Bringing together individuals, nonprofit organizations, human service agencies, corporations, and government entities is at the core of Massachusetts Service Alliance’s mission.  By doing so, MSA is able to promote new networks, facilitate the creation of new program models and ideas, and catalyze the sharing of resources and expertise.

MSA's convening work happens at the intersection of its investing, capacity building, and advocacy strategies.  Some recent examples include:

Program Director Meetings
MSA regularly hosts events and meetings for Program Directors from each of MSA’s funding streams to share information from the field, provide grant-related training, and to facilitate networking and shared learning. 

Capacity building workshops
From time to time MSA offers high-quality, affordable workshops on topics relating to nonprofit and volunteer management. Past topics include board development, resource development, fiscal and grants management, and specialized workshops on working with targeted volunteer populations such as Baby Boomers or children and youth. Workshops are designed around the learning needs of MSA's grantees and, when funding permits, other service and volunteer programs across Massachusetts.

Community Service-Learning Partnership Initiative
MSA partners with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on the Community Service-Learning Partnership Initiative. The initiative is designed to strengthen and facilitate partnerships between schools and local community organizations in order to give young people leadership opportunities that empower them to make positive changes in their communities while enriching their academic life.

Conferences
MSA partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in May 2008 to co-sponsor the annual Statewide Community Service-Learning Conference for K-12 educators, students and community partners.  MSA convened a Massachusetts Conference on Service and Volunteerism in 2001, 2003 and 2005, and is beginning the planning process for 2009. 

Connect & Serve
Connect and Serve is a free volunteer web portal developed by MSA in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to promote volunteerism statewide. The Connect and Serve website is a valuable resource for organizations who wish to recruit volunteers and for individuals who wish to find fulfilling volunteer opportunities. Visit Connect and Serve at mass.gov/connectandserve.