Nonprofits Invited to Combined Resource Fair

10:37AM / Thursday, October 23, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) is hosting a Nonprofit Resource Fair at the Berkshire Innovation Center on Monday, Oct. 27 from noon to 4pm.

Sponsored by Berkshire Funding Focus, CORE 401(k) Program, and Lamar Advertising, this free networking event features a broad range of vendors and two "Meet the Donors" panels.

Over thirty vendors will table on the ground floor of the BIC including: 1Berkshire Berkshire Leadership Program, Acrisure, Adirondack Payroll Services , Berkshire Funding Focus, Cartlann Digital, Community Television of the Southern Berkshires, Convivo LLC, CORE 401K, Impact Hacker, Jillian J Events, Little Green Light, Liz Albert Strategic Fundraising, MassDevelopment, Miss Hall's Horizons Program, Mountain Magnolia Marketing, Northern Berkshire Community Television, Only In My Dreams Events LLC, Precision Bookkeeping by Coral, Randall Trophies LLC, Red Ball Promotions, Roger Magnus Research, S Brown Consulting LLC, SMS Consulting, Southern Berkshire Shopper's Guide/The Berkshire Eagle, The Love of T Foundation Inc., Tiffany Thibodeau Consulting, Tricia McCormack Photography, TSNE (Third Sector New England), Woodlife Farm Market and Wright Collective.

"We're excited to expand this event and expect a good turnout because of the combined offerings of the resource fair and "Meet the Donors," said Liana Toscanini, founder of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires.

In the Berkshire Innovation Center auditorium nonprofit attendees will have the opportunity to meet Massachusetts funders including Mass Cultural Council, MassCollab, MassDevelopment, Sincere Foundation, and The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. At 3pm, Berkshire Funders take the stage including: Adams Community Bank, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Jewish Women's Foundation, Lee Bank, Milltown Foundation, MountainOne and NBT Bank. The audience will hear directly from funders about philanthropy trends, funding focus and guidelines, and tips for applying.

Nonprofits can network with service providers, funders and each other, walking away with useful information and valuable connections. While the Nonprofit Resource Fair is targeted to nonprofits, anyone can attend and walk-ins are welcome. The fee is $20. Those that register in advance will be eligible to win door prizes. To register, visit https://npcberkshires.org/product/nonprofit-resource-fair-meet-the-donors/

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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