About the Conference
Each year, the MCN Annual Conference convenes one of the largest gatherings of nonprofit professionals in the state. The day-long event includes an engaging keynote session, a wide selection of workshops and expert roundtables, networking opportunities, and the presentation of our Lifetime Achievement Awards.
2024 Event
The 2024 Conference, titled “Building the Future” took place at the DCU Center in Worcester on October 24.
Keynote Speakers
Joyce and Bill Cummings
The Cummings FoundationThe 202 keynote speakers were Joyce and Bill Cummings of the Cummings Foundation. After realizing their joint desire to give back, the Winchester, Massachusetts couple started a foundation out of their thriving commercial real estate firm. Now one of the largest private foundations in New England, Woburn-based Cummings Foundation has awarded $500 million in grants to Greater Boston nonprofits alone. MCN invited Joyce and Bill to speak about their foundation’s giving philosophy, their grant programs, and democratizing philanthropy. Learn more about the speakers here.
All MCN Conference attendees received a free copy of the newest edition of Bill’s memoir, Starting Small and Making It Big, at the event. More information about the book can be found here.
Workshops and Expert Roundtables
The MCN team received a wide variety of outstanding proposal submissions from a diverse group of experienced professionals. Click here to view the 2024 list of workshops, as well as expert roundtables, where presenters share their expertise in an interactive small-group format.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
As part of the Annual Conference, MCN presents Lifetime Achievement Awards to individuals who have rendered outstanding service to Massachusetts nonprofits and the people they serve. This ceremony is always a highlight of our event.
We were honored to recognize our 2025 award recipients: Janis Martinson, Executive Director of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, and Clark Ziegler, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership.
Evelyn Friedman
Former Executive Director and CEO, Greater Lawrence Community Action Council- Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
- Lawrence, MA
Evelyn Friedman joined the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council Inc. as the executive director in September of 2012, and retired in October of 2023. During that time, she transformed an agency with multiple challenges into one of the most effective Community Action Agencies in the state by stabilizing its programming and finances, while adding a variety of new programs to meet the community’s needs. Under her leadership, GLCAC provided vital leadership during the Lawrence gas crisis, developed greatly-needed affordable housing, and rebuilt a multimillion-dollar childcare center.
With over 30 years of strong nonprofit management experience, Evelyn has played catalytic roles in transforming challenged organizations. Prior to joining GLCAC, she was the director of the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, and chief of housing under then-Mayor Thomas M. Menino. From 1990 to 2008, Evelyn was the executive director of Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation, an organization devoted to enhancing the physical, economic, and social well-being of Roxbury and other underserved populations in Greater Boston. While there, she transformed the once-failing agency into one of the premier community development corporations in the region.
Robert Gittens
Former Executive Director, Bridges Homeward- Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
- Cambridge, MA
Robert Gittens is the former executive director of Bridges Homeward. During his time there, Bob led the organization through some of the most trying times, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Bob’s biggest contribution to Bridges Homeward was his initiative to embed permanency-informed social work practice into all of the programs. In 2017, Bob began guiding the development of their permanency practice. Because of his leadership, the agency remains an active leader in the Massachusetts Permanency Practice Alliance.
Before Bridges Homeward, Bob served as Vice President for Public Affairs at Northeastern University. He served the Commonwealth in many capacities, as chairman of the Parole Board, Cabinet Secretary at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and more. Bob has also served as a board member of numerous organizations including the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, Judge Baker Children’s Center, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Red Cross of Massachusetts and Goodwill Industries.
See Photos From the Event
