The Florida Nonprofit Alliance is a statewide coalition of nonprofits focused on research, collaboration, and advocacy. The Florida Nonprofit Alliance connects and advances Florida’s nonprofit sector to create more vibrant communities across the state. Our mission is to inform, promote, and strengthen the nonprofit sector. To accomplish these aims, the Florida Nonprofit Alliance offers a central resource and referral center complete with sector data, public policy updates, advocacy tools and resources, and more. The Florida Nonprofit Alliance provides a collective voice at the state and national levels, educating elected officials and other constituents about the vital importance of Florida nonprofits. Until recently, Florida was one of sixteen states lacking a statewide nonprofit association. With more than 84,000 nonprofit organizations serving more than 21 million residents, the need for resource sharing, increased connectivity, and a collective voice became increasingly apparent. The idea to develop a statewide coalition emerged in 2009, but it wasn’t until June 2011 that an Establishing Committee was formed and formally began laying the groundwork. The Florida Nonprofit Alliance grew from a loosely organized network of nonprofit leaders engaged with major metropolitan and regional nonprofits: Catalyst Miami, the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida (Jacksonville), Nonprofits First (Boynton Beach), the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay, Rollins College Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center (Winter Park), and other organizations located within Gainesville, Naples, Sarasota, and Tallahassee. In fall 2012, the Florida Nonprofit Alliance applied for 501(c)3 status, marking a historic milestone for Florida's nonprofit sector.