Sector think tank PBE, formerly Pro Bono Economics, is reducing its full-time staff numbers by more than half after seeing its income drop this year.
Chief executive Matt Whittaker said the charity, which received most of its £1.74m income last year through grants, was winning a smaller proportion of funding bids while some of its “significant” multi-year awards concluded this year.
Whittaker said he expected PBE’s headcount to reduce from 19 full-time and three part-time members of staff before the restructure, to nine full-time and five part-time.
He said most of the charity’s planned redundancies took place last month, with decisions on two final roles to be made at the end of the year.
Whittaker said the cutbacks would mean the charity scales back its policy, communications and events work “while protecting our ability to support charities across the UK with economic analysis and expertise”.
“While the restructure is not something we would have wanted to undertake if circumstances didn’t demand it, we’re pleased to note that the combination of a reduction in our cost base alongside some recent multi-year funding success has rapidly restored our finances to a stable position,” he said in a statement.
While PBE has supported 161 sector organisations in 2025, Whittaker said the charity aims to help at least 125 next year through its range of services.
“As a smaller organisation, we’ll inevitably do a little less in 2026. But, through the quality of our work and the richness of our collaborations, we hope to remain as relevant and as impactful as ever,” he said.
Small charities’ forum
PBE will continue to run its small charities’ forum, Whittaker said, which the think tank set up earlier this year.
The forum has 12 member organisations including the Association of Charitable Organisations, homelessness charity Barnabus and refugee charity Fences & Frontiers.
Members provide insight and feedback on PBE’s research and policy initiatives, in an effort to ensure they align with the challenges faced by the sector and their beneficiaries.
Whittaker said the forum has met once to date, with the intention that it will meet virtually “a couple of times a year” as well as engage in ad hoc communication as relevant topics arise.
Members receive modest remuneration in recognition of the capacity constraints faced by small charities, Whittaker said, and they have access to PBE’s research, training and pro bono support.
