Speakers

As a grantmaker at Robin Hood, Susan Epstein develops funding strategies for New York City poverty-fighting programs serving adults and families in the areas of economic security, job training, financial literacy, criminal justice, legal services and early childhood and family support. Her funding portfolio amounts to about $35 million and includes about 100 organizations. She also assists grant recipients in the areas of fundraising, evaluation, strategic planning, facilities assessment and enhancement, and board and program development.

Ms. Epstein has more than 30 years of experience in not-for-profit management specializing in housing and family violence organizations. Immediately prior to joining Robin Hood’s staff in 1994, Ms. Epstein was Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families, one of New York City’s largest family shelters which provides services to more than 100 families daily. Sanctuary launched its legal program and became a Robin Hood grantee under her leadership.

Ms. Epstein began her career in public service as a lawyer. She has a JD from Hofstra University Law School, was the first female criminal investigator at the Washington, DC Office of the Public Defender, and spent two years as a law clerk to a trial judge in the District of Columbia Superior Court. She is a 1973 graduate of the University of Rochester.

Ms. Epstein served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and is currently a board member of the Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program at Mount Sinai. She was a member of the New York City Regional Planning Committee of Grantmakers in Health, a member of the 1998-1999 class of the Coro Foundation Leadership New York program and a guest lecturer at New York University’s Wagner School and Columbia University’s Institute for Non-Profit Management. Ms. Epstein lives with her family in Manhattan.