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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 1 • I NSIGH T | 69 It's no secret the pandemic has hit nonprofits hard. Most are seeing declining revenue due to canceled events and a decrease in donations while at the same time experiencing an increase in demand for their services. But how are nonprofits doing financially and what comes next for them? A statewide research project led by the Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is trying to find out. "e nonprofit workforce is the third largest in the state, with one in 12 people employed by a nonprofit," says Bryce Lord, associate director of the Helen Bader Institute. "Nonprofits run the gamut from social service agencies to churches to arts groups. And each type is a little bit different." With nonprofits playing such a big role in our communities, it's vital to understand how they're coping with the pandemic and what lies ahead for them. Work began last April on the study as a way to determine how the pandemic affected nonprofits, from financial implications to service delivery. By studying how organizations are doing now, researchers hope to better understand the recovery process needed once the pandemic subsides. ree surveys are part of the study — one came out last May and another in July with the third coming out next month. In addition to UWM, the Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies at UW- Whitewater and affiliate faculty across the state are working on the study. e group includes Lora Warner, an associate professor in public and environmental affairs at UW- Green Bay, and Michael Ford, an associate professor in public administration at UW- Oshkosh. at representation is important because as Ford puts it: "What's happening in southeast Wisconsin is different than what's happening in Green Bay." Statewide, the study so far has shown many nonprofits relied on Paycheck Protection Program loans to make it through those initial months and their concerns have changed the longer the pandemic has worn on. "Initially, nonprofits didn't know what to expect. ey were worried about keeping people employed, how to raise funds and how to keep their services going," Ford says. "For many nonprofits, the question has become, what's next? at initial fear from when the pandemic first started has leveled off," Ford says. "I think that's what we're all trying to do." Learn more about the study at uwm.edu/ hbi/research/survey. Nonprofits find ways to keep going during pandemic COMMENTARY MaryBeth Matzek Editor mmatzek@insightonbusiness.com