Nonprofits in the Northern Mariana Islands have long contributed to the social and cultural fabric of our islands. What is gaining broader recognition today is their growing role in community stability and economic resilience. As public needs expand and operating environments become more complex, the nonprofit sector — which participates in local economic activity much like small businesses — is becoming an essential partner in the CNMI’s economic and social landscape.
MANGO, the Marianas Alliance of Non-Governmental Organizations, has spent recent years building the systems and structures that allow this sector to function with greater clarity and coordination. With its new membership framework, the early launch of a nonprofit data portal, expanded training opportunities, and a structured series of sector convenings in 2026, the CNMI now has tools that have not existed before. These developments strengthen nonprofits, improve collaboration, and benefit the islands’ broader economic and community goals.
For business leaders, policymakers, philanthropic partners, and regional observers, these changes signal a sector preparing to operate with greater alignment and long-term relevance.
A membership structure that supports sustainable growth
The CNMI’s nonprofit landscape is diverse — ranging from long-standing service providers to emerging community groups. MANGO’s new membership structure reflects that diversity. Instead of a single standard, membership is built around engagement and transparency: completing organizational profiles, participating in training, sharing governance documentation, and contributing program information to the data portal as it develops.
Members gain access to tools that strengthen internal capacity: use of MANGO’s Resource Room, discounted training, project development guidance, compliance consultations, visibility opportunities, and access to the evolving data portal. Higher tiers offer expanded workshop access and additional organizational visibility. The aim is to help nonprofits strengthen their internal operations while contributing to a more aligned and reliable sector.
Building visibility through shared data
MANGO is building the CNMI’s first shared nonprofit data system, beginning with a data portal that will continue evolving as more organizations contribute their information. MANGO’s Member Data Portal is still in its early phase, but its long-term value is clear. As organizations begin entering basic information about their programs and activities, a clearer picture of nonprofit work will emerge across the commonwealth.
Over time, the system will support planning, identify service gaps, improve grant readiness, and align nonprofit activity with territorial priorities — including the CNMI’s Green Growth Goals and the global Sustainable Development Goals. For public agencies, businesses, and philanthropic partners, this visibility will create more reliable pathways for collaboration and investment.
Expanding training and professional development
MANGO has offered workshops for many years through its Lemmai/Mei nonprofit incubator. This year, however, the training menu expands significantly. New sessions on data readiness, Sustainable Development Goals alignment, storytelling, compliance, and project planning will complement existing incubator modules. The result is a more consistent and comprehensive learning schedule for nonprofit organizations.
This expansion supports stronger internal systems across the sector, which in turn benefits partners who rely on nonprofits to deliver services or implement projects.
A coordinated sector dialogue in 2026
Beginning in January, MANGO will host the CNMI’s first coordinated series of nonprofit sector convenings. These structured discussions will run through September and create a working group that brings nonprofit leaders together to examine priorities, challenges, and emerging data.
This effort represents the first sustained, sector-wide engagement of its kind in the CNMI. Its purpose is straightforward: to align work more effectively, strengthen communication, and improve the conditions that shape nonprofit operations. For the wider public and private sectors, the convenings will help create a clearer picture of nonprofit activity and support more effective cross-sector collaboration.
Partnerships that strengthen the ecosystem
MANGO also contributes nonprofit perspectives to broader planning conversations. This includes participation in the CNMI Green Growth Initiative, the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers Economic Diversity Committee, and the regional Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations network. These relationships help ensure that nonprofit insight is reflected in the commonwealth’s long-term planning and development discussions.
In addition, MANGO is collaborating with the Northern Marianas College Community Development Institute on training pathways that strengthen the nonprofit workforce and support the CNMI’s broader capacity-building efforts.
MANGO also engages with national networks such as Independent Sector, the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, and the National Council of Nonprofits, connecting the CNMI’s nonprofit sector to wider industry knowledge.
Why this moment matters
A stronger nonprofit sector contributes to a stronger commonwealth. When nonprofits have access to coordinated support — training, membership services, shared data, and structured engagement — they operate more effectively and partner more reliably with government agencies and private organizations.
MANGO’s initiatives represent an investment in the conditions that allow nonprofits to do their best work. When nonprofits function well, the broader community benefits. They reduce pressure on public systems, support workforce readiness, strengthen social cohesion, and help create an economic environment where collaborative solutions are practical and sustainable.
This is more than organizational development. It is a step toward a more coordinated and resilient civil society — one that plays a meaningful role in shaping the future of the Northern Marianas. mbj
Editor’s Note: Frances M. Sablan is the executive director of the Marianas Alliance of Non-Governmental Organizations. MANGO was formed in 2010, and under its prior membership structure had 120 members. Sablan can be reached at fsablan@mangocnmi.org.
