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February 8, 2016 Q&A

Merger aims to give nonprofits louder, sustainable voice

Q&A talks with Jeffrey Walter, interim CEO of the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance, which was created by a merger of Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits) and the Connecticut Community Providers Association.

Q: The Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (CT Nonprofits) and the Connecticut Community Providers Association (CCPA) have agreed to a merger of the two organizations, to create a new 600-member group called CT Community Nonprofit Alliance (CT Nonprofit Alliance). Why was the merger necessary?

A: CCPA and CT Nonprofits have represented a wide range of nonprofit organizations for more than 35 years. Connecticut's nonprofits have always battled for adequate state funding. But with the 2008 recession and slow economic recovery, there is even more pressure today to stretch limited state dollars. As the CT Nonprofit Alliance, our collective voices will be stronger and more effective, advocating for funding, policies and supporting best business practices.

Q: One of the organization's stated goals is to maximize limited state dollars. Given that Gov. Malloy has proposed $570 million in funding cuts in fiscal 2017, what are some of the goals of your group when it comes to funding?

A: Advocacy in support of state funding will be a priority for CT Nonprofit Alliance. Our state funded members constantly worry that their funding will be cut. CT Nonprofit Alliance strives to be a louder, more effective voice for nonprofits. The more policymakers see the impact of state spending on the individuals and families who rely on nonprofits, the better decisions they can make.

We have been successful in recent years in preserving bare-bones funding for critical health and human services. Our goal is to protect that funding in the short term, and to work with the state to support and expand more cost-effective services in the long term.

Q: Besides funding, which is the 800-pound gorilla of course, what other issues might you be tackling in the upcoming session?

1. Contract reform: Connecticut is the second worst in the nation for imposing needlessly complex contract-reporting requirements. Additionally, we're third worst for changing contracts in mid-stream, and sixth worst when it comes to the state not covering the full cost of contracted services.

2. Institutional care versus best-practice care: There is mounting evidence that outcomes for individuals living in community settings are better than for those in institutions.

We need to explore options that are in the best interests of these populations and also save taxpayers money.

3. The Governor's Second Chance Initiative: We laud the governor's leadership to recognize that successful re-entry into society is a moral obligation of our state. However, critical community support services for these individuals must be protected in the state budget or the initiative's success will be jeopardized.

4. Pursuit of the Massachusetts model to fund the cost of services with a focus on the reality of the cost of living: Chapter 257 is the law in Massachusetts that requires the state to determine and pay nonprofits the true costs of delivering health and human services after decades of chronic underfunding. This landmark legislation could be replicated in Connecticut and would establish a path to sustainability, if not prosperity, for our nonprofits.

Q: The mission of the new organization will be to advocate and build capacity for community-based, nonprofit organizations. Given your size, is there a risk that groups within the organization may be working against each other on certain issues?

A: Our combined work has long reflected a need to advocate for issues that our members have in common and to understand and navigate those that are different. That is the challenge of any association, and it will continue to be part of the work of CT Nonprofit Alliance.

Nonprofits, collectively, are significant players in the state economy. With such a large membership, we are now in a much stronger place to give voice to the sector as a whole and be heard.

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