Capacity building

Collaborate, connect, thrive

Discover the resources, inspiration, and solutions you need to make a greater impact

Upcoming Trainings

At Nonprofit New York, we know that your organization is only as healthy as your staff and strong as your systems. That’s why we provide more than 50 thoughtfully curated trainings a year. Whether you’re new in your role or a seasoned professional looking to brush up on best practices, we have a session designed to make you and your organization stronger.

Learning Circles

Learning Circles is a new capacity building initiative from Nonprofit New York, created to meet the urgent and evolving needs of our sector by offering expert-led learning experiences. These dynamic circles are designed to move nonprofit professionals from challenge to action through hands-on training, coaching, and peer collaboration.

Informed by our January 2025 forum Safeguarding NYC’s Nonprofit Sector, the Learning Circles series addresses key areas of need identified by over 170 organizations: public funding access, organizational communications, and data security.




 

Program Details:

  • Location: Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice (320 East 43rd Street, New York, NY)
  • Participation: 2 representatives per organization per Learning Circle
  • Cohort Size: 50 participants/25 organizations per Learning Circle
  • Format: In-person training with virtual coaching (where applicable)
  • Duration: May–December 2025 (varies by Learning Circle)

1. Public Funding Access: Unlocking New York City Council Discretionary Funding

Facilitated by Helen Rosenthal, Former New York City Council Member and Chair of the Committee on Contracts.
Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM-12:30 PM

  • Learn how to apply for, secure, and access discretionary funding from the NYC Council.
  • Best suited for organizations that apply for expense and/or capital funds from the NYC Council.
  • Includes in-person intensives and one-on-one coaching from May to December 2025.
  • Topics include funding opportunities, proper record-keeping, interacting with MOCS and the contracting agency, and receiving payment from the city.

2. Data Security: Shoring Up Your Nonprofit Security Practices:

Facilitated by Matt Mitchell, CEO of Safety Sync Group
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM-12:30 PM

  • Strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity, personal data protection, and physical safety practices.
  • Includes a 3-hour in-person session with real-world tools for implementation.
  • Includes in-person workshops and virtual coaching from June to December 2025.
  • Topics include digital security, personal security, and physical security.

3. Organizational Communications: Developing Strategies to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Communications

Facilitated by Ally Dommu, Director of Service Development, Worker Owner, & Farra Trompeter, Co-Director, Worker-Owner of Big Duck
Date: Monday, June 23, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

  • Build a values-driven, adaptable communications strategy for internal and external audiences.
  • Includes in-person workshops and virtual coaching from June to December 2025.
  • Topics include messaging, internal systems, and audience engagement.

Cohort Testimonials

Participation in Nonprofit New York’s inaugural Learning Community Experience was well worth my time and a rewarding experience. The program, organized around the organizational needs of the participants, provided a broad curriculum presented by an array of experts in the relevant topics.

Wendy P. Malliet

Wendy P. Malliet

Chairman, The Tau Omega Charitable Trust Fund

I highly recommend other leaders to engage in the Learning Communities when one for your particular discipline rolls around, as it will help you to transform your organization and it'll also serve as a great way to contribute towards your own professional development.

Wayne Francis

Wayne A. Francis

Chief Operating Officer, JASA

Together, we can thrive

Connect with a supportive network of professionals and discover new opportunities for growth.

Agenda

Please click on the session titles to learn more.

8:45 Check-in and breakfast

9:35 Opening Performance

9:45 Nonprofit New York Welcome

10:00 Keynote Address by Rickke Mananzala

10:30 Breakout Sessions

Learn how nonprofits can navigate PR hazards, overcome reputational challenges, and mitigate crisis situations. Topics include identifying the potential threats that could damage your organization, preparing for communications crises and putting your plan on its feet when issues arise, proactive vs. reactive crisis response, communicating on your terms, and minimizing bad press.

Presenter: Michael Gordon, Chief Executive, Group Gordon

In this session, you’ll learn how to effectively gather and use data to better serve your community. Sachi Takahashi-Rial from Listen4Good will share best practices for collecting actionable survey data from your stakeholders, and Kristen Lewis and Alex Powers from Measure of America will demonstrate how to use DATA2GO.NYC, a free, easy-to-use data tool to map and analyze cross-sector data on need and access to resources in NYC. Keishorea Armstrong joins to illustrate how NY Cares has integrated both approaches to strategically target their services and drive greater community impact.

Presenters: Sachi Takahashi-Rial, Director, Partner Services Listen 4 Good; Kristen Lewis, Director, Measure of America; Alex Powers, Associate Director, Measure of America; Keishorea Armstrong, Officer, Community Relations & Program Design, NY Cares.

This session will explore key technology risks nonprofits face in cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI, helping participants assess their organization’s risk profile and develop mitigation strategies. Through a threat modeling exercise, attendees will learn to identify risks, evaluate risk tolerance, and implement appropriate safeguards.

Panelists: Joshua Peskay, 3CPO, RoundTable Technology; Kim Snyder, vCPO/vCIO, RoundTable Technology

11:30 Breakout Session

Participate in this interactive session on board recruitment and engagement through an equity lens. Our panelists will provide a comprehensive guide to recruitment and onboarding. Explore tools for assessing candidate fit and board culture, and foster direct engagement between attendees and facilitators.

Presenters: Gary Bagley, Consultant, Gary Bagley Coaching and Consulting; Whitley Richards, Chief Operating Officer, Cause Strategy Partners

12:00 Breakout Sessions

Meet other nonprofit professionals in this informal but structured networking session. Connect with fellow attendees, share insights, and explore opportunities to grow your professional network. Bring a business card if you have one to share!

Moderator: Darby Masland, Programs Director, Nonprofit New York

Participants will be guided through a step-by-step process that encourages an exploration of the mind-body connection through visual art. Through a series of prompts, participants will express their present state of being through form and color in an activity that highlights process over product and letting go of expectation.

Instructor: Ciara Marin, Brooklyn-based visual and social practice artist

12:30 Lunch

1:30 Breakout Sessions

Description: This session will guide nonprofit leaders in understanding the importance of youth-centered advocacy for sustained impact. This panel will cover digital advocacy, barriers young advocates face, and ways nonprofits can transcend generations by including youth perspectives. This session will include insights from a panel of industry leaders and youth advocates leading the charge for a better future in their communities.

Panelists: DeNora Getachew, Chief Executive Officer, DoSomething; Kimberly Blair, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, Girls for Gender Equity (GGE)

Join us for an update on the Reimagining Reporting initiative that resulted from last year’s discussion at the Annual Conference. Our speakers will share their experiences and insights from the pilot. Participants will then break into small groups to explore ways that philanthropic relationships between grantees and funders could be improved to build stronger trust, accountability, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Presenters: Chi Anunwa, Development & Communications Manager, The Advocacy Institute; Hana Sun, Coordinator, NYC Capacity Building Collaborative; Rachel Pardoe, Senior Program Officer, The New York Community Trust

Explore innovative strategies to provide equitable retirement solutions for your employees, no matter your size or budget. Learn how the EARN 403b Plan™ empowers organizations and employees by offering affordable, accessible retirement options designed for long-term financial well-being and customized to meet your needs.

Presenters: Chitra Aiyar, Board Member, Nonprofit New York; Heidi Sidley, Senior Vice President, OneDigital; Brian Ross, Regional Sales Director, Mutual of America Financial Group; Pete Swisher, Managing Partner, Group Plan Systems, LLC

2:30 Snack & Refreshment Break

3:00 Breakout Sessions

This session will explore the role of nonprofits and funders in conversations on justice and equity through reparations. Join Ryan Haygood of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Sharif Braxton of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Nonprofit New York President & CEO Meg Barnette for a discussion on how nonprofits and funders can engage in reparations and reparative work as an equity practice.

Moderator: Meg Barnette, President & CEO, Nonprofit New York
Panelists: Sharif Braxton, Community Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Ryan P. Haygood, President & Chief Executive Officer, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

Employee engagement and wellness have become more and more important in the workplace, especially in the nonprofit sector, where burnout and overwork are all too common. Two members of our latest Nonprofit New York Learning Communities cohort, Salome Jean from Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC and Elysa Fein-Cunningham from CHASI, explore best practices and real-time experiences with workforce health, development, and psychological safety.

Nonprofit New York has partnered with Impala to introduce an exciting new AI-driven fundraising platform designed to simplify and enhance your fundraising efforts. The session kicks off with a fireside chat featuring development professionals, followed by a live demo showcasing Impala’s powerful features.

Presenters: Jeff Poulos, Head of Partnerships, Impala; Sierra Szkrybalo, Customer Success & Partnerships Manager, Impala; Naila Moore, Chief Development Officer, IMPACCT; Nancy Riedl, Chief Development Officer, Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter; Brendez Wineglass, Resource Development, IMPACCT Brooklyn

4:00 Closing Message

4:45 Cocktail Hour & Networking

Note that all sessions, except "Sowing Trust, Reaping Impact: The Future of Philanthropic Partnerships," will be recorded. All recordings and additional resources will be made available to attendees post-conference.

4:00 Closing Remarks and Performance

4:30 - 6:00 Reception