The VCF is getting ready to launch The Vermont Nonprofit Connection -- a free, easily accessible, web-based nonprofit resource center that will provide some of the sector's most frequently-requested tools :

• A calendar of trainings & events
• A searchable database of Vermont nonprofits
• Job listings
• Sector research
• Policy development
• Valuable capacity building information
• A searchable database of consultants and businesses
• And, regional and local networking events coordinated by a resource manager

The Vermont Nonprofit Connection – A Resource Center that Lasts

The VCF strongly believes that The Vermont Nonprofit Connection should be a lasting, self-sustaining resource. With this in mind, we have spent the past year researching other state nonprofit associations. Our research suggests that a membership model would be an ongoing struggle in Vermont and that the most successful, sustainable resource center would be funded by the sector itself. Based on this finding, the VCF has been working closely with the Vermont Secretary of State to explore a revenue model that draws support from nonprofit registration fees and would ensure the continued existence of The Vermont Nonprofit Connection.

Below you will find a link to a survey and a description of the proposed revenue model. We encourage you to please fill out the survey by Thursday, December 20, 2007, so that your thoughts and ideas can be heard during this important decision-making process.

Please note that the results from this survey will be used to gauge sector support for this initiative and that by taking this survey you are not committing your organization to this concept.

The Vermont Nonprofit Connection – A Call to Action!

Currently all Vermont nonprofits pay the Secretary of State a $75 registration fee every two years to maintain their status as a nonprofit. In order to fund the Vermont Nonprofit Connection, networking events, and ultimately other initiatives, we propose to raise this fee on a progressive scale as outlined in these graphs.

We understand that the majority of you will fall into the ‘very small’ or ‘small’ nonprofit category (see graphs for clarification). While your total fee may be less than the fees for larger nonprofits, we recognize that in many ways you will be sacrificing the most. For this reason, we are designing The Vermont Nonprofit Connection with the needs of smaller nonprofits in mind.

The VCF strongly believes that every Vermont nonprofit plays an important role in making this resource a reality, and we thank you in advance for your feedback!

Please click here to take survey

You should also feel free to contact Holly Tippett with questions or thoughts at tippetth@aol.com.