Ken Small, BronxWorks Development Director, is celebrating 30 years at the organization!
Ken was born and raised in Central and East Harlem and, like many New Yorkers, his first job was through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). In 1972, under the guidance of his mother, an SYEP site coordinator for the DeWitt Clinton Houses, a public housing complex, he helped oversee a meal distribution program that predated Meals on Wheels. His mom, whose formative years were during the Great Depression, created a distribution and data management system that provided him with valuable experience for future jobs.
Ken’s dad, a longshoreman and a shipyard worker, also provided valuable lessons. His dad worked at Bethlehem Steel for 35 years, providing Ken with critical insights regarding institutional hierarchies, peer relationships, equity, and teambuilding.
Ken graduated from Fordham University with a BA in economics in 1979 and then from Long Island University (LIU) with an MA in economics in 1981. Preceding his graduate fellowship at LIU, Ken worked part-time at several divisions of the New York Public Library (NYPL) where he interacted with patrons from a variety of backgrounds and ages.
Ken secured a position with the New York office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics prior to receiving his master’s degree. He honed his writing and data analysis skills at BLS as a researcher and an economist.
Returning to NYPL during the 1981 recession, Ken briefly considered a master’s degree in library science. In 1984, he landed his first job with the National Urban League, one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the country. He oversaw the organization’s strategic planning and program evaluation activities until he came to BronxWorks in August 1995.
Ken has held the development director title since joining BronxWorks. While his work has evolved over time, he remains a valuable member of our organization’s fundraising infrastructure.
A big lesson I’ve learned at BronxWorks is that it’s important to work as a team. Anything that is done well at BronxWorks is done by a group of people working together.”
Early on, Ken oversaw all aspects of development for BronxWorks, including grant writing, event planning, external communications, and government affairs. He has also worked alongside senior leadership to diversify sources for both public and private funds, which has allowed the organization to increase programming to meet needs while maintaining financial stability.
Today, Ken’s work focuses on institutional grant writing, reporting, and stewardship. He has played a key role in helping BronxWorks secure funding from the Robin Hood Foundation every year since 1997. Over the years, Ken has also served as a mentor to many colleagues, interns, and fellow development staff.
“What’s most rewarding to me is that you see the fruits of your labor here. I’ll be on the subway with my work ID on, and someone will come up to me and say thanks to BronxWorks they avoided eviction, moved into permanent housing, or secured affordable childcare. It’s those kinds of stories that make me want to come to work every day.”
Outside of work, Ken enjoys jazz music at some of the city’s iconic jazz spots, such as Village Vanguard and Lincoln Center.
Ken Small, BronxWorks Development Director, is celebrating 30 years at the organization!
Ken was born and raised in Central and East Harlem and, like many New Yorkers, his first job was through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). In 1972, under the guidance of his mother, an SYEP site coordinator for the DeWitt Clinton Houses, a public housing complex, he helped oversee a meal distribution program that predated Meals on Wheels. His mom, whose formative years were during the Great Depression, created a distribution and data management system that provided him with valuable experience for future jobs.
Ken’s dad, a longshoreman and a shipyard worker, also provided valuable lessons. His dad worked at Bethlehem Steel for 35 years, providing Ken with critical insights regarding institutional hierarchies, peer relationships, equity, and teambuilding.
Ken graduated from Fordham University with a BA in economics in 1979 and then from Long Island University (LIU) with an MA in economics in 1981. Preceding his graduate fellowship at LIU, Ken worked part-time at several divisions of the New York Public Library (NYPL) where he interacted with patrons from a variety of backgrounds and ages.
Ken secured a position with the New York office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics prior to receiving his master’s degree. He honed his writing and data analysis skills at BLS as a researcher and an economist.
Returning to NYPL during the 1981 recession, Ken briefly considered a master’s degree in library science. In 1984, he landed his first job with the National Urban League, one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the country. He oversaw the organization’s strategic planning and program evaluation activities until he came to BronxWorks in August 1995.
Ken has held the development director title since joining BronxWorks. While his work has evolved over time, he remains a valuable member of our organization’s fundraising infrastructure.
A big lesson I’ve learned at BronxWorks is that it’s important to work as a team. Anything that is done well at BronxWorks is done by a group of people working together.”
Early on, Ken oversaw all aspects of development for BronxWorks, including grant writing, event planning, external communications, and government affairs. He has also worked alongside senior leadership to diversify sources for both public and private funds, which has allowed the organization to increase programming to meet needs while maintaining financial stability.
Today, Ken’s work focuses on institutional grant writing, reporting, and stewardship. He has played a key role in helping BronxWorks secure funding from the Robin Hood Foundation every year since 1997. Over the years, Ken has also served as a mentor to many colleagues, interns, and fellow development staff.
“What’s most rewarding to me is that you see the fruits of your labor here. I’ll be on the subway with my work ID on, and someone will come up to me and say thanks to BronxWorks they avoided eviction, moved into permanent housing, or secured affordable childcare. It’s those kinds of stories that make me want to come to work every day.”
Outside of work, Ken enjoys jazz music at some of the city’s iconic jazz spots, such as Village Vanguard and Lincoln Center.
