The Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services

The New York State Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services stands as a beacon of support and resource for faith-based and non-profit organizations across the state. With a mission deeply rooted in Governor Kathy Hochul’s commitment to support and expand these communities, the Office is dedicated to fostering growth, equity, and connectivity.  

Key initiatives include:

• Coalition Building: Through one-on-one engagements, regional stakeholder meetings, and faith-based gatherings, the Office promotes collaboration and unity among diverse groups.
• Capacity Building: Spearheaded by influential leaders like Reverend Dr. AR Bernard, this initiative focuses on interfaith dialogue and interagency collaboration to offer comprehensive support services, including mental health directories and more.  
• Grants and Funding: With a strategic allocation of funds, including the Governor Hochul’s Initiative Grant, the Office ensures equitable distribution of resources across various community groups to support their missions and projects.
• Housing Initiative: This effort seeks to leverage faith-based properties to increase housing opportunities, reflecting Governor Hochul’s commitment to growth and sustainability, while addressing New York’s housing crisis.  
• Community Outreach and Guide Development: Aiming for local, regional, and statewide impact, the Office develops guides on mental health, grant application processes, housing initiatives, and creating sensory-friendly spaces, tailored specifically for the faith community.

The Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services is more than just a resource – it is a partner in progress, dedicated to building stronger communities through faith, collaboration, and innovation.

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The mission of the Interfaith Council is to empower houses of worship to fulfill their potential as pivotal centers for moral guidance and social support, enhancing their ability to serve the most vulnerable.

Executive Committee members are:

Internal Chair: NYS Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley

Walter T. Mosley serves as the 69th Secretary of State for the State of New York. Mr. Mosley was nominated to the position by Governor Kathy Hochul in May of 2024 and confirmed by the New York State Senate in May of 2024. Mr. Mosley formerly represented the New York State Assembly within the New York State Legislature. From 2013 to 2020, Mr. Mosley represented communities in central Brooklyn encompassing the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and parts of Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights. 

President: Reverend A.R. Bernard 

A.R. Bernard is one of the most influential religious leaders, and transformative visionaries in the United States. He is the Founding Senior Pastor of Christian Cultural Center (CCC) in Brooklyn, NY, with a membership of more than 37,000, and campuses in Long Island, and Orlando, Florida as well as a virtual campus that reaches thousands across the country and around the world. Bernard enjoyed a successful 10-year career in Finance before he and his wife, Karen, planted a small storefront church in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, in 1978. Next year Bernard will begin construction on a $1.2B development in East New York Brooklyn of which he is a 50% partner, bringing much needed low and middle-income affordable housing, retail, commercial, medical and mental health services, 24-hour Childcare and a Trade School for electrical, hvac, plumbing and carpentry certification.  A lifelong social reformist, Bernard often collaborates with national and global faith leaders building solid partnerships that advocate for religious freedom and social justice. Bernard previously served as the president of the Council of Churches of the City of New York and is currently the president of the New York State Interfaith Council.

Members (listed alphabetically):

Jennifer Jones Austin

Rabbi Deborah Bravo

Reverend Kia Brooks

Reverend Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd

Reverend John Carter

Reverend Dr. Johnnie Green

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

Maury Litwack

Pastor Darius Pridgen

Reverend Dr. Franklyn Richardson

Bishop Raymond Rivera

Monsignor Kevin Sullivan

Imam Mansoor Rafiq Umar

Pastor Carl Washington, Jr.

Bishop Frank White

Caura N. Washington - Director of the Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services

Caura N. Washington is currently serving as the Director of the Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services. She was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve as the director for the reinvigorated office. Pastor Caura Washington has devoted her ministerial and professional careers to ensuring that every opportunity is an opportunity to make a lasting and equitable difference in the lives of all she encounters.  She is dedicated to working with faith leaders and nonprofit organizations across the state to give voice to the ever-evolving needs of every community.