Sounding Board

Spot coaching for strategic questions

Wishing you had an outside perspective on a thorny issue?

MANP offers coaching sessions that pair nonprofit members with thought partners with relevant experience. These sessions are a good fit for strategic questions related to governance, planning, fundraising, communications, and technology such as (but not limited to) the following:

How do we get our board members more engaged? (Less engaged? Re-engaged?)
How can we build a more inclusive board?
How do we navigate our next stage of organizational growth?
How do we determine if XYZ fundraising strategy is a good fit?
and more!

These sessions are not a replacement for consulting services, but offer an accessible and confidential opportunity to informally workshop challenges and/or jump start strategy.

What a valuable service! After one packed, lively hour, I had useful, practical advice that I could immediately move into action.

Who Can Participate?

These confidential, free sessions are exclusively available to MANP member organizations. For the most dynamic dialogue, a maximum of 3 people from an organization may participate in the session.

Cost

These sessions are made available to members at no cost, but donations are welcome. We rely on the support of individuals, foundations, and businesses to offer programs like this one.

How to Sign Up

In 2025 we plan to host Sounding Board every other month on the following schedule.

February 5, 2025, 12-1:15pm
April 9, 2025, 12-1:15pm
June 11, 2025, 12-1:15pm
August 13, 2025, 12-1:15pm
October 8, 2025, 12-1:15pm
December 10, 2025, 12-1:15pm

To sign up for the next session
please complete this brief form.

After you sign up, MANP staff will be in touch to confirm your participation or to request clarification. Space is limited; time slots will be filled first-come, first-served.

What to Expect

A 75-minute virtual session on Zoom with a thought partner who has relevant experience.

MANP will open the session with a welcome to all attendees and a review of the format.
Then, each nonprofit’s coaching session will occur concurrently, but in separate, private virtual breakout rooms.
These are informal and conversational meetings with a focus on surfacing questions, suggestions, recommended resources/tools, and connections that can help with the issue at hand.
No sales pitches for services – just a sounding board for your questions and challenges.

^{Recommendations and ideas shared during these sessions reflect the views and opinions of the peer coaches and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of MANP. MANP shall not be liable for any damages arising from your use of the program, and MANP does not endorse any individual or company participating in this program.}

Become a Coach

Interested in being a thought partner to another nonprofit? Wonderful! Please reach out to Molly O'Connell at moconnell@nonprofitmaine.org to set up a time to chat. Coaches are offered an honorarium of $75 per session, with a complimentary Supporter Level Friend Membership ($250 value), or are welcomed to volunteer if they are able.