Robert Grupp, president and CEO of the Institute for PR, Gainesville, Fla., for nearly two years, is going back to his consulting business and will be succeeded by Frank Ovaitt, previous president/CEO.

Grupp
Robert Grupp
IPR has had some difficulties raising funds in the past several recessionary years. Net assets fell to $234,238 in the year ended Dec. 31, 2009 from $288,325 in the previous year.

Revenues declined to $635,222 from $747,700 (click for financial report, PDF). That report was filed in May, 2010. Results for 2010 are not yet available.

Grupp’s salary was $150,000. He and Ovaitt each got $72,750 in 2009. Donald Wright, trustee who is a professor of PR at Boston University, was paid $40,000 for conducting a forum of IPR. Trustee Don Stacks received $10,000 as a forum
director.

Ovaitt
Frank Ovaitt
Ovaitt will continue to be based in McLean, Va., where his home is.

Michelle Hinson, who has been working part time in recent months, will continue as director of development.

Full-time staffer is Jenn Moyer, Foundation operations manager.

Although it operates under the name IPR, the 501/c/3 organization continues to file its Form 990 under the name Foundation for PR Research and Education. That was the name of the organization when it was affiliated with PR Society of America.

The Institute broke away from PRSA in 1989 after the Society refused to relax its rule that all directors of the Foundation had to be accredited. Foundation directors said that hampered fund-raising since most corporate executives were not APR.

Matt Gonring, co-chair with Mike Fernandez, said Grupp “expanded our global platform and provided important leadership through a challenging economic environment for all not-for-profit institutions.”

He said IPR is “fortunate to have someone of Ovaitt's caliber” to come back. Ovaitt had previously served five years as president/CEO.
Fernandez also thanked Grupp for his “commitment and important contributions.”
Grupp and Ovaitt continue as trustees.

There are 40 trustees of IPR plus honorary trustees.