Collaborating Partners

The New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits (NHCN)
The New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits’ mission is to strengthen and give voice to the state’s nonprofit sector through leadership, collaboration, and learning opportunities. Dedicated to capacity building, NHCN is a statewide association with more than 600 nonprofit, corporate, and individual members. NHCN offers a wide range of leadership, management, and technical skill building educational programs, advanced seminars, and peer learning circles to the entire sector. The center hosts an information rich website and publishes a weekly electronic newsletter filled with information and resources relevant to the nonprofit sector. NHCN acts as a catalyst and a convener on important issues which impact the nonprofit sector. It also works to unify the sector offering a yearly Nonprofit Summit and other statewide and regional networking and collaborating events.

The Nonprofit Congress
The First Nonprofit Congress, held in October 2006, was an unprecedented effort to unite nonprofits and strengthen the charitable sector. The Congress was coordinated by co-conveners, The National Council of Nonprofit Associations and Robert Egger, Director of the DC Central Kitchen. In the best spirit of democracy, the Nonprofit Congress brought together more than 400 nonprofit leaders and their allies from across the country to: identify and affirm the values that all nonprofits share; develop a vision and priorities for the nonprofit sector; and exercise a collective voice. The Nonprofit Congress is driven by the idea that the nonprofit sector can be a more powerful force in our country if nonprofits act collectively. The second Nonprofit Congress is scheduled for June 2008.

The National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA)
NCNA is the network of state and regional nonprofit associations serving over 20,000 members in 41 states and the District of Columbia. NCNA links local organizations to a national audience through state associations and helps small and midsize nonprofits: manage and lead more effectively; collaborate and exchange solutions; engage in critical policy issues affecting the sector; and achieve greater impact in their communities. NCNA is also the convening organization for the Nonprofit Congress, an unprecedented effort to unite nonprofits and strengthen the charitable sector.

Director of the National Primary Project: Robert Egger
Robert Egger is the Founder and President of the DC Central Kitchen, where unemployed men and women learn marketable culinary skills while foods donated by restaurants, hotels and caterers are converted into balanced meals. Since opening in 1989, the Kitchen has distributed 17.4 million meals and helped over 605 men and women gain full-time employment. 

Currently, Robert is the Chairperson of the DC Mayor’s Commission on Nutrition, Street Sense, Washington’s “homeless” newspaper, and RESULTS, a multinational microcredit and citizen advocacy organization. He serves on the Boards of TimeBanks USA and the Food Systems Leadership Institute. He was also the Co-Convener of the first ever Nonprofit Congress.

Robert was included in the Non Profit Times list of the “50 Most Powerful and Influential Nonprofit Leaders of 2006.” He is the recipient of the 2005 Volunteers of America Community Service award and the 2004 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award. He has also been named an Oprah Angel, a Washingtonian of the Year, a Point of Light and one of the Ten Most Caring People in America, by the Caring Institute. He is also a 14-gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross.

Robert’s book on the non-profit sector, Begging for Change: The Dollars and Sense of Making Nonprofits Responsive, Efficient and Rewarding For All, which was released in 2004 by HarperCollins, received the 2005 McAdam Prize for “Best Nonprofit Management Book” by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.

Robert speaks throughout the country and writes blogs and editorials to share his ideas about the nonprofit sector and the future of America.   To check out Robert’s most recent speaking schedule, blogs, and editorials, please visit www.dccentralkitchen.org

Consultant and Coordinator of the Project: Attorney Ann McLane Kuster
Ann McLane Kuster is a shareholder of the firm of Rath, Young and Pignatelli, and Chair of the Education and Nonprofit Law Practice Group for the firm. Ann focuses her legal practice primarily on legislative and policy matters, and is registered as a lobbyist for clients such as Fidelity Investments, Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School, Merck Vaccine Division, The New Hampshire College and University Council, New Hampshire Independent Schools, as well as Access Sports Medicine and Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center.

Ann and the strong team of government relations professionals at Rath, Young and Pignatelli represent businesses before the NH Legislature, as well as various administrative agencies. With respect to public policy matters, Ann focuses on state legislative and regulatory issues involving health, financial and educational institutions. In recent years, she has been actively involved in a number of significant health and education policy issues, including the creation of the NH Medication Bridge Program and the NH UNIQUE College Savings Program.

In addition, Ann is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and maintains a private adoption practice. Prior to joining the firm in 1986, Ann practiced law with the McLane law firm in Manchester, NH. A legislative assistant to former Congressman Pete McCloskey of California, Ann has been active in numerous political campaigns, including the bid of her father, Executive Councilor Malcolm McLane, for governor in 1972, and that of her mother, State Senator Susan McLane, for Congress in 1980. She served on the Campaign Finance Committee for Governor Jeanne Shaheen and was a member of the 2004 NH Delegation to the Democratic Convention in Boston.

Project Planning Group
Lewis Feldstein, President of the NH Charitable Foundation
John Hoffman, Philanthropist and Nonprofit Board Member
Ellen Koenig, the NH Charitable Foundation
Michael Ostrowski, Child and Family Services
Mary Ellen Jackson, NH Center for Nonprofits
Robert Egger, Director of the National Primary Project
Edda Cantor, Leadership NH
Erica Greely, the National Council of Nonprofit Associations
Mica Stark, the NH Institute of Politics, St. Anslem College
Michael Weekes, Massachusetts Council of Human Services Providers
Scott Schnapp, Maine Association of Nonprofits
The NHCN Board of Directors
Consultant to the Project: Attorney Ann McLane Kuster