How PANO Champions Nonprofit Governance & Advocacy

In this episode of The Generosity Experience, we turn the spotlight on systems-level change in the nonprofit sector. Sam Nyland welcomes Anne Gingerich, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), for a powerful conversation about infrastructure, advocacy, and why every nonprofit—no matter its size—needs a seat at the policy table.

Anne breaks down how PANO supports hundreds of organizations with board governance training, compliance updates, and a statewide help desk, while also connecting them to a national network of state associations via the National Council of Nonprofits. You’ll hear how PANO leverages Neon CRM to streamline membership, sponsorships, email campaigns, and even policy advocacy using integrations like UJoin.

Tim and Sam also look ahead to Generosity Xchange, Neon One’s annual conference, which will feature both main-stage inspiration and tech-stage application—from product strategy to volunteer management to real-world stories of nonprofits putting generosity into action.

You’ll also hear:

• Anne Gingerich explain the new 2025 Pennsylvania law requiring annual nonprofit reports—and how missing it could cost organizations their tax-exempt status.

• How PANO uses Neon CRM for everything from automating member renewals to processing sponsorship forms and tracking policy campaign engagement.

• A breakdown of how 501(c)(3)s can and should lobby for causes that matter—and why more organizations are stepping into advocacy in 2025.

• A preview of what to expect at Generosity Xchange 2025—and why it’s designed to amplify the voices of nonprofit practitioners across all stages and sectors.

Big Ideas and Takeaways

Build the Backbone PANO’s work shows how critical nonprofit infrastructure is—governance, compliance, and professional development aren’t optional extras, they’re the foundation.

Advocacy Is Not Optional Anne makes the case for proactive nonprofit lobbying and walks through how even the smallest organizations can advocate legally and effectively.

Integrated Tools, Stronger Communities The way PANO uses Neon CRM and UJoin integration offers a playbook for any membership organization looking to mobilize supporters while staying organized.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about PANO: https://pano.org

• State Association Finder via National Council of Nonprofits: https://ujoin.co/

• September 2025 Neon One Monthly Release: https://neonone.com/resources/event/neon-one-monthly-release-september-2025/

• Register for Generosity Xchange 2025: https://neonone.com/gx