Support Our Work

The National Council of Nonprofits is the nation’s largest network of nonprofits.

Our supporters are allies who share our vision of a nation of sustainable, effective nonprofits that serve the public good by enriching communities and the lives of individuals.

Your support – whether it's an individual donation, a foundation grant, corporate sponsorship, or advertising – will help us continue our work to promote nonprofit capacity building, advance public policy, and improve public understanding of nonprofits.

Why Now?

America's nonprofits face pressing and growing threats. During these rapidly-changing, uncertain times, the National Council's work is focused on the chief threats to the survival of community-based nonprofits:

• With state & local budgets under siege, it transfers pressure onto nonprofits;
• There's a dangerous lack of public understanding about nonprofits; and
• As nonprofits are called upon to do more, there is a greater need for investment in capacity building for individual nonprofits.

The National Council has long been at the forefront of identifying and articulating issues facing nonprofits at the national, state, and local levels. We work to educate the media, elected officials, and others about the extent of these issues and work toward identifying solutions. Through our national network, we are able to share information about strategies that are working in one community and can be replicated in others.

For example, the National Council:

• Responds forcefully to assist nonprofits in opposing attempts by state and local governments to take money away from nonprofit missions. By rapidly facilitating the exchange of information among nonprofits across state lines and galvanizing broader coalitions, the National Council helps nonprofits educate policymakers about how proposed legislation in numerous states would hurt nonprofits and the communities they serve.
• Has adopted a straightforward, principles-based, non-partisan 2011 Public Policy Agenda, suitable for any nonprofit to adopt itself, or use to guide its own thinking about how to address federal, state, and local policy issues.
• Coordinates policy work on behalf of nonprofits across state lines. As the National Council is currently the only organization that focuses on sector-wide issues at the state level across the country, our ability to coordinate national organizations with state or regional operations in collaboration with State Associations around the country, gives our network the unique ability to respond with alacrity to threats and opportunities around the country.
• Is focusing, in collaboration with the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, on the special challenges raised when nonprofits partner with government. In 2010 we collaborated in a special project to study the impact of government contracting policies and procedures on nonprofit human service providers. Our Special Report that publicized the problem and our follow up work that is advancing solutions, has influenced nonprofits and governments to come together to identify and implement solutions in a growing number of states.

Reaching thousands of nonprofit leaders through our network of State Associations and their more than 24,000 member organizations, the National Council is a highly credible national voice for nonprofits. Government officials, philanthropic leaders, nonprofits, and the general public rely upon us for vital, up-to-date information about the sector. We leverage your support to help nonprofits achieve more impact in local communities and create an environment across our country where nonprofits can thrive.

Businesses

If you are affiliated with a business that may wish to support the National Council of Nonprofits, please learn about available advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

Individuals, Foundations, and Nonprofit Organizations

Individual Ally | The National Council is grateful to individuals who support the National Council’s work with a financial contribution at any level. Individuals who support our work are our allies and are listed on our website. Make an online donation.

Foundation Ally | The National Council is grateful to the private foundations that have invested in the National Council's work to support local community-based nonprofits through its network of State Associations of nonprofits. Information about the National Council's Foundation Allies.

Nonprofit Ally | Nonprofit Allies are nonprofit organizations located in a state where there is no State Association Member of the National Council that build the capacity of nonprofits located in their state and partner with the National Council to ensure that vital information reaches the nonprofits they serve.

Nonprofit Affiliate Membership | Nonprofits that are located in states with a State Association Member of the National Council are encouraged to join their State Association. By doing so, your nonprofit will automatically become an Affiliate Member of the National Council of Nonprofits and a small portion of dues to your State Association will support the National Council's work on behalf of the entire sector.