PLATINUM2022

NONPROFITS FIRST INC

Helping Others Serve More

aka Nonprofits First   |   West Palm Beach, FL   |  www.nonprofitsfirst.org

Mission

Empowering nonprofit excellence

Ruling year info

2009

CEO

Jessica Cecere

Main address

1818 S Australian Avenue, #450

West Palm Beach, FL 33409 USA

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Formerly known as

Executive Service Corps of Southeast Florida

Center for Nonprofit Excellence

EIN

26-3189428

NTEE code info

Management & Technical Assistance (B02)

Nonprofit Management (S50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Accreditation

The Accreditation program at Nonprofits First helps nonprofit agencies manage risks, identify financial trends, and demonstrate accountability and management excellence to funders and other community stakeholders. Accredited agencies have demonstrated compliance with standards that address core requirements of the federal, state, and local laws and regulations that govern nonprofits, best practices in management, as well as the expectations of many public and private funders. The standards cover a number of key areas, including: board governance, strategic planning, fundraising, risk management, human resources, and financial management. To ensure that the process is objective, compliance with Accreditation standards is verified by subject matter experts in each area of review, offering vital third-party confirmation of an organization’s commitment to management excellence.

Population(s) Served

Two leadership programs for emerging nonprofit professionals equips participants with strategies to face industry challenges. Since the inception of Rising Leaders in 2006, 331 professionals have graduated from the six-month program. The five-month Advancing Leaders program, piloted in 2021, and drills down into the hard knowledge and skills needed for upper management, including governance, data-driven leadership, finances and budgeting, HR laws and practices, development (including topics around fundraising and grant-writing as well as communicating the organization’s mission and successes), and strategic leadership and innovation. Program participants are in or moving into upper-level management positions in an organization.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Nonprofits First hosts Financial Management Virtual Roundtables and is a founding member of the Nonprofit Financial Management Network whose purpose is to provide an open forum for nonprofit financial professionals to develop beyond their current strengths and abilities. Forums are designed for nonprofit financial professionals to have ready access to training, informational resources, peer-to-peer networking, collaboration and support.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Our 501cPro Toolkit™ is a vital online assessment that every nonprofit should have and it is the core of our Accreditation program.

This comprehensive toolkit contains administrative standards, tools, templates, and real-world advice to help you meet the core federal, state,and local requirements and regulations that govern nonprofit organizations.

The 501cPro Toolkit™ contains over 200 standards critical nonprofit management topics including:

Governing Documents
Board Governance
Strategic Planning
Risk Management
Fundraising
Human Resources
Volunteer / Intern Management
Financial Management and Reporting
Contractors and Consultants
Debit and Credit Cards

Population(s) Served
Adults

Education classes and workshops meet the continuous demand for nonprofit professional development. This year, Nonprofits First delivered over 100 classes and workshops to 1,289 nonprofit staff and volunteers. Content area experts contributed 106 volunteer hours towards the education and training of the nonprofit community. Classes, workshops and training sessions are designed for executive directors, staff, volunteers and boards to better lead and manage their organizations. Workshops provide professionals with cost-effective opportunities to deepen and strengthen their knowledge and skills.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Awards

HR Department of the Year 2011 Nominee 2011

The Human Resources Association of Palm Beach County(HRPBC)

Women in Leadership Award 2022

Executive Woman of the Palm Beaches

Presidents Award 2022

Leadership Palm Beach County

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of Nonprofits First Accredited organizations

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Related Program

Accreditation

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Empowering nonprofits to operate at the highest standards of nonprofit excellence. Accreditation strengthens the operational capacity of nonprofit organizations and verifies adherence to standards.

Number of nonprofit organgizations receiving support services

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of classes and workshops offered

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Related Program

Education and Professional Development

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of nonprofit organizations participating in Nonprofits First managed capacity-building program

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults, Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, People with disabilities, Pregnant people

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

The GROW program (Grants to Reach Organizational Wellness) provides capacity building funds to nonprofit organizations selected by a specific funder. Nonprofits First manages the GROW program.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Nonprofits First is a premier membership organization focused on empowering nonprofit excellence and enhancing our nonprofit community's effectiveness, efficiency and ultimately impact through our programs: Accreditation, Leadership Development, Education and Professional Development, Management Support Services.

Nonprofits First Strategic Initiatives are:
• Provide High Value Membership Programs and Services
• Offer Products and Research Using Data
• Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool - 501cPro Toolkit
• Financial Management Solutions
• Fiscal Strength - Increase and Diversify Revenue
• Improve Retention Accreditation and Membership
• Improve Programs, Services and Delivery Methods
• Organization Capacity (e.g. Fundraising, Training, IT infrastructure, Cyber Security)
• Strengthen Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and ultimately Excellence
• Leadership Development and Succession Planning
• Increase Service Delivery Partners/Network
• Community Awareness and Public Relations
• Talent Management and Culture
• Board Governance

Nonprofits First maintains a trained team of professionals, volunteers and consultants to provide programs and services that are consistent with the organization's mission and vision.

• Provide High Value Membership Programs and Services - increased membership, programs and services by 20% since 2018
• Offer Products and Research Using Data - Produced 2 research products and an annual compensation tool
• Nonprofit Organizational Assessment Tool - 501cPro Toolkit - Developed and maintained since 2018
• Financial Management Solutions - provided bookkeeping and accounting services to 10 organizations
• Fiscal Strength - Increase and Diversify Revenue - increased grant and membership revenue
• Improve Retention Accreditation and Membership - increased by 10%
• Improve Programs, Services and Delivery Methods - created online learning partnership and virtual program delivery
• Organization Capacity (e.g. Fundraising, Training, IT infrastructure, Cyber Security) - added several capacity building services
• Strengthen Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and ultimately Excellence - DEI workshops and integration of culture of equity into our HR processes and policies
• Leadership Development and Succession Planning - Developed a succession plan
• Increase Service Delivery Partners/Network - established 4 new partnerships
• Community Awareness and Public Relations - ongoing
• Talent Management and Culture - ongoing
• Board Governance - increased board size, training, donations and evaluations

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Nonprofits First programs serve nonprofit professionals and volunteers in the nonprofit sector.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Nonprofits First has listened to our nonprofit constituency and adjusted and added programs accordingly. We have changed the mix of our program delivery to hybrid, "in-person", and virtual as a result of the feedback we received. We have used our executive research summary conducted in 2020 to define our strategic programs and goals to better serve our nonprofit community so that they may better serve their missions.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback

Financials

NONPROFITS FIRST INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

NONPROFITS FIRST INC

Board of directors
as of 08/19/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Jennifer Sullivan

Palm Beach County Cultural Council

Philip M. DiComo

Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero, P.A.

Deana Pizzo

IT Solutions of South Florida

Troy Harrington

iTHINK Financial Credit Union

Gina Ardillo

Crowe, LLP

Peter Cruise

LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy

David Gobeo

FordHarrison Global HR Lawyers

Sergio Mariaca

Mariaca Wealth Management

Henry Martin

Daszkal Bolton, LLP

Teresa Miller

Garden of Life

Mark Montgomery

Celedinas Insurance Group

John Muller

Gehring Group and Bentek

Melissa Nash

CheckMark Collections

Katia Saint-Preux

Florida Power & Light Company

Jennifer Sullivan

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 8/19/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 08/19/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.