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The Ford Institute for Community Building,  a program of The Ford Family Foundation, works to help community leaders learn how to implement local solutions based on principles of effective community building. This paper describes the development and work of the The Ford Institute for Community Building.

This new report from CNJG and partners examines the response of foundations, corporations, and other institutional donors to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Numbering nearly 600, these funders have so far committed more than $380 million for relief, recovery and building efforts. The hard data and reflective observations in the report contribute to the growing body of knowledge that helps foundations and corporations be strategic and effective with their giving when disaster strikes.

Two years after the historic storm, Philanthropy & Hurricane Sandy: A Report on the Foundation & Corporate Response breaks down the allocation of dollars contributed thus far and offers perspective on the role of private giving in disaster response and lessons to be taken from this one. The report was published by the Foundation Center in partnership with the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Philanthropy New York, and with support from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

“Throughout the past two years, our exceptional nonprofit and funder community has taken on challenges they never imagined,” said Nina Stack, president of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. “These organizations continue to develop innovative solutions that other communities will learn from and build upon in future disasters.”

In addition to the report’s numerous funders, CNJG wishes to thank the PSEG Foundation for supporting this project.

Food is essential. But how often do you consider where your food comes from?This issue of What Funders Need to Know from the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers explores the stages of the food system, from production all the way to disposal. Why is this important to philanthropy?

Because hunger, food insecurity, nutrition-related chronic disease, the health of resource lands and waterways, wages, and equal opportunity in the food economy all converge in our regional food system.

From the Commonfund, these white papers on investment policy statements, spending policy, board governance and risk tolerance, together with their most recent studies of investments at private and community foundations, operating charities and nonprofit healthcare organizations are made available though CNJG's Investment Forum for Foundations and Endowments.

We are witnessing an unprecedented transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. Historically, people lived their entire lives close to their birthplace and as wealth passed from one generation to the next, most stayed in the same community. This is no longer true, and once the wealth leaves our communities, it may never return. The Transfer of Wealth study provides a research-based estimate of your region’s assets – homes, businesses, investments – that will transfer between generations within the next 10 and 40/50 years. This wealth when combined with active donor or legislative engagement, makes available charitable giving and enhances philanthropic investing opportunities to improve the quality of life for our communities into the future. Join Ben Winchester, a Rural Sociologist with the University of Minnesota Extension to learn more about trends in transfer of wealth research across the country.

COST: Free and open to all funders.

This program is made possible by support from the following Philanthropy Support Organizations: Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, Florida Philanthropic Network, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, Maryland Philanthropy Network, North Carolina Network of Grantmakers, NY Funders Alliance, Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia, Philanthropy West Virginia, Wisconsin Philanthropy Network.