FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2018

Relocated offices will allow more members, a greater range of new member services and capabilities, and an enhanced incubator program

Rockville, Md. — The Nonprofit Village (NPV), Montgomery County’s incubator for nonprofits, has announced that it will relocate from its current location in Twinbrook to a 10,000-square foot space in the Metro Executive Park on Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville.  This represents an additional 2,000 square feet of rentable space. NPV and its resident organizations expect to complete the move by November.

The Nonprofit Village follows the public-private partnership model, receiving funding from Montgomery County to perform its work supporting the nonprofit sector, but operating as an independent 501(c)(3) organization. 57% of its budget is raised privately through earned income, with an additional 25% generated through traditional fundraising. 

According to Nonprofit Montgomery, an NPV member that advocates for the sector, in 2013, the estimated 6,200 County nonprofits had more than $30 billion in assets and $7.6 billion in expenditures, revealing significant buying power.

Drawing on the best practices from successful nonprofit incubators around the country, The NPV’s multi-tenant “Village Center” brings together small and emerging nonprofit organizations in shared space that accommodates offices for individual organizations, common work space, and a shared learning center/conference area.  In addition, NPV’s “Room to Grow” program provides virtual office services to nonprofits county-wide. In the new office, added “swing space” will allow organizations to host small trainings and networking events.

Founded in 2006 with two initial member companies, NPV currently serves 20 resident members and 12 virtual members in diverse industries including health care, education, environmental policy, social services, and the arts.  Nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) designation have been eligible for membership; the current expansion will allow NPV to broaden its membership criteria to nonprofits carrying any 501(c) designation, including faith-based and secular organizations, membership organizations, chambers of commerce, and more.

NPV will also expand its incubator program. “Although we have always provided business training for our members, we are seeing demand for a more formal program that includes milestones and criteria by which progress can be measured,” stated Andy Stern, Board Chair of NPV. “We are currently planning an Accelerator Program that addresses multiple management areas including the uniquely nonprofit concerns of development and fundraising.”

NPV received technical assistance for its expansion from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC).  Kim Jones, Executive Director of NPV, noted “Our bank indicated that we had the best business plan from a nonprofit that they had ever seen.  We attribute that to the strategic planning sessions we had with MCEDC. They asked the right questions to help us envision our future.”

To date, NPV has had 45-member nonprofits and graduated 12, with 9 taking commercial office space in Montgomery County. Its resident nonprofits have grown from employing 24 employees in 2012 to employing nearly 100 and serving more than 88,000 people in the community.  NPV projects that the new space will support up to 25 organizations and up to 130 employees and consultants.

David Petr, President and CEO of MCEDC, observed, “More than 44,500 people are employed by nonprofits in Montgomery County, or 10% of the workforce.  This is a very important industry sector, and we are proud to support the incubator that helps new nonprofits start and grow here.”

“Donohoe worked in partnership with the NPV Board and staff to identify an affordable, professional, and convenient office to expand their operation. Metro Executive Park is an ideal place to expand the shared office space and amenities for dozens of nonprofits”, offered Matt O’Connell, the real estate broker who worked with NPV.    

Nonprofit Village tenants also have access to partners that provide training and development, short-term consulting, and pro-bono services, including the Center for Nonprofit Advancement, Montgomery College, Nonprofit Montgomery, Maryland Nonprofits, and the Catalogue for Philanthropy.  NPV is also expanding its partnerships with back-office service providers to offer members bundled and unbundled business services including bookkeeping, human resources management, insurance, benefits, marketing/communications and graphics services.

The relocation will allow NPV to fully execute the vision laid out in its business plan to expand shared space and services for a variety of nonprofits and mission-based organizations. The Nonprofit Village looks forward to a robust community of nonprofits, partners, co-working and events in their second decade of service to the community.

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About The Nonprofit Village

The Nonprofit Village is Montgomery County’s first and only multi-tenant nonprofit center. It strengthens the reach and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by providing affordable office space, opportunities for collaboration, capacity-building, and a variety of office services. The benefits and services provided to tenant members help them reduce essential operating and administrative costs, allowing these important groups to focus more keenly on their mission of providing vital services to our community.  For more information, visit www.thenonprofitvillage.org/ or contact (301) 230-0111 or staff@thenonprofitvillage.org.

About MCEDC

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the lead public-private economic development organization for Montgomery County, Md. The organization was created in 2016 to help businesses start, grow and exceed expectations by helping them gain access to top talent, business and market intelligence and prime locations. For more information, visit our website at thinkmoco.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.