Beyond the Building: Inside the Nonprofit Center

by Michelle Sedaca, Program Associate
South Africa Partners

A staff member of a NonProfit Center tenant organization, Michelle writes this monthly column on life at the center, and the unique culture of a multi-tenant center created specifically for nonprofits. Photo credit:Michelle (left) meeting with Jackie Cefola, program coordinator at the NonProfit Center

Speckled gray marble floors, revolving glass doors and an engraved placard prominently displaying the word “Mission” contrast with any preconceived notions you may hold about nonprofit office buildings. Indeed, entering the Nonprofit Center for the first time on a steamy August day in 2005, I wondered whether I was perhaps at the wrong location.

Most nonprofit buildings conjure up images of offices hinging on disarray, lacking any karmic, feel-good energy. To my surprise, Lincoln Plaza was not only home to South Africa Partners, the organization in which I had just become gainfully employed, it was home to 11 other nonprofits.

Shirronda Almeida, the director of membership initiatives at the Massachusetts Association of Neighborhood Development Corporations (MACDC), echoes a similar sentiment of disbelief, “When I first saw the Nonprofit Center, I thought, ‘Wow, I feel like I'm moving on up, just like the Jeffersons.’”

Strengthening the Sector

Besides physically housing several mission-based organizations, nonprofit centers strive to strengthen the sector and cultivate collaboration among its tenants. Third Sector New England (TSNE) clearly strives to fulfill these objectives.

TSNE’s concept paper on the NPC states, “In contrast to buildings where low rents have led to a cluster of nonprofit organizations, nonprofit centers consciously embrace and implement strategies aimed at building a community of nonprofits.”

Although Boston possesses a large number of nonprofits, the NPC is not unique to the city. Such centers have developed across the United States, in places like Texas, California and Washington. The NonprofitCenters Network (NCN), a San Francisco-based organization that supports multi-tenant centers, represents the umbrella to this growing movement.

According to the NCN website, "[Multi-tenant Nonprofit Centers] promote organizational synergy by making it easier to build relationships and develop joint community initiatives. They also increase the visibility of nonprofits, helping them garner public support and recognition."

Creating Community

Tenants agree that many factors attribute towards building community at the NPC. For example, organizations have access to common areas, such as conference rooms, kitchens and a rear courtyard. “The common areas build a sense of community and allow people to interact more often. This is especially important for small organizations,” Almeida says.

Andrew Cohen, community research coordinator at the Access Project, shares similar thoughts. “I like how the conference rooms and community rooms on the various floors are shared space,” he comments. “It’s nice to be surrounded by like-minded organizations fighting for social justice. I have definitely made good connections with people in other organizations.”

Professional Development

As important as the common areas, the NPC offers a wide range of programming and professional development opportunities each month. From IT basics and media relations skills to yoga and organic chocolate tasting, tenants enjoy the vast array.

Martina Bouey, senior development officer at South Africa Partners, says, “I particularly enjoy the professional development opportunities that the NPC offers. Working at a small nonprofit, we have a very limited professional development budget. So, it is so wonderful to be able work in a space that provides additional training opportunities.

“I also enjoy the networking opportunities that the NPC has. Many events are open to the larger nonprofit community. This has given me the chance to meet and learn from other practitioners from the nonprofit world.”

Making Our Mark Together

Ideas for community-building at the NPC abound. Almeida envisions a networking/happy hour on Friday afternoons, while Cohen suggests an in-house workout room. Bouey recommends that the NPC mobilize tenants around critical issues in the nonprofit sector, such as program evaluation.

With a new year ahead, tenants anticipate continued community building as the NPC makes its mark in Boston. “There is an opportunity to share ideas and resources. People come [to the NPC] with a sense of community, a value of relationships,” Almeida concludes.

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