Support Center for Nonprofit Management: About Us

Contact Don if you are a grantmaker or media representative to learn more about the Support Center's programs and services or sector-wide nonprofit leadership issues.

Don brings more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to his work and is nationally recognized as a high-energy trainer and consultant in the areas of grants and funding development, developing effective boards, and nonprofit leadership. He has raised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations and has held numerous positions in organizations in the tri-state area, including roles as Board Member, Director of Research & Development, President, and CEO.

Don has been an associate consultant to BoardSource, and is a trained facilitator of the BoardSource self-assessment process. Don has served on the selection committee for the New York Times Nonprofit Excellence Awards. He holds a BA in Psychology and an MS in Leadership and Strategic Management and is an adjunct professor of graduate studies at Manhattanville College and at NYU's Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising.

John E. Brothers is a recognized leader in the nonprofit and philanthropic arena with over twenty years of sector experience and is a national expert in the field of executive leadership, nonprofit effectiveness, sustainability and assisting organizations in both organizational growth and decline.
Dr. Brothers has a Doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern University, an MPA in Nonprofit Management from New York University and an MBA in Public Policy from American University from which he started at Columbia University. He has taken additional studies at Georgetown University and the London School of Economics. Dr. Brothers is an adjunct professor in social welfare policy at Rutgers University, in nonprofit management at New York University and recently served as a Visiting Scholar at the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University. Dr. Brothers has served in multiple fellowships, including engagements with the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs and the Children's Defense Fund.

Dr. Brothers is also the Editor of the Journal for Nonprofit Management in his role as a Senior Fellow with the Support Center for Nonprofit Management. Dr. Brothers is a popular blogger with the Stanford Social Innovation Review, recently collaborated on a book on nonprofit leadership with SAGE Publishing and has an upcoming book, Building Nonprofit Capacity: Strategic Tools for Managing Change, (www.buildingnonprofitcapacity.com) which was released by Jossey-Bass in October 2011. Dr. Brothers has been interviewed, referenced or quoted in dozens of local, regional, national and international media outlets including the Chronicle of Philanthropy, CRAINS, Washington Post, Newsweek-Japan, ABC News, The New York Post and the Wall Street Journal.

Dr. Brothers, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), is also the Principal of Cuidiu Consulting, a consulting firm servicing nonprofit, philanthropic and government efforts throughout the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Brothers has been a nonprofit executive in several local, regional and national nonprofit efforts, including serving as a CEO, COO and in numerous programming roles. Dr. Brothers gravitated toward non-profit work as a result of his experiences growing up in poverty as a child in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Brothers is married with two young children and lives outside of New York City in NJ.

Sammi graduated from the College of Charleston where she received degrees in Anthropology and History, and holds a Certificate in Fundraising from New York University. She has a diverse mix of skills, including fundraising, special events, and research, honed while serving as an intern with Amnesty International, American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro and Mercy Corps. Samantha is currently the Vice-Chair of Generation Next, the Young Leadership Board of the American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro.

Contact Harriet for any financial or operational question, communications and general questions.

As Chief Operating Officer at the Support Center, Harriet is responsible for all internal operations including finances, administation, human resources, program operations, communications and technology. It is our goal that the Support Center practice what we teach: in our operations, accountability and governance and to be an expert resource to other nonprofits seeking knowledge and expertise.

Harriet brings over 18 years of experience in small business management together with a sustained interest in the areas of nonprofit housing and microenterpise. She successfully founded and ran a small business for 15 years before reentering the nonprofit sector. Harriet graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Political Science in 2001 and has a Certificate in Executive Coaching from NYU.

Harriet moved to New York from London in 1980. In London she worked as a city social worker and then in the homeless and public housing arena. Harriet currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Geel Clubhouse in the Bronx and the Board of Business Center for New Americans in downtown Manhattan.

Julia Lu brings an in depth knowledge of nonprofit management, which has been acquired over two decades through her professional experience in grantmaking, arts administration and professional development. She previously served as the Director of the Cultural Industry Investment Fund for the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ). This $25 million fund was designated as investment capital for the nonprofit arts and cultural sector as a means of building institutional capacity and advancing organizational development.

Prior to joining UMEZ, Ms. Lu was the Director of Programs for the American Academy in Rome—one of the leading independent centers for advanced study in the arts and humanities. From 1996 to 2001, Ms. Lu held dual positions as Program Director and National Conference Director for Chamber Music America. While there, she managed programs to support the institutionalization of historically volunteer-run chamber music organizations, and she also launched the Music Performance Program funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ms. Lu holds a Master of Public Administration in advanced management and finance from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She has served as a grant review panelist and site assessor for national, state and New York City arts agencies. Ms. Lu is a certified mediator.

Janice brings over 15 years of experience and expertise as a grantmaker, trainer, program manager, and fundraising and development consultant to her current position. She previously served as Managing Director of the Brooklyn Arts Council and Managing Officer, Awards and Creative Development at the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). While at NYFA, Janice created the NYFA Leadership Initiative, a capacity building and grant program for arts leaders based in peer coaching.

As a consultant, Janice trained senior and middle managers at Microsoft in peer coaching, in collaboration with Carter McNamara, founder of Authenticity Consulting and the online Free Management Library. Janice has also helped to raise core financial support for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, and facilitated strategic planning processes for the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center, and Philadelphia Dance Projects.

From 1995-2000, Janice held two positions in philanthropy as Program Associate, Culture at The Pew Charitable Trusts and Assistant to the Director of Philanthropy at the Rockefeller Family Office. At the Trusts, she managed an $11 million dollar portfolio of grant awards to cultural organizations in Philadelphia.

Janice earned a BA in dance from Grand Valley State University and has completed graduate level courses in nonprofit management at the Milano Graduate School at the New School University. She is a graduate of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives. Janice has served as a grant review panelist for private foundations, arts councils and state agencies.

Contact Tai for general information, Room Rental questions and resource questions.

Tai graduated of Barnard College where she received her BA in Urban Studies. She has worked and volunteered for a number of nonprofit organizations, including a service learning project with an architectural firm in New Orleans to determine the sustainability of commercial sites and residencies after Hurricane Katrina. Tai's interest in the community resources of New York City makes her a great addition to the Support Center staff.

Calvin is a native and resident of Trenton and is a certified Master Teacher Trainer with the Princeton Center for Leadership Training. Calvin is a former adjunct faculty member with the State of New Jersey Department of Personnel's Human Resource Development Institute.

He has developed a Community Partners for Youth model and works with a community stakeholders group of more than 100 non-profit social service agencies in Trenton and the neighboring communities. He has trained hundreds of parents across the state to organize, lead, and facilitate parent support group meetings in their neighborhoods.

In Memoriam - Steve Damiano

It is with great sadness we share with you the passing of Steve Damiano, our Director of Professional Development. He died in his home on Sunday, July 24, 2011.

Steve successfully led the Professional Development effort here at the Support Center's since March of 2003 — excepting a brief journey to Los Angeles in 2008 to direct the Education Division of the Center for Nonprofit Management there. In his role here at the Support Center, Steve planned and managed hundreds of workshops, serving thousands of nonprofit professionals each year. He dedicated his life to important nonprofit causes, serving as Vice President at MZA Events/AIDS Walk from 1991 - 2003. In that role he managed AIDS Walk Los Angeles and AIDS Walk New York, helping raise money and resources for the cause in these cities.

One of his partners in the AIDS Walk efforts commented: "I worked with Steve for five or six years as a volunteer for AIDS Walk. Steve is the type of leader you like to work for — calm, focused, pragmatic, responsible, caring, able to effectively manage a large number people and someone with a wicked sense of humor."

Steve was a key team member here at the Support Center and his passing leaves a large hole in our hearts. His calm and steady presence will be missed by all of the many friends and colleagues Steve touched throughout his life.

Staff Bios

In Memoriam - Steve Damiano