About Us
Mission and Vision
The mission of NPO Connect is to build the capacity of the non-profit sector by enabling individuals working in the sector to connect, to learn from one another, and to build their skills as non-profit professionals or volunteers.
At NPO Connect, we envision a non-profit sector where individuals can more easlily:
- Share Best Practices (or just what works) in particular operational areas by mentoring peers seeking to improve in those areas;
- Gain the tools and knowledge to more efficiently and cost-effectively meet the needs of their constituents;
- Strengthen the capacity of the sector as a whole by honing their skills and adding more value to their non-profit organizations.
Our Partnership
NPO Connect is a collaboration between K. Weill Consulting Group LLC and Annkissam LLC, which developed the platform in 2009.
History
Kenny Weill of K. Weill Consulting Group came up with the idea for NPO Connect while working at a food bank. In his work with hundreds of food assistance programs, Kenny found that in many cases knowledge about how to start and operate a food program was not being shared as well as it could be. Kenny envisioned a platform that would allow nonprofit professionals to connect with each other and facilitate knowledge sharing in a way that would strengthen both their individual organizations and also the entire sector.
In the summer of 2008, Kenny discussed his idea with Gavin Murphy of Annkissam, who was looking for an opportunity to develop a technology platform that would in some way support the Massachusetts nonprofit sector. After several months of discussing the best way to implement the system, and getting feedback from many professionals in the field, the team began building in June 2009 with a goal to launch an initial release of the platform in July.
In summer 2009, Kenny and Gavin reached out to both the Metrowest Nonprofit Network and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network - Boston, to explore whether the networks would be interested in piloting NPO Connect. NPO Connect and the Metrowest Nonprofit Network established a partnership to test the site for a six-month period, beginning November 2009. A six-month parallel pilot with YNPN-Boston was launched February 2010. Quantitative and qualitative feedback from users within both of these non-profit networks has enabled the NPO Connect Team to further shape the platform to serve as an effective tool for non-profit professionals. They formally launched NPO Connect in Massachusetts in June 2011.
If you have any ideas about how to improve NPO Connect, or would like to discuss becoming a partner in this effort, please contact us. Thank you for visiting the site!
Bios
Kenny Weill brings more than a dozen years experience in the non-profit sector to his consulting work. Since launching K. Weill Consulting in 2002, Kenny's grant development work has helped his diverse clients raise more than $8 million. He delivers additional services to help build his non-profit clients’ capacity, including strategic fund development, organizational assessment and research, program development, and writing and editing services such as web and newsletter content. Kenny has held management, research and direct care positions in community-based, academic, health care and government settings. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Nonprofit Consultants Network, MA Public Health Association, Third Sector New England's Consultant Pool and the Nonproft Technology Network. He serves on the Advisory Board of Future Chefs. Kenny received a Masters of Science degree in Health Policy and Management from Harvard University School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University.
Gavin Murphy founded Annkissam in the summer of 2007 with the goal of bringing innovative technology solutions to the nonprofit sector. Mr. Murphy has been a technology consultant to a wide range of clients since graduating from Duke University with a double major in Economics and Computer Science. He volunteers 10% or more of the workweek to being President of the Duke Club of Boston.