The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires supports nonprofits by facilitating communication, collaboration, and resource sharing. Big Y has supported this nonprofit organization through its Community Bag Program.
Tell us about the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires.
The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) was founded in 2016 to help nonprofits connect, learn, and grow. NPC is a support organization offering workshops, coaching, networking, advocacy, publications, volunteer fairs, and more. The Berkshires has 1,200 nonprofits, employing one in four people! The sector really needed a go-to resource for information.
What services do you provide to the community?
We connect nonprofits to volunteers, donors, businesses, and each other. People just love networking and meeting each other, especially since COVID. We help nonprofits find board members and volunteers, learn how to fundraise, and even get them in front of major funders and legislators. We also offer fiscal sponsorship to startups that have not yet received their nonprofit designation from the IRS. We also put together a well-loved resource directory, in addition to fielding calls and emails asking for referrals and advice. I probably get five of those per day!
What sets the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires apart from other nonprofits in your community?
We serve the entire county from Sheffield to Williamstown with very personal service. If a nonprofit needs an answer, they can quickly get one from NPC. We care, we respond, and we make nonprofit leaders feel supported. We’re also small, nimble, and innovative, which means we can create quick solutions. For example, I noticed I was getting a lot of calls from newer nonprofits and startups. We formed a cohort just for those folks, and now we meet once a month to talk about their challenges and share information.
We care, we respond, and we make nonprofit leaders feel supported.
Tell us a story that illustrates the good work of your organization.
We have a wonderful philanthropy curriculum currently rolling out to 8th graders. We teach students about nonprofits and giving back. With the help of our funders, we donate $1,000 to each class and the students decide amongst themselves which one or two organizations will receive the money. They research nonprofits, make presentations, and negotiate the final decision. The last class is a pizza party where they get to present a giant check to the nonprofit of their choice. By the end, they feel empowered and have learned some social and emotional skills to boot. We feel we are training the next generation of volunteers and donors. Everyone loves the concept, including the teachers and school administrators. We help them create caring, civic-minded young adults.
What is your most outstanding achievement or contribution to the community?
In addition to the school program, I’d say I am most proud of the Giving Back guide, which lists all 1,200 Berkshire nonprofits by category and features in-depth profiles of organizations. It really helps people understand the nonprofit landscape and how they can help. The Giving Back guide has become an indispensable tool for community members looking to get involved, people new to the area, giving circles, schools with community service programs, real estate offices, libraries, and more. It’s a reference publication that many nonprofit and business leaders have on their desks. It’s probably one of the most practical things we’ve created.
What do you want people to know about the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires?
We provide two dozen programs and services, but we still have a very long to-do list in terms of meeting nonprofits’ needs. We plan to grow to meet that demand. Nonprofits have asked for deeper-dive training, more networking, certificate programs, and more advocacy. We also want to do more peer support groups, workforce development, and sector research. Times change, and new programs and services are needed to meet new challenges.
How will you use the funds you’ve received from the Big Y Community Bag Program?
The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires offers many free and low-cost programs. These are subsidized by donations, just like the gift from Big Y. We’ll use the funds to provide training on topics such as grant writing, using AI in fundraising, and mission-driven storytelling. Big Y helps us keep programs affordable, particularly for very small nonprofits.
Big Y helps us keep programs affordable, particularly for very small nonprofits.
Is there any additional information you would like to add?
We appreciate how generous our local businesses are in terms of supporting nonprofits. They know nonprofits provide vital services and make our community a great place to live.
Interview with Liana Toscanini, Executive Director.
Published November 25, 2024.