GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — State Representative Leigh Davis announced today that $100,000 for the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) was included in the House-passed Massachusetts Economic Development Bond Bill (H.5562), advancing a key initiative to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for nonprofit workers. 

 

The bill passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 148–2 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

 

The funding will support the launch of the Commonwealth Benefits Collaborative, a proposed statewide health insurance initiative designed to allow nonprofit organizations to band together to purchase coverage. By pooling their purchasing power, nonprofits can access more affordable premiums, stronger plan options, more predictable renewals, and streamlined administration—benefits typically reserved for large employers. Acrisure will serve as the professional benefits aggregator, organizing the pool and negotiating with carriers, while each nonprofit retains the flexibility to determine whether participation is right for them.

 

"Nonprofits are essential to the economic and social fabric of our communities, but many struggle to offer competitive health benefits," said Representative Davis. "This investment helps level the playing field, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to support and retain their workforce while expanding access to quality, affordable care."

 

Berkshire County is home to nearly 1,200 nonprofit organizations—one of the highest concentrations per capita in Massachusetts—and the sector supports approximately one in four jobs. Despite this, many nonprofits lack the scale needed to secure affordable health insurance.

 

A key barrier to launching the Collaborative is that nonprofits currently renew their health plans at different times throughout the year. Establishing a shared January 1 start date—essential for creating a stable and competitive insurance pool—would otherwise require many employees to face "double deductibles" in a single year: once under their existing plan and again when transitioning to the new plan.

 

The proposed funding directly addresses this challenge by supporting the transition and preventing duplicate deductible costs, removing a major disincentive to participation. This targeted investment will help protect nonprofit employees from additional out-of-pocket expenses, enable broader participation at launch, and position the Collaborative for long-term sustainability.

 

Representative Davis thanked Samantha Anderson, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, for her leadership in advancing the initiative.

 

"This investment is about fairness and sustainability for the nonprofit workforce," said Samantha Anderson, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. "Nonprofits employ a significant share of our regional workforce, yet too often lack access to the same quality, affordable health benefits as larger employers. The Commonwealth Benefits Collaborative is a practical, scalable solution, and this funding removes a critical barrier to launching it in a way that protects employees and sets the model up for long-term success."

 

Aron Goldman, co-founder of Berkshire/Columbia Counties Pay Equity Coalition said, "We have documented the invisible yet existential struggles of nonprofit sector workers, and these struggles are more severe for people of color and other identity groups who have historically experienced oppression. Access to affordable healthcare is one of the biggest obstacles." 

 

Janis Martinson, Executive Director of The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center added: "When we formed the [Berkshire/Columbia Counties Pay Equity] Coalition, we believed cultural organizations could do more for their employees by working together and that local progress could model similar efforts beyond our region. This news reflects that vision in action, thanks to the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires’ collaboration and Rep. Davis’s advocacy. I applaud this significant step toward dignified compensation and fiscal stability for nonprofit employees."