Nonprofit Association Of Oregon

THE MISSION OF THE NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION OF OREGON IS TO STRENGTHEN THE COLLECTIVE VOICE, LEADERSHIP, AND CAPACITY OF NONPROFITS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF ALL OREGONIANS.

CAPACITY BUILDING (LEARNING AND CONVENING): NAO OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT LEARNING AND CONVENING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONPROFIT LEADERS AND THEIR STAFF THROUGH HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE TRAINING PROGRAMS ON ISSUES OF BOARD DEVELOPMENT, FUNDING STRATEGY, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, DIVERSITY, SUPERVISION AND TECHNOLOGY. NAO SUPPORTS THE NONPROFIT SECTOR TO CONVENE, NETWORK, DISCUSS ISSUES, OFFER SOLUTIONS, AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES. NAO FREQUENTLY PARTNERS WITH LOCAL, STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL NETWORKS, FUNDERS AND RESEARCH PARTNERS TO CONVENE THESE GATHERINGS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION.NAO PRODUCED SEVEN PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS; NONPROFIT LEADERS NETWORK, NONPROFIT NETWORK OF CENTRAL OREGON, NONPROFIT FISCAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, EQUITY AND INCLUSION LEADERS NETWORK, LANE COUNTY NONPROFIT NETWORK, THE ROGUE VALLEY NONPROFIT NETWORK AND THE MID-VALLEY NONPROFIT NETWORK. THESE NETWORKS NORMALLY MEET MONTHLY FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM EXPERTS AND NETWORK. ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, AND ONLINE RESOURCES ENSURE THAT NONPROFITS ALL OVER OREGON HAVE ACCESS TO THESE VALUABLE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. NAO ALSO PRODUCED SEVERAL COHORTS LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR GROUPS OF NONPROFITS TO LEARN AND PEER-SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. IN ADDITION, NAO UNDERTOOK COMPLIANCE TRAINING PROJECTS WITH THE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY. ALL OF OUR CAPACITY BUILDING SERVICES WERE DELIVERED BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2023, NAO INVESTED IN A NEW NONPROFIT EDUCATION SPECIALIST BASED IN BEND, OREGON TO ENSURE OUR CAPACITY INTERNALLY TO REACH CENTRAL AND EASTERN OREGON MORE EFFECTIVELY. NAO ALSO INVESTED IN AN OPERATIONS MANAGER TO ENSURE OUR INTERNAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES ARE RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

VOICE: NAO AMPLIFIES THE NONPROFIT SECTORS VOICE THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK ON BEHALF OF OREGONS NONPROFIT SECTOR. NAO DIRECTLY ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF ALL NONPROFITS, AS WELL AS CATALYZES IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH POLICY MAKERS AND AMONG NONPROFITS. NAO WORKS TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF NONPROFITS IMPACT, ISSUES CHALLENGING THE SECTOR, AND NEED FOR POLICY CHANGE. NAO EDUCATES AND INFORMS POLICY MAKERS AND OTHERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS. IN 2023, NAOS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY ADEPTLY MANAGED A 180-ORGANIZATION COALITION TO HELP PASS AN IMPORTANT BILL TO MODERNIZE GRANT MAKING AND CONTRACTING DONE BY STATE GOVERNMENT.

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES AND REFERRAL SERVICES: NAO SUPPORTS NONPROFITS WITH RESOURCES, INFORMATION AND STATISTICS ABOUT THE SECTOR. NAO RUNS A HELPLINE, ASSISTS CALLERS, AND EMAILS QUESTIONS FROM AROUND OREGON WITH SHORT PROBLEM-SOLVING CONSULTATIONS AND REFERRALS. NAO DISSEMINATES THE BEST PRINCIPLES AND MOST PROMISING PRACTICES FOR NONPROFITS AND THEIR BOARD VOLUNTEERS. NAO LINKS NONPROFITS TO PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LAW FIRMS AND PROVIDES OTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR OREGONS NONPROFITS. NAO REFERS NONPROFITS IN NEED OF SPECIFIC CONSULTING SERVICES TO COMPETENT, VETTED EXPERTS THROUGH A REFERRAL SERVICE PLACEMENT SYSTEM. THE REFERRAL PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY CHARITABLE BENEFIT NONPROFIT IN OREGON TO BE MATCHED WITH APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.