Strengthening Rural Nonprofits through Shared Services and Collaborations: A Capacity-Building Partnership

One-in-five Vermont workers are employed by the 6,400 nonprofit organizations in the state. They generate more than $9 billion in revenue annually – nearly 20% of the State’s gross state product (more than the manufacturing and construction industries combined). These nonprofits intersect with Vermonters’ lives every day, whether they are visiting a nonprofit hospital, attending a service at a place of worship, exercising our right to vote – protected by a nonprofit, or receiving mental health or substance use services. This sector is vital to our quality of life and is a driving economic force. It is the intent of the Co-Lab project to innovate and invest time and resources to continue this work into the future.

Common Good Vermont (CGVT), the University of Vermont’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program, and Leaves of Change are partnering to explore a Nonprofit Resource Sharing Learning Lab, called “Co-Lab”, a statewide initiative to strengthen Vermont’s nonprofit sector through sustainable collaboration, shared services, and leadership development. This project bridges academic learning with nonprofit practice to address resource scarcity, demographic shifts, and growing service demands, especially in rural communities.

This project supports a partnership between: Common Good Vermont (CGVT), the University of Vermont’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program, and Leaves of Change, and engages UVM graduate students through coursework and internship opportunities.