Below, you will find answers to questions that we frequently respond to at The Nonprofit Partnership. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have a question that isn't included on the list or if additional information is needed.
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We are located at The Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Transformational Philanthropy at 609 Walnut St., Erie, PA 16502. Our building is located behind The Erie Community Foundation near the corner of West 6th Street and Walnut St.
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Is parking available at The Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Transformational Philanthropy?
There is a parking lot adjacent to the building and parking is free for visitors. If the lot is full, parking is available on both West 6th Street and Walnut Street.
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Is The Center wheelchair accessible?
Yes, we are! If you need any additional accommodations, please let us know prior to your visit.
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What are The Nonprofit Partnership’s hours of operation?
Our typical working hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
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Is The Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Transformational Philanthropy available for use by the public?
Due to construction, The Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Transformational Philanthropy is not currently available for rent (as of Summer 2024).
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Your organization must be a nonprofit recognized by the IRS to join The Nonprofit Partnership. When you begin the application process, you will be asked to provide your organization’s IRS Determination Letter, basic contact information, and dues payment.
Click the question text for an example of an IRS Determination Letter.
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The membership levels are based upon an organization’s annual operating budget. On a typical 990, the annual operating budget can be found via line 18 (total expenses).
Organizations with an annual operating budget below $250,000 pay $150 per year.
Organizations with an annual operating budget between $250,000 and $1,000,000 pay $350 per year.
Organizations with an annual operating budget above $1,000,000 pay $675 per year.A dues restructuring will occur in Fall 2024. Click the question text to learn more.
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I run an organization that is fiscally sponsored by a member organization or an organization that shares a tax ID with an existing member organization. How would we go about joining The Nonprofit Partnership?
Your organization would be added under the umbrella of the larger entity. You would be able to access the benefits of membership but the main entity would be responsible for renewal.
Please note – it is possible that your organization would not be able to participate in Erie Gives Day if you share a tax ID. Please contact Kensley at ksemple@yournpp.org to learn about being added under a member organization’s umbrella. Please contact Kailey with The Erie Community Foundation to check about your specific tax ID situation in regards to Erie Gives Day. Kailey can be reached at kpisani@eriecommunityfoundation.org or at (814) 454-0843.
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Is my organization’s membership renewal period based on the calendar year or the date that our membership was approved?
Membership renewal periods are based on the month in which the organization begins their membership. For example, if an organization joins in May of 2024, then the organization’s renewal date will be in May of 2025. An email reminder and a postal mail reminder are sent to the organizational contact on file prior to the renewal date.
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To become a member, please visit our Membership Portal by clicking the question text above or visiting https://thenonprofitpartnership.app.neoncrm.com/forms/membershipwithnpp.
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Membership payment can be paid online (through the Member Portal) or by check. Checks can be made out to The Nonprofit Partnership at 609 Walnut Street, Erie, PA 16502. We do not accept cash and cannot process payments by phone.
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First, we suggest searching your entity via https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/. If this doesn't yield results, you can get a copy of an affirmation letter to have “proof” of your tax-exempt status. Call the IRS Customer Service line for nonprofit organizations at 1-877-829-5500 and give them your nonprofit’s name and Employer Identification Number (EIN). More information on how to obtain an affirmation letter can be found on the IRS website here.
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My organization doesn’t have a 501(c)3 designation. Can NPP help us with our application?
Click here to access our Resource Library which has a special section dedicated to starting a nonprofit. We do not provide one on one support to those looking to start a nonprofit organization.
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Access the membership benefits guide @ https://www.yournpp.org/membership/!
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Who is able to take advantage of membership from our organization once we join?
Your membership benefits are for your organization as a whole. This includes your staff, Board members, and key volunteers.
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Most of our regular educational programming is held at our offices at The Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Transformational Philanthropy in Erie, PA and/or online unless otherwise specified. Our events listing will always include location details.
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No! After your membership application is complete and approved, you then must register your nonprofit at www.ErieGives.org. The Nonprofit Partnership is a separate entity from The Erie Community Foundation and registration for Erie Gives Day is a separate process.
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Why do I need to be a member with The Nonprofit Partnership to participate in Erie Gives Day?
To protect donors, The Erie Community Foundation wants to make sure that the nonprofits that participate in Erie Gives Day are legitimate organizations; having a membership with The Nonprofit Partnership is one way of demonstrating that your organization is both recognized as a nonprofit entity by the IRS and in good standing. (In order to meet ECF’s eligibility requirements, organizations that want to participate in Erie Gives also have the option of establishing an agency endowment with The Erie Community Foundation.)
That being said, we want you to know that there is much more to membership than Erie Gives eligibility! Let us show you what else we have to offer – come by for a tour! -
This change can be made in the Member Portal. If assistance is needed, please contact Kensley at ksemple@yournpp.org.
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This information can be changed through the Member Portal. If assistance is needed, please contact Kensley at ksemple@yournpp.org.
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I own or work for a for-profit. Are there partnership opportunities?
Absolutely! Please contact Ellen Kehl at ekehl@yournpp.org to set up a time to chat.
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Whereas we do not share contact information, we do have a Member Directory available to the public. This directory includes the organization’s name, web address, and cause area. View this directory here.
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I want to receive The Nonprofit Partnership’s Nonprofit Insider e-Newsletter. How do I sign up?
You can fill out this form OR email Kensley at ksemple@yournpp.org to be added to the list!
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I signed up for the Nonprofit Insider e-Newsletter but haven’t received anything. What should I do?
Technology – a love/hate relationship! Please check your spam folders for messages from abratton@yournpp.org. Archived editions of the Nonprofit Insider can also be accessed here.
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I’m looking for potential Board members for my organization. Do you have a listing?
We have been accepting Interest Forms for potential Board members. Please email Adam at abratton@yournpp.org to see if any of the submissions would be appropriate for your organization.
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Yes! We love to give tours. We are very grateful for our space and love to show you all that we can do for you, our members or potential members. Contact us to set up a time to meet.
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There are speaker, exhibitor, and sponsor opportunities each year for the Keystone Nonprofit Conference. Check out current information via TheKeyCon.org.
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Yes! That’s what we are here for. As a benefit to membership, you can feel free to come to us with your nonprofit-related questions. If we don’t have the answer, we will hunt for it. Please note: we do not answer legal questions. If there is something that isn’t in our wheelhouse, we will attempt to find someone to help.
Click the question text to submit a nonprofit help desk inquiry.
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Does NPP provide funding of any sort?
No, The Nonprofit Partnership does not participate in any grant making. This task has been left to the pros at The Erie Community Foundation. However, we are more than happy to consult with members if they are preparing to submit a grant with The Erie Community Foundation.
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Does NPP write grants?
No, we do not write grants. We provide educational programming to members in an attempt to increase your likelihood of securing grants. We are also happy to suggest consultants that can help with grant writing.
For additional questions regarding membership with The Nonprofit Partnership, please contact our Associate Director, Ellen Kehl via email – ekehl@yournpp.org or phone – (814) 240-2490 ext. 5.