Northern Berkshire Community Coalition

What Northern Berkshire Community Coalition does

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) is a private, community-based nonprofit organization headquartered at 61 Main St., Suite 218 in North Adams, Massachusetts, founded in 1986 (originally as the Northern Berkshire Health and Human Services Coalition). It operates a coalition model delivering six interconnected program areas — Youth Programming, Family Support and Education, Health and Wellness, Substance Use Prevention, Leadership Development, and Convene and Connect Community — to families with children aged 0–18, youth aged 9–19, and the broader Northern Berkshire resident population. Core service infrastructure includes the UNO Community Center (157 River Street, operated in partnership with MASS MoCA), the nbCC Bike Collective (206 Ashland Street), the Northern Berkshire Hub for 24–48 hour risk-mitigation coordination across 30+ partner agencies, the Youth Health Collaborative, the Food Access Collaborative, and Community Health Workers, all delivered through an Asset-Based Community Development framework. Family Resource Center services are provided free of charge, with no insurance required.

nbCC is not a technology company; its "platform" is the in-person coalition, the monthly newsletter (published since 1986), the weekly E-Zine, a biennial Community Resource Guide (English/Spanish), a public-access TV show ("Catching Up with the Coalition"), and an active Facebook presence. Operational technology is limited to standard WordPress-based web publishing, email distribution, and event/forum logistics. There are no proprietary software products, no apps, no APIs, no patents or trademarks, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) government grants — primarily from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families for the Family Resource Center and Community Connections neighborhood development, the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services for prevention programming, and the Prevention & Wellness Trust Fund for Community Health Workers; (2) charitable donations across a seven-tier ladder (Neighbor up to $100 through Founding Partner at $25,000+); (3) UNO Community Center rentals at $20/hour, with community-service-in-lieu-of-cash for qualifying residents; and (4) branded merchandise sales via a webstore. All programs to residents are free. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Theresa Denette, President; Ben Lamb, Vice President; Megan Childers, Clerk; Maureen Baran, Treasurer) and led by Executive Director Amber Besaw, with ~12 named program/operations staff. As of 2026 the organization is running a capital campaign for an 18,000-square-foot community center and investing $40,000 in youth programs as part of its 40th anniversary.

Name

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition

Legal name

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition

Website

https://nbccoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is a 40-year-old Massachusetts nonprofit operating youth, family, prevention, wellness, and community-convening programs from North Adams, funded by state grants, donations, and facility rentals, and serving families, youth, and residents of the Northern Berkshire region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Community coalition services
• Youth development programs
• Family resource center
• Substance use prevention
• Community health workers

Headquarters

HQ city

North Adams

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding from government sources including the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (prevention grant), Department of Children and Families (DCF) for Family Resource Center and Community Connections neighborhood development, and the Prevention & Wellness Trust Fund (PWTF) for community health workers.
2. Charitable Donations: The organization accepts donations at all levels (Neighbor: up to $100; Ally: $101–$500; Steward: $501–$1,000; Community Builder: $1,001–$5,000; Champion: $5,001–$10,000; Visionary Friend: $10,001–$25,000; Founding Partner: $25,000+). All donations stay in the Northern Berkshire community.
3. UNO Community Center Rentals: The UNO Community Center is available to rent for professional programming, events, and private parties at $20/hour. Community residents may fulfill rental fees through community service at the center instead of cash payment.
4. Webstore Sales: nbCC operates a webstore selling branded merchandise to support the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) is a nonprofit community coalition that convenes, connects, and supports residents of the Northern Berkshire region in Massachusetts. The organization delivers free programs and services across six core areas: Youth Programming, Family Support and Neighborhood Development, Health and Wellness, Substance Use Prevention, Leadership Development, and Convene and Connect Community. All programming is grounded in an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) framework, with services funded primarily through government grants, charitable donations, and facility rentals.

Product overview

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) is a community-based organization offering a diverse portfolio of interconnected programs and services focused on empowering the Northern Berkshire region. The organization operates as a coalition model with multiple program areas including Youth Programming, Family Support and Education, Health and Wellness, Substance Use Prevention, Leadership Development, and Convene and Connect Community. Key facilities and programs include the UNO Community Center, Bike Collective, Northern Berkshire Hub, Youth Health Collaborative, Food Access Collaborative, and Community Health Workers. The organization also publishes the Weekly E-Zine, Monthly Newsletter, Community Resource Guide, and Family Conversation Cards as informational resources. All services are delivered through an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) framework with a Positive Youth Development approach, with most family services provided free of charge through Department of Children and Families funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Programming

Quantifiable outcome

• Monthly forums have been held continuously for 40 years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brien CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025The Brien Center is nbCC's clinical partner for the Family Resource Center (FRC), providing Comprehensive Mental Health Assessments, CANS assessments, short-term treatment, and care planning for youth and families. The FRC Clinician reports to the Program Director of Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services at the Brien Center.
• Clark Art InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025Clark Art Institute partnered with nbCC and MASS MoCA to present a free youth summer art club (UNO Drop-In Art Club), providing art-making programming for youth ages 6-16 at the UNO Community Center.
• MASS MoCAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025MASS MoCA partnered with nbCC to co-locate the UNO Community Center and UNO Park at River and Houghton Streets in North Adams, ensuring these spaces remain open, accessible, and utilized by the community. Also partnered on the free youth summer art club and art bike share program.
• Louison HouseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023nbCC provided gift funding to Louison House to support emergency winter housing needs in the Northern Berkshire community, demonstrating inter-agency collaboration to address basic needs.
• MassBikeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2023MassBike collaborated with nbCC on the Art Bikes in the Berkshires initiative, supporting the creative bike share fleet at the Bike Collective.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Community Action! of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions: Anti-poverty community action agency covering a multi-county western Massachusetts region. Comparable as a coalition-style nonprofit running family support, youth, energy assistance, and community programs funded through similar federal and state grant streams.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts: Established youth mentoring nonprofit with a regional footprint covering parts of western Massachusetts including Berkshire County. Comparable in youth development focus and funder base, though operates a narrower mentoring mandate at larger geographic scale.
• Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires: Regional youth development organization serving Berkshire County with after-school, summer, and teen programming. Directly comparable target population (youth ages 9-19) and overlapping programming areas with nbCC's youth development work.

Regional players

• Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity: Regional Habitat for Humanity affiliate operating in Berkshire County with volunteer-driven community programming. Comparable as a community-based nonprofit in the same geography engaging volunteers and donors around local quality-of-life issues, though focused narrowly on housing.

Direct peers

• Northern Berkshire YMCA: Community recreation and youth services organization serving the same Northern Berkshire region. Comparable in offering youth programming, health and wellness activities, and community convening — directly overlapping nbCC's mission in health/wellness and youth development.
• The Brien Center: Mental health and substance use services provider in Berkshire County and nbCC's clinical partner for the Family Resource Center. Operates overlapping youth, family, and prevention programming in the same geographic region and shares clients and referral pathways.
• Hilltown Community Development Corporation: Rural western Massachusetts community development organization supporting youth, families, and community capacity-building in small towns. Comparable as a multi-program rural coalition with similar funding model and ABCD-style community development practice.
• Berkshire United Way: Regional nonprofit convener and fundraiser for Berkshire County that coordinates multiple agencies and runs community-impact initiatives in health, education, and financial stability. Closely comparable mission as a community-level coalition and grantmaker in the same geography.
• Louison House: North Adams-based nonprofit addressing homelessness, domestic violence, and housing instability. Comparable as a community-based human services organization in Northern Berkshire that collaborates with nbCC on emergency needs and shares the same regional service area.

Others

• Massachusetts Association for Community Development: State-level association representing and supporting community development corporations and CDCs across Massachusetts. Comparable in mission focus on community-based development and as an enabling network for organizations like nbCC seeking capacity-building and policy advocacy support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nbccoalition
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-berkshire-community-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Northern Berkshire Community Coalition