Affinity Groups

Current Alliance Affinity Groups

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Capacity Building Organization Affinity Group (formerly MSO Affinity Group)

The purpose of the Capacity Building Organization Affinity Group is to advance the knowledge and practices of capacity building among those nonprofit organizations whose missions aim to build the strength of the nonprofit sector. We work to identify strategies and business models that are sustainable and have impact. We exchange best and next practices that advance the effectiveness of our work. We advocate for capacity building and related funding with philanthropy and government. And, we share breakthroughs in research or practice that advance the field. Our target membership is organizations that identify themselves as contributing to the capacity of the nonprofit sector. This includes national organizations that have capacity building funding for their association or federations, stand-alone nonprofits now known as management support organizations, intermediary organizations and foundations and United Ways with capacity building programs for community nonprofits. The group meets three times per year via conference call and meets during the annual Alliance conference.

Coaching

The Coaching Affinity Group of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management brings together experienced practitioners and capacity builders who provide executive, leadership, or organizational coaching to nonprofits in order to strengthen organizational and leadership capacity. The Coaching Affinity Group was proposed because of a desire to create a community of experienced practitioners who can delve deeply into coaching best practices and advance our collective knowledge to support the needs of nonprofit leadership development and organizational effectiveness. The intended atmosphere of the Coaching Affinity Group is one of authenticity and reciprocity, in which serious reflection, deep conversation, and new thinking can emerge. To that end, members are called upon to occupy the role of both learner and contributor in this group.

Executive Transitions & Nonprofit Leadership Continuity

This affinity group, with 60 members, brings together capacity-builders who focus on strengthening nonprofits by creating human resource solutions and developing human capital to lead the sector. Executive search consultants, interims, researchers, succession planning specialists, talent pipeline and leadership development consultants, and human resource professionals who specialize in the nonprofit sector have formed a professional community that exchange information and ideas throughout the year. The Affinity Group sees its work as a pioneering and trailblazing effort to develop methodologies, establish good practices, and identify research needs that promote leadership continuity within nonprofit organizations by planning for positive leadership transitions, attracting and retaining outstanding professionals for the sector, developing future generations of leaders within the sector, and advocating for and teaching succession planning as fundamental to an organization’s capacity to benefit society.

Governance

The Governance affinity group provides a forum within the Alliance community to forward creative thinking in the field of board governance and development, including the generation of new approaches and models for community–based organizations. Through sharing of new approaches, practices, and research among a diverse group of consultants, MSO's and researchers, this affinity group hopes to not only further the field, but also to increase the knowledge base, generative thinking, and consulting skills of its members.

People of Color

Formed in 2001, the POC group offers a forum for capacity builders of color to share experiences and work to expand the presence of people of color in the Alliance and in the field, as well as catalyzing change in the field, the nonprofit sector, and ultimately the larger society. The POC group is currently in the process of defining and advancing "cultural competency" in nonprofit capacity building— this effort has resulted in a book entitled Embracing Cultural Competency: A Roadmap for Capacity Builders, professional development activities, and peer exchanges. By gathering people of African, Asian, Latino, Native/American Indian ancestry, and other people of color, the POC accelerates peer learning, challenges business as usual, and generates ways and means to honor the journey of these groups in the Americas through capacity building practice.

Start a new Affinity Group!

Thank you for your interest in starting a new Alliance for Nonprofit Management Affinity Group. Please review the information below carefully before completing the application. Please email info@allianceonline.org if you have any questions.

AG Purpose Statement: Affinity Groups (AGs) are an integral part of the Alliance’s commitment to igniting and accelerating the effectiveness and efficiency of individuals and organizations helping nonprofits achieve positive social change. AGs are groups of Alliance members that self-organize around a specified interest or identity. The primary purpose of AGs is to advance the nonprofit capacity building field through innovative ideas, practices, models, research and/or publications. AGs additionally provide a space for Alliance members with similar interests to network with each other, exchange ideas, and develop their skills.

Membership: All AG participants are required to be members of the Alliance. Applicants must specify and describe who the target membership of a prospective AG will be in the application form.

Meetings: AGs are expected to meet a minimum of four times a year, and are responsible for setting their own meeting times and frequency. Meetings may be held in person, via webinar, conference call or other form of meeting technology. AGs are encouraged but not required to have an in-person meeting during the conference. Technical meeting support is available through the Alliance. (For more information, see the list of support the Alliance offers AGs that is listed within the application.)

Expectations of AGs:

Further the AG Purpose Statement, as well as the Alliance’s Identity Statement
Alliance does not wish to be a creator or endorser of content, but rather to create the space for members to create their own content. To that end, AG’s are expected to include the Alliance logo and the following statement on all material being shared beyond the Alliance’s membership: “The Alliance advances the nonprofit capacity building field through its members’ innovative ideas, practices, models, research and publications. The Alliance does not endorse, verify or certify the representations or information contained within material shared or created by or among Alliance members.” (Examples: books, articles, workshop materials, case studies, etc.)
AGs are encouraged to seek funding and revenue generation opportunities, and must seek authorization from the Alliance Board before soliciting funding or generating revenue to ensure these do not compete with other Alliance or AG plans and activities. Please note that the Alliance will be the recipient of all grant support and earned revenues, responsible for any required reporting and regranting and/or allocating revenues as determined by any subsequent agreements between the Alliance and the AG. Encourage volunteerism within the AG and the Alliance
Recruit new members to the AG and the Alliance

AG Chairs: AGs elect their own leadership and may set additional expectations. All AG leaders are expected to:

Organize and facilitate meetings
Ensure the creation of annual goals and implementation plan, and submit to the Alliance Board
Provide facilitative leadership to the AG
Maintain regular contact with the Board liaison
Participate in AG leader meetings (happen two times a year via conference call)
Present the work of the AG to Alliance members two times a year
Submit an annual written AG update to the Board of Directors (submitted no later than two months after the annual Alliance conference)
Attend the annual conference

Time Commitment: Time commitments vary widely, depending on the AG and the chair leadership style. Our most active AG leaders estimate putting in 4-8 hours a month, while others put in less time. Regardless of your AG topic, leaders must commit the time necessary facilitate their AG’s success.

Quality Assurance: An AG that fails to meet the expectations outlined in this policy may be dissolved by the Alliance Board through the approval of a motion to do so.

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