History
The Association of Nonprofit Specialists (ANS) grew out of the New York Technical Assistance Providers Network (NYTAP), formed as an unincorporated association in 1993 by representatives of several nonprofit management service organizations that provided training and consulting to other nonprofits.
NYTAP founders and early members included Folkworks (now Cause Effective), whose then ED became NYTAP’s first president, Community Resource Exchange, the Foundation Center (now Candid), Nonprofit Finance Fund, The Support Center for Nonprofit Management (now
Support Center), Lawyers Alliance for New York, the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (now Nonprofit New York) and NYU’s Milano School. Initially, NYTAP was intended to encourage collaboration and learning among leaders of nonprofit capacity building organizations, but it drew increasing interest from consultants, who were admitted as associate members. Representatives of foundations and the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers also participated.
In addition to formal bimonthly meetings with speakers focused on key issues in capacity building, NYTAP sponsored public symposia with authors Barbara Blumenthal and Paul Light. It worked with the Community Service Society to produce a print Technical Assistance Guide, and later consulted with Bailey House on the production of an early database of capacity builders.
Over time, competing priorities, changing membership, and the difficulty in recruiting new leadership made the original labor-intensive model unsustainable. After a long hiatus, a small group of former members and other consultants revived the organization in 2009, creating new bylaws, a board, and an advisory group. It remained unincorporated and without a membership program while continuing to offer public programs and build strategic alliances. Meeting space and administrative services were provided by Support Center. In the following years, the board began rethinking the organization’s purpose and started shifting its focus to more purposefully support consultants.
In 2011-2012 it developed the prototype for its signature program, the Nonprofit Consultants Institute, officially launched in 2013. In 2012, networking events for consultants were introduced and the Association began its program partnership with the Foundation Center. In 2013, NYTAP was formally rebranded as the Association of Nonprofit Specialists (ANS). In 2014-15 the Association applied for and was given 501(c)3 status by the IRS and is currently registered as a nonprofit organization with New York State.
Having moved its meetings from Support Center to Cause Effective, ANS hired its first administrative consultants in 2015 and its first grant was secured in 2015. The first newsletter was launched in February 2017. With a view to sustainability, the Association introduced a new tiered membership program in December 2017. To assist less experienced members and to encourage member engagement, a Peer Advising program was initiated in 2018, followed in 2019 by a Brown Bag Lunch series.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all programming moved online from March 2020 through June 2022. The frequency of program offerings increased during this timeframe, as did the number of members located outside of the Metro NYC area. Offerings also expanded to include a monthly Consultants Circle for members to gather and discuss business matters, and a quarterly Strategic Planning Circle for those interested in that specialty. Additionally, members were offered new opportunities to showcase their work and support the sector through the creation of the Consultants Clinic, where experts are paired with nonprofits to provide one hour of consulting advice in a small group setting, and expanded partnerships with Candid and Nonprofit New York that allow members to present workshops to their network.
Throughout this time, the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion prompted multiple events exploring the topic, internal board trainings, refinement of organizational goals, and increased diversity of both the board and member network. The mission of the organization was also revised, and new vision and values statements were created in late 2020.
The Board developed a three-year strategic plan for 2023-2025, focusing on developing greater value to our members and nonprofit specialists; growing membership, equity, and access; and strengthening operational capacity. In 2026, the Association began implementing its next three-year plan: elevate our value to nonprofit consultants; strengthen and expand strategic partnerships; build a strong, sustainable organizational infrastructure.
By 2025, the monthly online Consultant Circles were firmly established. Additionally, a variety of specialty Circles were also developed by volunteer members, and meet bi-monthly or quarterly. Other events include 4-6 in-person NYC-based gatherings and 2-3 online educational events per year, often run in collaboration with partner organizations. The Peer-Advising Program evolved into MemberMatch, a six-week session held twice a year where members support each other as accountability partners. The two-day Consultants Institute continues to be a major annual program offered by the Association since 2013, and will receive another thorough update for Spring 2026.
The Association of Nonprofit Specialists currently represents a wide cross-section of consultants and capacity building organizations supporting the nonprofit sector. Its members provide expertise in governance, fundraising, finance, technology, marketing and communication, strategic planning, evaluation and other aspects of nonprofit management. The Association focuses its efforts on the NYC Metro area and welcomes all consultants/specialists who work with the nonprofit sector nationally. The work of the board and its committees is increasingly member-focused, with a continued eye toward the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
