Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management (CNSM)
The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management (CNSM) is a globally-recognized leader in analyzing the evolving role of nonprofit organizations in our society, politics, and the economy.
Through community engagement, teaching, and research, it examines how nonprofit organizations intersect with government, business, philanthropy, and communities to help solve today’s most pressing policy issues. CNSM’s New York City location promotes active engagement with the nation’s most complex nonprofit sector, and secures internship and placement opportunities with many nonprofit organizations.
For general inquiries, including information about our seminars or to join our mailing list, please contact us by phone at (646) 660-6771 or by email.
Cristina Balboa, CNSM Director
Events Featuring Policy Thought Leaders
CNSM delivers cutting-edge thinking about public sector leadership, management and policy through its seminar series, conferences, and Consulting Day event. All events focus on pressing nonprofit policy issues and provide an opportunity for practitioners to connect with noted experts in the field.
To obtain information about our seminars or to join the Center’s mailing list, please call (646) 660-6771 or email the Center.
Upcoming Events
Between Power and Irrelevance: The Future of Transnational NGOs – PDF
This will be an author roundtable event co-sponsored by Baruch’s Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management, The Global Issues/Transnational Actors Group of ARNOVA, and the CUNY Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society.
Please register HERE and join us in the conversation.
Dec 7, 2020 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Past Events
Rob Reich vs. Phil Buchanan: Is Giving By The Wealthy A Good Thing? [PDF]
Thursday, September 19, 2019 – 8:30am to 10:00am EDT
Philanthropy New York; 320 East 43rd Street; NYC 10017
This is the third annual Great Debate presented by SeaChange Capital Partners and Baruch College’s Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management (CNSM). The event explored:
• the moral, political and financial aspects of giving by the wealthy
• implications for us all in our roles as donors, foundation professionals, nonprofit executives and citizens
• how to approach philosophical conversations about philanthropy in productive, inclusive ways
The debate happened between two leading thinkers in this area: Phil Buchanan (Giving Done Right) and Rob Reich (Just Giving), and was moderated by Lorie Slutsky, President of the New York Community Trust.
As always, CNSM looks forward to collaborating in more events of this nature and thanks all the participants for their time and valuable wisdom.
Consulting Day for New York City’s Nonprofit Community [PDF]
The speakers of this event were Bradford K. Smith, President – Candid and Laurence Scot, MBA, CPA, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Skody Scot & Co., CPAs
This free event was a great opportunity to:
• Meet with a consultant and discuss the challenges facing the organizations
• Receive up to two appointments consisting of a free 45-minute one on- one sessions
• Network with dozens of leading nonprofit organizations in NYC
• Attend one or two workshops led by experts in the nonprofit sector
It took place on:
date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019
time: 9:15am – 3:15pm
place: Baruch College, Newman Vertical Campus Conference Center, 14th Floor Rm. 250 (55 Lexington Avenue @ 24th Street)
As always, CNSM looks forward to collaborating in more events of this nature and thanks all the participants for their time and valuable wisdom.
- April 19 – Consulting Day for New York City’s Nonprofit Community Workshop Videos:
- Understanding and Managing Today’s Workplace with Lucia Antonia Alcantara
- Major Nonprofit Accounting Changes with Laurence Scot
- Feb. 7- Book discussion BIG IMPACT: Leadership through the Lens of Social Justice with Linda C. Hartley (VIDEO)
- The Debate ‘Can we Quantify our Way to Better Giving?” (VIDEO)
- A conversation with Dr. Earl Lewis, President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation [PDF]
- Feb. 23 – Biographies of the participants [PDF]
- March 22 Consulting Day For New York City’s Nonprofit Community
- Making Social Change: Nonprofit Leaders Share Models for Deeper Community Engagement [PDF]
Oct. 26 – Bios – Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) – Approaches to Change [PDF] - Outstanding Nonprofit Board Leadership: A Conversation With the Winners of the 2016 Brooke W. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Board Leadership [PDF]
Sep. 21 - New York City’s Art and Cultural Organizations: Their Communitites and the Challenges they Face [PDF]
May 5 – Bios [PDF] - Consulting Day for New York City’s Nonprofit Community
Mar. 23 – List of Consultants [PDF] – Bios [PDF]
- The Nonprofit Sector in China and Russia: A Comparative Forum
Nov. 24 – Bios [PDF] - Managing Growth and Change in Nonprofit Organizations
Oct. 27 – Bios [PDF] - Outstanding Nonprofit Board Leadership: A Conversation With the Winners of the 2015 Brooke W. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Board Leadership
Sep. 21 - New York City: Global Leader in International Nongovernmental Organizations
Apr. 23 – Bios [PDF] – International NGOs Key Findings – Amani Global Works [PDF] - Consulting Day For New York’s City Nonprofit Community
Mar. 25 – List of Consultants [PDF] - Social Impact Metrics for Attracting Investment
Feb. 24 – Bios [PDF] & Slides [PDF]
- National Immigrant Communities Project
Nov. 11 – Bios [PDF] & Slides - Outstanding Nonprofit Board Leadership: A Conversation With the Winners of the 2014 Brooke W. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Board Leadership
Oct. 23 - Current Priorities for Regulation of New York’s Nonprofit Organizations
Oct.15 – Bios [PDF] & Slides [PDF] & Video - Managing Nonprofit Facilities: Basic Issues and Best Practices
Jun. 12 - Translating a Passion for Civic Engagement Into a Career in Public Affairs
May 20 - New Communication Strategies for Nonprofits
Apr. 8 – Bios [PDF] - Consulting Day for New York City’s Nonprofit Community 2014 [PDF]
Mar. 20 – Bios [PDF] - Building a Fourth Wave of HIV/AIDS Activism: An Activist-Scholar Panel Discussion
Feb. 3 – Material: Bios [PDF] & Readings [PDF]
- IRS Tax Workshops for Small and Mid-Size Nonprofit Organizations
Dec. 10 - Current Perspectives on Philanthropy: A Conversation with Darren Walker, President of The Ford Foundation, conducted by Dean David Birdsell, School of Public Affairs, Baruch College
Nov. 19 Material: Bios [PDF] & Collective Impact [PDF] - Public Service Internships in Nonprofits and Government: Good for Students, Good for Organizations
Oct. 15 Material: Bios [PDF] – Hagedorn Internship [PDF], National Urban Fellows & Nonprofit Leadership Alliance [PDF] - Outstanding Nonprofit Board Leadership: A Conversation with the Winners of the 2013 Brooke W. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Board Leadership
Sep. 26 - Current Legal and Policy Developments for Nonprofit Organizations
Jun. 18 Material: Bios [PDF] – Sources [PDF] - Social Impact Investing: New Strategies for Financing Nonprofit Ventures
May 22 Material: Bios [PDF] – NESC [PDF] - Consulting Day for New York City’s Nonprofit Community 2013 [PDF]
Mar. 20 – Bios [PDF] - Young Men’s Initiative
Feb. 20 Material: Bios [PDF] – Power Point [PDF] & Report [PDF] - Pathways to Excellence: Excellence in Managing for Results [PDF]
Jan. 25
For more information about our events or to join the Center’s mailing list, please contact call (646) 660-6771 or email nonprofit.workshops@baruch.cuny.edu
Research for Scholars and Practitioners
CNSM promotes research on nonprofit and non-governmental organizations conducted by Baruch faculty. The Center also works with affiliated faculty and external organizations to produce original research on timely topics such as:
Perspectives on Human Services Issues
CNSM has published an annual Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey that analyzes the views of executive directors of New York City human services agencies about current conditions affecting their clients and the operations of their programs. Surveys include responses to Superstorm Sandy, as well as how human services organizations persevere in uncertain times.
Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey
CNSM conducts and publishes an annual Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey, which presents the views of executive directors of human services organizations in New York. The Center report on what more than 150 nonprofit service organization leaders think about overall conditions in New York City, how particular groups in need of assistance are faring, and how public policies and operating issues affect the performance of the nonprofit services sector.
The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management’s (CNSM) educational programs, seminars, and events are a great way to build knowledge and understanding of nonprofit management and policy topics such as finance, fundraising, organizational development, and marketing. All events feature well-recognized leaders from some of New York’s largest public and nonprofit organizations.
The Center offers a free monthly series of seminars and workshops covering a wide range of topics on nonprofit finance, fundraising, management, marketing, and many other timely issues. For more information on seminars, or to join the mailing list, please email or call (646) 660-6771.
Consulting Day, CNSM’s signature community engagement program, offers nonprofit leaders and staff an annual opportunity to receive pro bono advice from more than 40 experienced consultants. The 45-minute, one-to-one sessions focus on:
- Fundraising
- Board development
- Capacity building
- Program evaluation
- Marketing and communications
- Financial management
In addition, the event includes two workshops on topics such as strategic enterprise and advanced social media. Please go to see CNSM Events (above) for an archive of Consulting Day descriptions, videos, or seminars.
CNSM faculty regularly participates in nonprofit boards, advisory organizations, and governmental committees. Among their board involvement:
- Past Director Jack Krauskopf was a member of the New York State Attorney General’s Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization, and is on the New York City Independent Budget Offices’ Advisory Board, as well as five nonprofit boards
- Affiliate Hector Cordero-Guzman sits on the board of the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Associations (ARNOVA)
CNSM produces case studies designed to elucidate the role that New York nonprofit organizations play in developing policy and conducting, and evaluating advocacy campaigns.
Case studies are available as:
- Full versions, including an appendix with an analysis of the lesson learned
- Student versions for use in the classroom (appendix is omitted)
- Teaching Notes; this contains information on how to use the cases, study questions for classroom discussions and an analysis of lessons learned
Examines the continuing work of community-based organizations and public interest lawyers to promote equitable and environmentally-sound solutions to waste handling in New York City.
Full Version [PDF]
Student Version [PDF]
Focuses on the campaign to eliminate racial and religious bias from the New York City foster care system, to protect children in foster care from abuse and neglect, and to improve child welfare services.
Full Version [PDF]
Student Version [PDF]
Examines the advocacy work in support of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity v State of New York (1993), which brought together a coalition of education advocacy groups, parent organizations, and community school boards to push for more New York City school funding.
Full Version [PDF]
Student Version [PDF]
An additional background paper, Understanding Nonprofit Advocacy [PDF], explores definitions of advocacy and the challenges in evaluating the outcomes of advocacy campaigns.
For a copy of the Teaching Notes or other information about the New York City Nonprofit Advocacy Case Studies, contact Associate Professor, John Casey.
Funding for the development of the case studies was provided by the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation.
The Working Papers Series includes research in progress on significant and emerging policy and management issues. Contributors include Baruch and CUNY faculty as well as major and emerging scholars from other institutions.
To subscribe to the series, email nonprofit.workshops@baruch.cuny.edu. For _editorial questions, contact the editor, Professor Susan Chambré.
Examining the Relationship Between Nonprofit Service Provision and Client Outcomes in a Performance-Based, Managed Care Contracting Environment [PDF] Bowen McBeath, Portland State University; William Meezan, The Ohio State University
International Perspectives on Strengthening Government-Nonprofit Relations: Are Compacts Applicable to the USA? [PDF] John Casey, Baruch College, City University of New York; Bronwen Dalton, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; Rose Melville, University of Queensland, Australia; Jenny Onxy, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Is Competitive Contracting Really Competitive? A Case Study of Restructuring Government-Nonprofit Relations in Shanghai [PDF] Yijia Jing, Fudan University; Bin Chen, The City University of New York at Baruch College
Accountability in Voluntary Partnerships: To Whom and For What? [PDF] Muhittin Acar, Hacettepe University, Turkey; Chao Guo, University of Georgia; Kaifeng Yang, Florida State University
Transforming the Dynamics of Nonprofit Boards: From Passive to Active Agencies [PDF] Paul Firstenberg, Baruch College, City University of New York
Accountability or Discretion? Challenges for Multi-service Nonprofit Agencies in Performance-Based Contracting in New York City: A Preliminary Report [PDF] Bin Chen, Baruch College, City University of New York and Jack Krauskopf, Baruch College, City University of New York
In the Eyes of the Beholders: Feedback Motivations and Practices Among Nonprofit Providers and their Funders [PDF] David A. Campbell, Kristina Lambright and Laura Bronstein, Binghamton University
Sustaining Government/Nonprofit Initiatives: New York City Human Services in Transition from Bloomberg to De Blasio [PDF] Jack Krauskopf, Baruch College, City University of New York
Static Strategy in a Dynamic Age: Nonprofit Web Missioning Throughout the 2000s [PDF] Sarah E. Ryan, Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso
Stand by Me: Organization Founding in the Aftermath of Disaster [PDF] David Campbell, Binghamton University
Exploring Perceived Effectiveness of Nonprofit Lead-Organization Networks for Social Service Delivery [PDF] Bin Chen, Baruch College, City University of New York and Elizabeth A. Graddy, Ph.D, University of Southern California
The Limits and Potential of Nonprofit Organizations in Participatory Planning: A Case Study of the New York HIV Planning Council [PDF] John J. Chin, Hunter College, City University of New York
A Three Year Study of the Nonprofit Sector’s Response to the Economic Challenges in Six Cities Across the Nation [PDF] Julianne Gassman, University of Northern Iowa; Norman A. Dolch, University of North Texas; Ann Marie Kinnell, University of Southern Mississippi; Stephanie Krick, University of Central Florida; Regan Harwell Schaffer, Pepperdine University; SueAnn Strom, Park University; Amy Costliow, University of Northern Iowa
Debt, Donors and the Decision to Give [PDF] Thad Calabrese, School of Public Affairs, Baruch College, CUNY and Cleopatra Grizzle, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University
Running on Empty: The Operating Reserves of US Nonprofit Organizations [PDF] Thad Calabrese, School of Public Affairs, Baruch College, CUNY
Nonprofit Vulnerability Across Communities: An Examination of San Diego County [PDF] Marcus Lam, Columbia University and Lindsey M. McDougle, University of Pennsylvania
Giving Up the Single Life: Leadership Motivations for Interorganizational Restructuring of Nonprofit Organizations [PDF] David Campbell, Binghamton University
Bowling Together: Anatomy of a Successful Association Merger [PDF] Julie Pietroburgo, Southern Illinois University Stephen P. Wernet, Saint Louis University
Integrated or Disconnected? Examining Formal and Informal Networks in a Merged Nonprofit Organization [PDF] Bin Chen, Baruch College, City University of New York and Jack Krauskopf, Baruch College, City University of New York
Defending Neighborhoods with Multiple Publics: Opportunities and Challenges for Community-Based Nonprofit Organizations [PDF] Tarry Hum, Queens College, City University of New York
Spontaneous or Constructed? Neighborhood Governance Reforms in Los Angeles and Shanghai [PDF] Bin Chen, The City University of New York at Baruch College and Terry Cooper, University of Southern California Rong Sun, Shanghai Tongji University
Community-based Philanthropic Organizations in East Asian Urban Communities [PDF] Lili Wang, Ph.D., Arizona State University Elizabeth Graddy, Ph.D. and Jeffrey J. Miller, University of Southern California, and Donald Morgan, Ph.D., D.L. Morgan Consulting, LLC, Pasadena, California
Funding Immigrant Organizations: Suburban Free-riding and Local Civic Presence [PDF] Els de Graauw, Baruch College, City University of New York Shannon Gleeson, University of California, Santa Cruz Irene Bloemraad, University of California, Berkeley
Wage Dispersion in Nonprofit Organizations: Do Volunteers, Donations and Public Subsidies Have an Impact? [PDF] Astrid Haider and Ulrike Schneider, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
Succession Planning in Nonprofit Organizations [PDF] Karen Froelich, Gregory McKee and Richard Rathge, North Dakota State University
Exploring the Limits of Volunteerism in Public Service Delivery: Substituting Volunteer Labor for Paid Labor [PDF] Rebecca Nesbit, Ph.D., University of Kansas; Jeffrey L. Brudney, Ph.D., Cleveland State University; Robert Christensen, Ph.D., University of Georgia
The Influence of Major Life Events on Volunteering [PDF] Rebecca Nesbit, University of North Carolina—Charlotte
Respecting Difference without Privileging Visibility: Prospects for Volunteering and Civic Engagement by Aging Baby Boomer [PDF]s Susan M. Chambré, Baruch College, City University of New York and F. Ellen Netting, Virginia Commonwealth University
Is Volunteering Work, Prosocial Behavior, or Leisure? An Empirical Study [PDF] Susan M. Chambré, Baruch College, City University of New York and Christopher J. Einolf, DePaul University, School for Public Service
The Social Basis of Volunteer Legal Work: Predictors of Pro Bono in Legal Practice [PDF] Robert Granfield, University of Buffalo Philip Veliz, University of Michigan
Volunteering and Civic Participation Among Immigrant Members of Ethnic Congregations: Complementary Not Competitive [PDF] Jill Witmer Sinha, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Itay Greenspan and Femida Handy, University of Pennsylvania
The Effects of Perceived Funding Trends on Nonprofit Advocacy: A National Survey of Nonprofit Advocacy Organizations [PDF] Robert Mark Silverman and Kelly L. Patterson, University at Buffalo
Understanding Advocacy: A Primer on the Policy Making Role of Nonprofit Organizations [PDF] John Casey, Baruch College, City University of New York
When Process Eclipses Product: The Dual Mission of Jewish Women’s Foundations [PDF] Deborah Skolnick Einhorn, Brandeis University
International Perspectives on Strengthening Government-Nonprofit Relations: Are Compacts Applicable to the USA? [PDF] John Casey, Baruch College, City University of New York; Bronwen Dalton, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; Rose Melville, University of Queensland, Australia; Jenny Onxy, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Mission Control: Examining the Institutionalization of New Legal Forms of Social Enterprise in Different Strategic Action Fields [PDF] Kate Cooney, Yale University
A Theoretical Framework and Operational Strategies for Creating “Rivers” of Unrestricted Income for Nonprofit Charities [PDF] Jeffrey L. Greim, Bay Path College
An Institutional Examination of the Local Implementation of the DACA Program [PDF] Els de Graauw, Baruch College, City University of New York and Shannon Gleeson, Cornell University
Advisory Board
Jack Krauskopf, Past Director, Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management, Baruch College, City University of New York, Editor
Susan M. Chambré, Baruch College, City University of New York, Editor
Rikki Abzug, Ramapo College
David Campbell, Binghamton University
John Casey, Baruch College, City University of New York
Bin Chen, Baruch College, City University of New York
Peter Dobkin Hall, Baruch College, City University of New York
Margaret Harris, Aston University (United Kingdom)
Roland Kushner, Muhlenberg College
Fred Lane, Baruch College, City University of New York
Nancy Macduff, Macduff-Bunt Associates
Jill Mendelson, UJA Federation of Greater New York
F. Ellen Netting, Virginia Commonwealth University
Hillel Schmidt, Hebrew University (Israel)
Maude Simonet, Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (France)
The organizations and media outlets below provide helpful information, resources and support for the nonprofit sector.
Provides a quick lists of helpful links for starting a nonprofit in New York state, as well as the NYCON publication “Fundamental Steps Toward Incorporating a Nonprofit”, which explains the initial legal steps of incorporation.
A checklist of steps to forming a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization in New York state, including legal documentation, tax considerations, and office management.
Nonprofit corporations in New York are formed by filing articles of incorporation with the Department of State.
Information on sales tax exemptions for qualifying organizations in New York.
Information on exemptions from the New York State Corporation franchise tax for qualifying nonprofit organizations.
All charitable organizations operating in New York State are required by law to register and file annual financial reports with the Attorney General’s Office.
The Alliance for Nonprofit Management is a professional association of individuals and organizations whose mission is improve the management and governance capacity of nonprofits. Its web site includes information about resources available to not-for-profit organizations.
The New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) is the best resource for New York State’s Nonprofits! NYCON works to build the capacity of nonprofits and communities to enhance the quality of life in New York State.
The Association of Nonprofit Specialists is a network of organizations, independent consultants, and other specialists providing management assistance to nonprofits. Many affiliated consultants are based in the greater New York area, and our network also provides services throughout the United States and internationally. For over 20 years, volunteers have organized networking and educational events aimed at professional development and a stronger nonprofit sector. The Association of Nonprofit Specialists is a 501(c) (3) educational organization.
The Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc., (NPCC) is the voice and information source for New York nonprofits. Space wanted/space available ads are solely for 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations with office space available, those seeking office space, or those with meeting or conference space for rent in the New York City area.
VLA offers legal services for existing arts nonprofit organizations as well as specialized services for organizations in their start-up phase, helping them to establish nonprofit corporations and to apply for tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Pro Bono Partnership provides free business and transactional legal services to nonprofit organizations serving the disadvantaged or enhancing the quality of life in neighborhoods in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
A list of organizations that provide legal assistance to individuals and organizations in New York.
Lawyers Alliance offers several resources to help nonprofits understand legal and regulatory issues, reduce the risk of liability, and be accountable, including publications, workshops, and referral services.
The Community Development Project (CDP) provides support for three client groups: low-income not-for-profit organizations, low-income entrepreneurs, and low-income housing cooperatives.
The organization’s Community Development Project (CDP) provides legal, technical, research, and policy assistance to grassroots community groups.
The Public Service Network, a program offered through the City Bar Justice Center, matches attorneys with legal and non-legal volunteer opportunities in the not-for-profit sector.
Created by Columbia Law School and The Legal Aid Society, this guide provides detailed guidance on tax and legal compliance issues for New York nonprofit organizations.
Our mission is to advance equality and civil rights, with a focus on health justice, disability rights and environmental justice, through the power of community lawyering and partnerships with the private bar.
Links to information on legal topics relevant to New York nonprofit organizations.
BoardAssist offers services in nonprofit board placement, board matching, board service, and board recruiting for organizations in New York City and the greater NYC area.
The Citizens Committee helps New Yorkers – especially those in low-income areas – come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.
The Stakeholders is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that people are key to the sustainability of New York’s Capital Region. The organization seeks to retain and attract residents through programs that focus on education, capacity building, and philanthropy.
The New York Nonprofit Press is distributed monthly to over 50,000 key staff in more than 4,000 nonprofit human service agencies through-out the New York metropolitan area. The publication includes funding opportunities, job listings, guidance on nonprofit management and fundraising, and other items of interest to area nonprofits.
NPower helps other nonprofits use technology to better serve their communities. NPower offers a variety of technology-related services to area nonprofits, including technology assessments and planning, database management, technology training classes, print and electronic technology resource libraries, and short-term technology project assistance. NPower’s Tech Surveyor enables an organization to assess hardware, software, and staff technology skills. TechAtlas is a step-by-step Web-based planning tool that nonprofits can use to assess their current technology use and to receive recommendations on how to better implement technology to achieve their mission.
The Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) provides loans, workshops, and planning assistance to help nonprofit organizations grow and thrive as businesses while honoring their mission.
Community Resource Exchange (CRE) is a nonprofit management consulting firm that makes New York City’s nonprofit organizations stronger and more effective in fighting poverty and advancing social justice.
Cause Effective provides consulting services for nonprofits in three major areas: board development, special events, and fundraising. It offers individual consultation and assessment, as well as workshops and other training.
The Support Center provides management training and consulting, disseminates information and practical resources to the sector, and works to build strategic alliances.
A project of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, the NonProfit HelpDesk (NPHD) was created to provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations throughout New York City.
A United Way of New York City initiative, BoardServeNYC provides a free service to nonprofits by matching New York City organizations with prospective board members.
The Volunteer Consulting Group is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening nonprofit boards of directors. The organization works as a consultant to nonprofits on issues of board structure, governance, and succession.
New York Cares connects New Yorkers to volunteer opportunities. It helps bring volunteer support to over 850 nonprofit organizations, public schools, and other organizations in the City.
NESC combines top-quality consultants and affordable fees to provide a broad array of consulting services to the nonprofit community in the tri-state region.
The Association of Nonprofit Specialists is a network of organizations, consultants, and other specialists providing assistance to nonprofits.
ESCOT provides consulting services to not-for-profit organizations, governmental units and educational institutions in the greater Capital District.
Urban’s mission is to open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research. Scholars are independent and empowered to share their evidence-based views and recommendations shaped by research.
Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grant makers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector.
The Bridgespan Group is a nonprofit advisor and resource for mission-driven organizations and philanthropists. We collaborate with social sector leaders to help scale impact, build leadership, advance philanthropic effectiveness and accelerate learning.
Provides information about nonprofit’s mission, legitimacy, impact, reputation, finances, programs, transparency, governance, and so much more.
Websites that routinely offer updates and insights into the world of nonprofits and keep up to date records of social and legal changes.
- Nonprofit Quarterly
- New York Nonprofit Media
- Gotham Gazette
- Crain’s New York Business
- The Nonprofit Times
- Blue Avocado
- The Stanford Social Innovation Review‘
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy
The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management collaborates with numerous partners on important educational and research endeavors.
The New York Community Trust Leadership Fellows is a professional development program in partnership with the Marxe School, the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management, and the Office of Executive Programs. It aims to ensure that tomorrow’s nonprofit organizations have the human capital to flourish and advance their missions on behalf of New Yorkers.
Read the New York Community Trust FAQ [PDF]
La Iniciativa Mexicana para la Acción Diferida
The Mexican Initiative for Deferred Acton (MIDA) is a ground-breaking initiative to promote DACA applications and upward integration of New York’s rapidly growing Mexican community. With generous funding from the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, the Mexican Consulate, and Juntos Podemos, and support from the City University of New York, the Initiative seeks to improve the lives of Mexican families that have contributed invaluably to America’s prosperity.
MIDA is a collaboration among partner institutions committed to supporting the Mexican community in New York and the region, including the Mexican Consulate, Juntos Podemos, the CUNY Vice Chancellors’ Office, the Baruch College-Mexican Consulate Leadership Program, the New York Immigration Coalition, Masa, and Make the Road New York.
The Core MIDA objectives are:
1) Provide immigration protection for at least 1,000 individuals
The initiative will help at least 1000 people apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or other immigration status, in partnership with the Mexican Consulado Sobre Ruedas. While it is not permanent legal status, DACA enables recipients “legal presence” – and the opportunity to get a social security number, work legally, and attend school without fear of family separation by deportation.
2) Evaluation and Research
The Initiative will document and evaluate its work to help identify best practices in promoting DACA applications in these organizations, and will do academic research on the consequences of having, lacking, or gaining legal status or legal presence. This knowledge will help inform various policy and practice areas, including those promoting better life chances and integration for children of immigrants.
3) Capacity-Building and Leadership Development
MIDA will provide extensive support for its community-based partners participating in this project to help them provide better services to immigrants, grow and thrive as organizations, and join a network of advocates to promote policies that advance immigrant integration.
Learn more about the Mexican Initiative for Deferred Action (MIDA)
The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management’s newsletter features short pieces exploring timely issues facing nonprofit organizations today, and profiles students, alumni, and faculty whose work advances CNSM’s mission of community engagement, teaching, and research.
View Past Newsletters
WELCOME
Our Fall 2016 newsletter brings news of major changes in our school. We are starting a new era that brings exciting initiatives that will strengthen our existing programs and take us into new areas of scholarship and teaching. CNSM Director Jack Krauskopf outlines the changes and comments on their impact on nonprofit research and teaching at MSPIA.
Also in this newsletter, we highlight the new book by CNSM faculty affiliate Els de Graauw; Professor Emeritus Fred Lane profiles the career of Baruch alumnus Lorenzo Brown; CNSM Academic Director John Casey interviews adjunct professor Brooke Ritchie-Babbage; and we chronicle news about our public seminars, executive programs, and internships.
We hope you enjoy reading about recent developments at CNSM
Jack Krauskopf, Distinguished Lecturer and Director
Nicole Marwell, Associate Professor and Academic Director
CENTER NEWS
By Jack Krauskopf, Distinguished Lecturer and Director CNSM
We are very pleased to announce that Baruch College has received a transformational gift of $30 million from a generous alumnus, Austin W. Marxe (BBA ’65). This gift will endow and name the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs (MSPIA), which was previously for 22 years the School of Public Affairs at Baruch. Concurrently, David S. Birdsell, PhD, who has served with distinction as dean for the past 10 years, is being named the Marxe Dean and Professor. Mr. Marxe’s philanthropy is the largest single gift ever received by Baruch College, and it ties for the second-largest contribution in the history of The City University of New York (CUNY).
As part of its broadened scope, MSPIA is also initiating a new Master in International Affairs degree with the first students to enter in fall 2017. This MIA degree will include concentrations in International Nongovernmental Organizations, Trade Policy and Global Economic Governance, and Western Hemisphere Affairs. The degree program will build on Baruch’s location in New York City, its role as a global city, and the School’s two decades of work with New York’s nonprofit sector.
And we are hiring!! Faculty searches are underway for a senior position in nonprofit management (Professor or Associate Professor). Other searches this fall include two positions for the new International Affairs degree program, a Lecturer position in quantitative analysis and community development, a budget and finance tenure track position, and a position in environmental sustainability. If you are interested in coming to work at Baruch, watch for these positions to be posted on the employment opportunities page at: http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/hr/jobs/
Faculty Profile
By John Casey, Associate Professor and Academic Director CNSM
In addition to full-time faculty, nonprofit sector professionals teach as adjunct faculty in MSPIA. Brooke Richie-Babbage is the Founder and Executive Director of the Resilience Advocacy Project (RAP). Prior to founding RAP, Brooke worked as a Skadden Fellow and staff attorney at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice in New York, taught the history of social welfare law and policy at Tufts, and consulted for The Center for Law and Social Policy. She received her JD and MPP from Harvard, and her undergraduate degree from Yale. In MSPIA she has taught nonprofit management and governance in the MPA and in our leadership development programs.
I asked her some questions about her work and teaching.
1) Why did you start RAP?
I started RAP because I wanted to test new ways of using the law to fight poverty. As a lawyer, I believe in the unique role of the law in our society as an indicator of our core values. So I have always cared very deeply about what the law says about, and how it is implemented in the lives of, the millions of children living in poverty. Throughout my years working as a lawyer and policy advocate, one thing I saw consistently was that despite living lives saturated by law – from the school system, to the public housing system, to the police system – young people living in poverty were not actually being engaged as stakeholders in their own legal lives. I wanted to create a space that gave them the power to understand, effectively navigate, and ultimately help shape, the laws and government systems impacting them.
2) You are a busy Executive Director. Why do you also teach as an adjunct at Baruch?
I believe in the importance and power of the nonprofit sector and one of the most fulfilling things I do every year is work with passionate, interesting students who want to work in and/or contribute to the sector in some way. The nonprofit and public sectors are shifting and changing in fascinating and significant ways, and I love working with the students who will be helping to shape the sector in the coming years making sure that they have a framework within which to think about and engage with our sector so that they can be thoughtful, deliberate and strategic stakeholders.
3) You have a Master of Public Policy from Harvard. Can you comment on any similarities and differences in your own studies and what you see at Baruch?
One of the most interesting similarities between the two programs is the engagement of practitioners as instructors. When I was at the Kennedy School, a significant number of my courses was taught by people who had actually done the work they were talking about, and I found that to be extremely exciting. Baruch’s program – like Harvard’s – strives to prepare graduates to engage in real, impactful work when they graduate. One of the best ways to do that is to expose students to people who can both discuss the theory and fundamentals, as well as provide insight into the realities and the nuances of what it means to work in the nonprofit and public sectors.
ALUMNUS PROFILE
Lorenzo Brown, MPA ’01, Founder and Executive Director, Heaven’s Hands Community Services
by Frederick S. Lane. Professor Emeritus of Public Affairs
Lorenzo Brown grew up in Jamaica, Queens, in the 1970s and benefitted from busing to Forest Hills High School, but he didn’t feel ready for college after he graduated.
Seeking structure and never afraid of risk, Lorenzo joined the Marines.
Today Lorenzo Brown is a notable social entrepreneur and the Executive Director of Heaven’s Hands Community Services, Inc., a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organization serving the developmentally disabled.
In between the Marines and Heaven’s Hands, Lorenzo worked in residential social service agencies in Louisiana, Massachusetts, and back in Queens. He earned his baccalaureate from SUNY’s Empire State College and his Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch.
Lorenzo says he had no idea in advance about what the Baruch experience would mean. In an interview in October, 2016, he pointed out that “each class had its own approach to thinking about data, presenting an analytical and strategic perspective.” Lorenzo indicates he got the tools he needed at Baruch, especially planning and problem solving as well as seeing outcomes from the varying perspectives of multiple stakeholders.
From 1997 to 2003, Lorenzo worked at a New York-based umbrella organization guiding nonprofits about issues affecting individuals with developmental disabilities, regulations, programs, and training. Along with the Marine Corps and Baruch, it was here that the idea to create a start-up originated. Lorenzo relates, “I thought I could do better.” He wanted to “do things right–quality” in serving program recipients.
Founded in 2003 with just a staff of three, Heaven’s Hands began by listening going door-to-door, family-to-family in order to “understand the challenges people faced when caring at home for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability,” according to Heaven Hand’s website. Today Heaven’s Hands is a $9,000,000-a-year charity serving more than 800 individuals and their families. Services include direct support staff working with individuals and families in their homes throughout New York City as well as service coordinators to help individuals obtain and manage needed services.
Along the way, Lorenzo joined with other nonprofit executives to form the New York Association of Emerging and Multicultural Providers, the “first association of providers recognized by the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, dedicated to mentoring and supporting start-up agencies and providers serving multi-cultural communities of individuals with developmental disabilities.”
What does Lorenzo Brown advise current MPA students focused on careers in nonprofit organizations? First, “Nonprofit human services are not going to be shrinking. Nonprofits are a permanent partner of government,” according to Lorenzo. Second, “At least in developmental disabilities and human services, there is a changing of the guard. Good will is not enough by itself. There is more scrutiny, more competition, more accountability. Social service enterprises are nonprofit businesses, and have to act that way.”
What about leadership in a nonprofit organization? Yes, the CEO is responsible for overall development of the agency and its mission, maintaining financial viability, and “positioning the agency for future growth and expansion.” Although self-confident, Lorenzo is quick to point out that “I don’t have all the answers.” Any nonprofit CEO has to “surround himself with people who know more than you do” and must “help the staff continue to grow.”
FACULTY RESEARCH
CNSM faculty affiliate Assistant Professor Els de Graauw (Political Science and the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs) recently published her book Making Immigrant Rights Real: Nonprofits and the Politics of Integration in San Francisco (Cornell University Press, April 2016; paperback $22.95).
The book examines how community-based nonprofit organizations have promoted the integration of disadvantaged immigrants, who often lack the opportunities and resources to make their voices heard in the American political process. Drawing on three policy case studies in San Francisco on the issues of immigrant language access, labor rights, and municipal ID cards, she develops a tripartite model of advocacy strategies that nonprofits have used to propose, enact, and implement immigrant-friendly policies: administrative advocacy, cross-sectoral and cross-organizational collaborations, and strategic issue framing. In discussing these advocacy strategies, de Graauw shows how 501(c)(3) nonprofits have been able to overcome notable constraints on their political activities, including limits on their lobbying and partisan electioneering, limited organizational resources, and frequent reliance on government funding. Immigrant rights advocates also operate in a national context of fractured public support for and opposition to immigrant rights. In Making Immigrant Rights Real, de Graauw shows that immigrant-serving nonprofits can make impressive policy gains despite these limitations, and she explores how other cities can learn from the San Francisco experiences.
Making Immigrant Rights Real contributes to several timely debates. In political science literature, for example, explanations of immigrants’ integration into the American political system tend to focus on microlevel determinants, such as immigrants’ individual resources, skills, and interests, and macrolevel variables, including a range of policy, institutional, and contextual factors. de Graauw instead underscores the important role of mesolevel structures local nonprofit organizations that can mediate between immigrant individuals and larger political communities in the integration process. The book also shifts attention away from the popular focus on electoral participation by highlighting that policy representation and implementation are other key dimensions of immigrants’ political integration. It adds to the growing literature on state and local anti-immigrant policy activism by demonstrating that nonprofit advocates can play and have played a critical role in helping city officials to make immigrant rights real. Furthermore, the book underscores that civil society scholarship needs to examine how nonprofit organizations interact with a variety of political institutions beyond the legislature, including executive and judicial officials, other advocacy organizations, and the media. Finally, the book emphasizes just how important nonprofits have become as urban political actors, with a unique ability to advocate for immigrants and other disadvantaged city residents.
CNSM SEMINARS
by Matthew Simon. Graduate Assistant, CNSM
The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management has begun the fall semester by presenting two seminars highlighting important aspects of operating a successful nonprofit organization.
In September Dean David Birdsell moderated a panel that featured board leaders from the finalists for the Brooke W. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Board Leadership. The session was co-hosted by Baruch College and the Governance Matters project New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON). The finalists — Gallop NYC, DOROT, Leake & Watts Services, The Storefront Academy, and Union Settlement Association — were each represented by prominent board members to speak on behalf of their respective practices and procedures. The night featured insight and wisdom ranging from welcoming new board members to time and financial commitments needed to making sure that board members and the organization are the right fit for each other. The engaging discussion offered perspective on different ways that members interact with the organization and highlighted how important a strong and involved board is for an organizations success.
In October CNSM welcomed leaders from organizations that are leading the way in constituent involvement with a seminar entitled, “Making Social Change: Nonprofit Leaders Share Models for Deeper Community Engagement”. Maria Mottola, executive director of the New York Foundation, lead a panel through a range of topics to find out how each nonprofit had been successful in involving the constituents they serve in key decision making and letting the community be their guides. Panel participants were: Michelina Ferrara, Deputy Director of, Atlas: DIY, Sean Thomas-Breitfeld, Co-Director, Building Movement Project; Jill Eisenhard, Founder & Executive Director, Red Hook Initiative; Aracelis Lucero, Executive Director, MASA; Michelle Neugebauer, Executive Director, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation. Over the course of the seminar, they highlighted their the key methods for engaging with recipients of their organizations services and emphasizing the importance of listening while striving to maintain their original mission goals. Panel members stressed that community based nonprofits serve as vital links between residents and outside providers and underlined the inherent need of trust and transparency between their organizations and their neighbors.
Information about all CNSM events, including links to full videos and PowerPoint presentations from past events can be found here.
INTERNSHIPS
MSPIA offers numerous carefully managed internships as a three-way partnership between the student, the host organization and the school.
Graduate Programs
Beginning more than 30 years ago, our partnership with National Urban Fellows has trained individuals for leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors through a fourteen month program that combines a full-time mentorship at a leading nonprofit organization, foundation or government agency in cities around the country with coursework leading to a Master of Public Administration degree. Other longstanding graduate internships include programs in higher education for future college administrators and individuals seeking New York State certification as School Building Leaders and School District Leaders.
The Washington Semester Program provides an opportunity for MPA candidates to spend a semester living and working in Washington, DC while earning academic credit for courses taught by MSPIA faculty. This year seven students are working at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Capitol Hill offices of Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Meeks, the National Women’s Law Center, the Truth Initiative, the American Action Council and Food & Water Watch.
Undergraduate Programs
MSPIA also offers numerous internship opportunities for undergraduate students studying for the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree. The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance is a national organization dedicated to developing a workforce that meets the specialized needs of the nonprofit sector. The NLA program includes a three-credit course, a 300 hour internship and participation in a national conference. Students who successfully complete the program receive the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential based on achieving 10 core competencies that have been identified as critical to success in the sector.
The Hagedorn Internship Program provides a $1,500 stipend for undergraduate students to complete a 150 hour internship at a nonprofit organization during the semester, as well as a 3-credit course. This program was funded by a generous grant from Baruch alumna Amy Hagedorn.
Numerous MSPIA students plan to work in government following graduation and there are several opportunities for these young people to gain experience in the public sector. The New York City Council Internship Program combines an eight week internship with a course taught by a former council member. Each spring semester, several MSPIA students participate in the New York State Senate and Assembly Internship Programs. They receive a stipend from both the legislature and the City University of New York to support their living expenses in Albany while earning 15 course credits.
For further information, contact Distinguished Lecturer Michael Feller michael.feller@baruch.cuny.edu
Immigrant Serving Organizations: Key partners with government during the COVID-19 pandemic [PDF] – June 2020
The Financial Health of Child Welfare Nonprofits in New York State [PDF] – August 2019. Conducted by Professors Rahul Pathak, Alexis Perrotta and James Krauskopf. Cosponsored with COFCCA
International NGOs in New York City: A Comparative Study [PDF] – Spring 2015
Far From Home: Nonprofits Assess Sandy Recovery and Disaster Preparedness [PDF]
The Financial Health of New York’s Child Welfare Nonprofits [PDF]
The Helpers Need Help: New York City’s Nonprofit Human Services Organizations Persevering in Uncertain Times [PDF] – Summer 2009
Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey [PDF] – Winter 2008
Consulting Day Report [PDF] – Spring 2008
Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey [PDF] – Spring 2007
Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey [PDF] – Spring 2006
Nonprofit Executive Outlook Survey [PDF] – Spring 2005
How Many Nonprofits are There in New York?
Follow the links below for information about the size and scope of the nonprofit sector in New York City, State, and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The New York City data is from the 2019 IRS files, the State and Metropolitan Statistical Area data is from 2016. You will find out how many nonprofits there are, where they are located, what industries they work in, and what their annual incomes are. You will also find links to relevant reports and other analyses of the nonprofit sector in New York.
Total New York State registered nonprofits: 102,645 (all 501c)
New York State at a glance
The top five counties/boroughs in New York State that house the greatest number of nonprofits are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Nassau, Queens and Suffolk counties, with Manhattan leading the way with over 20,000 nonprofits. There are only some 4,300 health care nonprofits throughout the state yet those nonprofits report a total revenue well over $100 million, over double the total revenue of the second biggest service field (education). Only 0.36% of all New York State nonprofits are above the $100 million/year bracket yet these nonprofits bring in more than $172 million in annual revenue. In contrast 73%, of all nonprofits in New York State report annual revenues of less than $100.000 per year, or do not report revenues (organizations with an annual revenue of less than $50,000 and many religious organizations are not required to submit full tax returns).
Recent Reports and Key Websites
NYS Attorney General Charities Bureau
NYS Comptroller (2106). Profile of Nonprofit Organizations in New York State [PDF]
Total NYSMA registered nonprofits (including NYC and surrounding counties in CT, NJ, NY, and PA):
111,348 (all 501c)
New York Metropolitan Statistical Area (NYMSA) at a glance
62% of all NYMSA nonprofits are located outside New York City. However, the total revenue reported by New York City nonprofits is over 3 times greater than the reported total revenue of every other NYMSA county combined. Manhattan (New York, NY) has over 20,000 nonprofits, less than half of the second biggest county, Brooklyn, New York. But the total nonprofit revenue reported for Manhattan nonprofits is over 6 times larger than the second largest county nonprofit total revenue with a total revenue over $126 billion.
Notes and Sources
Sources:
National Center for Charitable Statistics
NCCS Table Wizard
In addition to NYC, the NYMSA includes the following surround counties:
NY: Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester
NJ: Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union
CT: Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield
PA: Pike
The statistics include all tax-exempt 501c organizations.
See: Wikipedia’s 501c page and the IRS publication 557 Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization [PDF]
The statistics on the following pages are from the National Center for Charitable Statistics and were generated using the Table Wizard (See technical note at bottom of the page)
There are numerous sources for statistics and financial data about nonprofit organizations, based on data gathered from the tax returns (Form 990) and other published sources. These include:
- 501c3lookup.org
- American Institute of Philanthropy
- BBB Wise Giving Alliance
- Charity Navigator
- Guidestar
- IRS – Exempt Organizations Business Master File Extract
- NYS Attorney General Charities Bureau Registry Search
- NYCharities.org
- New York Data Bases (Tax Exempt Organizations)
- Philanthropy 400
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
- Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS)
- NCCS Data Archive
- NCCS Table Wizard
Technical note on the data
The data on this site has been extracted from the national IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File using the NCCS Table Wizard. These provide public access to the information reported to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by nonprofit organizations in their annual tax returns (Form 990 or equivalent). The accuracy of data depends on the accuracy of reporting to the IRS and on the accuracy of the machine-read extraction and publication. The data can be considered a good indicator of the size, location and work of New York nonprofits, but not a 100% accurate documentation.
The CNSM faculty is one of the largest groups of scholars focusing on the nonprofit sector. More than 80% are full-time faculty members with active research agendas on a wide range of nonprofit sector issues.
They regularly present papers on nonprofit topics at academic conferences sponsored by APPAM, ARNOVA, NASPAA, and other scholarly organizations.