Membership Benefits - MACDC - Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations

MACDC Membership Benefits

MACDC is the public policy and capacity-building arm of the community development movement in Massachusetts. We currently have over 80 members, including both community development corporations and other community-based non-profits. While only CDCs can participate in the governance of the organization, other non-profits can join MACDC as an associate member and receive most of the same benefits available to CDCs.

Public Policy Advocacy

MACDC works on a full range of community economic development policy issues, including affordable housing, commercial development, small business development, workforce development and community investment policies. We regularly seek input and guidance from our members about these policy efforts and engage our members in pushing for their adoption. Our members receive regular updates and alerts. MACDC advocacy achievements include:

- We helped to pass major anti-foreclosure legislation that provides new protections for homeowners, new regulations for lenders and new resources for community based groups.
- We secured $2.75 million in new funding for community based small business development programs over the past two years.
- We helped win a 100% increase in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in FY 2008, with $40 million available for affordable housing developments.
- We secured $3 million in capacity building grants for non profits from MHP over the past three years and we expect to secure at least that much for the next three years.
- MACDC partnered with CHAPA to publish a major new study on successful revitalization strategies for smaller cities. The report is providing the basis for new advocacy efforts focused on strengthening our state’s cities.

Private Sector Linkages

Our members participate in MACDC’s efforts to build linkages with banks, insurance companies, universities, foundations, financial intermediaries and other private sector partners. These efforts not only allow members to shape the environment in which they work, but also helps them learn about resources that may be available to their organizations, and to establish relationships with new allies. MACDC and CDC representatives serve on boards for LISC, CDFC, CEDAC, MHIC, BCC, Mass. Non Profit Network, Boston Foundation Housing Advisory Committee, Massachusetts Asset Development Commission, the Massachusetts Small Business Development Advisory Council and other organizations.

Networking and Collegial Support

Through MACDC's committees, peer groups, list serves, and events, members can meet their peers at other organizations and identify opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, and support. More than 200 CDC staff participated in these learning activities in FY 2007. Current peer groups (staff contact):

Housing /Real Estate development (Don Bianchi),
Small Business development (Chris Harris),
Youth Development (Shirronda Almeida),
Organizers Network(Pam Bender)
Boston CDCs (Joe Kriesberg), and
CDCs from small cities (Joe Kriesberg).

Conferences, Trainings and Events

MACDC regularly hosts training and forums, responding to our members needs, on topics such as legislative advocacy, housing, economic development, community organizing, small cities revitalization and sustainable development.

Leadership Breakfast - We host this event in the fall to thank our funders and present awards to outstanding public and private sector leaders.

Convention and Annual Meeting - Each fall we host an annual membership meeting. Every other year we host larger Convention. October 2006 we held our third biennial convention with over 700 people in attendance.

SAVE THE DATE November 15, 2008

Legislative Action Day - Each spring we bring hundreds of our members and their leaders, staff and allies at the State House to advocate for our state policy priorities. This year, join us on March 27, 2008 at the state house.

Linkages to State and National Coalitions

Members are linked to national and statewide coalitions, including:

National Association of Community Economic Development Associations (NACEDA) - our members will receive complimentary membership.
The Massachusetts Non-Profit Network
NeighborWorks America
Massachusetts Workforce Alliance (MWA)
The Smart Growth Alliance
The Building Blocks Coalition

Technical Assistance

MACDC staff is available for direct technical assistance in a number of areas, including affordable housing development, the Community Reinvestment Act, economic development, fundraising, organizational management, executive director transitions, and crisis management. We can also link you to other professionals who can provide more intensive assistance.

Publications

MACDC members receive free copies of all MACDC publications such as our GOALs Initiative report, the Journal of Community Power Building, and our various policy papers and briefs.

Job Clearinghouse

Post your current job openings and internships on the MACDC website, offering an effective means to attract qualified candidates. Please send all job postings to webpostings@macdc.org

Specialized Programs and Initiatives

Green CDC Initiative

MACDC collaborates with the New Ecology Inc, the Tellus Institute, LISC to offer training, and Boston Community Capital technical assistance and access to funding for CDCs pursuing environmentally sound development projects. We recently launched the Green Building Production Network that provides over $250,000 in grant funding and millions of dollars in discounted financing to five CDCs undertaking large scale green projects.

The Alliance: Advancing Community Development by Confronting Racism

The Alliance is a coalition of over 30 organizations from the community development field working to increase the diversity of our organizations. The coalition serves as a forum for learning and dialogue on how to overcome institutional racism; hosts the Community Development Mentoring Program and recently completed a manual for the Recruitment, Hiring and Retention of professionals of color in community development.

Commonwealth Workforce Coalition

Through this coalition, MACDC offers formalized training and networking opportunities for staff who work on job training and adult education programs.

Group Sponsored Insurance Program

We offer our members a group sponsored insurance program, which provides specialized property and casualty insurance products at a discounted price. This program offers a full range of insurance products.

Files

MACDC-Member-Benefits-08.pdf