Sometimes it sounded like a church meeting. Other times it took on the quality of a college seminar with students cramming for midterm exams. But at the end of the first-ever national Nonprofit Congress last week, what delegates really discovered was the power of group commitment.
As they headed into the Congress — a project of the D.C.-based National Council of Nonprofit Associations — delegates were discussing creating an entirely new advocacy organization or some new third-party alliance to advocate for the nonprofit sector.
After two days of meetings in Washington, delegates chose instead to focus on their own local and regional associations as the best way to advance the sector’s common interests.
In states where there were existing nonprofit associations, delegates agreed to strengthen these groups and make them more aware of issues such as pending regulations and legislation. In those states that lacked such groups, or had weak regional organizations, delegates pledged to find ways to bolster these local efforts.
“What we really need are 50 powerful state associations, not to speak for you, but to speak with you,” said Robert Egger, of the D.C. Central Kitchen and co-chair of the congress.
“These people will make [change] happen.”
Delegates agreed on three priorities to work on before meeting again in the spring of 2008: accountability and leadership; advocacy and grassroots community activities; and increased public awareness of the sector. Delegates also concluded that a new name was needed to describe the sector other than the term “nonprofit.”
Attendees got a lot of advice on how to give a 21st-century renewal to their community while preserving many of their historic strengths.
“Don’t let the techniques and language of management lure you into imitating business,” said William Schambra, director of the Bradley Center for Philanthropy. “Participatory democracy is what nonprofits provide when they are at their best,” he said. “You have what Americans want — a sense of community, of purpose and belonging.”
That sense of improving their local communities and the nation as a whole “has traditionally been at the heart and soul of nonprofits,” Schambra added.
At the congress’ closing session, a standing-room only crowd of delegates clapped and shouted out their plans before each other like an old-style political convention. With cries of “Amen!” echoing back, each state delegation said what it would do to help move the sector forward.
The NCNAl will publish their progress, and those states who fail to deliver on their very public promises will risk embarrassment before their peers when the congress convenes again in 2008.
Have information about area nonprofits? Contact Frank Sietzen at [email protected].
