The pandemic may have dragged on in 2021, but we at ACN continued to keep our members connected and supported by embracing virtual opportunities—and grew our organization at a record pace.

2021 Board and Committee Updates

In 2021, we unveiled a new strategic focus as well as related Mission Statement, Statement of Purpose and Core Audience.  One of our goals is to make diversity, equity and inclusion a priority at ACN. We are also working on new ways to engage members nationwide, and our board and committees now include members from across the country.

We also welcomed the following new board members:

Gioia Giannotti of (r)evolution architecture

John Bauer of John E. Bauer Consulting, LLC

David Dow of Schooley Mitchell

Aashi Mital of Pivotal Solutions Consulting

Arthur Padilla of StrataG.Works

Read more 2021 board updates. 

2021 Committee Highlights

Marketing & Communications Committee

Board Liaison: Lidia Varesco Racoma; Co-Chair: Gordon Meyer

The Marketing & Communications Committee is responsible for ensuring that ACN's brand and messaging is consistent in all outreach and across all channels. In 2021, they:

• Refreshed the ACN website—including adding photos that highlight our members’ work.
• Launched an Instagram page. You can follow ACN there, in addition to Facebook and LinkedIn.  
• Implemented a new social media strategy so you will be seeing more consistent ACN content and stories.

Nonprofit Relations Committee (NPRC)

Board Liaison: Don Raack; Co-Chairs: Paul Cox and Amelia Kohm

NPRC works to widen the nonprofit sector’s awareness of ACN and the resources available to nonprofits by establishing and maintaining partnerships with other nonprofit organizations (e.g., foundations, other associations that serve multiple nonprofits). In 2021 they:

• Established a series of ACN member-facilitated webinars with Nonprofit Learning Lab (NLL). Through their website, e-newsletters, and programs, NLL reaches 65,000 nonprofit professionals from all 50 states. This partnership provides a growth opportunity for ACN members looking to share topics/content relevant for the nonprofit community and connect with potential nonprofit clients. 
• Developed a toolkit that committee members can use to form partnerships as well as a memorandum of understanding template to use in the formalization of partnerships.
• Continued our partnerships with Forefront and Nonprofit Learning Lab and began discussion of new partnerships with six other organizations.

Membership Committee

Board Liaison: Jim Javoricic; Co-Chair: David Dow

First and foremost, we have broken our highest membership number on record— including an increase in national members (our membership now represents 15 states). 

In 2021, the Membership Committee also launched EMPOWER Groups: members-only forums for similar or complementary groups of professionals to empower each other with a diversity of thinking, knowledge, shared experience, perspective, support, intentional networking, business development, and inspiration.

The first four EMPOWER groups are Administrative Professional Services led by Sam Odishoo of USI Insurance Services, Working Parents led by Megan Angle of Porte Brown, LGBTQ+ led by David Dow of Schooley Mitchell and Grief & Loss led by Lidia Varesco Racoma of Lidia Varesco Design.

"I look forward to the deep-rooted relationships EMPOWER Groups can build."  — Fernando Avila, Video Producer, Social Impact Films

ACN Member Anniversaries 

Congratulations to our members celebrating anniversaries in 2021. We are grateful for your dedication and participation!

5 years:

• Clara Lucia Carrier of Breaking Through Consulting, LLC
• Suzanne Griffith of VEGA Partners
• Kathryn Scanland of Greystone Global LLC
• Jake Cowan 
• Michael Mayse of Michael Mayse Consulting
• Megan Angle of Porte Brown LLC
• Genevra Knight of Porte Brown LLC
• Jacki Davidoff of Davidoff Mission-Driven Business Strategy
• Gordon Mayer of Gordon Mayer Communications
• John Bauer of John E. Bauer Consulting, LLC
• Lidia Varesco Racoma of Lidia Varesco Design
• Kristin Patton of Ensemble Consulting
• Alexis Allegra of Allegra Consulting

10 years:

• John Davidoff of Davidoff Mission-Driven Business Strategy
• Jeff Marcella of Marcella Consulting Corporation

15+ years:

• Elizabeth Richter of The Richter Group
• Margaret Hennessy of Hennessy Consulting Inc.
• Amy Cornell of Cornell Consulting, Inc.
• Carol White of CBWhite
• Steve Pratapas of Pratapas Associates, LLC
• Amy Wishnick of Wishnick & Associates, LLC
• Kelly Kleiman of NFP Consulting
• Joyce Golbus Poll of J.G. Poll & Associates

"Being a member of ACN has helped me to make meaningful connections, learn from colleagues, and grow as a consultant. Joining was one of the best decisions I made in 2021!" — Allecia Harley of Prevention Advisory Group

We are only as strong as our membership and we are grateful for the support and participation of our members. Here’s to a successful 2022!