Trends and Outlook

Every month, I’m reminded why the philanthropic community is indispensable, and this month, the data gives us even more reason to step up (lean in).  I want to draw your attention to a report that every funder in New Jersey should have close at hand: the New Jersey Nonprofits: Trends and Outlook 2026 from the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. The findings are a wake-up call, and carry real implications for how you fund, advocate, and shape your funding strategies.  

Here is just one thing that stood out to me. Nearly 80% of nonprofits expect demand for their services to rise, yet only 36% believe their funding will keep pace. That gap is real, and it shows up every day in stretched staff, reduced capacity, and communities’ resources being strained. Add to that the uncertainty around federal shifts affecting tax-exempt status, key safety-net programs, and interrupted grants, and you start to understand the weight that nonprofit leaders are carrying right now. More than ever, it’s important for philanthropy to explore and implement strategies that we know are effective and impactful, and indeed, meet the moment. They include general operating support, multi-year funding, and support for advocacy. 

But those are only a few.  The Trends and Outlook report gives us a shared language and a body of evidence to bring into conversations with policymakers and our own boards. This is another important strategy. It helps us understand what’s actually happening on the ground. And it’s a useful resource to help you lead with clarity and make decisions grounded in what the sector truly needs. Please take some time to read through the report and share it with your colleagues and board members. As a delegation of CNJG members makes our way to Washington for Foundations on the Hill in a couple of weeks, the report will definitely inform our conversations.  

On another note, the Council on Foundations has launched its annual Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey (GSB). and we ask you to please to participate. Grantmaking organizations across the U.S. use GSB data every year to set informed and fair salary, benefits, and board policies. Not only does participating in the GSB benefit philanthropy as a whole, it also entitles your organization to:

• Free access to the 2026 GSB Report, 
• Free access to the 2026 Board Compensation Tables,
• Early access to GSB data, and
• Access to custom benchmark tools in Benchmark Central.

To participate in the GSB Survey:

1. Designate one or more individuals from your team to represent your organization.
2. If your organization participated in a previous GSB Survey, log in to Benchmark Central using your regular COF.org credentials.
3. If your organization has not participated in a previous GSB Survey, please email [email protected] with your foundation name and the name, title, and email address of your designated respondent(s) – accounts will be created for you.

We will use the data from COF’s national survey to inform and build our upcoming triennial 2026 New Jersey Philanthropy Salary and Benefits Survey, scheduled for release later this fall. Members tell us that this CNJG report is one of the most important and effective benchmarking tools for NJ funders. You can learn more about this important CNJG member benefit here. 

Finally, I would like to share three upcoming programs that you may be interested in to inform your grantmaking and decision making to meet the moment: 

1. We the People: Reflections at 250 Webinar Series presented by F. M. Kirby Foundation
   April to September
   Learn more at  https://fmkirbyfoundation.org/we-the-people-reflections-at-250/ 
    
2. Honoring Our Journey, Igniting Our Future: Uniting for Impact
   Tuesday, May 12 from 8 am to 4:30 pm
   Please register at: https://www.njvoad.org/2026-conference/ 
    
3. Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation Annual Convening
   May 12-15, 2026
   Please register at: https://funderscommittee.org/convenings/2026-convening 

Thank you, as always, for the trust you place in CNJG. This work matters and so does this community. 

With gratitude, 

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers