The Human Services Council (HSC) of New York is a nonprofit that organizes and advocates on behalf of over 170 public service organizations in New York State and New York City in particular. ¹ The HSC has successfully advocated for the establishment of numerous government committees in both the state and city to support the development of government contracting with nonprofits to provide public services. Though ostensibly non-partisan, the HSC considers “racial equity” to be a crucial component in its coalition-building and advocacy efforts. ^{2 3}

In June 2025, then-U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green (R-TN) and Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Josh Brecheen (R-OK) requested the records of more than 200 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that received taxpayer-funded contracts during the 2021 to 2025 border crisis and immigration surge, with lawmakers alleging the nonprofits “facilitated illegal activity.” ⁴ In response, a month later, more than 600 nonprofit and non-partisan organizations, including the HSC, signed a public statement condemning the investigation. The signatories argued that these groups provided federally authorized services under valid grants to help immigrants, workers, youth, and local communities. The letter argued the probe represented a weaponization of congressional power.  ⁵

Activities

In May 2023, the Human Services Council of New York led a one-day work stoppage by over 100 member organizations to advocate that New York City pass higher cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) on nonprofit contracts. ⁶

In a 2022 letter, HSC executive director Michelle Jackson stated that the HSC was supporting a “network of providers serving asylum seekers and migrants in New York City.” ⁷

In the early 2020s, the HSC formed the Human Services Recovery Taskforce to organize the nonprofit response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ⁸

The HSC successfully advocated for the establishment of the Nonprofit Resiliency Committee in the Mayor’s Office to support New York City-based nonprofits. ⁹ According to a 2024 report from the HSC, 69 New York City-based nonprofit contractors holding 1,000 contracts were struggling financially due to delays in payments from the city. ¹⁰

In 2017, the HSC formed the Value-Based Care Commission to support nonprofits dealing with the shift in New York State to a value-based payment (VBP) model for Medicaid services. ¹¹

In 2016 and 2017, the HSC successfully advocated for the establishment of the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program, a $50 million annual budget from New York State to invest in nonprofits. ⁹

In 2016, the HSC helped support the establishment of a $15 minimum wage in New York City. ⁹

In 2015, the HSC helped pass a COLA requirement in New York City contracts. ⁹

In 2013, the HSC helped pass the Nonprofit Revitalization Act, which guided New York’s support policy for nonprofits. The HSC was placed on the Leadership Committee for Nonprofit Revitalization. ⁹

Also in 2013, the HSC worked with the New York Mayor’s Office to create the HHS Accelerator and Statewide Grants Management System, two programs designed to accelerate city contracts with nonprofits. ⁹

Also in 2013, the HSC convened the Sandy Forum to coordinate nonprofit responses to the 2012 Tropical Storm Sandy. ⁹

Starting in 2013, the HSC has run the #JustPay Workforce Campaign, which advocates for increases in nonprofit employee wages through New York State and New York City contracts. ¹² In 2022, the campaign helped attain a $60 million budget for human services nonprofit contracting and a 5.4 percent COLA adjustment. ⁷

HSC helped establish New York City’s Standard Health and Human Services Contract to simplify contracts between the city and nonprofits. ⁹

The HSC runs Strong Nonprofits for a Better New York, a state-wide coalition of over 350 human services providers that advocate for more support from the state government. ¹³

The HSC runs the Organizing Academy, an advocacy training platform for member organizations. ¹⁴

Racial Equity

In 2013, the board of the Human Services Council of New York signed a “commitment to racial equity.” The statement claimed that racial minorities are disproportionately served by nonprofits because racial minorities are disproportionately harmed by alleged historic and structural racism that has resulted in an inequitable distribution of wealth. In 2014, the HSC board published a statement of values, which included a recognition of alleged systematic biases against racial minorities, religious minorities, LGBT, low-income individuals, the elderly, disabled individuals, and others. ^{2 3}

Funding

In 2024, the Human Services Council of New York received $1,787,882 in revenue, including $1,024,530 in charitable contributions, and $75,000 in government grants. ¹⁵ The HSC’s nonprofits donors have included the Jennifer Altman Foundation, the Robin Hood Foundation, the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, NYC Health, the New York Community Trust, and the UJA Federation New York. ¹⁶

Leadership

As of 2025, Michelle Jackson was serving as the executive director of the Human Services Council of New York, a position she had held since May 2020. She had worked at the organization in numerous roles since 2008. ¹⁷ In 2024, Jackson received $198,975 in compensation from the HSC. ¹⁵

1. “About HSC.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/about/.
2. “HSC’s Values.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/hscs-values/.
3. “HSC’s Commitment to Racial Equity.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/commitment-to-racial-equity-2/.
4. “Chairmen Green, Brecheen Launch Probe into 200+ NGOs Over Their Use of Taxpayer Dollars During the Biden-Harris Border Crisis.” Committee on Homeland Security Republicans. June 11, 2025. Accessed November 25, 2025. https://homeland.house.gov/2025/06/11/chairmen-green-brecheen-launch-probe-into-200-ngos-over-their-use-of-taxpayer-dollars-during-the-biden-harris-border-crisis/
5. Solidarity with Targeted Nonprofits. Committee on Homeland Security Democrats. July 16, 2025. Accessed November 25, 2025. https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_from_ngos.pdf
6. Geringer-Sameth, Ethan. “’A Day Without Human Services’: Nonprofits Protest Lack of City Funding.” Gotham Gazette. May 25, 2023. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.gothamgazette.com/city/12023-human-services-contracts-city-funding-nyc.
7. “Letter from the Executive Director.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/2016/12/06/executive-message/.
8. “Essential or Expendable?.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/human-services-recovery-taskforce/.
9. “Accomplishments.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/accomplishments/.
10. Brannan, Justin; Stevens, Althea. “Opinion: Nonprofits keep New York running, but the city’s pushing them off a cliff.” City and State New York. November 14, 2024. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2024/11/opinion-nonprofits-keep-new-york-running-citys-pushing-them-cliff/401025/.
11. “Value-Based Care Commission.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/value-based-payments-commission/.
12. “Homepage.” #JustPay. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.justpayny.org/.
13. “Campaigns.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/campaigns/.
14. “Organizing Academy.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/organizingacademy/.
15. “Human Services Council of New York Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133620059/202500319349300905/full.
16. “Funders.” HSC. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://humanservicescouncil.org/about/#funders.
17. “Michelle Jackson.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-jackson-03a1a648/.