Tell Us your Stories, We'll Post Them Here!

Please be sure to come back to this page as we continue to post your stories, comments & reactions to the Governor's announcement of a task force on excessive compensation. Please also be sure to send them to the Governor's Press Office at: press.office@exec.ny.gov

 

Name: Michael Stoller

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: Human Services Council (HSC)

Budget: $500,000 - $1,000,000

Region: New York City Metro Area

 

My Reaction: The disgraceful actions of the leadership of YAI – both its executives and board – unfortunately have maligned the reputation of all the hardworking, generally underpaid executives and staff who provide vitally needed social services.  Exorbitant pay for some translates into disrespect and mistrust of all.  Therefore, to restore this trust, the Human Services Council – a coalition of hundreds of nonprofit providers of social services, the organizations that provide, through contracts with the State, care for the elderly, children, immigrants, the mentally ill, and so many others of our friends and neighbors in need -- supports the Governor's efforts to ensure appropriate executive compensation for nonprofit service providers.

 

Public trust in so many of our society’s vital institutions continues to erode, to the detriment of us all. The Governor's call to verify the appropriate use of public funds is correct. The many for-profit companies that derive most of their income from public sources, such as home care agencies and nursing homes, as well as our cultural institutions, public hospitals and universities, for-profit companies that receive tax breaks or government bond money, and government agencies themselves, all need to be examined in this regard to restore public confidence.  We ask that the Governor include in his compensation task force responsible representative of the nonprofit social service sector, as well as recognized experts in the field of executive compensation.

 

We stand ready to work with the Governor and the task force to create appropriate standards of executive compensation for all recipients of public funds – including comparisons between organizations from all sectors of similar size and responsibility, to train boards of directors in their fiduciary responsibilities, to improve the business relationship between nonprofits and the State, and to inform the public of the crucial role played by the nonprofit sector in our society and in our economy.

 

Name: Susan B. Wayne

Title: President/CEO

Nonprofit: Family Services of Westchester, Inc.

Budget: Over $5,000,000

Region: Westchester County

 

My Reaction: The recent exposé on executive compensation at one agency should not stain the credibility of other New York nonprofit agencies and their leadership. We urge the Governor, his staff and the newly formed task force to ask responsibly in this process of review and be mindful of the extensive regulations and accreditation processes we must follow.

 

Family Services of Westchester serves more than 30,000 children and adults each year through its mental health services and social service programs. The agency is comprised of dedicated professional social workers, psychologists, case workers, teachers, administrative staff and volunteers who help children learn, adults cope with life’s pressures, teens needing a supportive home life, older adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s, children with severe emotional challenges, poor families struggling to manage their emotional and physical well-being and youth needing the friendship of an adult through mentoring.

 

The agency adheres to strict internal policies and procedures in human resources, finance and program delivery. We need external regulations and accreditations such as with the Council on Accreditation and the Better Business Bureau. We are licensed by 7 different departments within New York State government. We meet the qualifications for a Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate of the national organization and as a member of the Alliance for Children & Families. In order to hold contracts with public institutions and local governments we must meet strict criteria. Our CQI is strictly followed and involves agency stay, clients and volunteers.

 

These processes, audits, evaluations, trainings, reporting and data collection are important and we take this work seriously. Our employees’ salaries are modest and they carry significant amounts of work responsibilities in addition to the federal, state, local and internal oversights/evaluations they must do. Our President/CEO works diligently with the support of our Board of Directors to make sure we run an efficient, effective and caring agency. FSW has been cited by Contribute Magazine as one of the top three most efficient charities with low administrative costs in Westchester County for health and human support services.

 

Name: Lisa Sherman-Cohen

Title: Director, Communications & Marketing

Nonprofit: Jewish Child Care Association

Budget: Over $5,000,000

Region: New York City

 

My Reaction: Jewish Child Care Association (JCCA) is a comprehensive child and family services agency that helps 16,000 clients annually. Our 30 programs throughout the five boroughs and Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties is committed to our belief that every child deserves to grow up hopeful. Our dedicated and highly trained staff works with vulnerable children in Foster Home and Residential Services, Mental Health and Preventive Services, Coordinated Community Services, and Services in the Jewish Community.

We have made a real difference in the lives of needy, abused and traumatized children. One example can be seen in the story that follows. William Bitter, an alumnus of our Foster Home Services, speaks of his experiences and growth in care with JCCA. William currently attends Hunter College, where he is on the Dean’s List, and is working on a book about his experiences.

“I came into foster care when I was 11. My mom was mentally ill and paid little to no attention to me. This was just everyday life. I realized that I could not depend on my mom for support. I’m not proud to admit that I searched for independence and freedom on the streets. Then one day I found myself sitting in front of a judge with a case of grand theft auto. I had failing grades in half my classes. No one was there to remind me that I had any good left inside of me. I was just another statistic you read in the paper about failed foster youth.

It wasn’t until my senior year in high school when my guidance councilor pulled me out of the mess that I had created. She told me that I still had a chance at a bright future and that if I changed my study habits she would make sure I got into a four-year college. My entire world flipped and for once I had hope in my life.

It became clear to me that there is a better way to end up in this life and I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to get there. When I made this choice I realized that JCCA had been holding a roof over my head since I was 11, providing me with a loving family, health care, food, and support. Now with my commitment, they were ready to help me transition into life as an independent college student.

I remember like it was yesterday, sitting with my caseworkers as they presented me with options and opportunities, offering their guidance through the college process. I pushed against all temptations, against what my friends were doing, and against the barrier of what I thought was possible. I am proud to say that I made the honor role both semesters of my senior year and the Dean’s List my first semester at Hunter College.

Now I’m working on a book to get the message out to young people like me that they don’t need to settle for the life they were born into. If it wasn’t for JCCA, who met me on the other side of my decision to change my life, I would not be where I am today.”

 

Name: Rev. Bill Dodge

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: Rescue Mission of Utica

Budget: $3,600,000

Region: Utica, NY

 

My Reaction: Doug, thank you for your excellent response to Governor Cuomo’s message regarding his “Recommendations for New Rules to Prevent Taxpayer Dollars from being Used to Support Excessive Compensation”. I find it appalling that the Governor seems to be targeting those who serve the poor as if we are somehow taking advantage of them or the taxpayers of New York State.

 

I also find it appalling that he seems to believe New York State has the right to overrule what nonprofit boards have decided is fair compensation for their executives. The tone that he creates with this is somehow that Executive Directors like me are getting rich off the poor. This attitude is so wrongheaded and elitist that I can’t wrap my head around it.

 

I am sure you know that many CEO’s of nonprofits are passionate about their causes and they could easily make two or three times the salary they currently have if they were in the private sector, so I really don’t understand the reason for targeting them in this way.

 

Indeed, the Governor ought to be praising the efforts of these people who, day in and day out, are managing hard-working staff and shrinking budgets that deliver needed services, not to mention the endless regulations that those of us in New York State must keep up with in the delivery of our programs. The last thing we need is more “rules”.

 

It is my hope that the task force only means to seek out the most egregious cases of what he describes here. Even then, I think they way to do this is to examine the Board policies and procedures, not make judgments about what the CEO is being paid.

 

So thank you for attempting to bring some balance to what appears to me to be a punitive pronouncement from the Governor’s office. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist the Governor in understanding your well-articulated position. It would also be of interest to me to find out who is going to be on this task force and what methods they will use to arrive at these new rules.

 

Name: Martha Bowers

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: Dance Theatre Etcetera

Budget: $100,000 to $250,000

Region: New York City

 

My Reaction: As the Executive Director of a nonprofit arts and youth development organization, I read with distress the Governor’s new plans to scrutinize nonprofit compensation.

 

Personally, I have no problem with anyone scrutinizing our organization’s salaries which are barely livable wages. Each year we serve over 1000 needy children in low income communities. We have a small staff that work at below market wages, and are so committed to the work we do that they put in many more hours than they are compensated for.

 

While there may be abuses to the nonprofit system, we all pay for the extraordinarily inefficient means of tracking abuses of this system. What this means for us, is less staff time we can devote to the programs and services we are, by mission, required to and most passionately want to achieve.

 

Is there no means by which to sort those non profits that are successfully fulfilling their missions from those that are not, so as not cripple compliant organizations with the burdens of additional reporting and compliance measures?

 

People with talent and expertise should be fairly compensated. I have seen the loss of too many brilliant young people who leave ours and other non profits because they cannot imagine raising a family for the salary they will receive for working for those in need at a nonprofit.

 

These comments reference deeper issues about values in our society. We, in the nonprofit world, are penalized for wanting to work for the greater good while those in the for-profit world, especially those at financial institutions whose levels of compensation are extreme which, in recent times, have done a great deal of harm to the overall economic well being of our nation are rewarded. This seems very wrong to me.

 

I would be most interested in a response from NYCON and the Governor’s Office about how each, as an advocate for non profits and representatives of the people respectively, will respond to the Governor’s Task Force’s Agenda. While this seems largely focused on non profits in the health care industry, it will impact us all in the nonprofit world. As you well know, we, who serve those most in need, are already suffering from cuts to our budgets in every area of funding.

 

Name: Laurie Dean Torrell

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: Just Buffalo Literary Center

Budget: $500,000 to $1,000,000

Region: Buffalo and WNY

 

My Reaction: Great interview by Doug Sauer on Capital Tonight – especially the point he makes that excessive compensation is NOT AN ISSUE for the great majority of nonprofit organizations. 

 

Most nonprofits, especially small and mid-sized, are suffering from exactly the opposite problem: not paying anywhere near adequate salaries to leaders who are skilled and talented, and who are working tirelessly for the betterment of their communities under extremely trying conditions.  Bad apples who game the system, are unethical and self-serving tarnish whatever sector they work in and need to be rooted out. 

 

But I hope as this commission does its work and publicizes its findings, care is taken not to mischaracterize the sector, or unduly burden the grassroots organizations working so hard to do more with less.

 

 

Name: Adam Kirkman

Title: Director of Technical Assistance

Nonprofit: CARES, Inc.

Budget: Under $50,000

Region: Albany & Surrounding Counties

My Reaction: I found the governor's announcement to be offensive. Rather than come out and acknowledge all the hard work that non-profits are doing (and how little most staff are paid), he demonizes them and launches a probe into excessive compensation. Where is the probe into excessive compensation on Wall Street? This governor refused to raise taxes on millionaires and has instead slashed the budgets of agencies providing human services, and then has the audacity to announce this probe. He should be ashamed.

 

 

Name: Maria Dibble

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: Southern Tier Independence Center

Region: Binghamton & Surrounding Area

My Reaction: As an OPWDD provider, among the many things we do, Southern Tier Independence Center is audited by OPWDD regularly. Every three years we have a Limited Fiscal Review, conducted by an accounting firm hired by OPWDD. During that LFR, they examine my compensation (both salary and benefits). What I don't understand is how the LFR missed this with the NYC agency.

Or didn't they have an LFR? Or did they and OPWDD knew about this situation and did nothing? Additionally, we are required to submit copies of our independent financial audits to OPWDD, which certainly contain information on compensation. There is something very wrong here and not only is the agency in NYC complicit, but I suspect perhaps OPWDD as well.

I have no objection to the task force the Governor is establishing, but I do have concerns.

I'm one of those CEOs paid well under $100,000 so it is not for my own personal situation that I'm worried. In the interest of fairness, however, the amount of compensation should be related to the entities' total revenues. I'm not saying that this $1 million salary was justified in NYC at all, I actually think it wasn't, and certainly the other perks were not justifiable. But hospitals and other large providers would have very large budgets from a wide variety of sources, not just Medicaid. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when conducting a study of Not-for-Profit CEO compensation.

Additionally, I am very worried that whatever results from this, that the agencies will be required to do more paperwork, be subject to more regulations, etc. and that those of us that are honest and comply with requirements and who don't have excessive compensation will end up paying the price. That price would or could be costly, and would most assuredly be burdensome (since our employees are already overworked and inundated with regulations and compliance rules).

Name: Arline Saiki

Title: Director

Nonprofit: Abstinence Education Council

Budget: Under $50,000

Region: West Oneonta

My Reaction: I know of 2 ten year olds that are pregnant at the moment. We teach abstinence and get no support from the government at all. Planned Parenthood DOES get government support and goes into the schools and tells the children to use condoms, to come to them if they need "help" and not to tell their parents what they told them. PP's new report “Exclaim! Young People’s Guide to Sexual Rights,” asks for the “removal of parental involvement or spousal consent laws that prevent young people from seeking sexual and reproductive health services.” at ANY age. Condom failure rate for teens is at least 36% and it doesn't work for diseases like HPV.

We spend hours and hours a week, in our work, mostly unpaid, and you cannot imagine how grateful the kids are that we tell them that they CAN control themselves; that they can have a successful life; and that they don't have to let themselves be victimized by predators. My own children are young adults and are sterling witnesses to the FACT that teaching abstinence works. They are successful, free of STDs, have great relationships which are leading to marriage instead of shacking up and have not allowed themselves to become victims.

Non-profits fill in the gaps which for profits cannot possibly fill because they are not in their businesses to help others. It is a sad thing when the government tries to attack the organizations which are filling in for so many needs that they cannot possibly cover.

 

Name: Judy Atchinson

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: X-Quest, Inc.

Budget: $100,000 - $250,000

Region: Schenectady, NY

My Reaction: We do not believe that Executive Directors should be paid $100,000 or more to do their jobs.

 

Name: Sara Giangobbe

Title: Medicaid Service Coordinator

Nonprofit: QSAC

Budget: Over $5,000,000

Region: New York, NY

My Reaction: My name is Sara Giangiobbe and I am a Medicaid Service Coordinator at QSAC, a non-profit agency servicing individuals with developmental disabilities in New York City and Long Island.

But my involvement with QSAC began a long time before I was ever employed here. You see, my younger brother happens to be one of the individuals that this agency serves. My family has been involved with QSAC for many years and we have been given nothing but professional, compassionate, and quality services from QSAC. My brother was diagnosed with autism many years ago and he has grown into a witty, sociable, and charming young man. I have to give credit to QSAC for providing my family with the services that allowed him to experience such tremendous growth and success. I also know that if we did not have a non-profit agency such as QSAC to turn to when we needed help, we would not have been able to financially obtain the much needed services for my brother that he so rightfully deserves.

Then I decided to take my experiences as a sibling of a young adult with autism and translate that into helping other families receive the services and support that my family was so fortunate to receive. At first, that meant getting started as a Community Habilitation Specialist; gaining the opportunity to take my experiences as a sister and using them to work directly with my brother by helping him to become more independent and become a more active member of our community.

After that, I started in my position as a Medicaid Service Coordinator. Although I have not been doing it for very long, I already know I have made a significant impact on many lives. I am doing exactly what it is I set out to do, which is to help others. I do my job purely based on the satisfaction I receive knowing that the individuals I work with receive the supports and services they are entitled to. I do my job to help people that really and truly need my help, and sincerely appreciate the help I give them.

Having a non-profit agency such as QSAC has impacted the lives of many people, including my own. The people I have come to know both through the services my brother receives and through the people I work with every day are some of the most dedicated and hard-working people I have ever met. I'm not sure what life would be like for a lot of people if agencies such as this one did not have the funding to exist anymore, and I hope to never find out.

 

Name: Pauline Oliveros

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: Deep Listening Institute, Ltd.

Budget: $250,000 - $500,000

Region: Kingston, NY

My Reaction: How I wish that our employees could work full time at equitable salaries. As Executive Director I have volunteered for 25 years because I believe in our mission. We manage to survive despite the economy. We survive because we believe that our work helps others and that we provide a home for artists to share their wonderful works and create community. How I would love to have enough revenue to support the work of many more artists and to help them bring their talents to our community in Kingston. As for over payment, it certainly is not in monetary compensation but rather in the joy of doing what we believe in doing. We keep listening!

 

Name: Eleanor Moran

Title: Executive Director

Nonprofit: Women’s Empowerment & Resource Center, Inc.

Budget: $100,000 to $250,000

Region: Utica, NY

My Reaction: I too am appalled that some would so flagrantly steal from any funder that serves the poor or struggling. However, having been in this position for 20 years, I can assure the Governor that the majority of us often cover many of our own expenses; we often provide money for emergency expenses for program participants; and we are audited to death by oversight agencies such as the Department of Labor or others.

There is no room for $.25 to be lost or questioned. Our center and many others are faced this year with not just simple downsizing. We are faced with closure of our programs....those very programs that can keep or remove families from welfare. Those not-for-profit agencies with whom I collaborate to insure comprehensive assistance for these families are struggling to provide basis help to those in need.

It's bad enough that the Governor has so blatantly and arbitrarily cut service programs.....and that those decisions were NOT based on performance (as he claimed he would use for funding).....now he wants to investigate the directors who operate legitimate and well-audited programs preventing the growth of welfare. It is simply unbelievable. With the loss of these programs the result will be an enormous growth of social service costs.....so if he thinks we are in financial trouble today with welfare.....wait until next year when services and support are no longer there.

Name: Zena Gurbo

Title: Artistic Coordinator

Nonprofit: Main View Gallery & Studio, The Arc of Otsego

Budget: $100,000 to $250,000

Region: Oneonta, NY

My Reaction: The Art Studio and Gallery where I work improves the quality of the lives of the artists we serve, the instructors who teach here and the community we entertain with both visual and performance art. We are the only remaining viable art gallery in downtown Oneonta, and though that is certainly a shame it means that our continued existence is very important to our community.

Please take a closer look at the Programs that are making lives wonderful.

 

Name: Johanna Arteaga

Title: Service Coordinator

Nonprofit: QSAC

Budget: Over $5,000,000

Region: New York, NY

My Reaction: Who are we?

We are the ones who provide a break to that parent who has four children with three on the autism spectrum.

We are the ones who provide that family a small financial relief when ends don't meet because raising a child with autism is expensive.

We are the ones who will guide parents through the Medicaid applications and technical processes too complicated to access without our guidance and support.

We are the ones who believe in that child who has no motivation, two words, and a society who is challenged on how to teach this child.

We are the ones who provide parents with professional and emotional support through support groups.

We are the ones holding all these families together while the needs increase and the resources decrease.

We use the money given to us in cautious ways to ensure that everyone of our families has a resource left to go to when they are at a dead end.

We are the ones who contribute money from our paycheck to our budget because we know we are making a difference.

We are the ones who do this because we care and because we are parents.