Columbus Action Network

The Columbus Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (CYNPN) is a local community of nonprofit staffers, volunteers, board members and philanthropists promoting the professional development of passionate new leaders by:

• organizing social events to facilitate the development of a professional network;
• offering professional development workshops to acquire relevant skills and valuable knowledge; and,
• distributing important news and events to keep our members informed of community happenings.
• We are a member-driven organization run completely by volunteers.

Click here to visit the CYNPN project Website

Click here to sign-up to be a member contact us to join our Team

Columbus lacks a true networking group that allows individuals in the nonprofit sector to connect with one another, share ideas and provides professional development. The few social networking organizations that do exist has low turn-out rates and do not provide resources outside of the physical meetings.

Founded in 2010, the Columbus Young Nonprofit Professionals Network is a regional association that engages and supports its members’ professional and leadership development. CYNPN believes that its members’ growth and development can play a critical role in the success of the nonprofit community, and promotes this important work by:

• Providing educational workshops, and other personal and professional resources that promote the career development of its members
• Offering networking opportunities and social events to encourage information sharing and relationships among its members
• Creating a mentoring program to encourage and cultivate future nonprofit leaders

History:

CYNPN is a chapter of the nationwide organization: YOUNG NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL NETWORK.

Formed in 1997 as a project of the Support Center for Nonprofit Management in San Francisco, the organization’s efforts are empowering others, all over the country, to start local YNPN networks to support young, nonprofit leaders. A volunteer-led, grass-roots group, YNPN seeks to provide networking peer group and job seeking support to young adults affiliated with the nonprofit sector. Though YNPN welcomes all ages, most of its members are in their 20′s and 30′s or are transitioning into the nonprofit sector.

Program:
Our core tool is a email distribution list which allows our members (non-profit employees across the city) to share events, ideas, and request resources on demand. CYNPN now operates an email list of approximately 4,500 subscribers, through which CYNPN members exchange information and referrals on nonprofit consultants and software, learn about special events and workshops, post and receive job announcements, and share ideas on issues facing the sector. In addition, CYNPN hosts networking happy hours, group volunteer projects, and a wide range of career development workshops and panels for its members. As forums for discussion, networking and information-sharing, these events are invaluable in providing a supportive atmosphere for members to make valuable connections for the future.

Sustainability:
CYNPN is a program of the Columbus Action Network. The program is supported by individual contributions. The cost of this program is minimal (less than $1,000 per year); the funding will be used for initial launch of the organization and basic services to market to nonprofits.