My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been involved with the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 2011, when I attended their Buffalo conference (it is my adopted hometown). I came into the conference as a New York State scholarship recipient, and learned a great deal in three days about the nature of preservation, the tools at the disposal of those involved, and the people in leadership who could mentor and support newly-involved preservationists. It was a wonderful entree into this world, and I was welcomed with open arms.
A year later, the Trust was asking me and three others to speak on our experiences as "DIY" preservationists, most who had no formal training but whose work incorporated preservation, intentionally or not. My unique perspective was not only heard, but valued. I felt as though this large, nationally-recognized organization was really paying attention to the people on the ground, across the country, who wanted to change the way we think about historic places of community importance.
Eventually, I was asked to come on as a formal Advisor to the Trust, and I've participated in many conference calls and in-person meetings since. What I've seen is a highly attuned and deeply involved group of people, working hard to update their structures and methods so as to accommodate new ways of thinking and organizing. While this is admittedly hard to do with a large 50-year-old nonprofit, I think they've done admirably well. There is evidence of progressive thinking, adaptability and a deep motivation to keep the organization relevant as the tides change. The greatest strength of the National Trust for Historic Preservation are the people involved, who work tirelessly to engage with new and broader audiences, and learning the ways in which they can be most effective.
Fiscally, though I am not privy to all the financials of the organization, I know that it is lean, and works hard with few resources. This is not a wasteful group- they get the most out of every meeting, trip, and interaction. They try hard to trim where they can, and understand the importance of leveraging their non-monetary assets. I am proud to be a part of this longstanding and highly respected organization.