Walpole Nonprofits and Charities

As someone who has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years, I feel a responsibility to share our experience with NOPI so that other organizations can make informed decisions.<br><br>When we entered into fiscal sponsorship with NOPI, we were upfront about our goal to secure 501(c)(3) status as quickly as possible. We were hopeful for a partnership that would offer stability, professionalism, and support. Unfortunately, that’s not what we received.<br><br>Here are just some of the issues we encountered:<br> • Double-charged administrative fees — 50% of our grants were overcharged, resulting in NOPI taking thousands of dollars more than agreed upon. Our team had to identify and correct these errors repeatedly, with no clear explanation or accountability from NOPI.<br> • Blank financial reports — We were sent multiple reports as blank Excel sheets, even while over $100,000 of our funds were being held.<br> • Unannounced daily spending limits — We were never informed about these limits and only discovered them after transactions failed. This meant we didn’t have access to our own funds when needed and had to pay out of our personal accounts just to keep things running.<br> • Delayed vendor payments — Because NOPI managed our disbursements, we had no choice but to rely on them to pay our vendors. Several vendors waited more than six weeks to be paid, damaging our relationships and credibility.<br> • Frequent operational disruptions — Cancelled office hours, multiple financial platform changes, and inconsistent communication created ongoing delays and confusion for our small team.<br> • Lack of mutual accountability — While NOPI enforced all aspects of the contract on our end, they did not uphold the same standard themselves. Several of their own responsibilities were either not met or changed without notice.<br> • Loss of Instrumentl access — Access to Instrumentl, a grant-searching platform we could not afford independently and one of the main reasons we chose NOPI, was changed or revoked without notice—cutting us off from a tool critical to our growth.<br><br>Despite all this, when we formally requested that NOPI waive the final $5,000 administrative fee—given their acknowledgment that actual admin costs were minimal and the significant imbalance in services provided—they declined.<br><br>When we returned and asked again for them to make things right, they did agree to reimburse $2,500, which we genuinely appreciated. However, that amount is a small fraction of what we believe we were owed—especially considering that we did not receive valuable support from this partnership. Instead, we feel that NOPI took advantage of our organization and, by extension, took from the very clients we serve—cancer patients who are already struggling with mental health challenges.<br><br>In my consulting work, at least five organizations have asked about fiscal sponsorship with NOPI. I’ve shared this experience honestly and have advised each of them to look elsewhere. I would never work with NOPI again.<br><br>There are more cost-effective, more professional, and more compassionate ways to launch a nonprofit. I truly hope others don’t have to go through what we did.

A wonderful group that I have been part of for over 30 years, starting as a teenager acting in productions and moving to direct, produce and continuing to volunteer designing costumes and makeup. WCT has been giving kids a valuable experience in theatre arts and fostering friendships that last a lifetime. Currently, WCT brings two shows a season to the community and prides itself on quality productions in every aspect, from sets, lighting, costumes and makeup and the FANTASTIC kids who become part of the history of this group. Group has given back offering a small scholarship to deserving WHS graduates. Run completely by volunteers who grew up in the organization, along with parents and kids. Voted Walpole's Organization of the Year in 2015.

I am a season subscriber to the Walpole Footlighters. Last week I saw "The Foreigner," a comedy by Larry Shue. It was absolutely outstandinging! It was very funny! The actors were superb! The theater is very intimate and comfortable. There is plenty of parking. They perform 3 shows per season, one of which is usually a musical, and I always look forward to each show!