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.

Dr. John Brothers specializes in executive leadership, at the Support Center for Nonprofit Management. He is the lead consultant on the annual Support Center’s Prudential/Victoria Capacity Building conference and is the co-editor in chief of the Rutgers/Support Center Journal for Nonprofit

Management. In 2013, Dr. Brothers became the Chair of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. He is also a popular blogger with the Stanford Social Innovation Review, recently collaborated on a book on nonprofit leadership with SAGE Publishing and has a book, Building Nonprofit Capacity: Strategic Tools for Managing Change,www.buildingnonprofitcapacity.com, which was released by Jossey-Bass in October 2011. John is an adjunct professor at Rutgers University, and is a former fellow with the Children’s Defense Fund and the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs. 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 Public University.

Sammi Collidge graduated from the College of Charleston with degrees in Anthropology and History. She brings a diverse mix of skills to the Support Center including fundraising, special events, research and board relations. These skills were honed while serving as an intern with various organizations including Amnesty International, American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro, Mercy Corps and Love Heals. Sammi served as Co-Chair of Generation Next, the Young Leadership Board of the American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro from 2010-2012. Sammi is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Fundraising and Grantmaking at New York University.

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, administration, 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.

Contact Vivian with any general questions and she will help you or
find the right person to help you.

Vivian joined joined the Support Center this summer following several years of working with the Community Resource Exchange (CRE). Vivian brings a variety of important skills and characteristics to our team, including technology, social media, communications, and customer service. Vivian brings non-stop energy to her work and is working on a BA in Marketing at Baruch College and expects to graduate in 2014.

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.

Contact Heather if you are a grantmaker or supporter, or want to know more about supporting our activities.

Heather comes to the Support Center as the former Executive Director/CEO of Partnership in Philanthropy (PIP) (now merged with the Support Center). Prior to PIP, Heather was Executive Vice President of The Drucker Foundation in New York, an organization whose mission was to strengthen the leadership of the social sector by providing nonprofit executives with essential leadership wisdom, inspiration and resources. Before moving to New York City, Heather was the Director of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, Boston, which funds legal services to the poor. Heather received her B.A. in Art History from George Washington University and her M.A. in Museum Administration from Seton Hall University. She is a board member of the Chatham Education Foundation and is also a volunteer with the Junior League of Summit, Chatham Recreation and the Girls Scouts.

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.

Donate to the Steve Damiano Scholarship Fund


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In Memoriam - Steve Damiano