Rochester, NY – Assemblymember Sarah Clark (AD-136), Assemblymember Jen Lunsford (AD-135), Assemblymember Demond Meeks (AD-137), and Assemblymember Harry Bronson (AD-138) held a press conference today to announce $200,000 in state grants awarded to a collaboration between three local organizations: Coordinated Care Services Inc. (CCSI) (serving as fiscal sponsor), Causewave Community Partners, and the Council of Agency Executives (COAE). This grant will advance their shared mission of supporting local non-profits in their fight for equity and access to affordable, operational expertise in the areas of finance, human resources, and marketing and communication.

Over the course of several years of conversations in collaboration with the Council of Agency Executives, Assemblywoman Sarah Clark and her colleagues acknowledged a growing problem among smaller, often minority-led non-profits that are doing the most critical work on the frontlines of our most marginalized communities. Due to their smaller budget size and limited human resources, far too often many of these non-profits have had no choice but to forgo hiring dedicated staff with high levels of experience and expertise in these core business functions. For this reason, the Rochester Majority Assembly Delegation, the Council of Agency Executives, Causewave Community Partners, and Coordinated Care Services, Inc. decided to partner in working towards immediate solutions.

CCSI and Causewave Community Partners play pivotal roles in the region by providing professional services, administrative support, and technical assistance to local behavioral health, social services, and human services agencies, as well as to community-based organizations that often lack the infrastructure to handle these functions on their own. From grant administration and financial management to HR support and compliance assistance, CCSI ensures that smaller nonprofits can operate effectively and sustainably. Causewave supports nonprofits with their deep capacity building experience, notably in the area of nonprofit marketing and communication efforts. The Council of Agency Executives is the region’s convener of nonprofit organizations, and their mission is to inform, inspire, and support organizations that strive to lead with excellence. This initiative aligns with the COAE’s mission and expands its role in supporting nonprofits during this critical time of change throughout the sector. By securing this $200,000, the Assembly Delegation is empowering CCSI, Causewave, and COAE to increase its local impact and strengthen the nonprofit sector across Rochester. These dollars will enable the partnering agencies to expand their capacity to support local organizations, allowing small nonprofits to devote more time to delivering crucial services meeting direct community needs, and advancing their mission, instead of diverting very limited staff and resources to meet administrative needs.

Assemblymember Sarah Clark (AD- 136) said, “Far too often our small, grassroots nonprofits here in the Rochester area are delivering the most critical services and are the most trusted voice by the community served, but struggle to secure what is needed to deliver these important resources. Add on the financial moment of uncertainty facing our families, basic needs programs, and non-profits around the nation, I could not be more proud to have worked to secure funding for CCSI and their crucial mission to help support these organizations that have boots on the ground helping the most vulnerable. This investment will allow CCSI to support local non-profits to further their mission of promoting equality and opportunity in our communities. This partnership will support local organizations to secure more funding, hire more staff, and do more good. Thank you to CCSI, the Council of Agency Executives, and Causewave Community Partners for your continued dedication to our Rochester communities, and thank you to my delegation partners for joining me to make this funding possible.”

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford (AD- 135) said, "Helping smaller non-profits leverage the power, expertise and experience of our area's non-profit leaders will help maximize their impact on our community. This grant will help create the infrastructure and support necessary to allow critical organizations to be more efficient and better coordinate services for all of our area residents."

Assemblymember Demond Meeks (AD-137) said, “The grassroots organizations doing the most essential work in our underserved neighborhoods have been forced to choose between serving their communities and navigating difficult administrative hurdles. Our delegation fought for this funding because we recognize that these nonprofits, many of them Black-led and deeply rooted in the communities they serve, deserve real support, not more obstacles. By investing in CCSI, we are making sure these organizations have the tools and capacity they need to thrive. This is about equity, sustainability, and empowering the people already on the frontlines doing the work every single day.”

Assemblymember Harry Bronson (AD-138) said, “Smaller nonprofits are the frontline relief in many of Rochester’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. With funding secured for CCSI, we are helping to lift some of the administrative burdens through a shared resources model that will enable them to focus on what matters most: serving the people in our community. This investment could not have come at a more important time as our community organizations face many unprecedented challenges. I am proud to have worked with my Assembly Delegation colleagues on this critical investment, and extend my gratitude to CCSI, Causewave Community Partners, and the Council of Agency Executives for your innovative approach and dedication to serving the needs of our area.”

Todd Butler, President and CEO, Causewave Community Partners said, "Nonprofits are facing more challenges than ever, between shifting demands from government funders, staffing shortages, and operating with decreasing resources and an increasingly complex world. Such challenging times require new thinking."

Anne Wilder, President and CEO, CCSI, said, “We are excited to be collaborating with the Council of Agency Executives and Causewave Community Partners in this exciting initiative. This shared services model represents a new way forward for small and mid-sized nonprofits, giving them access to the same high-level expertise in Finance, HR, and Marketing and Communications that larger organizations rely on, but at a scale and price they can afford. By removing administrative burdens and providing shared infrastructure, we’re helping nonprofit leaders focus their time and energy where it matters most, advancing their mission, deepening community impact, and driving innovation.”

Dr. Shannon Cleverley-Thompson, Executive Director, Council of Agency Executives said, “This funding strengthens our entire community by supporting the organizations at the heart of the social sector. We’re proud to partner with CCSI and Causewave to co-create this new shared services model, informed by nonprofit leaders, ensuring the model truly reflects what organizations need to thrive. Our agencies are deeply grateful for the government funding that makes this collaboration possible and helps strengthen our community.”