Dear Friends of NESC,
2021 has been another challenging and eventful year. We at NESC embraced the Covid vaccines and have ventured out, masked and socially distanced, to begin visiting our clients once again. The bulk of our work remains remote, and like most of you, we are professionally and personally grateful for the technology of Zoom, WhatsApp video chat, and FaceTime to help us conduct business and stay connected to our friends and families. As we close out the second year of this awful
pandemic, we look forward with hope to a better new year and a world-embracing science where it can help us overcome the fear and loss of this terrible disease.
Throughout this year, NESC has been exceptionally productive. Our work as a nonprofit helping other nonprofits to thrive has been even more vital as the not-for-profit world has faced serious challenges adapting to pandemic restrictions. Funding has been both abundant and scarce. It’s ironic that many direct-to-client service providers have found foundations generous and government loan programs forgiving and available. However, these same organizations face new challenges in keeping knowledge workers engaged
and clients serviced. As all workforce sectors are experiencing employee shortages, nonprofits, which historically cannot compete on salary, are experiencing even deeper shortages. The work of nonprofits is often heart-wrenching and relentless as our populations are often underserved, poorly resourced, and in ever-increasing need.
NESC has been privileged to work with some long-standing clients like CP Unlimited (formerly Cerebral Palsy of New York State), helping them through our Social Enterprise division on our 11th engagement with this illustrious organization.
We’ve expanded our Rare Disease Foundation practice by working on business and strategic planning once again with the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation and the DADA2 Foundation. Our reputation is growing, and we are now consulting to the CEO of the Ronald McDonald House as they expand their mission and revamp their technology.
Our Religion Sector is stronger than ever as we continue in our 16th engagement with the Diocese of Bridgeport, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, and the Foundations of Faith. Our ability to help organizations train and develop their Boards of Directors remains exceptional as we worked with organizations ranging from At Home on the Sound, The Floating Hospital (Healthcare), and the German Language School of Morris County (Education).
Our consultants continue to offer unparalleled expertise in financial matters and contribute to every sector as well as providing direct financial services to organizations like the Seatuck Environmental Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and the prestigious Bruce Museum.
As noted above, employee retention is increasingly challenging. Nothing has been more concerning than the increasing number of C-suite executives leaving nonprofits. Replacing these leaders with highly qualified candidates is one of NESC’s specialties, and our Executive Search division has been much sought after this year. Every sector has tapped us to help them find and replace critical leadership. Organizations ranging from Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Inc., Neighborhood Charter Schools of Harlem, Westchester Community College Foundation, Puerto Rican Lutheran Housing Association, the Foodbank Network of Somerset County, and many more have benefited from our outstanding
network of nonprofit executives.
Because NESC receives funding to support our work in nonprofit executive search, we can offer our services at affordable and below-market rates. As always, we are so grateful to our donors.
Capping a year of excellence and growth, NESC held its twice delayed Gala, “An Evening on the Water” at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich. (Check out our Gala 2021 Newsletter Here). Delighted to be gathering in person, entertained by the wonderful Yale Alley Cats a cappella singers, enthralled by speaker Stephen B. Heintz, president of the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation, and graced by our honorees Margaret Esme Simon and David
A. Weisbrod, the event was a smashing success both socially and economically. NESC closes out 2021 feeling grateful and optimistic with exciting projects in development and a renewed commitment to our mission.
Wishing each of you a safe, healthy, and joyous New Year.
A Note from Our Chairman, David Sanchez
The utilization of Zoom has transformed NESC’s outreach, and we are taking advantage of this in various ways. Here are some of the exciting opportunities this expanded reach is providing:
We are in discussions with a university interested in partnering with NESC to provide academic programs that will give integrated, comprehensive support for 100 disadvantaged students in the Connecticut area. This long-term project will engage many aspects of NESC’s talented consultants.
Three Catholic universities are discussing strategic planning with us. Their goal is to apply for large grants and donations to create a national platform that provides disadvantaged students with “holistic” educational platforms. They are seeking NESC’s expertise to achieve economies of scale. Modeled on existing “holistic” platforms with graduation rates as high as 55%, these programs perform exceptionally well compared to secular graduation rates in this population, averaging only 13%.
NESC has a history of collaboration with Florida’s ESC, where I was formerly the president. We are in discussion with a university business school there that is interested in collaborating to create an iconic funding program to further support and expand a successful pilot program that served 25 disadvantaged students and achieved 100% graduation rates.
As our historically strong Education Division expands, we continue to explore ways in which our expertise can help academic institutions better prepare students to lead in the nonprofit world. In this area, we have been asked by an Ivy League
university to collaborate on developing a nonprofit leadership seminar and train faculty and students in the real-life challenges of nonprofit management. We hope that NESC can help inspire and prepare a new generation to make their careers in the nonprofit world and have the skills to lead these organizations in the important social, environmental, educational, cultural work of public service.
A Note from Our Vice Chairman,
Marv Berenblum
First, I would like to extend a special thank you to Debbie Brennan, who has stepped down from her role as Regional Director of Southwest Connecticut after more than a decade of outstanding performance. Many thanks to Nancy Brennan for her contributions as the Regional Director of Central Connecticut, and congratulations on your retirement!
We extend the heartiest welcome to Peter Helmer and Nancy Perez in their leadership roles in the newly-consolidated Connecticut Region, with Peter as Regional Director and Nancy as
Director of Consulting. They have already demonstrated the effectiveness of their new partnership.
In the coming year, we will move forward in establishing new leadership in our New Jersey region and taking steps to bolster our leadership team in New York.
Lastly, I would like to recognize the outstanding contributions of our talented and dynamic consulting team across the tri-state area and the professional support provided by our dedicated staff members.
News From Connecticut and Westchester County
To better serve all of Connecticut in a cohesive fashion, we consolidated the Hartford and Southwest regions into the CT/Westchester region.
We expect to sign several major contracts early in 2022. These projects, plus projects already underway, should actively engage over 20 consultants in the CT/Westchester region in 2022 and have the potential for much longer horizons.
NESC has been a mainstay of Southwestern Connecticut for many years. The outstanding work of our consultants and the stellar reputation built by our leadership continue to make NESC a first-in-rank consulting organization to the many nonprofits of Greenwich and Stamford. Many of our Board directors live in our community. Their dedication to giving back continues to expand NESC’s network so that we are introduced to and able to help nonprofits prosper.
2022 promises to be a stellar year for our regions, and we thank our patrons and clients for helping us to help others.
Warmest wishes for the New Year,
Peter & Nancy
THANK YOU
to all our consultants, clients, donors, and supporters for all you do for NESC!
