By Michael V. Cusenza
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards on Tuesday hosted the inaugural Queens Nonprofit Conference at Resorts World New York City in South Ozone Park.
Richards said he organized the conference to spotlight the role nonprofits play in serving the borough’s diverse communities, while also allowing groups in search of funding to connect with a variety of prospective partners.
Co-sponsored by MetroPlus Health and Ponce Bank, the conference included eight different expert-led morning workshops that focused on topics such as fundraising strategies, proposal writing, securing government resources, advocacy, artificial intelligence and more.
In the afternoon, attending nonprofits participated in a resource fair featuring a dozen different public and private entities, as well as one-on-one discussions with corporate sponsors such as JetBlue, ConEdison and National Grid.
Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services Executive Director Johnny Celestin delivered the conference’s keynote address.
“Queens’ nonprofit sector has never been stronger, and my office is working tirelessly to elevate it even higher. Our inaugural Queens Nonprofit Conference is another investment in that mission, as we further empower these amazing groups serving Queens,” Richards said. “To the hundreds of nonprofits who joined us, thank you for uplifting our families. To all our panelists and participants, thank you for your advice and assistance. To our partners, we couldn’t do it without you.”
“Queens’ nonprofits power our diverse, vibrant communities through their services, advocacy and dedication. Our mission over the last 13 years has been to support those nonprofits, whether financially, through our time, or hosting their events. I want to personally thank Borough President Richards for bringing the Queens Nonprofit Summit here to Resorts World New York City, where so many diverse groups can come together united by our love of this amazing place,” said Genting Americas East President Robert DeSalvio. Resorts World NYC is operated by Genting New York.
The conference was Richards’ largest effort to boost the borough’s nonprofit sector. He established the Queens Nonprofit Network in April 2021 to serve as a clearinghouse of information for groups across the borough. In the three years since the network’s formation, the nearly 500 member organizations have been connected to approximately $1 million in public and private funding in the form of micro-grants, foundation awards and corporate sponsorships among other sources.
In May 2023, Richards announced a partnership with the Queens Public Library, which saw a QPL expert in nonprofit services hold free monthly consultations at Borough Hall to assist nonprofits in their searches for funding sources.
Each member organization of the Borough President’s Queens Nonprofit Network is a 501c that serves Queens residents; most predominantly serve historically marginalized communities, and two-thirds have budgets of less than $500,000 — making the work of the network critical in support of the key services that those groups offer, Richards said.
“Our borough’s growing network of nonprofit organizations represents the best of Queens as they dutifully serve our families in every corner of every community. That’s why my office is committed to ensuring these organizations can operate at their fullest potential,” the borough president added.
