Frequently Asked Questions

What is Third Sector New England?
Third Sector New England (TSNE) is a non-profit organization (501[c]3), providing capacity building programs and services to organizations in New England and New York (for fiscal sponsorship), and providing resources, best practices and field-building support nationwide.

What programs and services are offered by TSNE?
Our programs and services range from executive transition and search to management consulting and to grantmaking to foster diversity and capacity building. Our unique blend of capacity building services are grounded in the belief that non-profit organizations are key players in creating and maintaining cohesive communities.  

What are the origins of TSNE?
TSNE was founded in 1959 as the Massachusetts Health Research Institute (MHRI) to provide financial and administrative services to community-based public health projects and research laboratories. In 1998, the MHRI board of directors changed the organization’s name to Third Sector New England and continued to further expand its mission.

What are the benefits of working with TSNE, and who do we strive to support?
Third Sector New England offers a unique blend of capacity building programs and services designed to help nonprofits be their most effective. We work with nonprofits of all sizes within the region, and we bring a special focus, commitment and years of experience to serving the needs of small to medium size organizations working to build  inclusive, just communities.

Does TSNE charge a fee for its services?
Some of our programs, like the Bottom Line training series, do not charge a fee, while other services are priced significantly below those charged by for-profit businesses, and even some larger non-profit organizations. Still other programs provide small grants for individual organizations working to improve staff and board diversity and inclusion and capacity building non-profit networks.

Does TSNE help people create new non-profit organizations?
While TSNE works with established nonprofits and fiscally-sponsored projects, our online resource includes a section on starting a nonprofit. We also help groups explore fiscal sponsorship as a viable, cost-effective way for staff to focus on building their programs and serving constituents – and not be diverted from this focus by administrative and fiscal tasks.

What is Fiscal Sponsorship?
Fiscal sponsorship is an affiliation between an unincorporated group or project and a 501(c)3 non-profit organization like Third Sector New England that provides such groups or projects with the benefits of tax-exempt status. This type of dynamic partnership is successful when both parties have a shared or similar mission.

Where is TSNE located?
Third Sector New England is located in the TSNE NonProfit Center at 89 South Street, Boston, Mass., just one block from the major transportation hub South Station. The center, which TSNE developed in 2004, has the distinction of being on the National Register of Historic Places and being a “green” building with LEED certification. Directions on this website will get visitors here from all points.  

Does TSNE have a program to help new or established non-profit organizations fundraise?
While Third Sector New England does not have a program in fundraising, we do offer training in this area. And our Consulting Program may be able to assist a non-profit organization in finding just the right consultant  with a track record in helping nonprofits of the same size and with a similar mission create or supplement a successful fund development program.

What is the criteria for co-locating at the NonProfit Center?
With more than 30 nonprofits located, or co-located, at the center, available office space is filled nearly to capacity. Organizations that have become part of the center community must be not-for-profit, interested in working in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation and working for social change. 

While office space is currently limited, the center provides meeting space with a host of amenities to nonprofits within the region.

Why did TSNE create the NonProfit Center?
The NonProfit Center, one of the largest multi-tenant non-profit buildings in the Untied States, was developed to provide tenants with affordable, comfortable office space – in a healthy “green” environment. Sharing a building with other nonprofits gives tenants the opportunity to collaborate and work together. Numerous easy access meeting rooms provide tenants with state-of-the-art communications technology. In addition, indoor bike racks and recycling give tenants the ability to practice sustainable living.

 

50 Years of
Nonprofit Support

Third Sector New England’s roots can be traced back to the Massachusetts Health Research Institute (MHRI). Leaders from the medical, public health, and business communities founded MHRI in 1959 to provide financial and administrative services to community-based public health projects and research laboratories.

During the mid-1990’s extensive conversations both within the organization and with constituents in the community resulted in an expanded vision. Building on 4 decades of experience and service to the non-profit community, we created a new mission and changed our name to Third Sector New England in 1998.

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