STEVE'S BEEN THERE

Steve Jorgensen // Principal

Steve Jorgensen’s talent and passion support executives and teams as they accomplish important work in the non-profit community with great integrity, commitment and results.

Steve brings extensive experience in providing financial management expertise to non-profit organizations. Prior to forming his consulting firm, Steve served as Principal and Managing Director of N. Cheng & Co., a CPA firm solely serving non-profits. During his 12-year tenure, he created innovative and cost effective approaches to financial management that enabled the rapid growth of the firm.  

Coupled with his financial expertise, he has first-hand experience leading a non-profit organization. Steve lived and breathed the mission, financial demands, needs and pressures facing non-profits as a co-founder/ Executive Director of Discipleship Outreach Ministries/ Turning Point — a multi-service and multi-funded agency in Brooklyn. Under his 20 year leadership, the organization grew to be an important multi-social service provider in southwest Brooklyn.    

Separating Steve from other consultants is his unique ability to understand not only the business side of the equation but to develop and nurture strong leaders needed to steward these important organizations. The fruit of Steve’s labors has not only been strong, growing, financially sound organizations, but the development of committed leaders who carry on the work after he leaves.

VIEW Steve's full CV READ A personal message from Steve

STEVE'S JOURNEY

Location

BA in Psychology and Sociology from Brooklyn College, CUNY

Throughout my personal and professional life, I have always focused on affecting people and systems. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology and completing some graduate work in social work with an emphasis on community organizing, I was drawn and became immersed in working at a grassroots level.

Location

Community organizer focusing on social justice

In my 20s, I was a community organizer focused on social justice; creating and strengthening community organizations fighting for social change.

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As Executive Director of Discipleship Outreach Ministries/ Turning Point, Steve built the organization into an expansive multi-service, multi-funded agency.

In my 30s and 40s, I became a Christian and my life changed. The mission was to be a practical demonstration of the unconditional love of Jesus to most hurting and vulnerable people in our community (Sunset Park, Brooklyn). The vehicle to accomplish this was Discipleship Outreach Ministries/ Turning Point, as its Executive Director.

Location

Principal/Managing Director of N. Cheng & Co. – A CPA firm specializing in financial services to non-profits.

As I entered my 50s, after discerning that it was time to leave Discipleship, a door opened to come to N. Cheng & Co. to do financial management with non-profits. Not where I ever pictured myself being! Shortly thereafter, a new mission emerged: to transform NYC through strengthening and undergirding its small to mid-sized non-profits.

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Steve Jorgensen & Friends Consulting Services – supporting the growth and development of non-profit leaders and their organizations.

And now, as I approached and turned 60, my interest and focus changed. While organizations are necessary and important, the development of the people who lead them is even more important. My interest has shifted to supporting, mentoring and developing talented and committed leaders.

Steve Jorgensen's CV

STEPHEN G. JORGENSEN

 

409 East Eighth Street Brooklyn, New York 11218

 

Cell (646) 201-0409; E-mail: sjorgensen.nyc@gmail.com

 

Employment Experience

 

October 2014 to present                                                                 Principal


 

Steve Jorgensen & Friends Consulting Services – Brooklyn, New York


Principal of a boutique consulting firm for organizations and individuals involved in non-profit organizations. Services include: Executive coaching, CFO services, organizational development and project management.

April 2002 to September 2014                                                         Principal


 

N. Cheng & Co. P.C. – New York, New York


Principal and later the Managing Director of a CPA firm with 60+ employees. In charge of the Financial Management Services Department that provided financial management assistance, CFO services, outsourced accounting services and financial consulting to about 60 non-profit organizations. Since joining the firm and taking responsibility for Financial Management Services, the revenues of that Department grew ten-fold.

November l982 – March 2002                                                     Executive Director


 

Discipleship Outreach Ministries, Inc.  Brooklyn, New York

 

Turning Point Housing Development Fund, Inc.


Chief Executive Officer for two non-profit corporations with four program sites which provide housing, substance abuse, adult education, employment and HIV/ AIDS programs. Have provided leadership and direction enabling the organization to grow from a single person operation to one with a combined annual budget of $5M.

Accomplishments:

Fundraising:
  1. Expanded the annual budget from $35,000 to over $5,000,000
  2. Wrote and/or coordinated successful proposal writing efforts to Federal, State, City, Foundation and Corporate sources for diverse areas including housing, substance abuse, youth, adult education, employment and HIV/ AIDS programs
  3.  Managed the contract renewal process for 20 government contracts annually
  4.  In five separate capital funding efforts, four buildings were purchased, and then renovated utilizing public and private sector grants, donations, in-kind contributions, and loans.
Fiscal Operations:
  1. Functioned as chief financial officer of the organization for 20 years
  2. Directed the transition from hand kept books by volunteers, to a complex, fully computerized accounting system with numerous/multi-stream funding sources.
  3. Ensured financial compliance with all regulatory authorities related to diverse funding streams
  4. Implemented an agency budget development process and variance monitoring system
  5. Maintained effective banking and credit relationships
  6. Negotiated mortgages, refinancing and credit lines with lending institutions
  7. Developed and prepared the annual budget including the budgeting process, short term and long term financial planning, projections/ forecasting, and regular strategic reviews.
Program Development:
  1. As Executive Director, led Discipleship in its expansion from a one person operation to the largest multi-service community based organization in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
  2. Developed and had oversight of the following programs:
  • HIV/AIDS Prevention and Direct Service Programs including Scattered-Site Housing; Comprehensive Case Management; and Community Outreach and HIV Education
  • Educational Programs for teens and adults that included Literacy; Pre-GED; GED Preparation Classes; English to Speakers of Other Language Classes; and Counseling.
  • Career Development Program provided Life Skills Classes, Pre-employment preparation classes, Internships, Job Placement and follow-up support.
  • Substance Abuse Treatment And Prevention Programs provided individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, and relapse prevention.
  • Volunteer And Supportive Services provided recreational, art and cultural enrichment for clients and their families.
  • Turning Point Transitional Housing Facility a 37 bed shelter for female young adults ages 18 to 25, provided Housing for up to one year; three meals daily; referrals for clothing and other basic needs; structure and discipline; individual and group counseling/workshops.
  • Turning Point Red Hook, a 31 unit SRO permanent housing facility for the graduates of the transitional facility, provides low cost single room only apartments; case management, counseling, and referrals; and recreational activities.
Organizational Management:
  1. Led assessment and strategic planning processes involving board, staff, and clients to identify new programmatic initiatives to address unmet needs of clients and community
  2. Led coalition building efforts with other community based organizations to create a community based response to managed care for persons with HIV/AIDS
  3. Represented the organization in the City and the community
  4. Conducted board and staff training
  5. Enabled the organization to transition from a small Amom and pop@ type operation, through periods of rapid, diverse growth, into a substantial multi-service organization
  6. Enabled the organization to navigate through turbulent financial periods, cashflow problems, funding reductions, etc.
  7. Developed and maintained positive working relationships with City and State agencies and elected officials, other community based organizations, religious organizations, and city-wide issue networks
 

Education

University of Maryland, Graduate School of Social Work & Community Planning September 1976 to June 1977
Course Concentration: Community Organizing

Brooklyn College, B.A 1974 Majors: (Psychology and Sociology)

A Personal Message From Steve

Before you continue reading, you should know that my comfort zone is in the back of the room, not in the spotlight saying: “Look at me!”  However, if you are considering the possibility of us working together, you have a right to know about what makes me tick and about some of my God-given attributes.

I want to be part of changing the world, or some subset of the world;  That will never change, though the focus of that desire and its means of expression has changed over time. In a working relationship, my only desire/ agenda will be the leader’s and the organization’s success. People realize that I can be trusted early in the relationship and that enables us to get to what is really important fairly quickly.

By the Grace of God, I am often able to discern dynamics that are below the surface and see between the lines. Being practical and pragmatic, I have learned to understand specific situations, extract principles, apply them to the situation, and articulate that in a clear manner.

Most importantly, I’ve learned not to take myself too seriously. The journey and especially the bumps have provided a broader life perspective and a sense of humor.