Much to Share
I’m sure you’ll agree, the first few months of the year have been solidly eventful and brimming with activity. There is much to share.
Mid-March was defined by Foundations on the Hill, our annual trek to Washington DC. Katie Hurtado, Manager of Policy and Partnerships, worked closely with me to coordinate and organize our largest delegation ever. We were pleased to connect with our legislators’ offices and meet directly with Senator Kim, and Representatives Watson Coleman and Gottheimer. FOTH is an exceptional mix of knowledge building and advocacy, as well as an unparalleled opportunity for CNJG members to get to know one another, including at our CNJG delegation dinner, which is always a wonderful time. (Special thanks to Jeremy Grunin for underwriting our dinner and to our 22 CNJG delegates that attended FOTH!)
This year we encouraged our representatives to join the newly relaunched Congressional Philanthropy Caucus. The Caucus offers a structured way for House members and their staff to deepen their understanding of how philanthropy strengthens charitable giving, partners with government and community, and provides both data and insights to help inform their decision making. We plan on scheduling in-district meetings later this fall, and will continue this “ask.”
During our meetings, and aligned with our policy agenda, we also shared the harmful impacts that proposed changes to the federal System for Award Management would cause to nonprofits. These changes would require nonprofits to sign new certifications that comply with recent White House executive orders to apply for or receive federal funding. And while the comment period to oppose these changes is over, CNJG signed on to a national sign-on letter led by the National Council of Nonprofits and Legal Defense Fund opposing these damaging changes that would further hinder and hurt nonprofits and communities.
Hot off the presses, the 2025 NPL Report to the Field was released a few short days ago. The report highlights a range of success stories and accomplishments led by Newark’s philanthropic community and Kevin Callaghan, serving as the Newark Philanthropic Liaison. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the NPL initiative. It continues to serve as a national model for public-private alliances.
It’s not too soon to plan for and save the date for the CNJG 2026 Colloquium on June 17. Registration will go live soon. Thank you to our sponsors to date, PSEG, Sixers Youth Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. If you would like to sponsor the event, please reach out to Fortunata Cuomo, Development Associate.
Right around the corner, the final hybrid session of Beyond the Rulings: Strategies to Safeguard Nonprofits in a Shifting Legal Landscape with Attorney Lloyd Freeman, will be held on April 16, beginning at 10 am, at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Space is limited for in-person attendance. The session will cover the latest legal developments, challenges, and constraints on the social sector, and offer suggestions to mitigate risks during these difficult times, while remaining true to our missions. Feel free to share this opportunity with your grantees and nonprofit partners. This series has been a partnership effort between the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, the Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective, the Grunin Foundation, Support Center, Gathering Ground, ProBono Partnership, Nonprofit Connect, and CNJG.
Finally, while I shared earlier this year, a reminder: Craig Weinrich, Senior Director, Member Experience begins his sabbatical today! More and more, we’re understanding the benefits of sabbaticals. The Center for Nonprofit Advancement has compiled an excellent resource hub on the issue. During Craig’s absence, please reach out to me or Office Manager Dana Schwartz if you have questions or need assistance. We’ll see Craig on June 1st after some well-deserved time to rest, relax, reflect, and recharge!
Best,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers