibility reviews, reporting fire drills, and staff burnout. These issues can be addressed through clearer workflows, centralized systems, automation of routine tasks, and better use of data to support decision-making and accountability.
Dec 17, 20255 min read
A Practical Framework for Launching Community Programs in Weeks, Not Months
Learn a practical framework governments and nonprofits use to launch community programs in weeks. Covers intake, eligibility, compliance, reporting, and real examples from agencies nationwide.
Nov 20, 20255 min read
20 Proven Metrics That Strengthen Funder Confidence
A replicable model for school foundations and nonprofits supporting families in crisis
Nov 5, 20254 min read
Smarter Nonprofit Reporting: How to Strengthen Funder Confidence and Simplify Impact Measurement
How nonprofit leaders can simplify reporting, build trust, and prove impact without overwhelming their teams.
Oct 30, 20256 min read
How to Streamline Eligibility Determination for Faster, Fairer, and More Accurate Program Delivery
Learn how governments and nonprofits can simplify eligibility determination to reduce staff burden, accelerate program delivery, and improve accuracy and accountability.
Oct 6, 20254 min read
How to Optimize Forms to Increase Access and Equity in Public Programs
Learn how governments and nonprofits can design inclusive, multilingual, mobile-friendly forms that improve access, reduce staff burden, and build trust with communities.
Oct 6, 20254 min read
Transforming Cash Aid Delivery: Where Community Partnerships Meet Cutting-Edge Technology
The Los Angeles County Empower_u Program is breaking new ground in providing direct relief to residents at risk of displacement. Partnering with community-based organizations like Project Peacemakers , the program connects vulnerable residents—including survivors of domestic violence—to critical financial resources and supportive services. In this webinar, you’ll hear firsthand how Empower_u and Project Peacemakers are transforming access to assistance for Angelenos, and wha
Aug 20, 20251 min read
Maria is a busy mother to a 6-year-old, a full-time worker, and a breast cancer survivor. With so much on her plate, managing childcare, health issues, and daily life, she needed a way to access support quickly and easily. That’s where the Multnomah Common Application came in, allowing her—and thousands of others—to apply for up to 20 different programs with just one application. “I’m a mother, I’m a PTA member, a community member, I work full time, I’m also a breast cancer
Aug 20, 20252 min read
Maximizing Public Program Impact With a Limited Workforce
Local government leaders face an ongoing challenge: delivering essential programs with constrained budgets and limited staff. As community needs grow and funding remains tight, agencies must find innovative ways to enhance efficiency, optimize workforce resources, and modernize service delivery. The good news? With the right strategies, technology, and partnerships, government agencies can streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and maximize public impact. In t
Aug 20, 20254 min read
Stopgap or Systems Change? The Role of Funders in Disaster Response
Why Philanthropy Is Emerging as a Key Player in Disaster Relief When disaster strikes, communities by default look to the government for help. But as climate-fueled crises grow in scale and frequency across the U.S. (and globally)—from wildfires to floods to extreme heat—the reality in practice tells a different story. It’s not always government that deploys support first. It’s oftentimes philanthropy. Foundations and donor collaboratives are increasingly becoming the new fir
Aug 20, 20253 min read
Scaling Government and Nonprofit Programs Without Increasing Overhead
Running a public program with limited staff and growing demand? You’re not alone. For governments and nonprofits, the challenge isn’t just delivering services—it’s doing it faster, smarter, and more equitably without adding administrative burden. In our recent webinar, “Scaling Impact, Not Overhead: Smarter Operations for Government and Nonprofit Programs,” FORWARD’s Senior Program Systems Strategist, Em Coffman , walks through best practices and technology solutions to hel
Jul 19, 20252 min read
Budgeting for Smarter Systems and Stronger Communities
Local government leaders and nonprofit executives face increasing pressures from tightening budgets, growing community needs, and uncertainties around future funding. Strategic investments in technology can help organizations efficiently manage these challenges, maintain high-quality service delivery, and sustain positive community impact. This actionable guide equips elected officials, city and county managers, directors of human services, economic development directors, and
Jun 25, 20253 min read