Dear Nonprofit Quarterly Readers,

Welcome to the first edition of the independent Nonprofit Quarterly, published under NINA, the Nonprofit Information Networking Association. As members of NINA’s newly constituted board, we are thrilled to deepen our participation and commitment to NPQ, a venture that we believe is critical not only to the development of the nonprofit sector but also to the continuing revitalization of an active pluralistic democracy through nonprofit work.

NPQ adheres to the principles it espouses. It is fueled by the energies and aspirations of those in whose name it does business, the kindness, not of strangers, but of you, our colleagues. At this time, the board would like to acknowledge a particularly important group of passionate supporters who volunteered to shepherd NPQ through its transition and continue to work vigorously on our behalf: our “Kitchen Cabinet.” They include David Brown, Lisa Chapnick, Rick Cohen, Pablo Eisenberg, Cynthia Gibson, Scott Harshbarger, Paul Light, Deborah Linnell, Bob Ottenhoff, Jon Pratt, and David Renz.

The establishment of NINA gives the Nonprofit Quarterly a new energy and the undivided attention of a board that is national and comprised of those we seek to serve. Still, the board constitutes only a part of the formal and informal mechanisms of governance that will guide NPQ in the coming years. As many of you know, our quality and accessibility rely on an editorial advisory board of regular readers as well as an editorial committee. Our financial survival will rely on the work of our business advisory and fundraising committees. All of these committees reach beyond the board to include the widest possible creativity and breadth of experience on behalf of NPQ.

As with any great undertaking—in this case, capturing and circulating (and challenging) the wisdom and lessons of our passionate sector—we are in awe of the opportunities we steward. But we will only be as effective as our readers are involved. We urge you to join this undertaking with us, as readers, supporters, and contributors. In turn, as a board, we pledge to you our best efforts to govern well and ensure the stability, quality, and growth of this unique resource for the nonprofit sector.

Bob Agres, Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, HI

Marcia Avner, (Chair), Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, MN

Lisa Chapnick, Simmons College, MA

Scott Harshbarger, Proskauer Rose LLP, MA

Maria Elena Letona, Centro Presente, MA

Deborah Linnell, Third Sector New England, MA

Wendy Puriefoy, Public Education Network, DC