named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Criminal Justice Committee
Provides education and resources for individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system and advocates for crisis intervention teams, mental health courts, and jail diversion programs
Education Conference Committee
Organizes the annual NAMI NYS EdCon education conference, including workshop planning, speaker selection, and site recommendations
Government Affairs Committee
Leads advocacy efforts to shape public policy on mental health at the state level, focusing on issues affecting adults, youth, veterans, and underserved populations
Program Committee
Coordinates educational programs offered by NAMI affiliates across New York State, taught by trained volunteer members
Reintegration Committee
Focuses on improving services for individuals transitioning from prison, hospitals, or residential programs through needs assessments and advocacy
Wellness Committee
Promotes overall wellness by improving access to reliable mental health information and addressing disparities in health service access
Youth Advisory Committee (NAMI NYS NextGen)
Engages young adults with lived experience in mental health advocacy through a monthly podcast, legislative outreach, and social media campaigns
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Mental Health Education and Awareness 5 activities
- Conducts public campaigns to reduce mental health stigmaRuns public awareness campaigns, including during Mental Health Awareness Month and through annual events, to reduce stigma associated with mental health conditions and promote understanding and support.
- Delivers targeted mental health education and support for specific populationsProvides education and resources to veterans and their families about mental health services, and offers specialized support for individuals with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system, promoting de-escalation, jail diversion, and access to care.
- Produces youth-focused mental health podcastProduces a monthly podcast featuring youth perspectives on mental health, covering topics such as accessing care, self-care, and advocacy to engage younger audiences and reduce stigma.
- Provides mental health support and education through a network of local affiliatesOperates through a network of over 500 local affiliates to deliver mental health support, educational materials, and resources to individuals, families, and communities across New York State.
- Supports student-led mental health clubs on college campusesOperates and supports student-led clubs that conduct awareness events, deliver NAMI mental health programs, advocate for improved campus policies, and provide peer support to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness among young adults.
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Healthcare Policy Advocacy 2 activities
- Advocates for mental health policy change at the state levelEngages individuals in advocacy efforts, submits letters, testimony, and comments to policymakers, and conducts ongoing advocacy work aligned with a formal Public Policy Platform to advance mental health legislation in New York State.
- Organizes annual Advocacy Day at the New York State CapitolHosts an annual Advocacy Day event where members, emerging leaders, and young professionals from across New York State engage directly with policymakers to advocate for legislative priorities related to mental health.
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Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
- Conducts research to inform mental health policy and practiceAuthors public policy reports, produces state fact sheets with mental health statistics, and develops surveys to collect data on populations transitioning from prisons, hospitals, and residential programs to inform advocacy and service improvements.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Facilitates volunteer engagement in mental health initiativesOffers volunteer opportunities in areas including social media, communications, event planning, clerical work, helpline support, and fundraising for individuals seeking professional development, retirement engagement, or community impact.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Hosts capacity-building meetings and trainings for affiliatesHosts monthly Zoom meetings for NAMI New York State affiliates, monthly Lunch and Learn webinars on mental health policy, and support groups for helpline responders to share resources and strengthen organizational effectiveness.
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24/7 Crisis and Warmline Support Services 1 activity
- Offers helpline services via phone, text, and online chatOperates a telephone helpline, text-based support, and online chat through NAMI.org/help, available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, staffed by specialists to assist individuals seeking mental health support.
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
- Organizes mental health education and awareness conferencesPlans and organizes annual education conferences such as EdCon 2026 and other conference programs by soliciting and reviewing workshop proposals to share tools, insights, and best practices related to mental health and lived experience.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Supports youth leadership in mental health programmingOperates a youth advisory group that helps redesign mental health programs, content, and initiatives to better serve young adults and ensure youth voices are integrated into organizational strategy.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.10M
Contributions & grants$895K81%
Program service revenue$108K10%
Investment income$96K9%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.19M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$664K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.08M
Cash$773K
Investments$1.96M
Liabilities$567K
Net assets$2.51M
Liquid reserves27.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHARON HORTON | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $95K |
board members · 16
- ABRAHAM GOLDRING — DIRECTOR
- CHERYL NETTER — DIRECTOR
- DHANU SANNESY — DIRECTOR
- ELLEN DRESDALE RITZ — 1ST VICE PRE
- HOPE PLAVIN — SECRETARY
- JASMINE FRANCIS — DIRECTOR
- JULIE LECLAIR NECHES — 2ND VICE PRE
- LAUREN GRIMSHAW — TREASURER
- MARGARET BRISTOL — DIRECTOR
- MAYA MCNULTY — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL FOTI DO — DIRECTOR
- NATHAN MCLAUGHLIN — EXECUTIVE DI
- PAT SINE — DIRECTOR
- PHOENYX LONG — DIRECTOR
- SHARON MCCARTHY — PRESIDENT
- SUE GAGNE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Department of Veterans Affairs Partner — Refers callers to the Veterans Crisis Line operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs for specialized support.
- Marriott Hotel Partner — Host venue for the NAMI NYS Annual Education Conference.
- NAMI Network — Member of the national NAMI network with over 500 local affiliates across the country.
- NAMI Network — NAMI-NEW YORK STATE INC aligns its advocacy work with national and local NAMI affiliates and participates in the broader NAMI network.
- NAMI Affiliates Network — Partners with campus clubs to deliver signature NAMI programs and training.
- NAMI Board of Directors Network — Formally approves the Public Policy Platform and resolutions that guide NAMI NYS advocacy.
- NAMI Family Support Group Partner — Collaborates on state training for family support groups.
- NAMI NYS Affiliates Network — Collaborates with local affiliates across New York State to deliver educational programs and address community mental health needs.
- NAMI NYS Next Gen Network — Youth advisory group operating under NAMI New York State to inform programming and advocacy.
- NAMI New York State Partner — Lead organization coordinating Mental Health Awareness Month initiatives in New York State
- NAMI State Organizations Network — Provides training and program delivery support to NAMI on Campus clubs through state-level affiliates.
- NAMI on Campus Network — Engages youth and young adults through campus-based mental health initiatives.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline Partner — Refers callers to the National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential support, resources, and information.
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network Partner — Refers callers to RAINN's sexual assault service providers for crisis support and free services via phone, text, and online chat.
- Zoom Partner — Platform used to host virtual meetings
- Zoom Partner — Uses Zoom as the platform for hosting monthly affiliate meetings.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Grassroots and Youth Mobilization for Systemic Changemethodology: grassroots_mobilizationBy empowering emerging leaders, youth, and diverse volunteers to lead advocacy efforts, we produce broader and more sustainable policy impact, because inclusive, bottom-up participation increases community ownership, expands reach, and ensures responsiveness to marginalized voices.
- Lived Experience as Advocacy Powermethodology: lived_experience_advocacyBy centering personal lived experience in advocacy and policy engagement, we produce more impactful and authentic systemic change, because those with direct experience bring credibility, moral authority, and strategic insight that shifts both public attitudes and legislative outcomes.
- Peer-Led Support Networksmethodology: peer_led_supportBy using peer-led models in both helplines and campus clubs, we produce higher engagement and sustained mental health support, because shared lived experience fosters trust, reduces isolation, and increases relatability more effectively than clinical or top-down approaches.
- Stigma Reduction Through Public Education and Storytellingmethodology: story_based_stigma_reductionBy using personal storytelling and trauma-informed public education campaigns, we reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behavior, because narrative empathy and culturally aware messaging shift social norms and make mental health care feel more accessible and less stigmatized.