A bi-weekly update from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.                                        
HEADLINES







Nonprofit Awareness Day:
Celebrating the Now and Preparing for the Future
Yesterday, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, and Secretary of Education Jim Peyser joined 250 business leaders and nonprofit professionals from across Massachusetts in the Great Hall of the State House to celebrate Nonprofit Awareness Day, presented by Citizens Bank.

Secretary of Education Jim Peyser, who spent half of his career working for nonprofits, said that while "Massachusetts has one of the most vibrant and effective nonprofit sectors in the country," that those in attendance must continue to "provide means and capacity to address some of our biggest issues."

"Each and every one of you has risen to the challenge," House Speaker Robert DeLeo said, reminding those assembled of the invaluable contributions the nonprofit sector has made in helping Massachusetts to remain a fair, just, and caring Commonwealth. Speaker DeLeo further noted that "You're on the front lines," as he thanked those in attendance for the  essential work they take on day in and day out.  

Senate President Stan Rosenberg joked that his "specialty is depressing large groups of people all at the same time," but he nevertheless assured the attendees: "I depress you only to challenge you. Together we are going to face some very significant challenges in the Commonwealth." He strongly urged the nonprofit sector to to see these challenges as opportunities. 

The 2016 Excellence Award Finalists on the Grand Staircase
"There's a lot of power in this room," Rick Musiol, Senior Vice President and Regional Director of Public Affairs, New England at Citizens Bank, said. And it was this power, this hope, that filled every face.

"We're grateful to Citizens Bank," said Jim Klocke, CEO of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, "For continuing their support of Nonprofit Awareness Day, which gives us a chance to recognize the essential role nonprofits play in strengthening the Commonwealth and celebrate their tremendous accomplishments through the Excellence Awards."

The audience of gathered nonprofit leaders and business partners could hardly restrain their applause as the 30 finalists were honored for their work and the seven Nonprofit Excellence Award winners were announced. These seven organizations and professionals were recognized for the essential, creative, and passionate work they do throughout the Commonwealth.

Congratulations to the 2016 Excellence Award Winners:
Advocacy: Changing the Game
Collaboration: Collective Impact
Communications: Telling Your Story
Innovation: Finding New Ways
Leadership: Guiding the Ship
Small Nonprofit: Doing More with Less
Young Nonprofit Professional: Forging the Future

Intermingled with the jubilation at the accomplishments of the nonprofit sector, government and elected leaders highlighted the ongoing partnership between government and the nonprofit sector.

Personal and heartfelt stories and experiences accompanied each award winner as they mounted the stage to thunderous applause that set the flags of the Great Hall waving.

Thanks to everyone who told the world why #nonprofitsmakesense
Jeff Fatchaline, who accepted the Award in Communication on behalf of the Boston Gay Men's Chorus, recounted the discrimination that the group faced recently when traveling abroad, a reminder of the work still to be done for LGBT equality. An impassioned Laurie "Duck" Caldwell of the Boston Area Gleaners accepted the award for Excellence by a Small Nonprofit on behalf of the one-in-ten individuals in Massachusetts who still do not have enough food. With tears in her eyes, Katrina Shaw of the Freedom House accepted the award for Excellence in Leadership and declared that "We need to do better" in order to provide a secure environment for children to discover their possibilities.

While the stories of the winners varied, the passion was universal, whether it was a commitment to improve children's vision despite a scarcity of resources, a determination to fight for the rights of fishermen in the face of unfair legislation, a resolve to end alienation among gender nonconforming youth, or a desire to create safe and loving communities for foster children. All battles, according to the winners, that are far from over. 

We hope that yesterday's event, the stories of the Nonprofit Excellence Award winners, and the #nonprofitsmakesense social media campaign reminded you all of the breadth and depth of the state's nonprofit sector and the unlimited potential we have as a sector when we stand together. More pictures of the event are to come.

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nonprofit411Nonprofit 411: Take Back Control of Your Workday
By Russell Greenwald and Ryan Ecclestone,  Insource Services

We are all faced with more responsibility every day and the need to focus on achieving goals faster and accomplishing more. With the need to "keep up" many have turned the formerly routine 9-5 workday into the 8-6 plus day, texting and emailing from their phones during "off hours". A significant amount of the workday involves the simple act of communication. We have found that the following communication tips and tricks are a simple way to create time to focus and allow for more productive work.

Sending that text only takes 30 seconds, or does it? It takes about five minutes to get into a groove and focus. If we are interrupted on average only two times per hour during an eight hour workday, this amounts to over an hour of time spent refocusing on the tasks at hand. Imagine what you could do with another hour of time each workday!

QUICK LINKS 
QuickLinksJob Opportunities
Director of Membership and Programs, Massachusetts Nonprofit Network
Director of Development, Jeff's Place Children's Bereavement Center
Program Director, Community Cooks 
International Programs Administrator, Unitarian Universalist Association 
Director of Programs, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE)
Director of Finance and Administration, Just-A-Start-Corporation 
Development Director, Boston CASA
Boston Non Profit Program Director, Boston Nonprofit
Bookkepper, Insource Services
Community Relations Manager, Highland Street Foundation
Public House Training Manager, MACDC
Senior Manager of Family Philantrophy, Cradles to Crayons
Executive Director, Greater Boston PFLAG
Chief Executive Officer, Housing Assistance Corporation
Chief Operation Manager, Quincy Community Action Programs
Executive Director, Team IMPACT
Executive Director, Cancer Connection
Child & Family Counselor, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers 
Executive Director, The CASA Project

Grant & Award Opportunities
Trainings & Events 
*Discounts for MNN members

Resources
Interested in Receiving a Permanent Art Donation for your Social Service Agency? 
The Art Connection  facilitates original art donations from generous local  artists and collectors  and places them in agencies throughout Greater Boston that provide direct service to clients at their site.  To learn more and apply, click  here  or contact  
abell@theartconnection.org 
with questions. 

For the second year, the Highland Street Foundation  is seeking exceptional nonprofit managers and leaders to apply for fully-funded Highland Street Fellowships to the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership (INML). The programs offered by INML are addressing one of the most critical needs we face in the nonprofit sector: access to high quality leadership development opportunities. To apply for a Highland Street Fellowship to the INML, click here . Under "How did you hear about our program?" select: Other and enter "Highland Street".  You do not have to be a current grantee to be eligible.
The deadline to apply is July 11.  To learn more about INML, click here . 

The Standards for Excellence Institute is now accepting applications to participate in its Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Training workshop to take place October 24-26 in Baltimore MD. The training is an exclusive, professional development initiative that gives independent nonprofit consultants the tools necessary to work with organizations interested in implementing the Standards for Excellence program. Members of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network that are accepted and participate in the training will receive $75 off the training cost. Application deadline is July 8, 2016.  Learn more here. 



 

 


New & Returning Affiliate Members
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Consultants specializing in capacity building for small to mid-size nonprofits with a focus on integrated fundraising, communication plans, board development, organizational messaging, developing marketing strategies to reach new donors, crisis management, and public relations. Amsden Consulting also works with with for profit companies to help them align with mission driven organizations and leverage their nonprofit partnerships to maximize the positive impact on their community.
Hemenway & Barnes works with a broad range of nonprofit institutions, including colleges and universities, cultural and performing arts centers, hospitals and health care plans, religious organizations, and trustees of charitable trusts. They advise on corporate issues and governance and institutional advancement, including government relations, real estate including conservation, employment, and beneficial interests in estates.

MNN's work is made possible by The Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation & State Street Foundation.
If you'd like to share a story or have a job, grant or other information that is important to Massachusetts nonprofits, contact llynch@massnonprofitnet.org .