About Us

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 people together to build relationships and exchange opportunities. The second is the civic organization, which grounds individuals in a sense of shared responsibility and commitment to something larger than themselves. NANA combines these models into something more powerful than either alone. Rather than simply exchanging referrals or participating in occasional volunteer efforts, NANA brings together business professionals, experienced retirees, and community members who are passionate about a cause, and directs their time, insight, and expertise toward supporting a nonprofit organization each month. The result is a focused, sustained partnership that benefits not only those involved, but the broader community as well.

The mechanics of how NANA works are elegantly simple. NANA Clubs are formed within a region and hosted monthly by a nonprofit organization at a consistent day and time. Each meeting is one hour long and follows a structured format: time to mingle and connect with fellow members and guests, a quick roundtable of introductions, a thirty-minute advisory session in which the host nonprofit brings a real challenge or opportunity to the room, and a wrap-up where ideas, connections, and next steps are captured. NANA provides a trained meeting facilitator who works alongside the nonprofit representative to ensure every meeting runs smoothly and produces genuine value. After each meeting, members receive a recap with action items and contact information — because the relationships built in the room are meant to continue well beyond it.

What makes NANA genuinely different from anything else in the networking or civic engagement landscape is the way it creates value simultaneously for everyone involved. For members — whether they are active professionals, retirees with decades of experience, or individuals driven by a passion for the cause — it offers deeper relationships, a meaningful way to contribute, and an opportunity to apply their knowledge and perspective in real time. For nonprofits, it provides consistent access to a diverse group of advisors, advocates, and connectors that most organizations could never assemble on their own. And for the broader community, it creates a stronger, more connected ecosystem — where experience is shared, relationships are built with purpose, and people from all walks of life contribute to something that benefits everyone.

NANA is not just a new kind of networking group. It is not just a civic organization. It is a new way of thinking about what it means to be part of a community — one that invites not only business professionals, but anyone with experience, perspective, or passion to contribute. It is built on the belief that the most meaningful relationships are not formed through quick exchanges, but through shared purpose, consistent engagement, and a commitment to something that matters. Whether you are a business leader, a retired professional, or someone who simply wants to play a more active role in strengthening your community, NANA was built with you in mind. The model is proven, the community is growing, and the impact is real.

About IXI

The driving force behind MAMA (and NANA), WebIXI, Inc. (IXI), has decades of firsthand experience at the intersection of nonprofits, business, and community engagement. With more than 30 years working directly in the nonprofit sector, IXI understands the realities nonprofits face—from funding sustainability and board development to marketing, storytelling, and mission alignment.

For the past 10 years, IXI has also successfully hosted the Nonprofit Advisory Group, bringing nonprofit leaders together for peer learning, collaboration, and strategic growth. More recently, three years of hosting Downtime Networking has demonstrated IXI’s ability to cultivate consistent, high-trust professional communities that prioritize relationships over transactions.

Together, this depth of experience allows IXI to design NANA as a thoughtful, sustainable model that balances nonprofit needs, member value, and long-term community impact.

About MAMA

The Mid Atlantic Marketing Alliance (MAMA) is a collaborative powerhouse, offering clients access to an elite network of marketing experts who work together to deliver comprehensive, data-driven marketing strategies. Through its unique model, MAMA brings together experienced marketing professionals — Graphic Designers, Website Developers, Social Media Marketers, SEO experts, Videographers, etc. — who pool their skills to create customized marketing roadmaps that align with each client's specific goals and budgets. This tailored approach means businesses of all sizes can benefit from high-level marketing leadership without the financial burden of a full-time hire, ensuring strategic marketing support is both scalable and flexible as the business evolves.

NANA Susquehanna Region Sponsors