New York Gets Nonprofit Liaison to Help Fix Contracting Flaws

In what is only the second time in U.S. history, a state governor has recognized the essential link between a healthy nonprofit sector and the success of the state by appointing a top-level executive to serve as liaison between government and nonprofit service providers. New York Governor Cuomo named longtime nonprofit leader and capacity builder Fran Barrett to the newly created position of InterAgency Coordinator for Not-for-Profit Services. Barrett will work to reform the state’s procurement and contracting system by improving the way nonprofits and local governments work together as service providers. The post was inspired by a similar cabinet-level position in Connecticut, first created in 2011.

"Fran Barrett is a uniquely qualified veteran with experience in nonprofit management and governance and who knows how to improve the performance of nonprofit organizations,” said Michael Clark, President of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, on whose board Barrett had served. "This is a move in the right direction,” said Doug Sauer, CEO of the New York Council of Nonprofits. "The Governor chose someone who is knowledgeable and experienced, who knows nonprofits and knows the government's funding and contracting systems.”