NPCC Staff & Consultants

The Nonprofit Coordinating Committee's staff brings with it a blend of backgrounds as diverse as its membership.

Michael Clark (executive director) joined NPCC as president and executive director in May 2005. His experience includes 19 years at Citizens for NYC, where he took the helm in 1986, when the City was experiencing rising rates of homelessness, drugs, crime and AIDS. He created the organization’s Neighborhood Anti-Crime Center; Project One City (a program to help reduce homelessness) and the Neighborhood Leadership Institute. He has 25 years’ professional training and background in urban issues, public health and nonprofit management and has taught at Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn College and Columbia University. He is a past President of the Public Health Association of New York City and has held positions in management, policy analysis and program and community development.

Marcia Brown (director of programs) brings a unique perspective on nonprofits to NPCC. She has been directly involved with the operations of nonprofit organizations like Manhattan Theatre Club, the St. Ann Center for Restoration and the Arts in Brooklyn and New York Theatre Workshop. She has worked with nonprofit service organizations like A.R.T./New York and Chamber Music America.  

Jonathan A. Small (senior consultant, Government Relations) is NPCC's previous executive director, heading up the organization from 2000-2005.  He was previously a partner with the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton. A major portion of his work at Debevoise & Plimpton involved advising nonprofit clients on legal issues and in particular on tax matters. He was an attorney with Debevoise & Plimpton since 1969 and a partner since 1976. He has served on NPCC's board of directors since its inception in 1983 and has served on the NPCC Government Relations Committee. He is a graduate of Brown University, Harvard Law School, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and New York University.

Peter Swords (president emeritus and former executive director, retired, April 2000) serves on the Boards of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations, the National Community Risk Center, the Center for the Study of Philanthropy, the Correctional Association, La Mama Theater and Fund, Inc. of the New York City Bar Association. He is also a member of the Advisory Council to the City's Procurement Policy Board, the Human Service Council, the Independent Sector Government Relations Council and serves as Chair of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations' Government Relations Committee. Prior to joining NPCC, Mr. Swords was an Associate Dean at the Columbia Law School for 14 years. He continues to teach courses there, as well as Teachers College, on nonprofit institutions and frequently lectures in the area of nonprofit law and liability insurance. Mr. Swords is the author of the book Charitable Real Property Tax Exemptions in New York State.

NPCC also benefits from the efforts of Danielle Penabad, (membership & outreach director), Melkis Alvarez (associate director, special programs), Molly Knol (executive coordinator) and Alison Kincaid (program associate).