Association of Nonprofit Specialists

What Association of Nonprofit Specialists does

The Association of Nonprofit Specialists (ANS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 47-3318495) founded in 2011 and based in New York City that operates as a member-supported network for nonprofit consultants, specialists, and capacity builders. ANS delivers programming through a portfolio of membership-based products: the Nonprofit Consultants Institute (a two-day intensive training using Lean Canvas methodology that has trained 190+ professionals since 2011), the Peer Advising Program (Advisor-Advisee and Peer-Peer pairings), MemberMatch (a 6-week accountability challenge), a public Consultants Directory, regular networking events (breakfasts, brown bag lunches, meet-ups), and a resources library. The organization is volunteer-run with 11 listed employees and operates primarily out of NYC venues including Amalgamated Bank HQ and the Candid/Foundation Center.

The organization's revenue model combines annual individual and institutional membership dues, NCI registrations priced at $845–$950 per attendee, event fees, and tax-deductible donations. Institutional memberships provide additional promotional opportunities beyond individual benefits and include consulting firms, advisory groups, and capacity builders serving the nonprofit sector. ANS extends its reach through strategic alliances with Candid (formerly Foundation Center), Support Center, the Ahead of the Curve Collaborative, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, Brooklyn Community Foundation, and Better Business Bureau Metro New York, among others.

ANS has no proprietary technology platform; its membership portal and directory are delivered through a third-party association management system (GrowthZone). Distribution is predominantly regional (NYC-metro) with national reach through partnerships, and the go-to-market is community-led and event-driven — growth depends on word-of-mouth referrals, member testimonials, and partnerships with major capacity-building organizations. The board is governance-only and was expanded in 2020 with four new members to support programmatic continuity.

Name

Association of Nonprofit Specialists

Legal name

Association of Nonprofit Specialists

Website

https://npspecialists.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association of Nonprofit Specialists is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) membership network that supports nonprofit consultants and capacity builders through training, peer advising, networking events, and a public Consultants Directory. It generates revenue from membership dues, institute registrations, event fees, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAO

Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Nonprofit consulting services
• Capacity building programs
• Consultant membership organization
• Professional networking events
• Nonprofit sector training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for individual nonprofit consultants and capacity builders, providing access to networking events, educational programs, peer advising, members-only community, and consultants directory listing
2. Institutional Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for companies and groups working with the nonprofit community, including additional promotional opportunities beyond individual membership benefits
3. Nonprofit Consultants Institute Registration: Two-day intensive training program for nonprofit consultants, priced at $950 standard rate with $100 discount for members. Includes One Page Business Plan and one year membership
4. Event Fees: Discounted rates on networking events and educational programs for members, standard rates for non-members
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to support the organization's mission of providing resources, events, and connections to strengthen the nonprofit sector

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Association of Nonprofit Specialists is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that supports nonprofit consultants, specialists, and capacity builders through annual memberships, a flagship 2-day training institute (Nonprofit Consultants Institute), peer advising programs, networking events, and a public consultants directory. It functions as a professional community and capacity-building platform serving the people who advise nonprofits rather than serving nonprofits directly.

Product overview

The Association of Nonprofit Specialists is a 501(c)(3) membership organization offering a portfolio of programs and services for nonprofit consultants and capacity builders. The core offering centers on a Membership Program providing access to the Consultants Directory, Peer Advising Program, and MemberMatch accountability program. The flagship product is the Nonprofit Consultants Institute, a 2-day intensive training workshop using Lean Canvas methodology. Additional services include regular Networking Events (breakfasts, brown bags, meet-ups) and a Resources library of articles and tools. The organization operates as a unified membership platform rather than a modular software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Peer Advising Program: A program connecting members 1-on-1 for information and idea exchange, with Advisor-Advisee and Peer-Peer pairing options.
• MemberMatch
• Nonprofit Consultants Institute
• Consultants Directory

Products and services

• Membership Program

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Candid (formerly Foundation Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Long-standing partnership where Candid has asked ANS to coordinate educational workshops for its constituents. ANS members serve as pro-bono facilitators for 90-minute sessions attracting 50+ nonprofit professionals. Sessions held at Candid's Manhattan location.
• Ahead of the Curve CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016ANS has been part of AOTC since its founding in 2016. AOTC is currently made up of 12 NYC-based capacity builders working together to identify and influence key issues in the nonprofit sector, including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Support CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing capacity building resources. Host for networking events and collaborative programming on nonprofit sector issues.
• Better Business Bureau Metro New YorkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member and partner organization supporting nonprofit accountability standards. BBB staff provide coaching on charity accountability standards to ANS members and network.
• NYC Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for events including the 2020 Advancing DEI in the Nonprofit Sector conference. DYCD provides venue and organizational support.
• Amalgamated BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Nonprofit Consultants Institute 2026 at their NYC headquarters, providing conference facilities.
• Brooklyn Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for virtual clinics providing technical assistance to nonprofit organizations in Brooklyn.
• Arkle Consulting GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member organization providing management consulting services to nonprofits.
• Sax Advisory GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member providing advisory services to the nonprofit sector.
• Heller Fundraising GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member specializing in fundraising consulting for nonprofits.
• Nonprofit Solutions NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member organization supporting nonprofit capacity building.
• CRE Community Resource ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional member and strategic partner providing community resources and consulting to nonprofits.
• Penn Creative StrategyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member providing creative strategy services to nonprofits.
• Be AgapeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member organization.
• Take TwominorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member organization.
• Your Part-Time ControllerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional member providing financial services to nonprofits.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BoardSource: National nonprofit focused on nonprofit governance and board leadership. Comparable as a membership-driven capacity builder serving nonprofit professionals and consultants.
• Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN): National membership organization supporting early- and mid-career nonprofit professionals through networking and development. Highly comparable membership/community model to ANS.
• CompassPoint Nonprofit Services: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit capacity builder offering training, consulting, and leadership programs. Directly comparable mission and service mix to ANS at a regional level.
• La Piana Consulting: National nonprofit management consulting firm that also publishes research and tools for the sector. Comparable as a senior consulting voice whose principals would be ANS institutional members or competitors for mindshare.
• TCC Group: National consulting firm serving foundations, nonprofits, and grantees. Comparable institutional member profile (major firm serving nonprofits) and overlapping capacity-building ecosystem.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center): National nonprofit capacity-building infrastructure organization. Long-standing ANS strategic partner that hosts ANS-coordinated workshops; both serve the same ecosystem of nonprofits and consultants through education and resources.
• Support Center: NYC-based capacity builder providing management support, fundraising, and training to nonprofits. Strategic partner of ANS and serves an overlapping nonprofit/consultant ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Independent Sector: National membership coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and corporations advocating for the charitable sector. Operates at much larger scale but in the same nonprofit infrastructure space as ANS.
• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of state and regional nonprofit associations. Operates at a larger scale than ANS in the same nonprofit capacity-building space, providing advocacy, training, and resources.

Emerging players

• Nonprofit Ready: Free online training platform for nonprofit professionals offered by Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation. Comparable as a training resource for ANS's target audience of nonprofit consultants and capacity builders.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0hAU_Syq7Uloj1sQBu3giw
• Facebookfacebook.com/nonprofitspecialists
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/npspecialists
• Instagraminstagram.com/nonprofitspecialists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Nonprofit Specialists