Trenton and Mercer County Area Funders Affinity Group: Who Gets Funded and Who Gets Left Out? Examining Equity in Phlanthropic Giving

This program will convene three funders representing a community foundation, family foundation, and corporate foundation for a candid and thoughtful conversation about funding patterns and equity in philanthropy. Moderated by Katherine Nunnally of the Smith Family Foundation, the panel will explore how funding decisions are made — who receives support, why, and whether philanthropic dollars are concentrated among a relatively small group of organizations.

As philanthropy increasingly commits to equity, critical questions remain: Are the majority of funds reaching the nonprofits most embedded in community? Are fiscally sponsored groups, grassroots initiatives, and smaller organizations being overlooked? Panelists will examine funding patterns, decision-making frameworks, and structural barriers that shape allocation — and discuss what more equitable giving could look like in practice.

We’ll look at both Trenton and Mercer County ecosystems within the New Jersey Philanthropy Hub database (powered by Impala) to glean insights on these funding practices. If you have not yet activated your account, please do so before this meeting, so you can follow along.

Speakers
Danielle Naiberk, Johnson & Johnson
Amber Randolph, RWJF
Michelle Ruess, I Am Trenton Community Foundation

Even if you do not fund in Trenton or Mercer County directly, but you are concerned about equity in your grantmaking, this meeting will offer insights into how others are addressing it at their organization.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $95 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.

Thank you to the Smith Family Foundation for hosting the event.