Our History

 

In 1991, nonprofits all over MetroWest were doing good work—but feeling isolated. There was neither a mechanism for sharing ideas nor a low-cost forum for professional development. Nonprofit gatherings in Boston and Worcester offered such services, but travel and schedules made those gatherings fairly inaccessible for people working between Routes 128 and 495.

Meeting over coffee, four staff members of local nonprofits decided that a new network could fill the gaps in MetroWest by offering low-cost workshops where colleagues could meet, share ideas, develop professionally—and perhaps commiserate a little. The four colleagues formed the nucleus of a volunteer steering committee, known as the MetroWest Nonprofit Network (MWNN). Their first workshop, held December 1992, was called Getting Grants.

Since then, MWNN has offered three or four workshops each year; a steering committee—now composed of a dozen volunteers—governs the organization. In 1997, Crossroads Community Foundation became the permanent fiscal sponsor and began providing administrative support as well. That year, MNN’s 10th anniversary breakfast featured news legend Jack Williams.

In 2003, MWNN began the Lone Rangers Brown Bag lunches. In 2007, its 15th anniversary year, MWNN again expanded its services to share resources and information by creating online directories and a website.  In 2009, we launched a peer-mentoring service, MNN-NPO Connect,  and in 2010 launched  the Online Community for MetroWest Nonprofits.

 

2009 PROGRAMMING - TIGHTENING BELTS, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES

In 2009, we’re all coping with diminished financial resources, but that doesn’t mean that your effectiveness diminishes, too. For this year’s workshops, MNN has been connecting you with strategies and opportunities to help your organization get the most out of its messaging, fundraising, IT, operations, governance, and more. This year’s expanded offerings range from larger workshops with national presenters to smaller, focused roundtables, and interactive panel discussions with funders and experts—all with significant opportunities for networking and information exchange.

• The MetroWest Nonprofit Town Hall (February) One of four Town Halls to be held throughout Massachusetts, this event featured in-depth table discussions focusing on best practices for strengthening and supporting each other and the sector locally. Feedback from Nonprofit Town Halls nationwide will be sent to the annual Nonprofit Congress in Washington, D.C. to help shape a vigorous and unified nonprofit voice on Capitol Hill. The Nonprofit Town Hall was planned through a collaborative with the Mass Council of Human Services Providers, the Massachusetts Nonprofit Congress Steering Committee, and the National Council of Nonprofits. We extend special thanks to the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation for its support.
• Workshop on Public Awareness (February): Attendees learned effective strategies to increase the public’s understanding and valuing of your organization–especially during tough economic times–in a skill-building workshop designed by the National Association of Nonprofits and presented by the Two Penny Project.
• Meet the Funders (April): This session brought the expertise and insight of five local grantmakers to an audience of more than 50 nonprofits and stakeholders. Special thanks to our panelists:
  

  A panel of Metrowest grantmakers gave workshop attendees insight into local funding priorities.

  • Martin Cohen, MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation
  • Marilyn Martino, Sudbury Foundation
  • Paul Mina, United Way of Tri-County
  • Dana Neshe, Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation
  • Jessica Newman, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs.

• Financial Management (June): a three-session morning focusing on
  • The financial responsibilities of board members
  • Contingency planning
  • How to build a strong, fundable budget
• Critical Tech Topics for the Non-Techie (September). This full morning of workshops included sessions on:
  • Getting started with social media
  • Verbal branding: a whole new way to present your organization
  • Events management
  • Building a Thrifty IT infrastructure
• Big Money for Small Groups: Getting Gifts of $500 to $5000, presented by Andy Robinson (November).  One of our most acclaimed workshops ever, this gave attendees great ideas, processes, and inspiration for cultivating individual donations.
• Coaching Your Board to Govern, Not Manage (December).  Peoplesworth founder Jay Vogt, well-known for his insights into governance, guided a roomful of board and staff members to operate more efficiently and collegially by looking at the responsibilities most appropriate board and staff.

 

2008 PROGRAMMING: CREATIVE APPROACHES TO CHALLENGING PROBLEMS

MNN devoted 2008 programs to examining and embracing the creative process as a means to solve concrete problems in every area of our work life: from operations to funding to program to planning. In tight economic times, nonprofits have an even tougher time delivering their programs and services while searching for elusive financial support. Often, time-honored techniques no longer yield the same results. Therefore, in 2008, we broke out of our routines and got into a new groove!

• Creative Strategies for Extraordinary Results (June). Presenter: Dr. Nina Greenwald, Professor, Critical and Creative Thinking Graduate Program, UMass-Boston
• A Fresh Look at Your Donor Communications (September).  Presenter: Tom Ahern  (Special thanks to the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation for making this special workshop possible! )
• Nonprofit Advocacy: The Basics for Election Season (October). Presenters: Dan Hunter and Michael Weekes
• Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers (December). Presenters: Patrice Keegan, Boston Cares; five local volunteer managers share tips and resources