The National Council of Nonprofit Associations has a compelling and relevant mission-National Voice, State Focus, Local Impact-which is put into action around Top Priorities regarding the viability and future of the U.S. nonprofit sector. The Top Priorities of the 2008 National Nonprofit Congress in Washington, D.C., are:

• Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness
• Advocacy and Grassroots Community Activities
• Public Awareness and Support of the Sector

Six Nonprofit Town Hall Meetings, co-sponsored by the Council of Human Service Providers and the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network were held throughout the state--one in Fitchburg hosted by the Institute for Nonprofit Development (INPD) and one in Athol by the INPD and the North Quabbin Community Coalition. Massachusetts nonprofits were joined by 42 states at over 100 Town Hall meetings  across the country held during March and April 2008.

During the Town Hall meetings, participants shared and celebrated actions already being taken across North Central Massachusetts, identified principles of successful collaboration, and provided suggestions as to what can be done at the state and national levels to advance collaboration and the Top Priorities. Ideas resulting from the North Central Town Hall meetings include:

• Revisioning and branding nonprofits as viable businesses in the industry of social benefit and social capital.
• Understanding the benefit of having regional networks or coalitions that can take action in the face of crisis while maintaining relationships of trust, and having clearly defined and equitable structures to recognize both strengths and weaknesses of individual organizations.
• Advocacy for standardizing grant applications, reporting procedures, and outcome measurements at a national level across federal and state agencies.
• Advocacy for including operational support, planning grants, and capacity building in grant and private funds for service delivery and program support.
• Request for a free or low-cost searchable database of best-practices/funder approved practical program evaluations and associated outcome measures.

North Central  Massachusetts nonprofits' input has been summarized and correlated with that of your colleagues across the state and throughout the country in preparation for the next National Nonprofit Congress to be held in Washington, D.C. June 1-4, 2008.  Jennifer Wiley-Cordone, Director of the Institute for Nonprofit Development, will attend the congress to represent the state. The congress includes an opportunity to educate legislators on Capitol Hill and share your ideas directly. Look for upcoming follow-up where Jen, joined by David Roth, a member of the North Central Network of Nonprofits, will return with information about national trends and practices. Jen will also be meeting with representatives from the Compassion Capital Fund at Health and Human Services as they work with their colleagues to replicate their successful capacity building program across multiple federal agencies.

Learn how our colleagues in New Hampshire spearheaded a national initiative with the Nonprofit Congress and the National Council of Nonprofit Associations focused on educating the presidential candidates about the nonprofit sector and engaging them in dialogue about what they would do as president to improve the sector.

To help us gauge your interest in the Town Hall meetings, please click here.