Nonprofit Westchester hosts NYS Legislative Forum to discuss legislative year ahead

Elmsford, NY – January, 2026 –Timely payment for nonprofit agencies contracting with NY State, pay equity and federal cuts to social service programs topped the agenda of New York State Legislators who spoke at a forum held by Nonprofit Westchester (NPW).

Twelve legislators who attended the forum told a group of 100 nonprofit leaders they would fight to keep the social safety net intact in the face of federal budget cuts. They assured the audience that they were working to address the many issues that face nonprofit agencies. At the top of the list in 2026: working to protect programs like healthcare, childcare, education, food security and others that support the county’s most vulnerable residents.

“Yesterday we lost yet another almost $4 billion from the federal government in social services. This is on top of the more than $3 billion we have lost out of the healthcare sector,’’ said NYS Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins.

The forum was an opportunity for members of NPW to have face to face dialogue with elected officials on the concerns of nonprofit organizations.

"Our nonprofits are not just service providers; they are the backbone of Westchester’s economy and the primary defenders of our social safety net," said Jan Fisher, Executive Director of Nonprofit Westchester. "Today’s turnout demonstrates the urgency of our mission. We are grateful to our state delegation for hearing our voices and working with us to ensure that our sector remains stable and capable of meeting the rising needs of our communities."

Fisher said that her membership would continue to work with legislators to advocate for more timely disbursement of funds for services already delivered for state mandated and other essential services and fair pay for nonprofits workers, 20% of whom are living at the federal poverty level.

A key priority of NPW’s is legislation that has passed both houses of the NYS Legislature but has been vetoed by Governor Kathy Hocul that would address delays in payment, an over-reliance on nonprofits to front costs, and a burdensome contracting process for nonprofits.

“Nonprofits are experiencing, as always, increased demand for services while federal resources shrink, all while operating within contracting systems that are complex, delayed and reimbursement based. We cannot exist doing our work this way,’’ said Fisher. “The challenge is not new. Everybody in this room knows about it and has heard about it. Statewide, nonprofits are owed $650 million for work already done, according to an NYCON survey. We are so grateful to Assembly Member Amy Paulin and Senator Shelley Mayer for their leadership on legislation to address this issue.’’

During the forum, legislators highlighted several other key initiatives currently moving through Albany:

· Prompt Contracting Reform: Efforts to streamline the state’s reimbursement processes to ensure nonprofits are paid on time for services already rendered.

• Workforce Stabilization: Support for annual inflation-based contract increases and Wage Board Legislation to create a human services wage board, which would investigate the pay gap between nonprofit and government human services workers and make recommendations for reform.

· Safety Net Protection: Ensuring that critical services—including childcare, mental health, housing, and food security—receive the funding required to cover the true cost of service delivery.

· Prison and Parole Reform to ensure social justice reforms, prison safety and correct systemic inequities.

· Immigration Enforcement Safety to create uniform rules in schools and workplaces on how to respond during immigration enforcement raids.

· Affordability focused on the reduction in utility rates and transparency in the rate hike approval process.

Attending the forum in addition to Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins were: Senators Shelley Mayer, Peter Harckham, Jamaal Bailey and Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblymembers Amy Paulin, Steve Otis, Gary Pretlow, MaryJane Shimsky, Chris Burdick, Dana Levenberg and Matthew Slater.

About Nonprofit Westchester (NPW): Nonprofit Westchester is the county’s only membership organization solely dedicated to advancing the needs and interests of Westchester’s nonprofit sector, the people and populations served, and the nonprofit workforce. With a membership of more than 380 organizations. NPW provides a unified voice for the sector through advocacy, professional development, and the promotion of cross-sector collaboration to build a more equitable and resilient Westchester.

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