Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama changes name to Alabama Association of Nonprofits; Announces higher education partnerships with leading institutions   

Birmingham, Ala. – The Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama today announces significant changes in the organization in order to enhance services to its members and create a unified voice for the state’s nonprofit sector. The announcement was made at media conferences in Birmingham and Montgomery. A similar announcement is slated to occur in Mobile on December 18.

NRCA has become the Alabama Association of Nonprofits.  Approved by a statewide board of directors in November, the name reflects a renewed commitment to establishing a statewide, member-driven association representing the more than 19,000 nonprofit organizations in Alabama. Priorities include better professional development opportunities, stronger member benefits and group buying power and greater advocacy of sector issues.

Also, the Alabama Association of Nonprofits has entered into a formal agreement with Samford University and the Brock School of Business. The Association has relocated its Birmingham home offices to the Samford campus. Under the agreement, the Alabama Association of Nonprofits will continue operating as a separate 501(c)3 organization.

The Association also announces today the formation of a statewide consortium of leading colleges and universities dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector. Partners initially committed include Samford University and the University of Alabama. Other higher education institutions around the state have also been approached about joining the consortium.

The consortium of higher education experts representing diverse fields will work together to form stronger professional development tracks for members, generate ongoing research and economic study regarding the nonprofit sector and serve as a vehicle by which Association members can gain certification in core competencies needed to excel in the sector. The Alabama Association of Nonprofits will develop internship and educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students of its participating higher education partners.

“Today’s announcement signals the beginning of a new era for Alabama’s nonprofit sector,” said John Stone, announced today as the new President and CEO of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits. “Our academic partners, led by our innovative partnership with Samford University and strong interest from the University of Alabama, are committed to providing world-class professional development, research and recruitment services at a level few other states can boast of,” Stone said. “At the same time, we also now have – for the first time ever – a strong, unified voice to promote our sector, just like our corporate colleagues have had for many years.”

Stone joins the Association following a five-year stint as director of community development for Children’s Hospital of Alabama and earlier positions with the Birmingham Business Alliance and legislative positions in Washington, D.C. 

CHANGES:  ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS:

- will serve as the central resource for current, in-depth economic, community impact and ROI research pertaining to Alabama’s nonprofit sector. 

- will actively engage in sector-based advocacy with elected officials, the media, corporations and the community.

- will enhance member benefits, group purchasing opportunities and vendor discounts.

- will provide better organizational strategic planning, assessment and consultations to the nonprofit sector in order to help organizations grow and advance.

- will serve as a stronger voice for all nonprofits statewide.  It will be a more visible and active presence for members both internally and externally.

- will improve on its annual summit and offer “mini-summits” during the year around the state.

SAMFORD UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP :

Samford University’s Board of Trustees recently approved the partnership with the Alabama Association of Nonprofits.  According to Samford President Andrew Westmoreland, the association’s mission aligns directly with that of Samford.  The Association’s offices are being housed in Samford’s Brock School of Business, which is very fitting at this time because the school established the Social Entrepreneurship major two years ago which focuses on businesses and nonprofits that are socially responsible and mission driven, Westmoreland added.   Students majoring in social entrepreneurship learn first-hand how to manage a nonprofit like a business.  

“The faculty and students of the Brock School are extremely excited by this innovative partnership with the Association. Collaboration between the state’s nonprofit organizations and our faculty and students will bring renewed excitement and a greater level of service to the nonprofit sector. We at Samford also look forward to working with other institutions of higher learning throughout the state to bring new resources to the nonprofit sector,” said Dr. Beck Taylor, Dean of the Brock School of Business.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PARTNERSHIP :

University of Alabama Provost Judy Bonner recently approved the partnership with the Alabama Association of Nonprofits. According to Dr. Bonner, The University of Alabama is proud to participate in a collaboration that will bring together professors, administrators, students and community partners from across Alabama to establish a network of best practices in assisting our state’s nonprofit sector. Stephen Black, the director of the UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility, will head up a collaborative team of UA professors representing multiple colleges and disciplines, in forging the partnership. Office space will also be made available to the staff of the Association when needed.

The new reality of decreased philanthropic support and increased demand for services led to these changes, Stone said. Demands on the nonprofit sector have grown substantially since the economic crisis in 2008.  In June 2009, Guidestar conducted a survey that revealed 58% of nonprofits nationally reported an increased demand for their services.  Fifty-two percent reported a decrease in contributions and eight percent of all of those surveyed reported that they were in imminent danger of shutting their doors.  

With the demands on nonprofits increasing every day, the Alabama Association of Nonprofits will engage the more than 19,700 nonprofit organizations in Alabama to provide them with the very best professional development, advocacy and sector-based support they will need to meet the needs of the communities they serve.