Staffing disruptions emerged as the most consistent implementation challenge across Innovative Project Support (IPS) projects. Grantees reported staff departures, delayed hiring, leadership transitions, and health-related absences—factors that slowed program rollout, reduced enrollment, or delayed spending despite strong demand for services.
Organizations including Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia, Pathways to Housing PA, Saint Joseph’s University, William Way LGBT Community Center, and SeniorLAW Center all navigated workforce gaps while continuing to support older adults. In several cases, staffing shortages directly impacted service delivery timelines, even as need in the community continued to grow.
“Our partners are navigating extraordinary workforce pressures,” says Heather Finnegan, Executive Director of The Sarah Ralston Foundation. “Even when funding is available, staffing challenges can limit how quickly organizations are able to respond to urgent needs.”
Despite these constraints, grantees demonstrated resilience and creativity—adjusting timelines, redistributing responsibilities, and finding ways to maintain continuity of care. Their experiences reflect broader sector-wide realities and reinforce the importance of flexible funding and organizational support in sustaining essential services.