One Nonprofit.
One Mission.

The story of State of the Nonprofit Community began in 1999 when Multiplying Talents International was founded by Aretha Simons, a Navy Veteran, nonprofit founder, consultant, educator, and advocate for community-based organizations.

Like many nonprofit founders, Aretha started with a mission to serve others. Along the way, she discovered that countless grassroots leaders shared the same passion but lacked access to the training, tools, and guidance needed to build sustainable organizations.

What started as a simple desire to help soon became a calling. Through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one support, Aretha began teaching nonprofit leaders how to establish nonprofit corporations, write grants, build boards, and strengthen their organizations.

By 2003, Aretha had donated more than $10,000 in charitable consulting services, helping organizations prepare documents, understand the nonprofit process, and navigate the journey toward becoming recognized charitable organizations.

As more organizations received their 501(c)(3) status, a new challenge emerged. The questions never stopped — "Where do we go from here?" "How do we find funding?" "How do we build a board?" "What should we do next?"

It became clear that obtaining nonprofit status was only the beginning. Organizations needed ongoing support, practical training, and a community they could rely on.

In 2004, Multiplying Talents expanded its services to meet the growing demand for nonprofit education and consulting. Then, in 2008, a new vision emerged.

Rather than helping organizations one at a time, Aretha launched the Certified Nonprofit Consultant program to train others to serve the nonprofit sector. The goal was simple: multiply the impact. Consultants were trained to provide guidance, education, and support to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States.

As a result, approximately 100 new nonprofit organizations were formed in 2009 alone.

Between 2010 and 2014, the work continued to expand. More than 500 nonprofit clients were served. More than 5,000 individuals attended workshops and training programs.

Aretha spoke nationally for organizations and events including SCORE, the United States Department of Labor, Bishop T.D. Jakes International Pastors & Leaders Conference, colleges, universities, chambers of commerce, and nonprofit organizations across the country.

Through these experiences, one reality became increasingly clear: the nonprofit sector is one of the most powerful forces for community transformation, yet many organizations continue to face challenges related to funding, leadership, board development, strategic planning, volunteer recruitment, and organizational sustainability.

As the nonprofit landscape evolved, so did the challenges. Technology accelerated. Digital fundraising emerged. Artificial intelligence entered the workplace. Nonprofit leaders found themselves navigating a rapidly changing environment while continuing to address growing community needs.

Today, Aretha serves as a Webinar Producer for TechSoup Global, helping facilitate educational programs that reach thousands of nonprofit professionals worldwide. Working alongside leading technology companies, nonprofit experts, and sector leaders has reinforced a belief she first discovered years ago:

Nonprofits do not simply need more information. They need connection. They need community. They need practical solutions. They need a place where nonprofit leaders can learn from one another.

That belief led to the relaunch of State of the Nonprofit Community. What began as a vision years ago has evolved into a growing movement designed to bring nonprofit leaders together through quarterly summits, educational programs, leadership development, networking opportunities, practical resources, and community collaboration.

Our mission remains the same: helping nonprofit leaders stop guessing, start planning, and get to work.

The future of the nonprofit sector will be shaped by leaders who are willing to learn, adapt, collaborate, and take action. State of the Nonprofit Community exists to support those leaders — whether you are launching a nonprofit, leading an established organization, serving on a board, writing grants, managing volunteers, exploring technology, or seeking new solutions.