Mass Council of Nonprofits

Bostonians for Youth Gala
2026-06-04 18:00 UTC | Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St James Ave, Boston, MA, 02116, United States
Join us for the 19th Annual Bostonians for Youth Gala for an inspiring evening to celebrate the incredible young people who power our mission and the impact we create together.
We are privileged to announce Andrea Joy Campbell, the 45th Attorney General of Massachusetts and the first woman of color elected to this office, as TBC’s 2026 Leader of Change. The Award recognizes an individual who is making a powerful impact in helping to create a more just and equitable Boston through critical and sustainable change.
We are also proud to announce the inaugural Beloved Community Award, honoring the 7uice Foundation and its visionary leadership – Jaylen Brown, Founder, and Mechalle Brown, President. The award recognizes an organization whose work advances equity, dignity, and belonging, strengthening communities and expanding opportunity across Boston.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available – we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Academy of Women Achievers
2026-06-04 11:30 - 13:30 | The Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02116, United States
This year marks YW Boston’s 31st annual Academy of Women Achievers (AWA) celebration. Taking place on June 4 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Westin Copley Place, this signature event is our largest annual fundraiser, supporting our work to build a more inclusive Boston.
The celebration will feature an inspiring panel of honorees and bring together hundreds of leaders, advocates, and changemakers committed to advancing equity across the city. We are proud to recognize an exceptional group of women: Lauren Cook (Ellis Early Learning), Nathalie Gauthier (State Street), Sandra McCroom (Children’s Services of Roxbury), Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández (Urban College of Boston), and Shavel’le Olivier (Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition). Each honoree exemplifies the leadership and vision needed to create lasting change.
Proceeds from AWA directly support YW Boston’s programs which focus on dismantling systemic barriers faced by women, people of color, and especially women of color. Our programs work with individuals, institutions, and organizations across Greater Boston to change policies, practices, attitudes and behaviors to be more inclusive, breaking down barriers to opportunity and leadership for those who are often excluded.

HR Compliance Checkup: What Every Employer Needs to Know
2026-06-03 12:00 - 13:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/hr-compliance-checkup-what-every-employer-needs-to-know/
A live webinar with Innovo Benefits Group
Join Allyson Hay and Tasha Wilder of Innovo Benefits Group for a quick-hitting, informative free webinar designed to help employers identify compliance gaps and strengthen HR practices through a practical HR audit. They’ll cover the key areas every organization can review now to reduce risk and improve compliance. Topics will include:
• Wage & Hour Compliance
• Recruitment & Hiring
• Performance Management
• Leave Management
• Compensation Practices
• Training Requirements
• Safety & Risk Management
• Multi-State & Municipality Considerations
This webinar is ideal for professionals with executive, administrative, or HR responsibilities who are looking to build confidence in these key areas. Allyson and Tasha will share actionable guidance to help you evaluate your current practices, identify potential compliance gaps, and strengthen your organization’s overall HR processes.

About the Presenters: This webinar is presented by Allyson Hay and Tasha Wilder of Innovo Benefits Group.

Trends in Philanthropy: Funder Perspectives
2026-06-02 12:00 - 13:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/free-webinar-trends-in-philanthropy-funder-perspectives/
Guest Speaker: To Be Announced
Join us for an invigorating conversation with a leader in the nonprofit space as we explore the latest trends in philanthropy.

14th Annual Walk for Independence! @ Mount Ida Campus of Umass Amherst
2026-05-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Mount Ida Campus of Umass Amherst, 100 Carlson Ave, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join Us for the 14th Annual Walk for Independence!
The 14th Annual Walk for Independence is happening Saturday, May 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst (100 Carlson Avenue, Newton, MA)!
This free event invites you to walk to raise funds for vision loss and celebrate our community coming together to improve the lives of people with vision loss. Attendees will complete a 1, 2, or 3-mile walk around the Mount Ida campus, followed by activities for all ages!
Event Timeline:
– Registration: 9:00 a.m.
– Walk Kick-Off: 10:00 a.m.
– Post-Walk BBQ & Activities: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Event Highlights:
– Free BBQ & Popcorn
– Accessible Activities
– Assistive Technology Demonstrations
– Event Emcee: Sam Seavey, founder of The Blind Life
– And more!
Learn More & Register Today: carroll.org/walk

Documentary Storytelling for Mission Driven Organizations
2026-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/documentary-storytelling-for-mission-driven-organizations/
Join award-winning documentary filmmaker Margo Guernsey, from Time Travel Productions, for our third free workshop on leveraging documentary storytelling to amplify your organization’s mission and impact.
Are you prepared to build authentic collaborations with those you serve to tell your collective story?
In April we reviewed the building blocks of story and discussed creating compelling narratives to amplify your mission. Even if you missed the the last workshop, you can join us this time.
This month we will discuss concrete ways to build authentic collaboration including
– Steps organizational leaders can take to ensure the people you serve have agency over how their stories are told.
– Tools you can use to center the storytellers in decision making.
– Approaches to building compelling narratives that don’t exploit or extract from the people sharing.
Who we are:
Time Travel Productions is a boutique style production company known for deeply collaborative documentary filmmaking and community-led distribution. We pride ourselves on providing tools and expertise for organizations to connect emotionally with audiences. Our goal is for people whose voices have been marginalized to tell their own stories on their own terms. Learn more about us here.
After you register, we will send you a calendar invite and Zoom link.

New structures, old habits: Why change doesn’t stick and what we can do about it
2026-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 | https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/c1PaxolaSAG1_53kPMasEw
Organizations invest enormous energy in planning change — new roles, restructured teams, governance redesigns, updated processes, strategic plans. And when those changes don’t produce the outcomes they were designed for, the instinct is usually to question the design (did we get this “right”?) or to look at the people who “aren’t getting on board”. But there’s a third explanation that’s almost always part of what’s at play: the behavioral, relational, and cultural work required to make the new structure actually function was never planned for or resourced. Structure creates the conditions for change, but it can’t produce change on its own.
In this session, we’ll explore why organizational changes so often fail to deliver on their promise — not because the design was wrong, but because the work of helping people actually operate differently within a new structure is its own work that so many change processes skip. We’ll look at what that work involves, where it tends to break down, and what you can do as a leader to close the gap between the organization you envisioned and the one you’re actually living in.
This session might be for you or your organization if…
You’ve made real structural changes, and things still feel mostly the same
You’re hearing “we already tried that” or “nothing ever actually changes around here.”
You find yourself wondering whether the problem is the design or the people, and neither answer quite fits
Your team has new roles, new processes, or new expectations on paper, but old habits and patterns persist in practice
You want practical approaches for leading the kind of change that doesn’t happen through org charts alone

Communication That Actually Works
2026-05-21 16:00 - 17:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/communication-that-actually-works/
This is part of Project Adventure’s Taste of imPAct leadership virtual series. Our Taste of imPAct is a 60-minute virtual series which offers practical tools, tangible takeaways, and space to explore how each month’s leadership topic is showing up in your organization. It is offered on the third Thursday of every month from 4:00-5:00pm EST.
In this session, discover clear, courageous communication practices that reduce misunderstanding and increase momentum. Leave with concrete tools and time to consider how communication patterns are shaping your team’s effectiveness.

Housing Stabilization: Keeping Clients Housed
2026-05-21 09:30 - 13:30 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/housing-stabilization-keeping-clients-housed/
Housing Bridge provides professional training for housing providers, shelters, and affordable housing communities across Massachusetts. Our workshops help programs improve housing navigation, strengthen diversion practices, prevent eviction, and support long-term housing stability for residents. Training is available for organizations throughout the South Coast, Cape Cod, and Greater Boston region.

Understanding the root causes of housing instability
Early intervention strategies to prevent eviction
Financial stabilization tools and supports
Landlord mediation and conflict resolution strategies

Massachusetts Conference on Volunteerism
2026-05-21 08:00 - 17:00
Join the Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) for the 2026 Massachusetts Conference on Volunteerism! A dynamic, statewide gathering of service leaders, nonprofit professionals, AmeriCorps and Commonwealth Corps members, program staff, public officials, corporate partners, and community changemakers.
This year’s theme, Across the Commonwealth: Galvanizing Civic Leadership in Every Community, celebrates the power of civic leadership in every region of Massachusetts. From rural towns to urban centers, from grassroots initiatives to statewide movements, we are united by a shared commitment to strengthening communities through service and volunteerism.
Whether you’re leading a nonprofit, managing volunteers, serving as an AmeriCorps or Commonwealth Corps member, supporting service programs as staff, working in municipal government, or building corporate partnerships, this conference will leave you energized, connected, and equipped with actionable tools.

Out of Office, In Compliance: Managing Employee Leaves
2026-05-20 12:00 - 13:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/out-of-office-in-compliance-managing-employee-leaves/
When an employee needs time away from work, determining which leave laws apply and how they intersect can be complex. With expanding state paid leave programs, remote and multi-state workforces, and overlapping federal protections, HR professionals are increasingly faced with real-time decisions that don’t always fit neatly into a single policy or framework.
This session takes a practical, scenario-based approach to leave management, focusing on real situations HR teams commonly encounter. Through each case, we’ll break down how different leave laws work together in practice and how to navigate them confidently and consistently.
We will explore scenarios such as:

An employee working remotely in a different state than the company headquarters, triggering multiple leave law considerations
Coordinating federal FMLA leave with state Paid Family and Medical Leave programs for the same absence
An employee requesting intermittent leave with changing or unclear medical documentation
Situations where short-term disability benefits and statutory leave protections overlap
Managing consistency in policy application for employees across different jurisdictions

Join us for a discussion designed to provide actionable insight into navigating complex, real-life leave scenarios, reducing compliance risk, and building a more consistent approach to managing employee absences.

Free HR & Employment Law Roundtable – AI in the Workplace
2026-05-20 10:00 - 23:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/free-hr-employment-law-roundtable-ai-in-the-workplace/
This interactive roundtable brings HR and business leaders together to discuss real workplace challenges and share practical approaches with peers. Each session includes a brief HR and employment law update followed by a facilitated discussion where participants can compare strategies, policies, and solutions. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, legal and HR perspectives, and ideas they can apply immediately in their organizations.

How to Find the Right Funders for Your Small Nonprofit
2026-05-15 12:00 - 13:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/how-to-find-the-right-funders-for-your-small-nonprofit/
If you run a small nonprofit, prospect research can quickly turn into hours of digging without much to show for it. In this free workshop, Sonya Page of Page Consulting Group will walk through a practical approach to finding the right funders without getting lost in a grants database or chasing every opportunity. Designed for nonprofit leaders and lean teams, this session will focus on how to identify likely foundation prospects, assess fit quickly, and build a short, focused prospect list that is actually worth your time.

MWNN Nonprofit Management Certificate Info Session
2026-05-13 12:00 - 13:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/mwnn-nonprofit-management-certificate-info-session/
Join us to learn about MetroWest Nonprofit Network’s Fall Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. This 12-week hybrid course supports the professional development of individuals at various stages of their nonprofit careers and is designed to expand participants’ knowledge, skills, and network to advance their nonprofit mission. A brief overview of the curriculum will be provided with plenty of time for discussion and questions.
Participation is open to all, but please note 4 sessions are in person in Framingham.

Nonprofit Incorporation Workshop (Virtual)
2026-05-12 16:00 - 18:00 | https://macouncilofnonprofits.org/events/nonprofit-incorporation-workshop-virtual-12/
An essential overview of how to establish a nonprofit in Massachusetts and obtain a 501(c)(3) tax-exemption, with key points for maintaining tax-exempt status. Strongly recommended for anyone starting a nonprofit. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the presentation slides and additional reference materials. Topics include:
– For-profit or nonprofit?
– What is a nonprofit?
– Incorporating & structuring a nonprofit
– Fiscal sponsorship
– State reporting & regulation
– Federal tax exemption
– Ongoing IRS reporting & regulation
Presenters: Sue Abbott, Goodwin; Luke Blackadar, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston
