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Newark Liaison

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.

 

 

Liaison News

Newark Philanthropic Liaison Featured on Urban Institute Webinar
Release Date:
September 13, 2021

Kevin Callaghan, our Newark Philanthropic Liaison, was a guest panelist on the Urban Institute’s webinar on “Philanthropic Support for Direct Cash Assistance during the COVID-19 Crisis: What Have We Learned.”
Newark Guaranteed Income Program Launches
Release Date:
May 10, 2021

The Newark Movement for Economic Equity was launched Monday by Mayor Ray Baraka with help from the philanthropic community in and around Newark. CNJG's Newark Philanthropic Liaison Kevin Callaghan, part of the task force, was instrumental in garnering the support from philanthropy.
Newark Guaranteed Income Report Released
Release Date:
June 5, 2020

Newark is one step closer to its highly anticipated Guaranteed Income Pilot Program following the release of a report by the city, the Jain Family Institute and the Economic Security Project outlining findings and recommendations that would put more cash into residents’ hands.
CNJG and Newark Philanthropic Liaison Highlighted in Philantopic Blog
Release Date:
November 5, 2019

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Myung Lee, Executive Director of Cities of Service, author this blog post on the benefits of addressing urgent economic and social needs in your local community.
Coming Together to Support Newark’s Water Challenge
Release Date:
August 26, 2019

Kevin Callaghan, CNJG’s Newark Philanthropic Liaison, along with the city of Newark, have coordinated a philanthropic response to helping the residents of Newark with their water. This two-page overview offers suggestions for how philanthropy can assist with short-term and long-term needs. To help support the efforts, please contact Kevin.

To stay up-to-date on their efforts, visit the Newark Water Challenge area of our website.
How Not To Read ‘The Prize’
Release Date:
November 20, 2017

At the October Grantmakers for Education Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., the Newark Funders Education Committee presented a workshop called “How Not to Read the Prize” to a standing-room-only audience of national, regional, and local foundations.
Newark in the Spotlight: Summer Youth Employment Program Nod Emblematic of City’s Collaborative Spirit
Release Date:
April 12, 2017

When Mayor Ras Baraka took office in 2014, he immediately called for an expansion of the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

There is a growing body of evidence that youth employment programs are a positive intervention that ..
Newark's New Philanthropic Liaison Announced
Release Date:
August 17, 2016

The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers (CNJG) and the City of Newark are pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Callaghan as the Council’s new Philanthropic Liaison to the City of Newark.
Strengthening Philanthropy in Newark
Release Date:
June 24, 2016
We are pleased to share Strengthening Philanthropy in Newark Report to the Field 2015 from the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison. This report highlights a number of public-private partnerships guided by Liaison Jeremy Johnson.
5 Ways That Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Has Engaged Philanthropy in New Jersey’s Largest City
Release Date:
September 21, 2015
When Ras J. Baraka won the mayoral election for New Jersey’s largest city last year, expectations were high. In the days leading up to, and following the election, the Council recognized an opportunity to work intensively with the incoming mayor. CNJG had previously established a nonpartisan, City Hall-based Newark Philanthropic Liaison office, in collaboration with then Mayor Cory Booker in 2007. Following the transition, Mayor Baraka and CNJG built exciting new bridges.
Strengthening Philanthropy in Newark
Release Date:
January 8, 2015

We are pleased to share Strengthening Philanthropy in Newark Report to the Field 2013 – 2014 from the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison. This report highlights a number of public-private partnerships guided by Liaison Jeremy Johnson.
Newark Mayor Meets with CNJG Membership
Release Date:
August 5, 2014
Newark’s 40th Mayor Ras J. Baraka (pictured, second from right) invited the Newark Funders Group to hear his vision for the city at special August meeting. Just 30 days into his term, the Mayor called on the Newark Philanthropic Liaison Jeremy Johnson (far left) to organize a convening with the Newark group, co-chaired by Etta Denk of Bank America (second from left) and Barbara Reisman of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey (third from left). Irene Cooper-Basch (far right), Chair of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Executive Officer at the Victoria Foundation, introduced the Mayor to more than 50 grantmakers who attended the session at the PSEG headquarters in downtown Newark.
Newark Selected to Participate in Postsecondary Education Attainment Strategy
Release Date:
June 5, 2014

The Lumina Foundation has announced a second cohort of communities - including Newark, NJ - to participate in an initiative to increase the number of local residents who hold postsecondary credentials.
CNJG’s Newark Liaison Featured in National Magazine
Release Date:
January 12, 2014
In the December issue of Governing magazine, a national trade publication, a featured article “But what did Cory Booker actually accomplish in Newark?” cites the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Jeremy Johnson, the Newark Philanthropic Liaison, in connection with the public-private partnership to establish the Newark Office of Reentry.
Newark Collaboratives Target Common Goals
Release Date:
July 9, 2011

The City of Newark and Newark Philanthropic Liaison are working closely with several consortia of nonprofits to address some of the City’s most critical challenges.
Observations on “Newark Symphony Hall Reimagined”
Release Date:
June 2, 2009
On a recent Saturday, the Jeremy Johnson, the Newark Philanthropic Liaison and over 150 arts lovers, historians, and community leaders gathered to reflect on the past, acknowledge the present, and imagine the future of the historic Newark Symphony Hall. The liaison shares his observations from the conference.
Improving Access to Fresh, Affordable Foods
Release Date:
December 2, 2008
Through the office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison, CNJG recently had the opportunity to convene a group of funders with the Brick City Development Corporation (BCDC), a nonprofit that is working with the City of Newark to improve access to fresh, affordable foods for Newark residents.
$5 Million Prisoner Re-entry Initiative for New Jersey and Newark
Release Date:
September 9, 2008
Private donors including three CNJG members contributed $2 million in matching funds to a $5 million grant to support Newark residents returning to their homes and communities from prison over the next two years.
A Partnership for Newark's Children and Families
Release Date:
June 1, 2008
In 2001, the Schumann Fund for New Jersey and 10 private and corporate foundations agreed to collaborate on the multi-year Newark Lighthouse Initiative. The Initiative, led by two state nonprofit partners, the Association for Children of New Jersey and New Jersey Community Capital, had program and policy goals: to help three Newark-based early childhood programs move from good to exemplary, and to identify policy changes that would be necessary to enable other early-childhood programs to engage in similar efforts.
Funders Partner to Strengthen Newark Schools
Release Date:
May 6, 2008
A $19 million landmark award that will strengthen Newark public charter schools, comprises grants from seven funders including four national family foundations -- the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Doris & Donald Fisher Fund, Robertson Foundation, and The Walton Foundation -- and three New Jersey funders -- the MCJ and Amelior Foundations, Prudential Foundation, and Victoria Foundation.