NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES
Gets Top Rating on Greatnonprofits.org!
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Hear what nonprofit executive directors have to say about the NPC in this video: Member Stories.
Liana Toscanini has a deep understanding of how nonprofit organizations work and what their common challenges are. She is an agile and attentive listener. One hour of consultation with her saved my board a fair amount of time and research. She generously loaned us her file on the legal steps required should our board pursue a direction we are considering. She also gave us some crucial referrals to individuals in the community who might be interested in helping us with our work. This is an invaluable service, especially for me, a recent transplant to the Berkshires. When we met for an initial consultation, she had already done her homework about our organization. We had an efficient email exchange beforehand, so that we could focus our discussion. She continues to send us information, ideas, and referrals. In my book, this is what one wants: a skilled diagnosis accompanied by ample information and education. The nonprofit doctor is in!
— Client Served
I’m happy to support such a good program. You have a great feel for what nonprofits need!
— Mary
The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires has been so helpful to our small nonprofit. Whenever I’m looking for a referral I can send a quick email and always receive helpful information. We’ve found someone to set up a new computer and reconfigure our internal office network. He’s now our go-to guy for anything tech related. I know I can always trust someone Liana recommends. It’s nice to know I can easily reach out and get the information. It definitely saves me time!
— Emmalyn Gaertner, Southern Berkshire Community Development Corporation
Thank you for facilitating the Nonprofit Board Training. Prior to attending I really believed board work was for other people; your course showed me that I do, and can, bring something to the board room.
– OLLI member
Thank you so much for inviting me to be a judge for the Berkshire Nonprofit Awards. The stories were inspiring and so many great organizations in the Berkshires. I’m looking forward to the breakfast, celebrating with bacon, and meeting the honorees. I love the work you are doing and honored to be a part of it! Thank you!!
— Jennifer Brown/VP, Business Development | United Personnel
Thank you for the time and effort you have given to us. In one hour you were able to hone in on our important issues and offered terrific advice. We certainly will follow up on these recommendations.
— Janice Kabel, Great Barrington Land Conservancy
I would recommend this boot camp because there are so many points covered that were not in the resources and books I have been pouring over – that you just need to experience in person from those who have the expertise. You get to be part of a group that is asking the questions you haven’t even begun to consider or wondered about but didn’t thing to ask.
— Julie Bishop, Walnut Woods
The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires has been very helpful to our fledgling organization. Liana’s knowledge of the local nonprofit landscape and willingness to share her expertise are the perfect complement to NPC’s list of valuable programs and services. In just a few short months, our membership has already paid for itself!
— Eugenie Sills/Clinton Church Restoration Advisory Board
My husband just retired and he used the Giving Back guide to get an idea of the nonprofit landscape and where he might like to volunteer.
— Lee Watroba, The Austen Riggs Center
The Nonprofit Center of The Berkshires provides essential services in Western Massachusetts for nonprofits large and small. As Chair of the Trustees for the Great Barrington Libraries we have turned to the Center often for their expertise and guidance in raising our profile and developing strategies for sustainable fundraising. The Nonprofit Center’s positive impact on our library community is significant and thanks to them we are headed towards a brighter future.
— Patrick Hollenbeck
I’ve seen NPC in action as a powerful connector. Often non-profits work in silos – their work is so intense and client focused that it’s difficult to reach out to like-minded organizations. NPC helps not-for-profits to share best practices, collaborate when possible, and see what’s going on in the Berkshires beyond their own important work.
— Dawn Stanyon/Professionality Consulting
Since becoming a member of NPC and working with Liana I have found a road map and a guide to start me on my way to becoming connected, to learning about the tools and resources that are out there that I can utilize to become a more effective leader within my own organization and beyond.
— Rachel Kalin/Oakdale Foundation
As a music organization approaching our 50th year, we faced issues of succession planning, Board expansion, and audience development for a new generation, among other issues. Liana Toscanini of NPC Berkshires organized a strategic planning session at which she helped us lay out options for future sustainability. Liana has met with us more than once to help implement some of our goals. She is knowledgeable and approachable, and cares deeply about the issues facing non-profits.
— Susan
Thank you for a terrific morning of helpful information and networking at the “Getting the Word Out” workshop on September 19. And for making available the “30 Power Words for Social Media” list and marketing checklist. Your powerpoint is my new Bible. The best part is I’m feeling more confident about pushing my Board in marketing and outreach directions that will improve our fundraising and membership.
— Kate
The NPC Berkshires Giving Guide works! The Flying Cloud Institute profile in the Giving Guide happened to be read by a newcomer to the area, Mike Mimnaugh, a human resources specialist. He saw that we were looking for volunteers in that arena and was intrigued. I am thrilled to say that Mike is now volunteering with us and a member of our Human Resources Committee. This visibility has certainly helped us in a very meaningful way.
— Amy Rudnick/ Board Chair
Wow – Berkshire Benchmarks is an awesome resource!! Thank you — this will make my grant proposals MUCH stronger. Some very interesting stats.You really helped me with this.
— Hinda Bodinger, Berkshire Baby Box
As a small but important nonprofit with life changing work, the Berkshire Immigrant Center has often put clients before our own well-being and then struggled to maintain capacity and expand. I am proud to say that over the last 2 years we have managed to take better care of ourselves while serving the amazing immigrants in the county and could not do so without partners like the NPC! Liana has personally spoken with me numerous times to trouble shoot everything from board development to hiring consultants. She is always sending trainings, grant ideas and articles she thinks may be of interest to members and is such an amazing cheerleader when a member wins an award or gets new funding etc. The Center also proofread a grant for me and Liana spent an hour and a half with our board chair advising us on growth as a nonprofit in the Berkshires. I know I have only experienced a fraction of what it does and can offer.
— Brooke Meade/BIC
We are glad to support your idea to pull these organizations into one focused book (Connections Magazine) and keep writing about ways to connect here in this beautiful disconnected region!
— Ramelle Pulitzer/New View Tours, Inc.
As a nonprofit consultant, I’ve had the good fortune to connect with Liana and to teach professional development workshops through her organization. Her vision for Berkshire nonprofits, and her awareness of how to best support them, is so impressive. Liana has a talent for elevating nonprofit work and making these organizations even more visible in the community. It has been a pleasure to work with her.
— Jenni Haley
“Mary McGurn (pro bono consultant) was extremely helpful and didn’t make me feel like a technological idiot! After lengthy “free” conversation about what I needed, I offered to pay her going forward. She was very generous with her time! I must say that because I have been zoomed out I haven’t taken much advantage of my NPC membership as of late, but this was worth it right there! Usually any interaction with NPC for me turns out that way!”
— Andrea Goodman/Cantilena Chamber Choir