Our Mission

To strengthen, promote and represent nonprofit organizations, empowering them to meet the diverse, changing needs of our communities.

Our Members

Our member organizations touch the lives of countless adults, children and families throughout our region, and in some cases, throughout the nation and the world.

Our members protect our environment, help the homeless, support the arts, feed the hungry, advance education, provide employment assistance, nurture the sick, champion the underserved, and so much more. Their dedication and hard work have a direct, life-changing impact on our communities.

Member Highlight: Beacon House

Beacon House is a cornerstone in Washington, DC's Edgewood neighborhood, dedicated to nurturing the academic growth and personal development of its children.

Embedded within Ward 5’s Edgewood Commons affordable housing complex, where household incomes average just $20,000, Beacon House serves as a beacon of hope for more than 300 children aged 5 to 18 annually. Their primary focus is on bridging the educational achievement gap and uplifting the economic prospects of children in Edgewood, where generational poverty has been persistent. With over 32 years in operation, Beacon House boasts an impressive 93% of high school seniors enrolling in college or trade school, a testament to the impact of their programs. By delivering a comprehensive portfolio of afterschool education and youth development programs which connect students to trusted adult role models, Beacon House has helped hundreds of Black students in Northeast Washington, DC graduate from high school with a plan for continued education and a bright future.

2024 will mark the 25th anniversary of Beacon House’s nationally competitive Athletics Program. Beacon House’s Athletics Program has served as both an exemplary community building and youth engagement model and a powerful vehicle for youth development, generating what Dr. Monica S. Ruiz of the George Washington University has called the “Beacon House effect.” This program supports Beacon House’s mission by reinforcing the importance of school and prioritization of education, and its success is reflected in the scores of Athletics Program alumni who have attended college and become successful adults who now give back to Beacon House.

Throughout March, patrons of Busboys and Poets can support Beacon House when dining at any of their 8 DMV restaurant locations by making a contribution through Busboys and Poets’ point-of-purchase donation program.

Kevin Hinton, CEO/Executive Director of Beacon House, endorses the benefits and opportunities Center membership has provided. “We at Beacon House are pleased to be a Center for Nonprofit Advancement member since 2018. Our board and staff members have participated in Center-sponsored trainings and Peer Cohorts for many years, and the Center has supported our efforts to build the strongest board of directors possible through its Board Match program. We value the Center’s commitment to strengthening the area’s nonprofit sector, and we look forward to continuing our membership well into the future.”

Our Team 

Created in 1979, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement is the nation’s first state association for nonprofit organizations. For more than four decades, the Center has continued to grow and advance, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group:

Board of Directors

Staff

Supporters

Our Impact

The Center’s primary service region includes Washington, DC, Prince George's and Montgomery Counties in Maryland and the state of Virginia. However, the Center welcomes any 501(c)(3) nonprofit that wishes to join.

Identifying, monitoring and sharing new and shifting trends within the nonprofit sector, the Center works collaboratively with local experts to develop custom programs and solutions. Through our training, resources and relationships with the corporate, philanthropic and government community, we help our member nonprofits save more … do more … and succeed more—ultimately achieving a more sustainable future.

The Center serves thousands of nonprofit staff, volunteers and board members, making it easier for nonprofits to fulfill their missions by helping them:

Strengthen capacity through training opportunities

1,500+ participants a year

Reallocate more funds to programs with operational savings

10%-50% discounts through group purchasing opportunities

Gain expert insights, market exposure and cash awards through competitions

$29,000 cash grants awarded each year

Network with nonprofit colleagues, industry experts and leaders in the foundation and government sectors

Countless invaluable connections

 

Our Values

We believe that...

Nonprofits are an essential ingredient in the health of our communities and our democracy. Strong nonprofits lead to better communities, better quality of life and a better democracy.

Nonprofits are stewards of public trust. Transparency and accountability are the foundation of that trust.

Diversity in all forms — organizations, people, religions, and culture — is part of our vitality. Promoting diversity and practicing inclusiveness makes us stronger.

The vibrancy and effectiveness of nonprofits hinge on information, education, celebration, collaboration, and representation. Nonprofits deserve a strong voice in the affairs that affect them. Together, we shape the future.

Intention, commitment, optimism, and a belief in a better tomorrow are vital ingredients in our growth and development and our service philosophy. Every day we strive to do better, be better, serve better.

Social Impact Vision

Effective nonprofits, thriving communities.