NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES INC
The NPC helps nonprofits connect, learn & grow
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Berkshire County has one of the highest number of nonprofits per capita in the Commonwealth. Over 1000 nonprofits compete for funding and other resources in a geographically and demographically tri-furcated county with no regional government. Communication is difficult and staying on top of this vibrant and active sector is a real challenge. Add to that, an aging and declining population, lack of universal broadband, poor public transportation, little affordable housing and difficulty attracting and retaining a younger workforce, and the outlook for the Berkshire's disorganized nonprofit sector may seem bleak. However, the nonprofit sector is one of the county's largest economic engines, providing 27,000 full and part-time jobs, and contributing 2.4 billion dollars in revenue according to Williams College Professor, Stephen Sheppard. The sector needs an umbrella organization to facilitate collaboration, communication, and the sharing of resources.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Giving Back: Your Guide to Charitable Opportunities in the Berkshires
A digital and printed directory of nearly 1000 nonprofits listed by category, designed to connect donors and volunteers with nonprofits. Listings are free for all Berkshire County nonprofits. This annual publication also includes full-page profiles of nonprofits, articles, advertisements, & inspirational quotes.
Educational Workshops
The Nonprofit Center provides affordable workshops on popular topics such as program evaluation, Starting an Endowment, Social Media, HR, Video for Nonprofits, and Grant writing. Participants value the connections made with the local experts who teach the workshops, as well as those made with other participating nonprofits.
"Connections" Magazine
Connections Magazine has evolved from a printed publication to a quarterly online publication featuring original content, links to articles, event and gala calendars, member profiles, and more.
Web Site
A repository of practical information including links to reference materials, statistics, whitepapers, benchmark data, planning calendars, job openings, articles and infographics.
Technical Assistance/Coaching
Affordable technical assistance is available for fundraising, marketing, grant-writing, strategic planning, and nonprofit management available on an hourly basis.
ListServe
MBM Berkshires is an online forum designed to facilitate communication between nonprofits in Berkshire County. Mostly used to post job openings, event announcements, and sector news. 192 members at end of 2020.
Volunteer Fair
NPC holds annual volunteer fairs, in-person and virtual when necessary, to connect community members to nonprofits that need volunteers. These fairs have been fun for all involved and very successful in recruiting volunteers.
Nonprofit Resource Fair
A business-to-nonprofit event, NPC held its first resource fair in 2022 which, similarly to our volunteer fairs, was very well-received. In addition to connecting nonprofits to businesses, nonprofits enjoyed networking with each other, and businesses made connections amongst themselves.
Intro to Board Service
With grants from the Massachusetts Service Alliance and Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative, NPC was able to make a series of four short videos designed to encourage people to join a nonprofit board. In addition to an overview video, segments include governance, fundraising and finance. The video series is complemented by a portal of curated reference documents, custom training sessions (in-person or virtual), and "speed-dating" events.
NPC operates on the principle that we need to leverage the assets we have in our community, including those who want to give back, retirees, and second homeowners. Since almost every nonprofit needs more board members, it makes sense to train community members so they can say "yes" to board service.
Berkshire Nonprofit Awards
An annual event recognizing the people who work in the nonprofit sector. Nominees are solicited in seven categories. The event has been presented virtually between 2020 and 2022. Corporate and foundation sponsors make this large community event possible. Upwards of 300 people attend each year. With State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli as Emcee, and guest speakers who have included Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, this event serves to recognize and inspire.
Where we work
Awards
Trendsetter Award 2018
1Berkshire
Reader's Choice Awards 2021
Rural Intelligence
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of convenings hosted by the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2022: Survey results, leg town hall, meet the donors, MNN visit, Awards, Vol & Res Fairs.
Total number of new organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2021 mbshp = 149 nonprofit & business 2022 - 190 nonprofit and business
Total number of organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Nonprofit Organizations= 145 Business Members = 35
Number of manuals produced
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Giving Back: Your Guide to Charitable Opportunities in the Berkshires
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Giving Back Guide - directory of 1000 nonprofits Resource Directory (600+ businesses that serve nonprofits) in 2020 The Giving Back guide was published in The Berkshire Eagle reaching 14,000
Number of referrals to resources offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
via meetings, phone & email. Further analysis of referrals reveals more than half take longer than 5 minutes and many in the half-hour to hour range of research & conversation.
Number of members from priority population attending training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Educational Workshops
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2022: 29 BRPC workshops, Devel Assoc Cert, other workshops and webinars
Number of training workshops
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Educational Workshops
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
2022: 29 for BRPC, 10 for Dev Assoc Certi, 2 webinars, 1 bd training
Number of accolades/recognition received from third-party organizations
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
1Berkshire Trendsetter Award, Berkshire Magazine "25" Award, Berkshire Eagle CEO Profile (2019). 2021 Rural Intelligence Reader's Choice Awards, 2nd place 2022: GreatNonp Top Rated & Guidestar Platin
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Colleges, media, regional agencies, local businesses/venues, funders, consulting firms, legislators, foundations
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Instagram more popular now
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Nonprofit Center is a support and capacity-building organization for Berkshire nonprofits. Its mission is to help nonprofits connect, learn & grow by identifying gaps in services and leveraging community assets to provide creative and affordable solutions.
The NPC strives to make life easier for nonprofits. Historically resource-poor, with limited staff and funding, nonprofits that can find ways to do things faster and better through collaboration, education, connections and communication, will be able to better carry out their missions. The NPC serves as a clearinghouse for information and resources, providing a one-stop solution to daily challenges nonprofits face. We work to improve the organization and efficiency of the nonprofit sector through affordable products and services.
"I can't thank you enough! -- Just keep me on your list so I can come to any sessions you run, and get an annual injection of how to work smart, not just hard...."
"Very excited about this opportunity for a program specifically oriented toward Executive Directors. As I'm sure you've realized firsthand, there are not many of these locally! Very smart of you to fill this gap, and with such an inspiring speaker too."
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategy is to identify and leverage existing assets to provide solutions to the sector. In other words, to work with what we’ve got, rather than complain about what we don’t!
By partnering with local businesses, colleges, retirees, consultants, “connector” personalities, influencers, regional resources, and community members, we have been able to create affordable programs and services for nonprofits. Members of our community serve as faculty, offer event space and pro-bono consulting, and donate services in kind such as advertising and office space. We regularly connect all of these resources to nonprofits via our Resource Directory, volunteer fairs, magazine, web site, referrals, and workshops, thus stimulating the business-to-nonprofit economy. Even our locally-owned newspaper is in on the act, providing a 16-page Tabloid section on the Nonprofit Awards honorees mailed to 20,000 homes.
The more community members become involved in our work and see the positive outcomes such as the Giving Back guide, volunteer fair and Awards breakfast, the more they want to help! And the more aware they become of the sector’s biggest challenges and the need for their participation in the solutions.
We combine revenue from 11 different income streams to meet budget. The board of directors is strategically building in a progressively larger salary for the previously unpaid founder/executive director.
We have invested in people (with our administrator being by far our largest capacity-builder), in technology such as Quick Books, InDesign & Little Green Light database software, and professional development including webinars, a leadership program, and advice from smart people whom we seek out.
We face the same challenges as many small nonprofits, simultaneously juggling program, administration and fundraising without enough staff to meet the demand. Our biggest challenge is fundraising as an intermediary organization which we tackle by making ourselves indispensable, not only to nonprofits but to the community at large. We give people the opportunity to get involved and make themselves useful. As a small nonprofit, we’re living a purposeful life and helping others to do the same.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The founder of the NPC is a multi-skilled executive with marketing, fundraising and management experience, as well as twenty years of experience in the local nonprofit sector. A committed volunteer, the founder is supported by a revamped and energized board and a nonprofit advisory board to guide the development of valuable programs and a sustainable business model. Our work is supported by one extremely capable full-time staff person who is our single biggest capacity-building success story.
By meeting with many nonprofits and community leaders, the NPC is able to solicit input and identify problems and solutions for the sector. As a "connector organization," the NPC is able to rally volunteers, businesses and individuals to work together to support the sector as a whole. As a small organization, we are nimble and can respond quickly to needs as they arise.
In four years, the NPC has launched over 20 programs, winning two awards for community impact, and making ourselves indispensable as the "go-to" organization for nonprofits and community members who want to support them.
Organizational expenses are minimal, with the main challenge of finding funding to support staff salaries. Funding now available for signature programs such as the Berkshire Nonprofit Awards and the Giving Back guides, and new programs such as the philanthropy in the schools curriculum.
We are focused on sustainability with particular attention to fundraising and membership revenue. Because we provide valuable connections to nonprofits, businesses, consultants and regional agencies need us and want to support us. We continue to invent ways to develop these relationships including a new Resource Fair and “Office Hours”with consultants. We are also beginning to make a more formal case for the nonprofit sector’s impact on our local economy.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The NPC has launched over 20 successful programs and/or products, establishing itself as THE go-to resource for anything nonprofit related, and inspiring hope for a more robust, organized, and efficient sector. Nonprofits feel supported, and appreciate the many and varied programs and services now available to them.
Besides serving as a clearinghouse for information and resources (which makes life easier for nonprofits), our most meaningful contributions to the sector have been the creation of the annual 168-page Giving Back guide which connects nonprofits to volunteers and donors; the Berkshire Nonprofit Awards which brings together over 300 people annually to celebrate 21 honorees in 8 categories; volunteer fairs which have provided hundreds of volunteers for the sector; and the new philanthropy curriculum that in one month has already turned one kid around in a “failing” school.
We have filled many gaps in services and strategically built our internal capacity to meet increasing demand from a robust nonprofit sector. An award-winning organization experiencing tremendous growth, the NPC must now focus on fundraising to create additional programs such as: peer-learning cohorts, speaker series and networking events, roll out of the philanthropy curriculum in the schools, advanced leadership training, fiscal sponsorship, back office services, and more. Nonprofits wants the NPC to be the voice of the sector, increasing advocacy and making a case for increased support for nonprofits.
Our testimonials tell the story of our progress helping nonprofits connect, learn and grow:
"Thank you for the time and effort you have given to us. In one hour you were able to hone in on our important issues and offered terrific advice. We certainly will follow up on these recommendations. "
“Thank you for helping with foundation board governance. Your knowledge and contacts are tremendous resources. I am grateful that you shared them so selflessly with me.”
“Love being a member of NPC and love all that you do to foster learning and community in the NFP sector here."
"Thank you again for your guidance through the nonprofit designation process! Without you we wouldn't be where we are today!"
"The Berkshires really needed an organization like this to bring nonprofits together and do a better job serving our community. Thank you for your service."
"I think your focus on critical issues, bringing the non-profit community together, workshops/seminars have been well done. Congratulations!”
"I benefited hugely from the September workshop you offered for writing annual appeal letters. I had a great time writing these emails and I am proud of what I could craft giving all your help. "
"My husband just retired and he used the Giving Back guide to get an idea of the nonprofit landscape and where he might like to volunteer."
"Love your awards event. Happy so many people are acknowledged for their commitment, (com)passion, and caring."
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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 inform the development of new programs/projects, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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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 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
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES INC
Board of directorsas of 09/27/2024
Dan Stanyon
NBT Bank
Term: 2019 - 2024
Laurie Werner
Consultant
Kimberly Baker
Acrisure
Brian Berkel
Retired
Julia Dixon
MCLA
Kevin Fleming
Prosper Nonprofit Consultants
Randy Kinnas
United Cerebral Palsy of Western MA
Hari Kumar
Wyvern Training Services
Cassey Santos China
Berkshire Pride
Emily Schiavone
North Adams Public Schools
Tom Sharpe
Mungy
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
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
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
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/22/2022GuideStar 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
- 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.