Res. No. 696

Resolution recognizing the Friday before Mother’s Day as Community-Based Organization Day in the City of New York.

By Council Members Riley, Williams and Stevens

Whereas, Nonprofit Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are a cornerstone of New York City (NYC) providing critical services like childcare, social work, caseworker services, and much more to New Yorkers; and

Whereas, Nonprofits fill critical gaps that the government cannot address-creating more equity and fairness in NYC; and

Whereas, According to a 2020 New York City Comptroller report based on 2017 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 660,000 New Yorkers were employed by nonprofit agencies; and

Whereas, Nearly 5 percent of all NYC businesses are nonprofits: contributing approximately 9 percent of the city’s total economic output; and

Whereas, More than one-third of Bronx private sector workers are employed by nonprofits; and

Whereas, In which, 64 percent of nonprofit workers are women and 56 percent of the total workers are Hispanic, Black, Asian, or other; and

Whereas, The Council of Nonprofits claims that 75 percent of nonprofits suffer from job vacancies nationwide; and

Whereas, Nonprofit HR found that by 2025, 45 percent of nonprofit employees will be looking for a career change; and

Whereas, According to the Society of Human Resource Management, nonprofits experienced a record 19 percent turnover compared to 12 percent for other industries; and

Whereas, Zip Recruiter lists the average non-profit organization salary in NYC at $19.12 an hour compared to the $16 an hour NYC minimum wage as of July 1, 2024; and

Whereas, Factors like low pay and job stress result in fewer New Yorkers working for CBOs; and

Whereas, Of the more than 660,000 total nonprofit workers, 22 percent are in the education industry; and

Whereas, According to the Day Care Council of New York’s report on the early childcare workforce, more than 93 percent of employed childcare workers are women, of which, the majority are Hispanic, Black, or Asian; and

Whereas, Before the pandemic, 25 percent of childcare workers in NYC lived in poverty; and

Whereas, Black, Latina, and Asian women are a marginalized group that faces unique challenges due to systemic racism and limited opportunities for growth; and

Whereas, A day of significance to honor CBOs would present a new opportunity for these workers to meet with elected officials to share their experiences and the plights that the nonprofit industry bears; and

Whereas, For too long, nonprofit workers have been valuable members of the community with the general public lacking proper cognizance of CBO workers’ voices and overall importance; now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes the Friday before Mother’s Day as Community-Based Organization Day in the City of New York.

LS #17266

7/9/24

JEB