Selection Committee

The Awards Selection Committee is an all-volunteer, expert group selected by the program’s Management Committee which is made up of representatives of Nonprofit New York, The New York Community Trust, and The Clark Foundation. The Selection Committee for these Awards is firmly committed to judging all applicants fairly, recognizing that small, medium, and large nonprofits may have different practices and achievements that define excellence. Nonprofit New York is committed to eliminating explicit and implicit bias from the consideration of applications, and to ensuring that equity is present at all stages of the application process. Past winners have included small, mid-sized and large organizations and we are committed to further diversifying the pool of winning organizations. All information submitted for consideration remains confidential to Selection Committee members and staff managing the Awards.

Members of the Selection Committee are carefully chosen for their deep and broad knowledge in the Key Areas of Nonprofit Excellence that guide the Awards program. Employees of Nonprofit New York, The New York Community Trust, and The Clark Foundation do not in any way influence the Selection Committee's voting; however, these organizations administer and facilitate the Awards selection process.

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Group photo of the 2019 Nonprofit Excellence Awards Selection Committee

After each stage of the selection process, applicants may request follow-up feedback on their applications, including summaries of thFe expert Selection Committee's comments about the applicant's management strengths and weaknesses.

Selection Committee Members

Click the drop down menus below to view all Selection Committee members.

  • Stephanie Thomas, (Committee Chair), President, Stetwin Consulting

    Stephanie Thomas is President of the company and has over twenty-five years of professional fundraising experience. Under her leadership, Stetwin Consulting undertakes responsibility for all event activities and works effectively with boards of directors, event committees, and event leadership to ensure that the event fits seamlessly into a larger development plan. The events organized by the firm generate an aggregate of over $25 million annually. Prior to launching Stetwin Consulting, Stephanie served as President of Susan Ulin Associates Ltd., after joining the firm in 1995 as an intern. Stephanie has also served as Coordinator, Institutional Giving for the American Red Cross in Greater New York and as a Prospect Researcher for the United Negro College Fund's Campaign 2000, a $250 million capital campaign. She received her master’s degree in nonprofit management from New School University, her bachelor’s degree from New York University and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Throughout her career, Stephanie has consistently volunteered to give back to the non-profit fundraising community. She is a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, New York City board and has served the local chapter and international association on a variety of committees including strategic planning and nominations. She has served on Nonprofit New York’s Selection Committee for the Nonprofit Excellence Awards and is currently serving as Chair of the group. Stephanie is a regular speaker at workshops throughout New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut.

  • Moira Ariev, Principal, Moira Ariev Development Communications

    Moira Ariev has served as a fundraising professional for over two decades and has built broad expertise encompassing intuitional support, major gifts, appeals and direct mail, special events, development and strategic planning, communications, governance and board development, and fundraising infrastructure. She has lead the development departments of several NYC-based nonprofits including the National Council of Jewish Women, Repair the World, and Publicolor, and previously she served for s ix years a director of the special events department at NYU Medical Center (now NYU Lagone), managing a team that coordinated literally hundreds of benefit and cultivation events annually. Moira launched her consulting career in early 2016 to help nonprofits increase fundraising capacity and sustain it in periods of transition. She is a graduate of Harvard College with a M.A. in Art History from Columbia. She lives in Manhattan with her two daughters.

  • Joseph J. Barretto, Principal, Barretto Consulting

    Joseph J. Barretto is a management strategist with 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. His expertise includes organizational and fundraising strategy and leadership development, with the goal of building the capacity of organizations to ensure their sustainability and maximize their impact.
    Joseph’s focus on providing nonprofit boards and leaders with the management tools and strategies necessary to strengthen their organizations was honed by his experiences in various management roles, including Deputy Director at the New York City Anti-Violence Project, Deputy Executive Director at Hudson Guild, and Executive Director at The DOME Project, an education-focused nonprofit serving at-risk youth. In addition to consulting assignments in organizational assessments and strategic planning initiatives, fundraising campaigns, and board development, Joseph facilitates leadership and fundraising workshops and trainings to nonprofit managers and board members.
    Joseph serves on the Board of Directors of the Filipino American Human Services, Inc., the National Advisory Board for Public Service at Harvard College, and the New York City Area Committee of Harvard’s Center for Public Interest Careers, and is an Affiliate Consultant at Community Resource Exchange. Joseph holds degrees from Harvard College and Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs.

  • Karim Beldjilali, Senior IT Auditor, New York University

    Karim Beldjilali is New York University's Senior IT Auditor and One Spirit Learning Alliance's Board President. He has served nonprofits in roles ranging from interim Executive Director to strategic business and tech planning facilitator to onsite IT help. Karim's 15 years of experience has also included large multinationals like Barclays, UBS Investment Bank, and Sanofi, alongside serving NYC non-profits and businesses through RoundTable Technology. All of his current work covers the full lifecycle of a technology investment, risk management, strategic change and continuous improvement - all inspired by the work nonprofits perform in service to the greater good.

  • Leslie K. Brown, Interim Executive Director, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York

    Leslie is a professional Interim Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer for nonprofit organizations undergoing transitional leadership and organizational change. With almost 20 years of experience working as a nonprofit consultant, she has addressed their internal and external capacity needs through change management, staff coaching, best practices, strategic planning, and board development training solutions.
    She is currently the Interim Executive Director for Reach Out and Read of Greater New York (ROR GNY). ROR GNY’s mission is to make literacy promotion an integral component of pediatric primary care by providing age and developmentally appropriate books to children during each well child visit and by providing guidance and support to caregivers on the importance of reading aloud to their children.
    Leslie is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, a Trustee and Nominating Chair on the Planned Parenthood of Metro New Jersey (PPMNJ) Board, and was elected Commissioner by the Montclair, New Jersey Mayor and City Council, to the Civil Rights Commission. She is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker.
    Leslie holds a BS in Pre-Med, Biology from American University, an MPH from the University of Illinois School of Public Health, and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth Graduate School of Business, where she received the Dean’s Award for Distinction, and the Arthur Turnbull Alumna Award for Public Service.

  • Julie Micou Cerf, Interim Executive Director, CASA for Children of Essex County

    Julie is an Interim Executive Director for nonprofit organizations undergoing leadership change in New York and Northern New Jersey. She is currently in her 6th interim placement, as Interim Executive Director of CASA for Children of Essex County in Newark, New Jersey. CASA trains and supervises court-appointed special advocates who represent the best interests of children in Essex County who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect.
    Before becoming a professional Interim ED, Julie had a 25-year career in numerous nonprofit management roles, including Executive Director, Trustee, Director of Development and strategic planning consultant.
    Julie is a Trustee of Partners for Women and Justice, a nonprofit organization that provides free legal help in New Jersey to low-income victims of domestic violence. At Partners, she serves on the Finance, Nominating and Succession Planning Committees. She graduated from Smith College and the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

  • Michael Davidson, Board Coach

    Michael Davidson is a consultant specializing in nonprofit board development, management support, leadership transition, and executive coaching for nonprofit managers. He has over 30 years experience in nonprofit board and managerial leadership and has provided board training and retreat facilitation for more than 150 nonprofit organizations. He is the former Chair of Governance Matters, designed and led the board candidate and organizational training for the Board Serve NYC program of the United Way of New York City and is a member of the Selection Committee for the New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Awards.
    He has been a Peace Corps Volunteer, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology, an Assistant District Attorney and an attorney in private practice. He holds a BS in mathematics from New York State University College on Long Island, a JD from Columbia Law School and an M. Ph in Anthropology from Yale University. For more detail, see: www.boardcoach.com

  • Susan Erdey, Director of Development at Teatown Lake Reservation

    Susie has served in communications and management positions across the spectrum of nonprofit organizations for over two decades, including independent schools, universities, graduate schools, research centers, foundations, philanthropic resource centers, and a pension services group. She has designed and managed communications plans, educated clients on complicated financial matters, conducted qualitative and quantitative research, trained staff in speaking with media, and evaluated program impacts. She holds an M.S. in nonprofit management from The New School–Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy.

  • Jen Chau Fontán, Founder, JCF Coaching

    Jen Chau Fontán is a coach with close to 20 years of experience in management and building talent functions from the ground up at various non profits. Jen has created systems for equitable practices in recruitment, hiring, performance management and staff development. She has also built healthy and engaging organizational cultures and internal programs around equity and inclusion. Jen continues to focus on building capacity in individuals through her independent coaching practice at JCF Coaching while serving as a management coach to leaders in the progressive sector through her work at The Management Center.

    Jen founded Swirl, a multiracial grassroots community committed to providing space for cross-racial, cross-cultural dialogue about race and identity since 2000. She also co-founded and co-leads a local NYC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community of Practice for leaders in the nonprofit space who want to grow equity and inclusion practices inside their organizations. Jen's perspectives on race and racism have been featured in media outlets including The New York Times, USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, CNN, NPR, MSNBC, and PBS's Asian America as an expert on topics surrounding diversity, race issues, and mixed race identity.

    Jen received her BA in Women’s Studies at Wellesley College and her MS in Organizational Change Management from Milano, The New School for Management and Urban Policy. Additionally, she is SHRM-SCP certified. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

  • Shibani Gambhir, MPA, Chief Operating Officer, Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts

    With over over twenty years of experience in the for purpose field (non-profit) in executive roles as well as consulting for local, national, and international organizations. She works tirelessly to ensure the organizations she leads run efficiently. Shibani has put in place financial systems, pay equity schedules, policies and procedures manuals, on-boarding and off-boarding plans, managed entire budget processes, and amongst many other tasks vital for non-profits.
    As a Confidence Coach, Shibani works with clients to help them achieve their life-oriented goals and have their confidence shine through. She is also Co-Founder of the Ops Infinity Group where members who are in the Operations Field come together to share best practices.
    Shibani Gambhir is the Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts. As COO, she is responsible for the vision, administration, financial viability and effectiveness of the Foundation.
    She has been selected to many volunteer leadership positions in her community. She is YNPN-NYC Co-chair (Young Nonprofit Professionals), a Trustee of her Neighborhood Association, NPCC Selection Committee (Nonprofit Coordinating Committee), as well as Career Coach for The Posse Foundation.
    Shibani earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from PACE University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from SUNY Oneonta. When she's not working, you can find her reading, traveling, and running her next half-marathon.

  • Ned Gusick, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, The Jewish Board

    Ned is the head of marketing for The Jewish Board, New York City’s largest human services agency, which earned the Gold Prize for Overall Management Excellence at the 2016 Nonprofit Excellence Awards. At The Jewish Board, Ned oversees all facets of marketing communications, including public relations, internal communications, and digital and social media, with the mission of supporting the agency’s 75 locations around the city, as well as the development function and volunteer activities. His prior professional experience is in the corporate world, with global marketing and branding roles at EY, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and Lehman Brothers. Earlier in his career, he worked in film and television development in Los Angeles. He earned an MBA from City University of London and a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University.

  • Jason Hutchins, Founder, Nonprofit Solutions Network

    Jason Hutchins founded Nonprofit Solutions Network in 1998 to help nonprofits increase capacity, lower costs, and improve their overall operation through the use of technology. Jason prides himself on providing technology solutions customized to meet the unique needs and financial challenges of nonprofits. With his broad IT background and distinctive approach, Jason has worked with many large NYC nonprofits, including Community Service Society, New York Cares, United Way of New York City and Vera Institute of Justice. Jason writes and presents on a variety of IT related topics. Jason is a graduate of the 10,000 Small Businesses initiative, funded by Goldman Sachs.
    Jason Hutchins founded Nonprofit Solutions Network in 1998 to help nonprofits increase capacity, lower costs, and improve their overall operation through the use of technology. Jason prides himself on providing technology solutions customized to meet the unique needs and financial challenges of nonprofits. With his broad IT background and distinctive approach, Jason has worked with many large NYC nonprofits, including Community Service Society, New York Cares, United Way of New York City and Vera Institute of Justice. Jason writes and presents on a variety of IT related topics. Jason is a graduate of the 10,000 Small Businesses initiative, funded by Goldman Sachs.

  • Dipty Jain, Principal, FMA

    Dipty Jain leads the National Consulting and Advisory Services team at FMA. Over the past decade at FMA, she has advised a wide range of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in various stages of organizational development to be more sustainable organizations with greater levels of performance.
    She brings programmatic and operations experience in the private and nonprofit sectors to her leadership of FMA's consulting team. Dipty started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and moved on to international operations work at Schering-Plough Corporation and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. She was a Sparer Public Interest Law fellow at the ACLU Women's Rights Project, a fellow at the Urban Justice Center, and part of the Safe Harbor Asylum Law Clinic at Brooklyn Law School. Dipty has served on the Board of Directors of the Third Wave Foundation and Manavi.

  • Cardozie Jones, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant /Arts Advocate

    Cardozie Jones began his career as a theater teacher in Brooklyn, New York. Having held various positions within and supporting educational institutions, Cardozie has learned that even the most well-meaning organizations often lack the experience and expertise to truly confront issues of systemic inequity. Today, Cardozie splits his professional time between his work in the diversity and inclusion sphere and in the arts. As a D&I consultant, he is committed to supporting any organization that demonstrates a desire to be a force for investigating, disrupting and dismantling cycles of inequity. With an MA in Applied Theater, Cardozie is best known for his engaging, provocative and dynamic professional development workshops that get participants both thinking and moving. In addition to workshops, Cardozie works with organization leadership to assess current practices and systems for bias, and help them integrate diversity and inclusion initiatives into their mission, core values and strategic plans. Cardozie is also Co-Artistic Director of the Youth Pride Chorus, a nonprofit LGBT group for young people who aim to use music as a catalyst for dialogue and change. Additionally, he is a founding board member of AfterWork Theater, a NY-based recreational theater nonprofit where he serves as Chair of Programming and founder of Strike-a-Chord, the organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

  • Dawn Khan, Director of Technology Services, RoundTable Technology
    Dawn is the Director of Technology Services at RoundTable Technology, where she partners with nonprofits to build capacity around technology, including long and short term strategic technology planning and the architecture and implementation of high value technology solutions. Dawn has provided technology support to New York area nonprofits for more than ten years, and is in her sixth year as a member of the Nonprofit Excellence Awards Selection Committee.

  • Michelle M. Lawrence , Director of Anti-Racism Organizational Development, Safe Horizon
    Michelle M. Lawrence is the Director of Anti-Racism Organizational Development at Safe Horizon where she plays a leading role in Safe Horizon’s work to address systemic racism and move Safe Horizon towards being a more racially equitable and inclusive workplace and organization. She is part of Safe Horizon’s Anti-Racism Steering Committee, and works closely with internal working groups and affinity groups in developing and coordinating an annual action plan, leading conversations about racism throughout the organization, and partnering with external consultants to further the organization’s work to create lasting, measurable change. Michelle holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with a concentration in Child Welfare.

  • Laurie Lessage, Director of Finance and Administration, Day One
    As Director of Finance and Administration, Laurie wears multiple hats. On the finance side, she is responsible for setting strategy, developing, organizing, and directing Day One’s financials. This includes managing budgeting and planning processes, creating financial policies and procedures, and leading the annual audit process. She also works closely with the Board of Directors’ Finance and Audit Committees. On the administrative side, she is responsible for directing human resources activities, including staffing plans, HR policies and procedures, compensation, benefits, training, and professional development. Additionally, she oversees the broader operational aspects of Day One.
    Prior to joining Day One, Laurie was the Finance & Operations Manager at Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. As the Finance & Operations Manager, she was responsible for the day to day operations of the office, financial reporting, accounts payable & receivable, recruitment, professional development, employee relations, and enforcing adherence to MATP’s personnel policies and procedures. As Laurie continued to build her expertise in finance, she consistently sought opportunities that would provide her with the space to leverage her skills to support vulnerable communities. Today, she currently serves as Board Treasurer on the Board of Directors for The Lineage Project, an NYC-based nonprofit, that brings mindfulness programs to incarcerated and vulnerable young people. Laurie is an avid meditator herself and believes that presence is what connects us to our sense of self, allowing us to identify thoughts and emotions and make better decisions.
    Laurie earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Curry College and her Masters of Public Administration from Framingham State University. She is a Certified Professional in Human Resources and a member of the Society of Human Resource Management. Laurie is a self-proclaimed radical HR practitioner, committed to creating equitable environments in which people have fun and enjoy their work.

  • Judy Levine, Executive Director, Cause Effective

    Judy Levine, Cause Effective's Executive Director since 2006, has over 30 years of experience as a nonprofit management advisor. At Cause Effective since 1993 and as an independent consultant, Judy has trained and consulted with well over 1,000 nonprofit organizations on issues in fund diversification, donor engagement, and Board and organizational development. Judy has worked across many organizational cultures and is expert at tailoring consultations in order to meet the needs of different audiences. Judy helped create many of the methodologies that Cause Effective uses today, specifically in the areas of resource and organizational expansion. Judy also brings her own experience as a Board member to her work with Cause Effective’s clients, having served in leadership positions on the boards of Church Street School for Music and Art, Taste of Tribeca, Transportation Alternatives, and four NYC public school leadership teams. Prior to joining Cause Effective, Judy worked as an independent consultant and trainer in the area of strategic fundraising for diverse organizations, and was also Director of Programs for the Cultural Council Foundation. In 2017 Judy was honored as one of New York City’s most distinguished public servants with City & State’s “50 over 50” Award. She is a long-time member of the Selection Committee of the New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Awards. Judy holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from New York University, and has published widely on topics in nonprofit administration.

  • Marissa Martin, Executive Director, Advocacy Institute

    Marissa Martin is the Executive Director of the Advocacy Institute. Prior to joining the Advocacy Institute, she served as the Northeast Director of Young Invincibles, leading policy and advocacy efforts around higher education, workforce development and healthcare for young adults.
    Marissa has always had a passion for social justice and making larger systemic change to increase access and equity, holding several leadership positions overseeing Policy, Operations and Data teams. These positions include serving as the Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives at the NYC Public Engagement Unit; the Director of Policy and Government Relations at ExpandED Schools (formerly TASC), as well as the Director of Government Affairs for the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families where she led CACF’s New York State and City budget advocacy campaigns.
    Marissa is a Licensed Social Worker (LMSW) and holds a Masters in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, with concentrations in Community Organizing, Planning and Development. Marissa serves on the Advisory Board for Also-Known-As, a nonprofit focused on empowering the voice of international adoptees.

  • Maribel Martinez-Gunter, Director of the Family Law and Immigration Unit, Manhattan Legal Services (Legal Services NYC)

    Maribel Martinez-Gunter, Esq. graduated from CUNY School of Law in 1995 and New York University in 1992. She has dedicated her entire legal profession to securing the rights of marginalized communities, working specifically with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, parents charged with child abuse and neglect and immigrant families seeking to stabilize their lives. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Family Law & Immigration Unit at Manhattan Legal Services, leading a team of 9 lawyers and 2 social workers in an interdisciplinary, holistic model of community lawyering. Maribel is heavily involved in the development and implementation of the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan. She sits on the Citywide DEI Committee, the People of Color Organizing Committee and she co-convenes the LatinX Affinity Group. In 2019, Maribel completed the New York Community Trust Leadership Fellowship and in 2014, she completed the Racial Justice Training Institute at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. She has received numerous distinctions for her contributions to the field of public interest and she remains committed to creating structures of equity.

  • Bonnie Mazza, Principal, Mazza Strategy Inc.

    Bonnie Mazza helps nonprofit leaders deepen their impact, exceed their mission, and activate others in the pursuit of their societal vision. Bonnie is principal of Mazza Strategy, Inc., a high-energy social sector consulting company providing strategy, board development, and organizational capacity building services to nonprofits in New York City and beyond.
    Bonnie previously served as the Associate Director of Nonprofit Strategy and Capacity Building at TCC Group, where she led strategy projects for nonprofits throughout the US, ranging from small community-based organizations to large social service agencies and national organizations. Praised for her facilitation and knack for skillfully synthesizing large amounts of data and working within complex organizational structures, Bonnie has succeeded in helping organizational leaders identify opportunities to scale operations, increase funding, strengthen internal operations, and, most importantly, increase their impact. Bonnie holds a Master of Public Administration degree in Nonprofit Management from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at NYU.

  • Neema Mbonela, Independent Consultant

    Neema Mbonela is a Human Resources professional with over ten years of experience working all facets of human resources in for-profit and non-profit organizations. In her career, she has helped organizations scale up, build HR capacity, implemented HR systems and processes and partnered with leaders on employee engagement and culture initiatives. She holds a BA in International Business from Fordham University and an MBA in Human Resources Management from Goldey-Beacom College.

  • Laurel Molloy, Founder & Chief Consultant, Innovations Quantified

    Laurel helps organizations increase their impact by clarifying their intended outcomes, and the steps to achieve, measure, and learn from them. She founded the training and consulting firm, Innovations Quantified (IQ), in 1999, and since then has served hundreds of nonprofits and foundations throughout the US and internationally. Laurel is known for her ability to make this challenging topic more accessible, whether in trainings or ongoing consulting engagements. She holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management from NYU, and authored the widely-utilized instructional guidebook, Finally – Outcome Measurement Strategies Anyone Can Understand.

  • Eileen Newman, Executive Director, Center for Bronx Nonprofits

    Eileen Newman is the Executive Director of the Center for Bronx Nonprofits at Hostos Community College. She established the Center as a convening, training and resource-sharing organization which strengthens the capacity of the local community leaders and nonprofit organizations serving the Bronx. She is the producer and host of Mission Bronx, a monthly program on BronxNet, the Bronx public access network. The show is aimed at informing the community about the work of nonprofits in the Bronx. Prior to creating the Center, Eileen was the Deputy Director and Director of Community Engagement at the Tribeca Film Institute and the Executive Director of Film Video Arts. In addition Eileen has held leadership positions at New Visions for Public Schools and the NYC Department of Education. She has served on a number of nonprofit boards including New York Women in Film and Television.

  • Mary O’Shaughnessy, Director of Information Services, Her Justice

    As Director of Information Services at Her Justice, Mary has been a key contributor in CRM system implementations such as Oracle and Salesforce in nonprofit and corporate organizations, including pension, financial research, and humanitarian services. Additionally, she lends her data expertise to the American Red Cross in Greater New York where she has been a volunteer since 2007, and to her local community board in Manhattan. Mary has extensive expertise in information technology auditing, requirements gathering, business process analysis, data mapping, and user acceptance testing, and has been with Her Justice since 2009.

  • Sunil Oommen, Principal, Oommen Consulting

    Sunil Oommen is Principal of Oommen Consulting, a boutique practice focused on fundraising, events, and project management. Sunil founded Oommen Consulting after spending 20 years developing a broad base of skills and expertise in fundraising, communications, and community relations.
    Most recently, Sunil served as Senior Director of Development for Human Rights First, a nonprofit, nonpartisan international human rights organization. Prior to Human Rights First, he served in various fundraising and leadership roles at Amnesty International USA, A Better Chance, South Asian Youth Action, GLAAD, and the New York Blood Center.
    As part of his commitment to giving back, he served on the Board of Directors for South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) in various capacities (including Board Chair) for 10 years. He currently serves as a Board Member and Chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee of the New York City Chapter of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals.
    Sunil entered the fundraising field after a tenure in public relations and marketing. He helped develop communications strategies and conducted media relations for top-tier nonprofit organizations, government agencies and corporations, including Heidrick & Struggles, Cross-Cultural Solutions, Project People Foundation, KPMG, Cendant Corporation, CV Therapeutics, and the New Jersey State Government.
    In 2014, he was selected for the American Express NGen Fellows Program (organized through Independent Sector) for accomplished and innovative leaders under age 40 in the nonprofit sector. That same year, he graduated from Ready to Lead®, the highly-selective signature training program by New American Leaders for immigrants and first-generation Americans who have great promise in running for political office or serving as government official appointees. To learn more, please visit www.suniloommen.com.

  • Christa Orth, Vice President, Wingo NYC

    Christa Orth is Vice President of Wingo NYC, a fundraising and design consulting firm. She is a seasoned fundraising and communications veteran, having served in the non-profit trenches since the grunge era. She is a whip-smart strategist, teacher and coach, who delights in transforming organizations by creating and sustaining a culture of giving. Having come of age at the dawn of the Internet, Christa has deep expertise in effective written and digital communications to attract and upgrade donors. She is a patient and persistent leader, recruiting even the most reluctant staff and board members to join the army of fundraisers. Christa earned a BA in Women's and Gender Studies at Western Washington University and an MA in American History at the University of Oregon. Christa is also an accomplished filmmaker, putting compelling stories on the big screen, including her award-winning feature documentary, North Pole, NY.

  • Jina Paik, Nonprofit Finance Fund

    Jina Paik heads knowledge management and is a senior consultant for Nonprofit Finance Fund’s Advisory Services practice. With over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, Jina works with philanthropies, nonprofits and boards on improving financial strength amidst risks and uncertainties. She consults directly with nonprofit leaders on planning for growth and change, building business plans for stronger mission delivery, and managing through financial difficulties. She is also a frequent partner with advocacy and capacity-building groups to promote nonprofit best practices and support funding reforms that helps the nonprofit sector build strength and stability.
    As the head of knowledge management, Jina shapes how knowledge is created, codified, captured, and eventually shared in messages for the field. This involves building connections between nonprofit finance, on-the-ground learning, systems, and interpersonal dynamics to further the work of mission-driven organizations.
    In addition to her work with Nonprofit Finance Fund, Jina serves as board treasurer and head of the Finance Committee for DanceNYC, a grantmaking intermediary and service organization that promotes the knowledge, appreciation, practice, and performance of dance in the metropolitan New York City area. She contributed to publications such The Nonprofit Quarterly, Crain’s New York, New York Nonprofit Press, and Nonprofit Finance Fund’s Social Currency blog. She was also honored by the New York City Human Services Council as a Next Generation Leader. Her earlier career supported grants operations and management in philanthropy with the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Helene Fuld Health Trust, and TCC Group. Jina holds an MS in Urban Policy from the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment at The New School.

  • Molly Penn, President, PENN Creative Strategy

    As a consultant to mission-based organizations for nearly two decades, Molly has deep experience working across many aspects of the nonprofit sector - including community development, education, human service, social justice and the arts - to help organizations become stronger and have a greater impact. She is often hired for her facilitation skills, in which all voices are heard. Molly has consulted to both foundations and nonprofit organizations, including Helmsley Charitable Trust, Ford Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and many others. She began her professional life on staff at a large NYC arts nonprofit as well as held senior staff positions at various smaller organizations. She has an MBA in Management from Fordham University, a Masters from Columbia University and a BA from Bard College. She is Lean and Hogan certified, and trained as a professional coach. Molly serves on the board of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. She lives in Manhattan.

  • Elizabeth Perez, Legal Director, Lawyers Alliance for New York

    Legal Director Elizabeth Perez oversees Lawyers Alliance's client outreach and representation services and manages the in-house staff attorneys. Ms. Perez has significant experience in the areas of immigrant communities, elder services, contracts, corporate structuring, coping with financial distress, and lobbying and political activity regulation matters. She launched and led Lawyers Alliance's Urban Health program area and coordinated a program providing technical assistance to nonprofits that form New York City's safety net. From 2007 until her January 2016 appointment as Legal Director, Ms. Perez was a Staff Attorney and Senior Staff Attorney at Lawyers Alliance. Prior to joining Lawyers Alliance, Ms. Perez was an associate at Clifford Chance US LLP. She received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 2004, an L.L.M. from the University of London in 2004, and a B.A. from Texas A&M University in 2000. Lawyers Alliance publications: Advising Nonprofits, Fifth and Sixth Editions.

  • Michelle Portlock, Director of Evaluation, Osborne Association

    Michelle Portlock is the Director of Evaluation at the Osborne Association, a provider of services for people impacted by the criminal justice system, with the largest nonprofit presence in New York State prisons. She supports the organization in defining intended outcomes, developing systems to monitor performance, and using data to enhance impact. She leads both internal performance management initiatives and external evaluations with academic partners and consultants. Osborne is the recipient of the 2018 NPCC Nonprofit Excellence Prize in the area of Results and Impact. Michelle has over twenty-five years of experience with non-profit management and has worked as a consultant on a variety of strategic planning, evaluation, and program development projects. She received her Master of Public Administration degree from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at NYU. She is a member of the American Evaluation Association and a past board member of the New York Consortium of Evaluators (NYCE). She serves as Vice President of the board of Infinite Hope, a volunteer animal rescue group in Brooklyn.

  • Uday Ray, Consultant, Uday Ray CPA

    Uday is a management consultant, tax strategic planner and auditor for nonprofit organizations. He is currently the CFO of Leake and Watts Services, Inc., served twice as chairman of the Nonprofit Committee and the Ethics Committee of the Connecticut Society of CPAs, and is a recipient of the “Outstanding Discussion Leader Award” from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was previously employed as a Senior Audit Manager for an international CPA firm. Uday has been responsible for elevating several non-profit organizations to fiscally sound entities, including Leake and Watts Services and NYSARC, Inc.

  • Anne Rehkopf Townsend, Principal, ART & Strategy

    Anne Rehkopf Townsend, CFRE has over 20 years of professional fundraising experience. Prior to launching her consulting business in 2005, Anne served as the Director of Development of the Brooklyn Historical Society and the National Academy of Design, two NYC based cultural organizations giving her direct experience with major gift strategies, membership programs, capital planning and campaigns, event management and planning, foundation and government grants, direct mail campaigns, board recruitment and development planning. Working in a small shop, Anne developed the skills needed to manage multiple projects while understanding the best and most effective ways to use her time and engage other staff members and the board in the fundraising efforts of her organizations. Working with dozens of organizations over the past ten years, Anne has helped her clients raise millions of dollars through planning, training, and coaching.

  • Robin L. Robin, Board Treasurer, Lutheran Social Services of NY

    Robin L Robin, SPHR, currently serves as Board Treasurer of Lutheran Social Services of NY. Robin is a HR professional consultant with 25+ yrs experience in HR, IT and Nonprofit Management. Most recently, she served as the VP of Human Resources, New York Hall of Science, prior to that she was Director of HR for Girls Inc. and Director of HR & Operations (COO) for Citizens Committee for NYC (CCNYC) for more than 16 ½ years and she held every position including acting president.
    Robin has been a member of HRPANO since 1997, is a Judge for the NY Community Trust/NY Magazine Nonprofit Excellence Awards. Sits on the Diversity & Inclusion Council, National Collaboration for Families and HR Council for the National Assembly for Human Services, Serves on the Children’s Arts Guild Women’s Group Planning Committee. Robin is former Council President of Christ Lutheran New Hyde Park, & former Board President of Little Sprouts Pre-School.

  • Sonya Shields, Consultant, Marketing, Communications, and Development

    Sonya Shields is a seasoned marketing, communications and development nonprofit executive with over 25 years experience raising funds and increasing the visibility of local, national and international organizations. Sonya currently works as a consultant with Rainbow Railroad, an international organization based in Toronto and New York City that helps LGBTQI individuals seek a safe haven from state sponsored or enabled violence throughout the world. Prior to consulting with Rainbow Railroad, Sonya worked for over six years as the Chief Officer for External Relations and Advancement at Brooklyn Community Services (BCS). BCS is one of the oldest and largest nonprofits in Brooklyn and serves over 20,000 poor and low-income residents through 20 sites. Sonya brought vision and energy into the position and took the organization to another level—engaging a new audience of influencers, celebrities, entrepreneurs, volunteers and new corporate partners. Sonya has worked on the executive staff at National Advocates for Pregnant Women, Keep a Child Alive, Astraea Foundation, New York City LGBT Anti-Violence Project and the National LGBTQI Task Force. She has provided consulting services for over a dozen nonprofits including: Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Freedom to Marry, National Black Justice Coalition, Afropop Worldwide, and Citizens Committee of New York City. Sonya currently serves on the Advisory Council of the Gender & Family Project and Lead the Way Faculty Member with the Center for Research and Policy in the Public Interest at the New York Women’s Foundation. She received a B.A. in Public Relations from Howard University in Washington, D and lives in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.

  • Kim St. Bernard, Principal, KSB Enterprises

    Kim is a strategist, consultant and Interim Executive Director with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She guides nonprofit executives and boards in rethinking operational priorities and strategic direction to maximize goals and impact. She formerly served as the principal executive promoting a broad service platform, volunteerism, human resources and giving for Make-A-Wish Metro New York & Western New York.
    She held numerous leadership roles at Girl Scouts of the USA, providing organizational development and training to affiliate executives and boards in 50 states in nonprofit governance, operations, human resource management, leadership development, growth strategy, and organizational change strategy. Kim also facilitated mergers and dissolutions of affiliate corporations. As the former Director of Strategic Leadership, Kim led the asset management consulting group which focused on affiliate leadership development, finance management, property management, governance, strategic planning, and enterprise risk management.
    Kim completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a MSW in Administration from Clark/Atlanta University and BSW from Morgan State University. She is an Interim Executive Director with the Support Center for Nonprofit Management.
    Kim is a Pro-Bono Account Executive for the Taproot Foundation in strategy and human resources. She also serves on the New York Women’s Foundation, Grant Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of Black Agency Executives of NYC.

  • Jennifer Swayne, Attorney, Nonprofits, Governance, and Strategy

    Jennifer Swayne, Esq. is an attorney who is passionate about empowering communities. She has over 10 years of professional experience, and most recently served as the Chief Strategy Officer at Brooklyn Community Services (BCS), the oldest and largest social service agency in Brooklyn. In that role, Jennifer advanced implementation of the organizational strategic plan, communicated BCS’s strategies internally and externally, and conducted trainings and spread best practices for data management and analytics. She further spearheaded BCS’s work to plan and prepare for Census 2020, working with a variety of community partners. Prior to serving in that capacity, Jennifer served as BCS’s General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, responsible for legal oversight and the compliance program, and serving as staff liaison to the Board of Directors Audit Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee. Before joining BCS, Jennifer served at nonprofit organizations in various capacities that include providing legal services, policy advocacy, and project management consulting. Through roles with organizations such as the Education Delivery Institute and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, she has established a wealth of knowledge in a variety of fields. Prior to her transition into the nonprofit arena, Jennifer was a Litigation Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom LLP. Jennifer also has extensive board experience, having served on various boards, including as Board Chair for La Cima Elementary School (Brooklyn) and as a member of an advisory children’s subcommittee to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Jennifer, originally from Oakland, CA, has a J.D. from the New York University School of Law and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan.

  • Amy West, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, AHRC New York City

    Amy West is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AHRC New York City (“AHRC”). AHRC is an organization that provides critical services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. In her role Amy oversees the wide array of financial and administrative functions, strategic financial initiatives, real property, information technology and special projects that enable AHRC to fulfill its mission. Amy has direct responsibility for AHRC's operating budget of $325 Million and manages a staff of ninety.
    Prior to joining AHRC, Amy served for eight years as the Director of Finance of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Amy also held the position of Vice President of Finance and Budget at the United States Fund for UNICEF and worked as an auditor for Ernst & Young LLP specializing in the healthcare and not-for-profit industries. She began her career as the Coordinator of Fiscal Operations for the New York Public Library.
    Amy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. She is actively involved in Hunter College’s Mentoring Program, Secretary of the Financial Managers Association, is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs Nonprofit Committee and is a member of the NPCC’s Nonprofit Excellence Awards Selection Committee. In addition, she serves on the AICPA Not-For-Profit Industry Conference Steering Committee.

  • Jaime Williams, Account Manager, Anat Gerstein Inc.

    Jaime Williams is an Account Manager at Anat Gerstein, Inc., a full-service communications firm that works exclusively with nonprofits. She helps clients across nonprofit specialties achieve their organizational goals through the use of strategic communications. This includes policy advocacy, fundraising, thought leadership, and membership engagement, achieved with tactics such as media relations, collateral development, and social media, among others. Prior to joining Anat Gerstein, Inc., Jaime worked as a reporter in New York City. She studied journalism at the University of Missouri.

  • Stephanie Thomas, (Committee Chair), President, Stetwin Consulting

    Stephanie Thomas is President of the company and has over twenty-five years of professional fundraising experience. Under her leadership, Stetwin Consulting undertakes responsibility for all event activities and works effectively with boards of directors, event committees, and event leadership to ensure that the event fits seamlessly into a larger development plan. The events organized by the firm generate an aggregate of over $25 million annually. Prior to launching Stetwin Consulting, Stephanie served as President of Susan Ulin Associates Ltd., after joining the firm in 1995 as an intern. Stephanie has also served as Coordinator, Institutional Giving for the American Red Cross in Greater New York and as a Prospect Researcher for the United Negro College Fund's Campaign 2000, a $250 million capital campaign. She received her master’s degree in nonprofit management from New School University, her bachelor’s degree from New York University and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Throughout her career, Stephanie has consistently volunteered to give back to the non-profit fundraising community. She is a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, New York City board and has served the local chapter and international association on a variety of committees including strategic planning and nominations. She has served on NPCC’s Selection Committee for the Nonprofit Excellence Awards and is currently serving as Chair of the group. Stephanie is a regular speaker at workshops throughout New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut.

  • Yancy R. Garrido, Senior Program Officer, The Clark Foundation

    Yancy has served in the in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors for more than 20 years; and since 2007, has been the Senior Program Officer at The Clark Foundation in New York City where he helps manage grants in education, employment, social services, and management training. He also sits on the executive committee of NYC Workforce Funders. His philanthropic experience includes co-founding Innovative Philanthropy, where he oversaw client relations for charitable giving and diligence to individuals and foundations; and serving as Managing Director for Survival Programs at the Robin Hood Foundation.
    Previously, Yancy represented low-income and homeless individuals as a staff attorney and outreach coordinator for the Passaic County Legal Aid Society in Paterson, NJ; practiced as a corporate public finance attorney at Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon in NYC; and served for four years as a Peace Corps volunteer in western Honduras, where he established and directed an integrated rural community health training and education program that served more than 10,000 people. Yancy holds JD and MIA degrees from Columbia University and a BA from Bucknell University; and has won honors and fellowships in Spanish Literature and Latin American human rights. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, and is admitted to the New Jersey State Bar.

  • Sharon Stapel, President and Executive Director, Nonprofit New York

    Sharon Stapel comes to Nonpofit New York from the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP), where she was the Executive Director of the nation’s largest LGBTQ and HIV-affected anti-violence program. She was named a White House Champion of Change and was recognized by President Obama for her advocacy work. Stapel directed units at South Brooklyn Legal Services and the Legal Aid Society and coordinated the Street Law Project of the National Lawyers Guild. She is a graduate of CUNY School of Law and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has served as an adjunct professor at CUNY School of Law and Hunter College.

  • Patricia Swann, Senior Program Officer, Community Development and the Environment, The New York Community Trust

    Patricia Swann's grantmaking responsibilities cover the areas of Community Development, Civic Affairs, and Technical Assistance. She is a board member of Philanthropy New York, and serves as an advisory board member of Brooklyn Workforce Innovations and the New York City office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
    She is a former board member of North Star Fund, a foundation providing grants to grassroots community organizing groups, and Central Brooklyn Partnership, a financial empowerment and economic development organization.

  • Barbara Taveras, Special Projects Officer, The New York Community Trust

    Barbara Taveras is a special projects officer with The New York Community Trust. She coordinates grantmaking from the Brooke Astor Fund for New York City Education and administers other Trust initiatives. Previously, Barbara was director of community engagement and college readiness at New Visions for Public Schools. From 1993 to 2004 she served as president of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation, which supports the education and development of young people. Before that, she was an education policy analyst for the Mayor’s Office.
    In 2003, Barbara was co-recipient of the Council on Foundation’s Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking for her role in designing the Funders Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities, an effort of Hispanics in Philanthropy. Barbara is a former Revson Fellow at Columbia University, and a former Kellogg Fellow in the Leadership in Philanthropy in the Americas Program. Barbara holds a B.A. from Pace University and an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University.

  • Tiloma Jayasinghe, Chief Programs Officer, Nonprofit New York

    Tiloma Jayasinghe is currently the Chief Programs Officer at Nonprofit New York. She is also an Activist Fellow at the Barnard Center for Research on Women, and a gender justice consultant. She was most recently the Executive Director of Sakhi for South Asian Women, a non-profit organization working to end gender-based violence. Prior to that she was a Social Affairs Officer at the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women where she was responsible for analyzing and identifying policies and practices eliminating violence against women from an international perspective. She lives in NYC with her husband, two daughters, and dog.