2025 Nonprofit Power Players

Dan Lehman leads HELP USA, a national homeless services and supportive housing organization focused on innovation, equity, and lasting impact. He joined the organization in November 2023 with three decades of nonprofit and government leadership. Dan has emphasized organizational clarity, operational strength, and new strategic partnerships. Previously, he held senior roles at PCDC, NYC DSS and DOHMH, Children’s Aid, and the Collegiate Church of New York, advancing housing-centered solutions for families and individuals in crisis.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field? 
Believe in what you do. Because making a difference is hard and there will be lots of challenges, large and small, along the way. There will be plenty of times where the easier thing would be to give up trying. It’s the belief in what you do that will carry you through those moments. And if you don’t believe in what you do, then know one else will either.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization? 
There needs to be recognition in the value of what nonprofit organizations due; and that means #JustPay – fair contracts and fair pay. Nonprofits provide critical services to hundreds of thousands of people each year and employ tens of thousands of New Yorkers. Nonprofit organizations deserve fair contracts and timely payment for the work hey do; and nonprofit workers should be fairly paid, relative to their City government peers.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026? 
We are in a period of expansion, opening new transitional shelters and relocating others to brand-new purpose built facilities that we will own once completed. We will continue to strengthen our financial position; advocate for innovative housing and homelessness prevention solutions; and fair contracts and wages; and celebrate our 40th anniversary in working to ensure that everyone has a place to call home. 

Dan Leventhal is the founder and executive director of Bronx Lacrosse, a nonprofit using lacrosse, academic support, and mentorship to empower Bronx youth to reach their full potential. Under Dan’s leadership, Bronx Lacrosse has equipped hundreds of South Bronx youth with the skills, confidence, and discipline to excel in the classroom and on the field. A Teach for America alumnus, Dan holds a degree from Tufts University and a master’s in education from Fordham University.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
You get out what you put in. Passion is everything in this work. It is not always easy, but if you believe in the mission and truly care about your community, that purpose will guide you through challenges and make the impact deeply rewarding.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization?
Everyday New Yorkers can support by volunteering as tutors, mentors, or advocates who help our student-athletes thrive on and off the field. Policymakers can expand funding for youth sports and education programs in underserved communities, recognizing the power of sport to transform lives. Visit bronxlacrosse.org to learn more.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026?
In 2026, Bronx Lacrosse will launch our new College Access Center, which will serve as our first-ever home base and dedicated space for students. The center will expand academic and mentoring support for high schoolers. We aim for 95% school attendance, 85% GPA, and 100% graduation and postsecondary enrollment for seniors, while continuing to achieve success on the lacrosse field and in life.

Donna Lieberman has been the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union since December 2001. She also founded the NYCLU’s Reproductive Rights Project. Under her leadership, the NYCLU has become the foremost defender of civil rights and civil liberties in New York. Lieberman pioneered an integrated advocacy model that combines strategic litigation, policy analysis, lobbying, organizing and public education. The NYCLU prioritizes strengthening democracy, promoting equality, pursuing justice and protecting liberty and privacy.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
Listen!  Being an effective advocate requires a lot more than knowing what you think is right. It requires curiosity about what others think as well, whether it’s wonky wisdom from a seasoned legal expert, or the lived experiences of the communities you serve, or the firmly-held beliefs of those you disagree with, all have different points of view.    

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization?
The NYCLU makes taking action easy. Each year, we put out an Albany agenda for state lawmakers, who have a ready blueprint for making New York stronger and advancing justice.  Everyday New Yorkers can take action with us at the state and local levels by visiting nyclu.org/get-involved. The NYCLU relies on the donations of our members and supporters to fund our work. We do not accept government funding. To donate, visit nyclu.org/donate.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026?
Defend New York and our democracy from the authoritarian policies of the Trump Administration. Protect immigrant New Yorkers, resist the effort to dismantle legal protections for racial equality, defend free speech and the right to learn, and safeguard the right to be yourself. New York and New Yorkers can lead the way.

Garrett Lucien is the executive director at Coro New York Leadership Center. Garrett joined the Coro team in 2013. Garrett brings a wealth of experience in facilitating and has over twenty years of experience in the fields of leadership and community/economic development. His experience includes the design and delivery of leadership programs and fellowships for youth, college students, middle managers, and executives.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
Learning new ideas and skills is important, and it only happens when you are outside your comfort zone. When you try new things, you prepare yourself for the future. You may consider taking on new and difficult tasks that initially feel uncomfortable. Embrace upskilling and reskilling! You can practice this by experimenting with new ideas, skills, and different experiences.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization?
Coro believes in the power of collective action and partnership between nonprofits, government, and philanthropic organizations to improve the lives of New Yorkers. Anyone looking to support Coro New York Leadership Center can head to our website www.Coro.nyc to donate or learn more about our leadership and civic engagement services. Coro’s services include cohort-based leadership development training and organizational management consulting. We partner with New York to build purpose-driven individuals, teams and programs.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026?
The Coro New York Leadership Center has been creating and facilitating spaces for leaders for over 41 years in NYC. Our biggest goal this year is creating and implementing a strategic plan to sustain Coro NY for another 40 years. We hope to build purpose-driven cohort-based leadership development training programs. So that more individuals, communities, and institutions participate in creating an equitable, just, and engaged society.

Patrick McGovern is CEO of Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, which in 2025 provided 23,000 LGBTQ+ patients with comprehensive, judgment-free care regardless of ability to pay. McGovern, an accomplished executive, held leadership roles at Amida Care, an organization he helped found during his role as CEO at Harlem United Community AIDS Center. Previously, McGovern was VP of government affairs at Gilead, where he promoted access to HIV & HCV testing and HCV cures nationwide.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
We choose nonprofit work because we want to live a life of purpose. It is so important to stay in touch with that deep desire. It is also critical to approach your work as you would a business. The public trust demands it. The only difference is that patients/clients are your “shareholders” and purpose, not profit, is your motivation.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization?
We have heroes in our legislatures and executive branches who not only recognize that our battles are not yet won, but see the growing challenges that LGBTQ+ people face. While we have made a lot of progress with our partners and allies in government – now is the time to dig in and defend what we’ve gained and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026?
Since 1969, we have adapted and persevered through every shift in the political landscape to ensure our communities receive the life-saving, affirming care they deserve. Our mission has not changed with the political winds. Callen-Lorde has always stood for more than health care. We stand for dignity, equity and the radical belief that every human being deserves to be seen, affirmed and cared for – without exception.

Crystal McQueen-Taylor is the executive director of StudentsFirstNY and brings more than 20 years of experience in public education and advocacy. A former Bronx teacher and past leader of the NYC Teaching Fellows she later served as regional senior director at Uncommon Schools. At StudentsFirstNY, she leads statewide advocacy to strengthen public education – organizing families, building coalitions, and advancing policy and political change to expand access to high-quality district and charter school opportunities for all students.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
Invest as much in people as you do in policy. Effective advocacy begins with organizing those most impacted – parents, students, and educators – and ensuring their voices drive the agenda. The most lasting change in public education happens when communities are not just participants, but leaders at the center of the fight for equity and opportunity.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization?
Policymakers and everyday New Yorkers can support StudentsFirstNY by standing with families who want excellent public schools – district and charter schools alike. That means working toward equitable funding, holding leaders accountable for results, and ensuring all families have real, high-quality options in their communities. The most powerful change happens when policies and decisions put students’ interests, rather than adult interests, first.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026?
Our 2026 goals include protecting mayoral accountability for New York City Public Schools and advancing funding and facilities equity for charter schools. We’re focused on ensuring that every policy decision strengthens accountability, fairness, and access – so all students, regardless of zip code or school type, can attend a great public school. We also look forward to supporting incumbents and candidates in the upcoming state election cycle who embody these values and champion educational opportunity for all.

Terrence Meck is president and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver, where he leads with vision, compassion, and a deep commitment to ensuring that every New Yorker living with serious illness is nourished with dignity and love. A Princeton graduate and passionate advocate for food as medicine, Terrence is guiding the organization’s next era of growth, proving that nourishment can heal, community can unite, and love can truly transform lives.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
Choose a mission that speaks to your heart. Let passion and purpose guide you and stay close to the communities you serve. Be curious, listen deeply, and never underestimate the power of kindness and courage. This work demands resilience, but when your values guide your choices, you build trust, inspire others, and create change that lasts. Lead with integrity, believe in people, and your impact will grow beyond anything you imagined.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization?
Policymakers can support God’s Love by advancing policies that recognize medically tailored meals as essential care and by investing in programs that allow us to reach more New Yorkers affected by serious illness. Every New Yorker can help by volunteering, sharing our services with someone who may need them, or making a gift that helps us nourish our neighbors with dignity, compassion, and love.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026?
In 2026, our focus is clear: building a smarter, stronger, and more equitable system of care so every New Yorker who qualifies for our services can receive our meals. We will deepen strategic partnerships, expand capacity responsibly, and strengthen efficiency so we can do more while never sacrificing quality or compassion. Even as challenges rise, we will lead with love, hope, and excellence, proving that care and community can meet this moment and thrive.

Iman Mergen is the founder and executive director of We Belong Here, a leading nonprofit organization championing safety and social justice for communities in New York. With over a decade of activism in human rights and humanitarian causes, Mergen’s commitment to empowering marginalized communities shines through her work. Her advocacy has garnered attention from global platforms, reflecting her dedication to building a world where everyone has equal opportunities.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in your field?
Lead with purpose, not perfection. In this work, you’ll often face systems that feel too big to move and moments that test your faith in impact – but consistency and heart always win. Build authentic relationships, listen deeply to the communities you serve, and remember that advocacy is a long game powered by empathy and persistence. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but every act of service plants a seed for the future you’re working toward.

How can policymakers and everyday New Yorkers support your organization?
Policymakers can support us by investing in grassroots organizations that are closest to the communities they serve – funding culturally competent outreach, trauma-informed care and immigrant support programs that address real needs on the ground. Everyday New Yorkers can make a difference by showing up: volunteering, donating and amplifying our mission to ensure that no neighbor feels left behind. Collective care starts with each of us choosing to build a more compassionate, equitable city together.

What are your organization’s goals for 2026?
We Belong Here NY aims to expand our programs: centering healing, leadership and belonging for those most impacted by inequity. We’re working to grow our empowerment initiatives for women, enhance trauma-informed support for survivors and increase access to essential services for children and families. Our vision is to launch a community hub that brings these programs together – a space where care, education and advocacy intersect to help every client feel safe, seen and supported.

Gary began his YAI career in 1998 and has been central to expanding community-based services, including the shift from facility-based programs to Without Walls. He advanced from day services coordinator to regional director in 2017, senior regional director in 2021, and chief program officer in 2025 before assuming his current role. He is committed to developing behavioral health services, supporting international deinstitutionalization, and promoting self-directed supports.

Frankie Miranda is the first openly gay president and CEO of the Hispanic Federation (HF), the nation’s premier Latino nonprofit membership organization. Since joining HF in 1998, he has played a key role in expanding HF’s member network to include hundreds of community-based organizations that operate across the U.S. while also establishing critical programs that empower hundreds of thousands of Latinos. Frankie lives in Queens with his husband Ricardo and cat Valentina.