Centers and Institutes

Nonprofit leaders often claim that their organizations do not engage in advocacy, yet many leaders report organizational activities that qualify as such. This discrepancy, which we call the “say/do” gap, suggests that nonprofit advocacy may be more widespread than commonly believed. Drawing on the first nationally representative survey of U.S. nonprofit advocacy in two decades, we explore explanations for this say/do gap and argue that many nonprofit leaders may be seeking to pursue the benefits of advocacy while limiting potential opposition through a strategy of decoupling. Heather MacIndoe is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.  Her research applies sociological theory to the study of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy. Current projects include studies of nonprofit advocacy and social justice philanthropy. Dr. MacIndoe serves as an Associate Editor of the journal Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. Hosted by The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management (CNSM) at the Marxe School.

The US budget for direct arts spending for the National Endowment for the Arts was $207 million in 2024. However, in 2024 the United States spent between $2 and $3.35 billion to support arts nonprofits through the charitable contribution deduction. Over 90% of those deductions came from people earning more than $200,000. Are there such important enough benefits from these Congressionally provided charitable tax benefits supporting arts-based nonprofits to justify this plutocratic approach to arts policy?

Mr. Anupam Ghose is a Founding Partner and CEO of System Two Advisors, LP, where he focuses on the start-up business operations and strategic direction of the firm. Prior to System Two, Mr. Ghose was the Co-President and Chief Strategy Officer of Roc Capital, responsible for overseeing the firms marketing and investor relations as well as implementing short-term and long-term firm strategies. Prior to joining Roc Capital, Mr. Ghose was a Senior Member of the Prime Services Group at Credit Suisse. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, he was a member of the Global Portfolio Trading Equities Swaps desk at Goldman Sachs. Prior to that he was one of the limited partners at Spear, Leeds Kellogg and was part of the integration team when the firm was acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2000. Mr. Ghose is the founder of Indus Advisors LLC, which launched the first India-focused exchange traded fund on the NYSE/ARCA in partnership with Invesco PowerShares. Mr. Ghose received his BA degree in Economics from Bombay University in India in 1988, and his MBA in Finance and Investments from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College in 1994. Mr. Ghose serves on the advisory board of the Weissman Center for International Business at Baruch College. He has also served on the board of Viteos Fund Services Gravitas Technology, Inc.

Wesley D. Archer is an entrepreneur and adventure seeker who graduated from Baruch College in 1998 with a degree in finance. In 2001, he founded ALaS Consulting LLC, a specialized firm focused on post-trade processing technologies and the accounting of financial instruments. What began as a one-man operation with a single client grew into an industry-recognized firm serving more than 40 clients and employing over 150 professionals before its successful sale in 2011. Today, Wesley continues to advise fintech companies, banks, and broker-dealers on streamlining complex business processes, while also managing a working cattle ranch in Tennessee.

Join the Robert Zicklin Center for Corporate Integrity and Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship on February 5th as we welcome Lew Frankfort, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of Coach, to Baruch College. Frankfort will reflect on his remarkable professional journey, from his early career in New York City government to leading Coach for nearly three decades and transforming it from a six million dollar leather goods business into a five billion dollar global lifestyle brand. The fireside chat, moderated by Marlene Leekang, Executive Director of the Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship, will draw from Frankfort’s memoir Bag Man, which chronicles how Coach pioneered the concept of accessible luxury and redefined an industry through relentless focus on the customer, bold strategic choices, and a willingness to challenge convention. Frankfort also explores the personal side of leadership, including how fear of failure can fuel success while demanding a personal toll. The fireside chat will be followed by a live question and answer session, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with one of the most respected business leaders of his generation.

Mitsui Lunch-Time Forum CLXXVIII: With over three decades of experience in the financial sector and 26 years as a WPP veteran, Stacey will keynote a conversation titled THE ART, SCIENCE, AND SOUL OF FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP, moderated by Professor Andreas Grein. As a leader who believes the CFO role embodies these three pillars, Stacey will share how she combines creative thinking, sharp financial acumen, and a genuine passion for people and culture to drive business transformation. Dont miss this opportunity to explore her remarkable career journey and unique leadership philosophy, and to ask your own questions during our QA session!

Join the Robert Zicklin Center for Corporate Integrity for a timely and thought-provoking discussion on how some of the nation’s largest law firms navigated the legal and ethical challenges in the wake of the Trump Administration’s retaliatory actions against them. The program will feature Rebecca Roiphe, leading voice in criminal law and ethics; rights litigator; Christopher J. Clark, pre-eminent litigator; and Ankush Khardori, senior writer and columnist at Politico. They will explore how Big Law balanced client demands, public scrutiny, legal ethics and questions of professional responsibility during one of the most tumultuous political periods in recent history.

Mitsui Lunch-Time Forum CLXXVII: Dana Zeller is a financial services operations leader with a track record of modernizing complex organizations, building high-performing teams, and driving measurable growth.

She has helped global and regional banks streamline processes, embrace automation, and deliver better client experiences while navigating highly regulated environments. Dana has held senior leadership roles at institutions like Morgan Stanley, Citizens Bank, and Bank Leumi USA. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer at BHI, a full service commercial bank based in New York. Dana is passionate about mentoring and community leadership, serving on the UJA Professional Womens Board and supporting initiatives that expand access to education, opportunity, and legal services in New York City. She is a graduate of Emory University where she received a B.A. in Economics/Math, and of the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, where she received an M.S. in Statistics.

Jennifer Hadden and Sarah Bush’s book “Crowded Out: The Competitive Landscape of Contemporary International NGOs,” examines how global nonprofits are being squeezed by competition, specialization, and dispersion—even as global needs grow. This event will discuss the arguments of the book in light of recent developments in the international NGO sector, including global crackdowns on civil society and the dissolution of USAID. This is a hybrid event; livestream will be available. Hosted by the Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management (CNSM) at the Marxe School.