Newark Liaison
Philanthropy has played a vital role in Newark for decades. In 2007, in collaboration with the Office of the Mayor, CNJG hired the city’s first liaison – modeled after a similar position in the State of Michigan – to harness interest, foster greater effectiveness and attract resources toward policy and programmatic areas that affect Newark’s residents. In the years since, the Council’s Newark Philanthropic Liaison has become a model for the country.
Newark is one of the only places in the country to designate someone on staff with the explicit role of engaging foundations for the funding of public projects.
Serving as the Newark Philanthropic Liaison since the beginning was Jeremy Johnson who recently stepped down to become Executive Director of the Newark Arts Council. During his tenure, the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison helped broker over $50 million in private sector support of public-private initiatives to enrich the lives of Newark residents and their communities. On September 1, 2016 the Council welcomed Kevin Callaghan as the next Newark Philanthropic Liaison. Working with the Mayor’s administration, the Liaison Office will continue to convene, connect and leverage the resources of the state, regional and national philanthropic community for the benefit of Newark’s citizens.
A project of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, the Liaison is supported by Bank of America, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, MCJ Amelior Foundation, The Nicholson Foundation, The Prudential Foundation, Schumann Fund for New Jersey, Turrell Fund, and Victoria Foundation.