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1. Michelle Jackson

Executive Director, Human Services Council

Michelle Jackson has a clear message for New York government leaders: Invest more in the nonprofit social services providers or there will be dire consequences. The executive director of the Human Services Council led this springs day without human services, during which over 100 nonprofits stopped parts of their services to show what would happen if funding wasnt boosted for salaries and employees left. The push for funding increases in New York City comes after this years state budget included a 4% cost-of-living raise for human service workers paid through state contracts.

Attorney-in-Chief and CEO, The Legal Aid Society

Under Twyla Carters leadership, The Legal Aid Society is taking on battles both inside and outside of the courtroom. The organization partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union and state Attorney General Letitia James on the policing of protests, a move that was later canceled when the PBA declined to approve the deal. The organization has been outspoken on such issues as protecting the citys right-to-shelter law, the need for federal receivership over Rikers Island and the number of eviction cases an attorney in the citys right to counsel program can effectively take on in Housing Court.

Executive Director, Coalition for the Homeless

In June, the Coalition for the Homeless issued a blistering report blaming New York Citys spiraling homelessness crisis on Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams. Dave Giffen defended its conclusions that the Adams administration did not expand its shelter capacity as the homeless population rose 18% and recommended the mayor reverse his involuntary hospitalization policy and finance more affordable housing. As thousands of asylum-seekers flooded city shelters, Giffen fought to keep New Yorks right to shelter policy intact and chided the mayors rhetoric that migrants will destroy the city.

President and CEO, Win

Former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is showing that shes just as effective from a perch in the nonprofit world as she was in city government. The president and CEO of Win, formerly known as Women in Need, Quinn played a key role in getting the City Council to pass legislation to expand the citys housing voucher program over Mayor Eric Adams veto. Quinn is now calling on the Adams administration to do more for asylum-seekers. She is also opening a new Win shelter in Staten Island.

CEO, Robin Hood

Last year, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Richard Buery Jr. to lead a panel of experts in rethinking the citys ailling commercial districts. The Robin Hood CEOs December report proposed 40 initiatives that would transform Midtown and other areas into 24-hour live-work neighborhoods. Buery, best known for creating the citys successful universal pre-K program, currently leads New Yorks largest anti-poverty organization. In May, Robin Hood hauled in $61.4 million at its annual benefit.

CEO, UJA-Federation of New York

UJA-Federation provided around $180 million in grants last year including emergency funding of $26 million to support Ukrainians in need around the world and $3.6 million for Ukrainian refugees in New York. The organization's one-stop social service Hub, launched in Queens in 2021, became a lifeline during the coronavirus pandemic, helping more than 14,000 people with job training, emotional support, food and other services. CEO Eric Goldstein is overseeing the construction and launch of another Hub in Brooklyn, which is set to open in early 2024.

Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York

When asylum-seekers began to arrive in New York City last summer, Kevin Sullivan found that immigration authorities listed the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York address by mistake. Sullivan ensured that migrants received food, clothes and financial assistance from the charity while informing the New York City Council that some slept in parks because shelters turned them away. This year, he helped open Catholic Charities Day Laborer Center in Yonkers to help newcomers find work and celebrated the maiden voyage of the Dorothy Day ferry.

President and CEO, Community Service Society

For nearly four decades, David Jones has advocated for low-income New Yorkers by pushing more insurers and hospitals to accept Obamacare coverage and leading voter registration drives. Jones used his seat on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board to push for expanded half-price fares for those below the poverty line. Last year, the Community Service Society sued to stop a state law barring convicted felons from serving on juries. This summer, Jones joined The Legal Aid Society to call on the New York City Housing Authority to reverse its $1.5 billion plan to demolish the Chelsea-Elliot Houses.

Editors note: David Jones is a member of City & States advisory board.

President and CEO, Brooklyn Community Foundation

Jocelynne Rainey arrived at the Brooklyn Community Foundation in December 2021 with the mission of advancing racial justice by supporting the boroughs nonprofits. She transformed the foundation into a participatory grantmaking organization, brought in a new chief operating officer and prioritized immigrants, women of color in STEM and LGBTQ+ groups. This year, the foundation distributed $100,000 grants to five nonprofits for its Spark Prize, another $1.48 million to organizations supporting seniors and then no-strings-attached $20,000 awards to five women changemakers for its new Just Brooklyn Prize.

CEO, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Named after a Catholic saint, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a charitable foundation aiming to strengthen New York states health care outcomes for vulnerable communities. Led by Monsignor Gregory Mustaciuolo, the organization has made recent strides to address maternal mortality rates and the health equity gap impacting New Yorks Black population. The foundation recently awarded $165 million in grants to support nonprofit organizations addressing these gaps in health care for underserved communities.

President and CEO; Deputy CEO, The Fortune Society

After 34 years of leading the Fortune Society and being one of New York Citys top advocates for criminal justice reform and prisoner reentry, JoAnne Page has announced her retirement, effective at the end of 2023. Pages record of accomplishment at The Fortune Society includes increasing the nonprofits staff from 20 to over 500 and its budget from $700,000 to $50 million. Page and Deputy CEO Stanley Richards who was named as Page's successorin September have worked this year to open three residences for those recently released from prison, created a boroughwide supervised release program in the Bronx with a food pantry and community center, announced a new affordable housing program and received a $10 million contribution from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

President and CEO, Chinese-American Planning Council

Wayne Ho has led the nation's largest Asian American social services organization since 2017, supporting over 280,000 individuals across their 35 locations citywide. The Chinese-American Planning Council provides social, economic and family empowerment services for Chinese American and immigrant populations, and it has taken a strong stance against anti-Asian hate crimes amid rising occurrences in the city. Recently, Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Ho to the Contracting Advisory Committee, where he consults on matters of nonprofit fund management and human services contract procedures.

Editors note: Wayne Ho is a member of NYN Medias advisory board.

CEO and Executive Director, Met Council

David Greenfield has elevated the Met Council since taking the reins in 2018. As a tireless advocate for food security, the former New York City Council member has championed the inclusion of kosher and halal food provisions, a move recognized by the White House in its anti-antisemitism strategies. His leadership has extended to his appointment on the recently created New York City Jewish Community Council. Under Greenfield's stewardship, the Met Council has expanded its services throughout the city and widened its scope to address issues on a national scale.

Editors note: David Greenfield is a member of NYN Medias advisory board.

CEO and Executive Director, FPWA

Once New York City Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams shook hands on a $107 billion budget agreement in June, Jennifer Jones Austin decided to take a closer look. A month later, the FPWA issued a report tracking cuts in social services and staffing that Jones Austin said would worsen wage inequities for public sector jobs while also harming vulnerable New Yorkers. The anti-poverty leader was instrumental in creating the racial justice ballot questions that voters passed last year.

Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition

The New York Immigration Coalitions Murad Awawdeh has stood strong in the face of New Yorks growing migrant crisis. In addition to pushing for increased state funding to aid the incoming immigrants, Awawdeh has been an outspoken advocate for immigrant rights and critic of New York Citys handling of the crisis. NYIC is a coalition of over 200 member organizations serving a wide range of communities, many of which have banded together in response to the migrant crisis, providing material support while advocating for federal changes to work certification and housing support.

President and CEO, The Childrens Village

Matching children with loving foster homes remains a challenge with about 7,000 children in New York Citys foster care system. Jeremy Kohombans work helping thousands of children and families navigate foster care prompted former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to appoint him to the citys commission to close Rikers Island. Kohomban argued the Adams administration should stick to its schedule to shutter the jail and follow the commissions recommendations. In the meantime, The Childrens Village received a grant to work with the Fair Futures coaching program to help youth in detention with career development, employment and academic support.

President and CEO, Public Health Solutions

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed health care inequities, but Lisa David is fighting to ensure that the social safety net doesnt entirely disappear. David sought to keep her health clinics running even as post-pandemic budgets tightened and even opened a new Neighborhood WIC center in the Bronx last year to help women, infants and children receive nutrition. This summer, she celebrated the FDAs approval of an over-the-counter birth control pill, which her centers will likely distribute, and she honored longtime friend, Dr. Anthony Fauci, at Public Health Solutions annual gala in June.

President and CEO, Breaking Ground

Beginning her journey with Breaking Ground in 1999, Brenda Rosen has worked diligently to increase access to supportive housing across New York City. Breaking Ground now operates about 4,000 units of such housing, including the newly established 90 Sands supportive housing in Downtown Brooklyn. Through its Street to Home program and transitional housing units, Breaking Ground aims to alleviate New Yorks homelessness crisis. Rosen has also partnered with businesses to develop privately funded outreach to people experiencing homelessness and teamed up with the Partnership for New York City to launch the Homeless Assistance Fund.

CEO, Safe Horizon

After succeeding Safe Horizons longtime CEO Ariel Zwang in 2021, Liz Roberts helped the nations largest victim services organization lobby for the passage of the Adult Survivors Act. One year later, lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul passed the law giving survivors the ability to sue sex abusers that occurred after the victims were 18 years old. Last November, Roberts launched a campaign to inform the public about the one-year window for filing lawsuits, with E. Jean Carrolls lawsuit against former President Donald Trump among its highest-profile cases.

President; Westchester Community Foundation Executive Director; Long Island Community Foundation Executive Director, The New York Community Trust

The New York Community Trust and its affiliated organizations know how to get stuff done for communities and groups across the region. Amy Freitag, the president of The New York Community Trust, recently announced a new partnership with community foundations from around the country to create the Community Foundation Climate Collaborative to develop local solutions to the climate crisis. Laura Rossi, executive director of the affiliated Westchester Community Foundation, oversaw its recent grant awards, which include funding to the Council on American-Islamic Relations for a civic engagement and legal services program, an education and prisoner reentry program for Westchester County youth through 914United and funding for Riverkeeper to coordinate a countywide sewer consolidation campaign. Long Island Community Foundation Executive Director David Okorn led recent grantmaking to Housing Help to create an affordable housing coalition on Long Island, the Long Island Pine Barrens Society for land preservation and the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center to combat food insecurity in East Hampton.

President and CEO, Graham Windham

Kimberly Hardy Watson still gets emotional when she recalls being separated from her siblings and put in a foster home in the 1970s. Watsons experience has shaped how she has led Graham Windham, where she became the first Black woman to lead the 217-year-old organization two years ago. Graham Windham worked to help foster families cover the rising costs of baby formula last year. They have also continued to provide after-school programs, mental and behavioral health services, and career coaching to help children succeed.

Editors note: Kimberly Hardy Watson is a member of NYN Medias advisory board.

President and CEO, YMCA of Greater New York

Sharon Greenberger leads the YMCA of Greater New York, a nonprofit organization that reaches over 500,000 individuals through its 24 branches across New York City. The health and community organization offers programs to individuals of all ages and recently raised $1.35 million for its Rowe Scholars program, a college readiness and career development program for high school students in New York City. Greenberger has also announced a yearlong, free lifeguard certification program to address a lifeguard shortage at city pools.

CEO, FJC

Sam Marks has established himself as a leader in the world of donor-advised funds, a key part of the nonprofit sector that is not as widely discussed as foundations directly. Marks has led FJC in a number of areas recently, including a new program with The Fortune Society to create an innovative donor fund source for the prison reentry nonprofit. FJC leads NYC Boss Up, a nonprofit that has awarded grants to New York City Housing Authority residents to become entrepreneurs.

President and CEO, The New York Womens Foundation

Ana Oliveira is the president and CEO of the New York Womens Foundation, a philanthropy pursuing a mission of gender, race and economic justice. For the past 17 years, Oliveira has led the organization, increasing its grantmaking capacity to a $100 million milestone in 2021 while expanding philanthropic partnerships. In response to recent shifts limiting abortion access in many states, the organization has doubled down on its advocacy and investments in the movement for comprehensive reproductive rights.

President and CEO, Nonprofit New York

Nonprofit New York leader Meg Barnette has a long track record of leadership in the nonprofit sector. Prior to her appointment to the role in 2020, she spent nine years working for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York and spent time at the Brennan Center for Justice as well. Today, Barnette leads Nonprofit New York, offering support and advocacy to nonprofit organizations across the state, engaging with over 4,000 organizations within the last year.

CEO, Harlem Childrens Zone

Kwame Owusu-Kesse officially took over Harlem Childrens Zone five months into the COVID-19 pandemic, but the promotion didnt stress him out. He immediately started working with schools to reduce their COVID-19 risks during their September 2020 reopenings, then plotted an expansion of Harlem Childrens Zones model to six different cities. Last year, Owusu-Kesse secured a $100 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to close the achievement gap, and Harlem Childrens Zone co-sponsored an education summit with the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Executive Director, Citizens Committee for Children

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer March welcomed the expanded federal child tax credit which would help 3.5 million New York children. But additional funding for children has been harder to come by. Her Citizens Committee for Children calculated that child care costs take up half the median income of families with young children even as pandemic dollars dried up and New York City Mayor Eric Adams budget proposals slashed funding for universal prekindergarten. March also demanded the city to eliminate the 90-day eligibility rule for receiving housing vouchers.

President and CEO, Urban Resource Institute

Recently celebrating his 10th year at the organization, Nathaniel M. Fields leads Urban Resource Institute, a nonprofit seeking to end cycles of domestic violence, trauma and poverty. Fields leadership has been integral in URIs establishment of its People and Animals Living Safely and Economic Empowerment Programs, addressing the complexities of domestic and economic abuse, and supporting survivors with a trauma-informed client approach. URI has also made strides in support for youth experiencing trauma and homelessness, through its Relationship Abuse Prevention Program.

President and CEO, United Way of New York City

Grace Bonilla leads United Way of New York City, a city-based nonprofit organization supporting low-income communities through collective impact. Working alongside government and private sector actors, Bonilla supports the mission of increasing economic mobility for all New Yorkers. As the organizations first Latina president, Bonilla brings her lived experience as an immigrant to the table, motivating her pursuit of equitable solutions to long-lasting systemic inequalities. The group recently sponsored a report highlighting the true cost of living doubling citywide since 2000, straining many households.

CEO, City Harvest

Since 2006, Jilly Stephens has led New York Citys largest food rescue organization, City Harvest. City Harvest has collected and distributed over 1 billion pounds of food to individuals suffering from food insecurity in the past 40 years and has reported a 70% increase in demand at local food pantries since the onset of COVID-19. Recently opening new headquarters and warehouse space in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, City Harvest has set a goal to distribute 75 million pounds of food by the end of this year.

President and CEO, The Bronx Community Foundation

Meisha Porter wasnt going to stay on as New York City schools chancellor when Eric Adams took over as mayor, but the veteran educator found a nice fit when she took on the role to lead the new Bronx Community Foundation in 2022. The Bronx native helped launch a Bronx Cannabis Hub to assist dispensaries with their licenses, partnered with the New York City Council to help asylum-seekers settle into the city and helped fund the Small Business Security Initiative to protect the boroughs bodegas. Now, shes leading the foundations first strategic planning process.

Executive Director, United Neighborhood Houses

Susan Stamler leads the United Neighborhood Houses collection of 38 community centers and housing units across New York state. The Queens native has accumulated over 16 years of collective experience at UNH, a century-old organization providing programs for New Yorkers reaching from childhood to senior-focused support. In her current role, Stamler oversees strategy, fundraising and advocacy, including recent efforts to advocate for the Our City, Our Vote legislation, or Local Law 11, allowing green card holders, permanent residents and noncitizens with work permits to vote in city elections.

President and CEO, The New York Foundling

A former New York City deputy mayor, Melanie Hartzog has led The New York Foundling since leaving City Hall last year. The child welfare organization has been touting a number of successes, including a 40% decrease in mental health crises in the citys public schools for students participating in a Foundling program and that 95% of students transitioning out of foster care have moved into permanent housing due to a Foundling program. The Foundlings Bronx-based charter school for foster care students has shown a positive impact on graduation and academic success.

President and CEO, Samaritan Daytop Village

Originally established as a Queens community center, Samaritan Daytop Village is a 60-year-old human services organization with programs ranging from mental health care, substance abuse treatment, employment and housing support services. Mitchell Netburn leads the organization as president and CEO and brings over 30 years of experience working within human services and governmental sectors. Previously, as the head of Project Renewal, Netburn oversaw a $80 million budget, serving 15,000 clients suffering from housing insecurity.

President and CEO, Childrens Aid

Phoebe Boyer has spent almost a decade as the president and CEO of Childrens Aid, where she has worked diligently to strengthen the organizations programming for children facing poverty in high-risk neighborhoods across New York City. In addition to bolstering the organizations various academic, health and community programming, Boyer has remained an outspoken advocate for the importance of nonprofits and the 2022 Nonprofit Sector Strength and Partnership Act, which would allow nonprofits to have more of an impact on policy creation within their expertise areas.

Executive Director, Good Shepherd Services

Named executive director in 2019, Michelle Yanche has spent 30 years working her way up the ladder at the youth and family development organization Good Shepherd Services. At one of the largest nonprofits serving youth and families in New York City, Yanche oversees the expansion and implementation of their 90 programs, directly impacting over 30,000 individuals and families. In August, GSS hosted its third annual book bag giveaway, aiming to ease costs for 100 children this school year amid concerns about inflation.

Editors note: Michelle Yanche is a member of NYN Medias advisory board.

President and CEO, SEO

William Goodloe is the president and CEO of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, an organization offering programming and mentorship to students and young professionals who are historically underserved and underrepresented in higher education. SEO supports over 7,000 students nationally, and its recent shift to a fully virtual program model has led to the expansions of its eight-year tuition-free SEO Scholars program and the establishment of the SEO Tech Institute and Leadership Institute.

CEO, YAI

Kevin Carey took the reins of YAI formerly the Young Adult Institute in June following seven years as a top executive at the organization. YAI board Chair Jeff Mordos praised Carey as a stellar executive to lead YAI, which supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. YAI has been conducting increased outreach with elected officials, inviting state legislators to tour its programs in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Westchester County. YAI staged a successful Central Park Challenge in June to highlight neurodivergent people and people with disabilities. Carey succeeded George Contos, initially as interim CEO.

President and CEO, SCO Family of Services

When SCO Family of Services needed a new leader this year, they didnt need to look far. Suzette Gordon joined the Long Island human services organization four years ago as its first legal counsel and has since served in different capacities running its marketing, human resources and press departments. She also developed policies for its COVID-19 task force. In 2022, SCO Family of Services held its inaugural career readiness fair for foster care youths in Briarwood and reopened its Genovese Family Life Center in Jamaica for families dealing with trauma.

President and CEO, Camba

In order to tackle New York Citys rapidly growing housing and homelessness crisis, Joanne Oplustil has sought to provide transitional and affordable housing developments. Construction has been underway at Cambas $39 million state-financed supportive housing building with a new primary care center in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and its 323-unit rent-stabilized project in Bedford Park, Bronx, with priorities for formerly homeless families in shelters. In July, Camba announced plans for a 200-unit Crown Heights, Brooklyn, high-rise for seniors with a community teaching kitchen and a food pantry.

Founder and CEO, Man Up Inc.

Andre Mitchells influence does not stop at the door of Man Up Inc. it goes all the way to Gracie Mansion. Mitchell has served since June 2022 as New York Citys first gun violence prevention czar. Mitchell has outlined a plan to address many of the root causes of violence and gang participation, noting that his goal is to show that gun violence is not an answer. Mitchell has also implemented an action plan to address management issues at Man Up following a city Department of Investigation report.

Executive Director, Covenant House New York

For the past eight years, Shakeema North has been dedicated to youth and community development at Covenant House, an organization aiming to end youth homelessness. Recently named executive director of the organizations New York wing, North has created and bolstered youth development programming, which has proven to be crucial amid reports of increasing rates of youth homelessness in the city. As executive director, North continues to bring awareness to the cause even organizing an event where high-profile actors slept on the streets among individuals affected by housing insecurity.

President and CEO, Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth

The Berkshire Farm Center works with children and families in need in 55 counties across New York. The center oversees 550 foster homes and in 2022 worked with more than 8,000 children. Among the services the center provides are programs to keep families together, reunite foster children with their families and unite children in shelter care with family members or sponsors across the country, as well as education programming for children in detention. Center President and CEO Brian Parchesky has pressed Gov. Kathy Hochul to make child welfare a top priority.

President and CEO, The Doe Fund

Jennifer Mitchell has the herculean task of managing The Doe Funds hallmark prisoner reentry program and supporting housing portfolio at a time when street homelessness is rising, as well as replacing the organizations indefatigable founder, George McDonald, who died in 2021. Mitchell, who started her career at The Doe Fund, returned in January as the organization secured a $53 million construction loan for a 200-bed transitional residence in Brooklyn. Mitchell has since strengthened its certificate training program for construction jobs and broken ground on a $71 million 151-unit supportive housing development in the Bronx.

CEO, JCCA

A lawyer by trade, Ronald Richter spent the majority of his career working as a juvenile rights lawyer, family court judge and commissioner at the New York City Administration for Childrens Services. Since 2015, Richter has led the child welfare association, JCCA, overseeing a $120 million annual budget and supporting about 17,000 individuals annually with foster, mental health and juvenile justice support. Despite years of positive impact on New Yorks youth, local officials have raised concerns about dangerous conditions in JCCAs Westchester facility for youth with behavioral issues.

President and CEO, Westhab

For nearly a decade, Richard Nightingale has led Westhabs expansion in the region while helping more than 9,000 unhoused families find permanent housing and more than 8,000 people find job opportunities. In 2019, he inked a deal for a new Port Morris, Bronx, office consolidating its city-based workforce. Then, Nightingale secured about $35 million in financing for a 63-unit affordable housing project and community center in Yonkers, which opened in 2021. This year, Westhab opened a shelter in Queens to meet the needs of the citys growing adult homeless population.

CEO, Fountain House

With years of experience in litigation, policy development and social advocacy, Ken Zimmerman became an advocate for mental health reform following the death of his son in 2016 due to serious mental illness. In 2020, Zimmerman founded the Mental Health Strategic Impact Initiative, a think and do tank aiming to transform existing mental health support systems. Last year, Zimmerman was named CEO of Fountain House, a national nonprofit providing mental health support, direct services and policy advocacy. Fountain House was previously led by Dr. Ashwin Vasan, whos now New York Citys health commissioner.

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The 2023 Nonprofit Power 100 - City & State