Independent Sector’s members represent the variety of ways that working toward the common good happens in our country, and they reflect an array of unique visions for making a better tomorrow.
Each month, we also get to ring in a number of member-versaries. The final month of 2018 was an anniversary month for seven of our members. We’re pleased to greet another year by sharing a little about each of these organizations that have been part of the IS member community for multiple years.
10 years
Charity Navigator
Glen Rock, New Jersey-based Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest and most-utilized charity evaluator. Like the charities it evaluates, Charity Navigator is a nonprofit. It provides vital, independent data on every tax-exempt nonprofit in the U.S. and even more in-depth metrics regarding financial health and accountability for several thousand of those nonprofits. All their ratings data is public and free to access. Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator has become a staple in the ethics and accountability fabric of our sector and continues to help donors make informed decisions with their charitable dollars. Charity Navigator is led by Michael Thatcher who, in 2015, was named successor to the organization’s founder and Chairman, John P. Dugan.
Learn more | Twitter: @CharityNav | Facebook: Charity Navigator | Follow Michael Thatcher: @mthatcher
5 years
Nonprofit Association of Westchester
Nonprofit Westchester (NPW) was formed in 2012 to help unify the nonprofit sector in Westchester County, New York, and strengthen the sector’s partnership with for-profit and government sectors to ensure a thriving community. Located just outside New York City, Westchester County has a robust contingent of nonprofits, which numbers more than 160. NPW plays a vital role in cultivating a just and caring community, bringing together the area’s many nonprofits and helping organizations in their advocacy, messaging, and capacity building. Joanna Straub has served as NPW’s Executive Director since June 2012.
Learn more | Twitter: @NPWestchester | Facebook: Nonprofit Westchester | Follow Joanna Straub: @JoannaStraub
Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) – The Aspen Institute
Aspen Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) seeks to inform and maximize the impact of social sector organizations of every size and type through leadership development initiatives, convenings, and communications. The program’s executive director, Jane Wales, doubles as Aspen Institute’s Vice President for Philanthropy and Society—a role she has served in since 2008. Wales also serves as President of the Global Philanthropy Forum, which she founded in 2001.
Learn more | Twitter: @AspenPSI | Follow Jane Wales: @janewales
Spectrum Nonprofit Services
Spectrum is a nonprofit strategy firm based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that was founded by Steve Zimmerman in 2007. Along with nonprofit consultant Jeanne Bell and California Association of Nonprofits leader Jan Masaoka, Zimmerman co-authored a book about nonprofit sustainability (aptly entitled, Nonprofit Sustainability) which came out in 2010. Zimmerman and his Spectrum team specialize in strengthening leadership and financial health throughout nonprofit organizations.
Learn more | Follow Steve Zimmerman: @SpectrumSteve
Center for Social Innovation, Graduate School of Social Work at Boston College
The Center for Social Innovation, which is housed in Boston College’s School of Social Work, subscribes to an “innovation from within” approach to cultivating social service leaders. They believe that enhancing social justice requires sustainable social innovation, and they provide a number of opportunities for students pursuing their Masters in Social Work to develop competency in social innovation principles and practices, then apply the knowledge. The Center for Social Innovation is led by Tiziana Dearing, who has been a faculty member at the School of Social Work since 2013.
Learn more | Twitter: @BCSSW | Facebook: Boston College School of Social Work | Tiziana Dearing: @tiziana_dearing
3 years
William Davidson Foundation
The William Davidson Foundation is based in the Southeast Michigan town of Birmingham, just north of Detroit. It’s a family foundation named for late Metro Detroit businessman Bill Davidson. In addition to turning a struggling company into an influential international manufacturer of glass, Davidson notably owned three professional franchises that won league championships in a single year (2004: WNBA’s Detroit Shock, NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning). Davidson’s family foundation was founded in 2005 and its late namesake died in 2009. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on advancing the economic, cultural, and civic vitality of Southeast Michigan, the State of Israel, and the Jewish community. It has been led by Darin McKeever since 2015.
Learn more | Follow Darin McKeever: @darinmckeever
MCCJ
MCCJ is the acronym for Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews. At its founding in 1935, the organization was just the Miami branch of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. When the national organization dissolved in 2011, it took on the simple MCCJ acronym it is known by today. The organization remains rooted in interfaith goodwill. Its work includes school and community programs designed to be safe forums for people to learn about the benefits of diversity and also receive training in inclusive leadership. Nestor Rodriguez began leading the 84-year-old organization in mid-2018, succeeding long-time leader Roberta D. Shevin.
Learn more | Twitter: @MCCJ_Miami | Facebook: MCCJ
To learn more about IS membership, check out our Membership page.
