
NAMC History The Nonprofit Alliance of Monterey County (NAMC) began as a response to financial and political upheavals that began in 2001. In 2003 Elsa Quezada, Ricky Mazzullo and Joe Grainger formed a group for ongoing discussions and planning related to their concerns about the impact of state and local budget cuts, loss of critical services, and decreased funding from all sources, on the quality of life in our local communities. From these discussions, NAMC was formed, guided by a Core Leadership group of nonprofit leaders and local funders. In 2004 a survey provided information about the needs of local non-profits and the developing group affiliated with the ACTION Council to provide a fiscal, 501 (c) (3) sponsor. In 2005, the Harden Foundation funded an Economic Impact survey that showed the nonprofit sector to be a major employer in Monterey County. NAMC instituted events, including brown bag lunches, socials and conferences, and the first in a series of Cultural Competency conference was held. With the addition of a paid staff member in 2007, NAMC has continued its central tasks of providing educational workshops and legislative updates, networking non-profit and public agencies and outreach to elected officials to advocate for the nonprofit community. In 2008 an Initiative was created as a partnership between nonprofits and public agencies to improve service delivery across social, cultural and economic lines. A Blue Ribbon Panel of nonprofit and public agency leaders created a mission and vision and provided guidance and input for a strategic plan. Currently, Diversity & Social Equity is NAMC's central project.

NAMC History

The Nonprofit Alliance of Monterey County (NAMC) began as a response to financial and political upheavals that began in 2001. In 2003 Elsa Quezada, Ricky Mazzullo and Joe Grainger formed a group for ongoing discussions and planning related to their concerns about the impact of state and local budget cuts, loss of critical services, and decreased funding from all sources, on the quality of life in our local communities. From these discussions, NAMC was formed, guided by a Core Leadership group of nonprofit leaders and local funders.

In 2004 a survey provided information about the needs of local non-profits and the developing group affiliated with the ACTION Council to provide a fiscal, 501 (c) (3) sponsor. In 2005, the Harden Foundation funded an Economic Impact survey that showed the nonprofit sector to be a major employer in Monterey County. NAMC instituted events, including brown bag lunches, socials and conferences, and the first in a series of Cultural Competency conference was held.

With the addition of a paid staff member in 2007, NAMC has continued its central tasks of providing educational workshops and legislative updates, networking non-profit and public agencies and outreach to elected officials to advocate for the nonprofit community. In 2008 an Initiative was created as a partnership between nonprofits and public agencies to improve service delivery across social, cultural and economic lines. A Blue Ribbon Panel of nonprofit and public agency leaders created a mission and vision and provided guidance and input for a strategic plan. Currently, Diversity & Social Equity is NAMC's central project.