New York State Nonprofit Unit

Fran Barrett, Interagency Coordinator for Nonprofit Organizations

Fran Barrett joined State Government in April 2012 as the first Interagency Coordinator for Nonprofit Organizations in the Governor’s office. Previously, Fran had a long career in the nonprofit sector, including her role as Director of Capacity Building at Atlantic Philanthropies, and as the Founder and Executive Director of Community Resource Exchange, a highly regarded nonprofit management assistance organization in New York City.

Fran has successfully engaged with, and is often praised by, hundreds of nonprofits. She was the recipient of the Brook Astor Award, and was given a lifetime achievement award by the Nonprofit Management Association. Fran has served on the boards of Community Service Society, Campaign for Human Development, Samaritan House, the New York Women’s Foundation, and the organization previously known as the Community Food Resource Center. She has taught at Baruch College at CUNY, and has l lectured at Executive Leadership Programs at Columbia Business School and Columbia Nonprofit Law clinic.

Fran’s life work is to help and support nonprofit leaders as they work to strengthen New York State’s communities.

Lillian Y. Padilla, Chief of Staff

Lillian joined State government in 2015 as an Executive Assistant, and managed multiple senior executive staff in the Executive Chamber. Shortly thereafter, she was recruited by the Nonprofit Unit as Special Assistant to work on research-based projects and traveled with the nonprofit team across NYS, visiting various nonprofit sites. Lillian stepped fully into her new role as Chief of Staff of the Nonprofit Unit in 2021. She manages research and resulting briefings. In addition, she is solely responsible for operational management, planning and staffing quarterly meetings of the Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee. Lillian has open and constant communication with relevant state agency heads and nonprofit leadership. She is working towards improving nonprofits’ ability to interact effectively with State government, and conversely making sure State executives are fully versed in the important role nonprofits play.

Lillian is a native New Yorker and a Queens resident. She has held leadership positions on PTA boards and on the School Leadership Team committee. She also leads, manages and supervises three ministries at her church. Lillian is inspired by her faith, community volunteer work, her love for animals, and values her time spent with her daughter and family.

Meredith Finnerty, Special Assistant

Meredith, the latest addition to the Nonprofit Unit, is excited to join the team as Special Assistant.

She was most recently Office Manager for Salvadori Center, an education nonprofit. Prior to that, Meredith provided research and administrative support to various New York City clients; and was a birth doula, after departing the executive search field for a decade+ of full-time parenting alongside property management.

Meredith earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Cum Laude) from The City College of New York. A New York City native raised in Winchendon, Massachusetts, she has been a proud resident of Northern Manhattan for more than twenty years.

The Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee (NFPCAC) was established by §179-aa of the New York State's Prompt Contracting Law, enacted in 1991 as Article XI-B of the State Finance Law. The goal of the Committee is to report to the Governor and the Legislature with recommendations on improving the contracting procedures with not-for-profit organizations, which receive state funds.

The Committee is composed of 16 board members: Eight (8) members are appointed by the Governor of whom four (4) represent nonprofit organizations providing services in the state; Two (2) upon recommendation of the President of the Senate; Two (2) upon recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly, and Eight (8) members represent state agencies designated by the Governor. The Chair of the Committee is also a designated appointee of the Governor. Members of the Board serve at pleasure. The Committee meets four (4) times a year.

NFPCAC Meetings

2024 Calendar Year NFPCAC Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, February 13, 2024
1 - 2:30pm via Zoom

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
1 - 2:30pm via Zoom

Tuesday, September 17, 2024
1 - 2:30pm via Zoom

Tuesday, November 19, 2024
1 - 2:30pm via Zoom

View past meeting agendas and minutes

NFPCAC Board Members

Executive
Wayne Ho, Chair

Senate
Jan Fisher
Frederick Shack

Assembly
Hon. Andrew D. Hevesi

Ex-officio Members
Hanna Rubin, Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
Melody Goetz, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC)
Edward Lenart, State Education Department (SED)
Sue Mantica, Department of Health (DOH)
Deborah Merrow, Office of Mental Health (OMH)
Shannon L. Plasencia, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
Marcos Ortiz, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
Michelle Heaslip, Division of the Budget (DOB)

7 State Contract Agencies

This is a list of the seven (7) contract agencies that deal with most of the New York State nonprofit contracts. To help better assist you, please provide the contract number(s) in question when reaching out to your respective state contract agency.

• New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA)
  • Lenn Ditman
    Director of Grants Management and Information Technology
    (212) 459-8810
    [email protected]
    
• Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
  • Dean Defruscio
    Deputy Commissioner, Policy and Planning
    (518) 485-7913
    [email protected]
    
• Department of Labor (DOL)
  • Julie Keating
    Workforce Programs Manager 2
    (518) 457-9530
    [email protected]
    
• Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
  • Kathleen Meerwarth
    Director, Bureau of Contract Management
    (518) 486-7224
    [email protected]
    
• ​​Office of Mental Health (OMH)
  • Thomas O’Connor
    Director, Contracts & Claims
    Community Budget & Financial Management
    (518) 473-7885
    [email protected]
    
• Department of Health (DOH)
  • Suzanne Burns-Mantica
    Director, Bureau of Contracts
    (518) 402-7164
    [email protected]
    
• Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
  • Marcos Ortiz
    Assistant Director, Not-for-Profit Unit
    Bureau of Contract Management
    (518) 402-3004
    [email protected]

Nonprofit Membership Organizations (list in formation)

If you know of any membership organizations that might like to be included on this list, please contact the Nonprofit Unit at [email protected].

• Asian-America Federation
• Black Agency Executives
• Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York
• Chinese American Planning Council
• Council of Agency Executives
• Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA)
• Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA)
• Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
• Hispanic Federation
• Human Services Council (HSC)
• Lawyers Alliance for New York
• New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON)
• New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
• Nonprofit New York
• Staten Island Nonprofit Association
• UJA Federation
• United Neighborhood Houses (UNH)
• United Way of New York State
• Western NY Nonprofit Support Group (NSG)

Prequalify for State Funding

Nonprofit organizations must prequalify to do business with New York State agencies before they can compete for State grants. Prequalify today.

NYS Commission on National and Community Service

The NYS Commission on National and Community Service is home to the State's national service and volunteer programs, including: AmeriCorps, Public Health AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA.

Current Initiatives

The Division of Budget (DOB) contract management/Grants Gateway is currently transitioning away from Grants Gateway into the State Financial System (SFS). Targeted launch is January 16, 2024. Here's more information about the transition.

Infrastructure Capital Investment Grants for Critical Services

Eligible nonprofit human services organizations can receive up to $500,000 in capital grant funding to support large- and small-scale construction projects. Read the FAQ here.

Nonprofit contracting opportunities from the Department of Health

Find Health Research Incorporated funding opportunities.

Funding Opportunities from the New York State Council on the Arts' Capital Projects Fund

Up to $37 million in capital funding is available to nonprofit arts and culture organizations through the New York State Council on the Arts' Capital Projects Fund. Learn more and apply here.

Funding Opportunities from the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)

Find Request for Proposals, Invitation for Bids, Request for Information and other funding opportunities through OCFS.

Funding Opportunities from the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)

Find Public Safety Grants through the Division of Criminal Justice Services

Funding Opportunities from the Department of Financial Services (DFS)

Applications are now open to bolster New York’s child care workforce through the Workforce Retention Grant Program. Learn more and apply here.

Funding Opportunities from the Department of Veterans' Services (DVS)

Find funding for capital improvements through the Veterans' Nonprofit Capital Program

Funding Opportunities from the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

$3.5 million available for start-up grants to develop 13 new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, 24-hour centers that provide comprehensive services for those requiring behavioral health support, specifically coordination care across behavioral, physical health, and social service systems. See the Request for Proposals here.

Funding Opportunities from the Office of Mental Health

$3.5 million available for start-up grants to develop 13 new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, 24-hour centers that provide comprehensive services for those requiring behavioral health support, specifically coordination care across behavioral, physical health, and social service systems. See the Request for Proposals here.

Apply for a New York Foundation Grant

To be eligible, the organization must be based in New York City; be a 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored by a 5019c)(3) organization and conduct grassroots advocacy as a primary strategy to address root causes of oppression. Learn more and apply now.

Funding Available through New York Forward Loan Fund 2 Program

$150 million is available through the New York Forward Loan Fund 2 program for qualifying small businesses and nonprofits. Qualified recipients with fewer than 100 employees and less than $5 million in gross annual revenue can apply for loans up to $150,000 with affordable, fixed-rate interest rates. Learn more and apply now

Funding Opportunities from New York Health Foundation (NYHealth)

NYHealth is intentionally and explicitly increasing efforts to improve racial health equity. Through this RFP, NYHealth aims to advance racial health equity through two strategies of our Healthy Food, Healthy Lives program: (1) promoting Food Is Medicine interventions and (2) supporting healthier, culturally responsive food purchasing. Applicants must first complete a letter of inquiry form and submit by 1 p.m., October 23. Learn more and apply now.

Military Families Eligibile for Child Care Assistance

The military fee assistance will offset the cost of child care not covered by the parent fee as calculated by their total family income up to a maximum child care rate of $1800 per month per child. New York State has been selected as the first state approved to qualify licensed/registered child care providers for participation in this federal military fee assistance program.

Center for Community Alternatives Seeks Community Organizers

CCA is hiring two Community Organizers to build power with people and families who have been impacted by systems of criminalization and incarceration. CCA's Community Organizers engage in outreach and powerful grassroots organizing. They also play a key role to decarcerate jails and prisons, dismantle systems of perpetual punishment, and win real investments in community-based resources. Learn more about the position and apply now.

Spring Forward Internship Program

The City University of New York (CUNY) Spring Forward Internship Program gives employers the opportunity to hire talent for no cost.

State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA)

Join the SONYMA team of nonprofit housing partners who help make homeownership a reality for New Yorkers.

Email the Nonprofit Unit at [email protected].