FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 25, 2026
Contact:
Sue Tornicelli, VP, Marketing and Communications 
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518-434-9194 Ext. 121

SEN. MAYER, ASM. PAULIN, NONPROFIT LEADERS HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE URGING HOCHUL TO SIGN STATE CONTRACTING REFORMS AFTER ADVOCATES QUASH NYC PAYMENT DELAY PLAN

Elected and nonprofit leaders celebrated passage of contracting reform legislation and called on the Governor to sign the bills into law.

Click here for photos and video from the press conference

ELMSFORD, NY (June 25, 2026) — State lawmakers and nonprofit leaders gathered at the Nonprofit Westchester headquarters on Thursday to celebrate the legislative passage of two nonprofit contracting reform bills — S.9761 (Mayer) / A.10741 (Paulin) and S.9855A (Mayer) / A.11179 (Paulin) — urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the legislation into law. The policies would establish clear standards, greater accountability, and more predictable payment practices for nonprofits contracting with state agencies.

Joining the elected officials were representatives from nonprofits and advocacy organizations, including The Children's Village, Human Services Council, New York Council of Nonprofits, New York Legal Services Coalition, Nonprofit New York, and Nonprofit Westchester, who detailed how the current contracting system results in programmatic cutbacks and existential risks for organizations delivering essential services on behalf of the state.

Advocates said the recent debate over nonprofit payments in New York City underscored the importance of reliable funding systems. Earlier this month, nonprofit organizations successfully beat back a reported proposal by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration to delay billions of dollars in advance payments. The purported plan was allegedly hatched before a new city law requiring 50% advance payments was to take effect on July 1. While the administration ultimately reversed course, advocates for the sector said the scare highlighted the financial challenges nonprofits face when government payments become uncertain.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 5, 2026
Contact:
Sue Tornicelli, VP, Marketing and Communication 
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518-434-9194 Ext. 121

NONPROFIT LEADERS APPLAUD LEGISLATURE FOR PASSING CONTRACTING REFORM BILLS TO FIX NEW YORK'S BROKEN PAYMENT SYSTEM

Sponsored by Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, the legislation would establish clearer payment schedules, strengthen accountability, and help nonprofit providers focus on serving New Yorkers rather than navigating bureaucratic delays

ALBANY, NY — The Human Services Council, New York Council of Nonprofits, New York Legal Services Coalition, Nonprofit New York, and Nonprofit Westchester today applauded the New York State Legislature for passing S.9761 (Mayer) / A.10741 (Paulin) and S.9855 / A.11179 (Paulin), landmark legislation designed to address longstanding delays and inefficiencies in the State's contracting system with nonprofit organizations.

Nonprofits are a critical part of New York's social safety net, providing housing assistance, legal services, healthcare, workforce development, services for older adults and people with disabilities, and support for children and families. Yet many organizations routinely wait months—and in some cases more than a year—to receive payment for work already completed. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin would establish clearer payment timelines, improve transparency and accountability, expand access to bridge financing, and help prevent minor administrative issues from delaying payments to organizations delivering essential services on behalf of the State.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Tornicelli, VP Marketing and Communications
New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc
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800-515-5012 Ext 121

Good Causes Inc. to Conclude Fiscal Sponsorship Services This Spring

New York State — After thoughtful review and consideration by its Board, Good Causes, Inc., a NYCON affiliate, will conclude its fiscal sponsorship services in May 2026.

For 28 years, Good Causes has served as a trusted fiscal sponsor. It provided administrative oversight, financial stewardship, and a supportive home for emerging nonprofits, collaboratives, and programs in transition. Through this work, community leaders were able to build new nonprofits and create meaningful impact. Groups that started with Good Causes and became standalone nonprofit organizations are today helping communities across New York State through youth development, arts, food programs, and more. NYCON affiliate BoardStrong also got its start through Good Causes.

“The time was right for this change, as we have seen the increasing challenges in the nonprofit sector and a greater need to help existing nonprofits,” said Joshua Sabo, Esq., Chair of the Good Causes Board. “This decision fits with NYCON’s strategic plan and keeps resources focused where they can have the greatest statewide impact.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 27, 2026
Contact: Kate McNally, Senior Capacity Building Advisor
800-515-5012 ext. 114
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THE SCRIVEN FOUNDATION AND NYCON ANNOUNCE 2026 CAPACITY BUILDING “MINI GRANTS” AVAILABLE FOR OTSEGO COUNTY NONPROFITS

Cooperstown, NY – The New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 Otsego County Mini-Grant Program in partnership with The Scriven Foundation. The focus of this effort is to measurably improve the governance and management of qualifying Otsego County 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits.

Applications will be accepted immediately and through Friday, February 27, 2026. Initiated in 2004, this program is made possible with underwriting from The Scriven Foundation. The Mini-Grant Program is an important resource for local nonprofits facing significant challenges or striving to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of organizational management, governance, and/or program services.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Susan Tornicelli, VP Marketing and Communications
New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON)
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800-515-5012 ext. 121

Statement on Governor’s veto of the Nonprofit contracting bill 

December 8, 2025 - Human Services Council of New York, New York Council of Nonprofits, New York Legal Services Coalition, Nonprofit New York, and Nonprofit Westchester have been working together to help the state address its broken nonprofit contracting system, including releasing a white paper, Nonprofits in Peril, earlier this year. The State Comptroller also released a report, the Critical Role of Nonprofits, which outlines their economic role in New York.

The coalition released the following statement in response to the Governor’s veto of their priority legislation:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Susan Tornicelli, VP Marketing and Communications
New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON)
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800-515-5012 ext. 121

NYCON CEO Megan Allen Featured on Spectrum News: Nonprofits Collaborate to Meet Community Needs

Nonprofits in New York are finding creative ways to support their communities

December 2, 2025 - Megan Allen, CEO, New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), was featured on Spectrum News 1 Rochester discussing how nonprofits across the state are collaborating to maximize their impact.

“We are seeing in the sector a lot of nonprofits saying, 'How can we work more together? How can we collaborate with other nonprofits to work as efficiently as possible?’” - Megan Allen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Alex Dery Snider, Policy and Communications Director
Empire Justice Center
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202.641.5124 

Susan Tornicelli, VP Marketing and Communications
New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON)
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800-515-5012 ext. 121

Over 500 Nonprofits Call on Governor Hochul to Sign Contracting Reform Legislation paper

Broken contracting system pushing critical nonprofits to the brink

June, 24, 2025 - A sign on letter was delivered to Governor Hochul today, urging her to sign S7001 (Mayer) / A7616 (Paulin) into law. Per the letter, “Chronic contracting delays, inefficiencies and inconsistencies across agencies, burdensome processes, and reimbursements regularly delayed by six months or more totaling hundreds of millions of dollars are pushing New York’s nonprofits to the breaking point.” The over 550 signatories, representing an array of sectors including civil legal services, domestic violence support, civil rights advocacy, arts & culture, education, health, community services, environmental and more, echo the Coalition's urgent call to the Governor for contracting reform in New York state.

About the bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Alex Dery Snider, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
202.641.5124 

Nonprofits put in jeopardy by state contracting and payment delays, per white paper

Persistent delays in payment, an over-reliance on nonprofits to front costs, and a burdensome contracting process are undermining New York State’s nonprofit sector and its ability to serve, according to a white paper released today by the Human Services Council, the New York Council of Nonprofits, the New York Legal Services Coalition, Nonprofit New York, and Nonprofit Westchester. 

New York State Finance Law requires that reimbursements should be paid within 30 days, however, in practice, delays in payments consistently last months and can last more than a year.   Nonprofits

Often need to take out interest-bearing loans and then absorb the interest payments themselves.

NYCON Update: Federal Follow Up

March 4, 2025 –We have a few updates and resources to share, as NYCON continues to monitor federal actions:

2025 State of the Sector: Thank you to everyone who responded to NYCON’s annual member survey, which we held open longer than usual so it could reflect members’ views on the impact of federal changes. The full report is now available on our website. Please use this data-filled resource in your advocacy work, grant applications … or anywhere it is helpful. And as always, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for future reports.

Save The Date: On Wednesday, April 9 from noon-1 pm NYCON is hosting a virtual “Federal EOs: Member Conversations,” part of NYCON’s free monthly webinars for members. We will begin with brief updates, then attendees will self-select breakout rooms for smaller facilitated discussions. There remains much unknown, but we hope this will give members a chance to share what they are hearing and doing. Register here

Scriven Foundation and NYCON Announce 2025 Capacity Building Mini Grants for Otsego County Nonprofits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate McNally, Senior Capacity Building Advisor
New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON)
800-515-5012 ext. 114
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THE SCRIVEN FOUNDATION AND NYCON ANNOUNCE 2025 CAPACITY BUILDING “MINI GRANTS” AVAILABLE FOR OTSEGO COUNTY NONPROFITS

Oneonta, NY – The New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Otsego County Mini-Grant Program in partnership with The Scriven Foundation. The focus of this effort is to measurably improve the governance and management of qualifying Otsego County 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits. 

Applications will be accepted immediately and through Friday, March 14, 2025. Initiated in 2004, this program is made possible with underwriting from The Scriven Foundation. The Mini-Grant Program is an important resource for local nonprofits facing significant challenges or striving to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of organizational management, governance, and/or program services.