United Way Seeks Applicants for Design Team to Create Statewide Nonprofit Resource Center

United Way Seeks Applicants for Design Team to Create Statewide Nonprofit Resource Center

The United Way of Rhode Island has announced it is spearheading an effort in the nonprofit community to create a central, singular center aimed at strengthening the sector as a whole.

On Monday, United Way called for applicants for the Design Team that will be tasked with guiding the development of a statewide Nonprofit Resource Center. A total of 10 nonprofit leaders will be chosen for the 7-month project and receive a stipend for their participation. Applications may be submitted online. The deadline is February 11.

“Businesses have a chamber of commerce and most all other states feature an organization that broadly supports its nonprofits, but nothing like that exists in Rhode Island and it needs to,” said Cortney Nicolato, United Way’s president and CEO. “Nonprofits provide essential services, enrich communities, and create opportunities for our neighbors, and in order to sustain that vital work, we must ensure an efficient, effective, and equitable landscape of supports that grow their capacity.”

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In developing a Nonprofit Resource Center, United Way seeks to establish an entity that will serve Rhode Island’s entire nonprofit ecosystem while prioritizing the needs and perspectives of BIPOC-led and other small and mid-size nonprofits. Creating the center is a key component of the “Invest United” pillar of United Way’s Live United 2025 plan and advances the goals of growing nonprofit resiliency, capacity-building, and leadership development

“The center will provide professional development and more for experienced nonprofit leaders, as well as those new to the field,” added Nicolato. “Nonprofit workers are often overlooked as an employment sector and are increasingly leaving the field because they don’t have the supports they need. This center will bring together the resources that enable them to flourish while they help our communities thrive.”

According to United Way, design Team responsibilities include participating in bi-weekly, 90-minutes virtual meetings from Feb. through Aug.; engaging in one research activity to establish a shared understanding of the current reality for nonprofits, and serving as a champion for the effort to colleagues and others.

The role requires a time commitment of approximately 40 hours over the course of the seven months, with a stipend of $4,000 being provided. Interested applicants must have firsthand leadership experience with a Rhode Island nonprofit, and a passion for the state’s nonprofit sector.

Applications may be completed online, or by contacting Lori Bartczark of Community Wealth Partners -- the consulting firm hired to develop the plan -- at [email protected], or (202) 618-4794.