by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
There is one thing several local nonprofits have in common — a central organizational center that is an advocate for nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida.
The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida has been in existence since 2002, and since then, 150 local nonprofit organizations have become members of the center.
Work began in 1998 when the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (JCCI) conducted a study to look at the nonprofit sector’s strengths and weaknesses. Rena Coughlin, president and CEO of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, said the study found that nonprofits needed help with “capacity building.”
“We are the voice for the nonprofit community,” said Coughlin.
Only when a nonprofit organization becomes a member of the center are they able to access the center’s services. To become a member, the organization must pay annual dues.
“Like the (Jacksonville Regional) Chamber of Commerce, we also ask that the people we serve support us,” said Coughlin.
The center receives one-third of its funding through the annual membership dues. Coughlin said the center is also reliant on foundation and program grants as well as some corporate underwriting.
Coughlin added that the center has a 70 percent retention rate, and organizations that joined the center within the past two years are fiscally stronger.
“Northeast Florida’s largest nonprofits tend to join us because they see the benefits,” she said. “Our goal in these next couple years is to reach out to more nonprofits so they too can enjoy the benefits. And it also helps with our credibility.”
There are several services the Nonprofit Center offers to its members. The Nonprofit Center’s core services include access to the center’s Web site. Coughlin said the site has become one of the top places for people looking for a job in the nonprofit sector, as members can post job openings on the site.
Once a month, nonprofits will receive a monthly e-mail digest called “NUGGETS” that contains resources for nonprofits about grants, programs, and events the center is offering.
The center also sponsors seminars on organizational development topics. Coughlin said each month they hold an open meeting for CEO’s, CFO’s or the organizations’ second in command.
“The meeting helps them learn from each other and they find support through one another,” she said.
Members are also invited to any of the center’s special events.
Currently, Coughlin and her team are putting together some new programs for its members.
“Right now we are working on developing a program for people who are interim deputy directors,” said Coughlin. “Many executive directors and CEOs of nonprofits tell us in five to seven years, they will be retiring from their job.
“It is important that organizations are well-prepared when that happens.”
Coughlin said one example of this happened at the I.M. Sulzbacher Center last year. Audrey Moran was the interim deputy director for a few months until Sherry Burns’ last day.
Because the Sulzbacher Center had an interim director, the shelter hasn’t seen the problems many nonprofit organizations have when their executive director decides to leave.
“All of the wheels fall off,” said Coughlin. “The person who was connected to the community, historically knowledgeable and their key to funding is gone.
“Unless you are prepared, it can break or interrupt their connection with the community.”
Another trend the center has noticed is baby boomers leaving their corporate jobs and moving into the nonprofit sector.
“It’s almost like they have checked that box,” she said. “They made their mark and they are ready for something different.”
Karen Brune Mathis left the Florida Times Union for Dreams Come True, and Dick Williams left Cox Radio for Learn to Read — both in the last two months.
“We try to look ahead for trends like that, but to also continue offering our basic programs,” said Coughlin.
Coughlin spends a lot of time at City Council meetings, and she was at Wednesday’s Finance Committee meeting.
“We try and keep track of what is going on legislatively for our members,” she said.
With the property tax amendment, the Nonprofit Center assembled the “Nimble Nonprofit” program. There are three areas the center focused on as a way to help the nonprofit organizations through the budget cuts. First, they taught them how to tell their story, because all nonprofits are looking for one thing right now — funding.
They also learned more about alternate sources of funding, crisis communications and how to talk to the media.
“We responded by hosting these series of programs,” said Coughlin. “In the long term, this also helps organizations learn how to diversify their revenue and not depend on one funding source.”
Amy Crane, deputy director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, said the center does extraordinary things for the nonprofit community.
“They carefully examine the needs of Jacksonville’s nonprofit organizations,” she said. “They look at the community, take its pulse and look beyond.
“If you look at the way they are structured, they fill an important role that a lot of nonprofits can’t do on their own, and that role is advocacy.”
Crane added that one of the programs she found very beneficial was the “Nimble Nonprofit.”
“It made us look beyond the current issue,” she said.
Coughlin said the center does not support the members of the center financially.
“When the center was created, it was decided that they would bring the experts in and serve as a venue for the organizations to meet,” said Coughlin. “We are here to connect people.”