What is NANA?
The Nonprofit Advocates Networking Alliance — NANA — sits at the intersection of two familiar models that have each, on their own, delivered real but limited value. The first is the Professional Networking Group, which brings business professionals together regularly to build relationships and exchange referrals. The second is the Civic Organization, which grounds community members in a sense of shared responsibility and commitment to something larger than themselves. NANA takes both models and combines them into something more powerful than either could be alone. Rather than simply exchanging referrals or engaging in project-based volunteer opportunities, NANA members direct their time, skills, and professional expertise toward a single nonprofit organization each month — creating focused, sustained partnerships that benefit the business professional, the nonprofit, and the community in which they both live and work.
NANA FAQs for Business Leaders & Mission Advocates
How is NANA different?
NANA combines the structural discipline of the Professional Networking Group with the civic soul of the Community Organization, and in doing so, creates something that neither model could produce on its own. Like a networking group, it brings professionals together on a regular, recurring basis — building the rhythm and accountability that make relationships grow over time. Like a civic organization, it grounds every interaction in a commitment to community impact that gives the relationships a depth and durability that purely transactional networking never achieves. But NANA goes further than simply blending the two models. By directing the expertise of its members toward a single nonprofit each month — in a structured advisory format that produces immediate, tangible value — it creates a feedback loop of impact and engagement that keeps professionals invested, keeps nonprofits supported, and keeps the community at the center of everything. The result is not just better networking or better civic engagement. It is a fundamentally new kind of professional community.
How much is it to join a NANA Club?
Joining a NANA Club starts at $25/month, with a one-year commitment. Premium Memberships are available for $50/month.
Membership fees are paid to IXI to facilitate NANA infrastructure, administration, membership tracking, billing, and marketing. Twenty percent of the fees collected are subsequently donated to the host nonprofit. This membership fee also allows you to visit other NANA Clubs within the Region.
There is no cost to the host nonprofit.
How often do NANA Clubs meet?
Each Nonprofit has it's own NANA Club, which meets once a month at a set day/time (e.g. Third Friday of the Month at 9am). There are any number of NANA Clubs in a given region, and group members can visit others when their schedule allows.
How long are the meetings?
Each NANA Club meeting is one hour long. Typically, the format will be as follows: 15 Minutes for mingling; 5 Minutes for Introductions; 30 Minutes for the Nonprofit Advisory Session and 10 minutes for Wrap-Up.
The Nonprofit Advisory Session is where the NANA Club functions as a sounding board for the organization. This could take different forms each week -- discussing upcoming events & sponsorship structure; various programs, volunteer recruitment, outreach efforts, etc.
Which NANA Club should I join?
Choose your NANA Club based on any number of criteria!
1) A mission & cause that resonates with you on a personal or professional level.
2) The most convenient day & time for your schedule
3) The most convenient location
Can I visit other NANA Clubs?
Standard Members may visit all other NANA Club within the Region, up to two times per year. (A Region is a geographical region (e.g. NANA Susquehanna is a Region comprised of Groups based in Harford and Cecil Counties, MD). Premium Members, Club Sponsors and Region Sponsors are allowed unlimited visits to each group.
Will it be the same people that I see at every other networking group?
There will always be a little overlap. but each NANA Club will typically include three distinct types of participants:
1) Traditional networkers — including individuals who regularly attend networking events, local Chamber of Commerce gatherings, and visitors from other NANA Clubs who participate to build relationships and support fellow nonprofits;
2) Individuals recruited directly by the host nonprofit — such as donors, business partners, corporate volunteers, board members, and key supporters — who may not typically attend networking events but are present because of their direct connection to the organization; and
3) Mission-driven advocates — people who are personally invested in the cause itself and are passionate about advancing the nonprofit’s impact in the community, regardless of whether they have a formal role with the organization.
NANA FAQs for Nonprofits
How much is it to host a NANA Club?
There is no cost to the host nonprofit. Monthly membership fees from each NANA Club member are paid to NANA to facilitate NANA infrastructure, administration, membership tracking, billing, and marketing. NANA will then donate 20% of the monthly membership fees to the Nonprofit that was chosen by the NANA Club member when they joined NANA.
NANA will also donate 20% of Club & Regional Sponsorships that your organization brings in.
Who runs the NANA Club?
A NANA representative will be the Facilitator of each Group. This eliminates any administrative burden from the Nonprofit. A representative from the Nonprofit is required to attend, and is responsible to steer the Nonprofit Advisory Session portion of the meeting.
NANA maintains infrastructure, administration, membership tracking, billing, and marketing to include:
1) Collection of membership dues and providing receipts; tracking member and guest attendance
2) Send a Monthly NANA Club Meeting Reminder email to Club members
3) Send a Quarterly NANA Regional email that lets members know about what's happening with other regional NANA Clubs.
4) Provide Social Media Marketing for the NANA Clubs (If desired, we can add NANA Club posts to your Social Media properties as well).
5) Maintain the NANA Blog -- provide helpful articles on making the most of your group
6) Maintain the NANA Region Online Community
7) Host the monthly Downtime Networking meeting -- which functions as NANA Susquehanna's Regional Happy Hour
8) Host the annual Nonprofit Advisory Group
9) Host any other NANA events
Where are the NANA Clubs hosted?
Ideally, to give members a deeper understanding of your mission, culture, and day-to-day challenges, each NANA Club meets on-site at the nonprofit’s location. That said, meetings can certainly be hosted offsite. Options could be spaces provided by Club members, board members or other nonprofit organizations.
How long are the meetings?
Each NANA Club meeting is one hour long. Typically, the format will be as follows: 15 Minutes for mingling; 5 Minutes for Introductions; 30 Minutes for the Nonprofit Advisory Session, and 10 minutes for Wrap-Up.
The Nonprofit Advisory Session is where the Club functions as a sounding board for the organization. This could take different forms each week -- discussing upcoming events & sponsorship structure; various programs, volunteer recruitment, outreach efforts, etc.
Can host Nonprofits visit other groups?
Members and Nonprofit representatives may visit other NANA Clubs, increasing mission awareness, partnerships, and community visibility, with an audience of civic-minded individuals.
How do we join?
To join, just complete the "Request a NANA Club" form. Then we'll:
1) Build your Nonprofit presence on the NANA website, select a Launch Date, and designate the Group as "Forming"
2) Begin to build your membership base. Ideally, we'd have a base of about 20 members before launching the NANA Club, with many of them recruited by the Nonprofit, so you'll have a core group of existing advocates. NANA will assist with recruiting members as well. The more members that you have in your NANA Club, the stronger your support from the business community will become.
3) We'll also provide you with some documents that will help you get onboard!
NANA Susquehanna Regional Sponsors
