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Already, 2025 has been a year unlike any other. The changes in federal policy are coming at a pace we’ve not experienced before. Not even a month in, the new administration immediately issued several significant Executive Orders (EOs), creating uncertainty across the social sector. From attempts to freeze Congressionally approved funding, to efforts banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and questionable tactics to slash the federal workforce; funders and nonprofit partners are gravely concerned about how the fabric of our democracy and the systems of constitutionally mandated checks and balances are fraying right before our eyes. To help you cut through the noise, the National Council of Nonprofits is tracking and continuously updating its analysis of the impact of these EOs on nonprofit organizations in real time.

This is the time to shore up relationships with colleagues and nonprofit partners. I’m grateful that in New Jersey, we have a strong partnership with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. Advocacy and policy are at the heart of the Center’s mission. They have been at the forefront of keeping us informed about the Office of Mangement and Budget's (OMB) freezing of federal grants and loans. I encourage you to:

1. Sign up for the Center’s email list for up-to-date, reliable information.
2. Ask your grantees and nonprofit partners to complete the annual NJ Trends and Outlook survey, launched today. This year, the survey is also collecting stories about how executive actions are impacting nonprofit organizations.

On behalf of philanthropy-supporting organizations, United Philanthropy Forum is also mobilizing to serve as a key source for accurate, reliable information with their newly created resource page, “Executive Actions Impacting the Philanthropic & Nonprofit Sectors."

Funders across the country are asking what they can do immediately. As I noted above, leveraging your partnerships and strengthening your relationships is key. Echoing sage recommendations from the Council on Foundations and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, here are other strategies for your consideration:

• Reach out to your grantees and nonprofit partners – don’t wait for them to reach out to you. They need to hear from you and know that you are championing their often-thankless work.
• Offer flexible funding and move funding quickly. Allow your grantees to repurpose their current grant funding to meet the needs of their organization and those they serve. Giving nonprofits every resource and tool they need to be nimble is critical.
• Share your funding opportunities with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits to post on their revamped funding page.
• Get comfortable introducing your grantees to new partners, other grantees, and potential funders. This is how we build strong, resilient communities of practice and service.

We’re embarking upon untested times. As we celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History in March, it is important to remember that meaningful change starts and ends with partnership, collaboration, and advocacy. Philanthropy has a critical role to play in this equation.

To help you better understand the federal policy landscape, we’re hosting an eight-part Funder Briefing Series: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for
New Jersey, beginning in March. This series will provide an overview of key issues that directly impact philanthropy, and more broadly, the charitable sector. The first session, on March 13 at 4:00 pm., will focus on immigration.

In addition, we will be launching a web page with information and resources to help inform your decision-making, as well as reintroducing our policy infused e-newsletter, CNJG ...for the field. Covering both big 'P' and little 'p' policy issues, the first edition will land in your inbox later this month, providing key updates and relevant articles.

I want to end with some exciting news — Craig Weinrich has been promoted to Senior Director, Member Experience. Craig has been with CNJG for 11 years, and his leadership and dedication have been invaluable to our community. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion!

And channeling Craig – a quick reminder: it’s time to renew your CNJG membership. Please reach out to him if you have questions.

We look forward to engaging with you in the months ahead. Philanthropy has an important role during these tenuous times. Let’s use our collective power for good.
 
In solidarity,

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

These articles have a philanthropic focus. We encourage grantmakers to read, share, and use strategies detailed here.

5/13/22 - ABC News: Two New Jersey towns illustrate the race gap in the COVID pandemic 

NJTV: LIVE UPDATES: Tracking the Coronavirus in New Jersey

3/16/21 – Denver Post: On Philanthropy: Pandemic puts nonprofits in peril – what donors can do

9/9 – NPR: NPR & Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Poll: Financial Pain From Coronavirus Pandemic 'Much, Much Worse' Than Expected

8/26 – Center for Disaster Philanthropy: $12 Billion Pledged Worldwide to Fight COVID-19 through June 2020

8/25 – Generocity: Changing Metrics for Impact: The Emergence of a New Donor-Grantee Business Model

8/19 – Good News Network: Generous American Are Giving More to Charities Through The Pandemic, Survey Says

6/8 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: How Foundations Can Make Covid Research Grants More Equitable

6/5 – Governing Magazine: The America Ethos and the Betrayal of Expertise

5/19 – Nonprofit Quarterly: COVID-19 Calls for Philanthropy to Redefine Urgency

5/13 – Nonprofit Quarterly: Will Philanthropy Stand Up for Black America?

5/11 – Nonprofit Quarterly: Deer Eyes, Circle Mind: Reflections on Pandemic & Philanthropy

5/8 – Inside Philanthropy: Pandemic Philanthropy: Moving From Relief to Power

5/5 – NY Times: In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows

5/5 – Funders Together to End Homelessness: COVID-19 Response and Recovery: Recommendations for Philanthropy to Support Immediate Needs and Long-Term Solutions to End Homelessness

5/5 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: Op-Ed: Flexibility for Grantees Is Not Enough. Let Them Decide Where the Money Goes

5/5 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: Op-Ed: Change Is Too Rapid in Covid-19 Era to Tie Nonprofits’ Hands With Old Rules

5/4 – Bridgespan Group: Racial Equity and Philanthropy: Disparities in Funding for Leaders of Color Leave Impact on the Table

5/4 – Stanford Social Innovation Review: Overcoming the Racial Bias in Philanthropic Funding

5/1 – Stanford Social Innovation Review: For a More Equitable America, Understand Race and Racism as Actions We Do and Can Undo

4/30 – National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Large Funder Quadruples its giving in response to COVID-19

4/30 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: How the 25 Biggest Grantmakers are Responding to the COVID Crisis

4/30 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: In Covid-19 Crisis, Philanthropy’s Attention Must Focus on People With Disabilities

4/30 – Inside Philanthropy: A Time for Reform: Philanthropy and the Push for Better State Policymaking

4/28 – Newsweek: Why the Coronavirus Pandemic is Philanthropy's Big Moment

4/23 – Bridgespan Group: Want to Support Your Community’s Equitable Recovery from COVID-19? Invest in Child Care

4/21 – Center for Effective Philanthropy: Essential Questions for Foundation Boards in a Time of Crisis

4/20 – LA Times: Charity is off the charts amid the coronavirus. Is that a sign of America’s strength or weakness?

4/20 - Nonprofit Times: Foundations Paying Out, Expect Deep Recession (quotes from Community Foundation of New Jersey)

4/17 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Why Grantmakers Need to Break Their Restriction Habit—Permanently

4/16 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Philanthropy’s Stimulus Plan Must Bolster Democracy

4/16 - Nonprofit Quarterly: How Philanthropy Can Support Black Workers

4/15 - Candid.org: A Call for COVID-19 Grants Data

4/15 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: In This Crisis, Philanthropy Must Tackle 3 Existential Challenges All At Once

4/14 - Bridgespan Group: Four Ways for Community-Focused Philanthropy to Confront the Coronavirus Crisis

4/9 - Inside Philanthropy: COVID and the Count: Funders Confront New Challenges to the 2020 Census

4/9 - Forbes: COVID-19 And Aging: What Can Philanthropy Do?

4/7 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Coronavirus Crisis Has Changed How I View What Matters in Philanthropy

4/7 - App.com: Coronavirus: 10 ways to avoid becoming victim of a scam

4/7 - Washington Post: Coronavirus is a Totally Different Disaster for Philanthropies to Handle

4/6 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Small Nonprofits Struggle to Get Payroll Loans in New Federal Program

4/6 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Foundations and Nonprofits See Crisis as Opportunity to Advance Equity

4/3 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: What Philanthropy Can Do Now to Promote Education Equity After the Pandemic

4/2 - Inside Philanthropy: The Hardest Hit: Who is Supporting Communities of Color During COVID-19?

4/2 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Philanthropy, Meet Our Matrix Moment: Which Pill Will You Choose?

4/1 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Grant Maker Dilemma: Spend More Now or Protect Shrinking Endowments?

4/1 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Foundations Adopt Policies to Move More Money Faster, and With Fewer Restrictions

4/1 - NJ Spotlight: A Coronavirus Checklist to Help Keep NJ Residents Informed

3/30 - Nonprofit Quarterly: COVID-19: Using a Racial Justice Lens Now to Transform Our Future

3/26 - NJ.com: City of Newark Creates $6 million fund for Non-Profits, arts organizations, resident, businesses, and homeowners

3/23 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Federal Aid Plan for Nonprofits Needs More Input From Black-Led Organizations

3/20 - Nonprofit Quarterly: A Growing Group of Foundations Pledge ‘No Business as Usual’

3/20 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Senate Bill would create ‘Universal Deduction’ & Expand Loans for Nonprofits

3/20 - Asbury Park Press: Digital Divide in Schools Will Affect Web-Only Lessons

3/17 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Grantmaker Responses for Nonprofits in Need Vary Widely

3/17 - Strategy & Action Philanthropy: 5 Things Funders Can Do Right Now to Help Nonprofits During This Crisis

3/17 - Trust-based Philanthropy Project: Philanthropy Needs To Trust Nonprofits Now More Than Ever

3/16 - Exponent Philanthropy: Market Volatility in the Face of COVID-19

3/16 - Philadelphia Inquirer: Free Wifi from Comcast

3/16 - Inside Philanthropy: Philanthropy Has a Duty to Respond Quickly to the COVID-19 Outbreak. Here’s How We Can Do It

3/16 - NJBiz.com: NJ Government recommendations on March 16, 2020

3/13 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: As Disasters Go, Coronavirus Impact on Philanthropy Unprecedented and ‘Crazy’

3/13 - Bloomberg: Nonprofits Prepare for Worst with Wealthy Losing Billions

3/12 - Forbes: Philanthropy: COVID19 Doesn’t Need to Slow You Down

3/12 - Inside Philanthropy: On the Frontlines of a Pandemic, Local Philanthropy Scrambles to Respond

3/12 - NorthJersey.com: Many seniors face coronavirus fears while cut off from activities and social networks

3/12 - Independent Sector/Chronicle of Philanthropy: A Novel Opportunity to Strengthen Public Trust in the Nonprofit World

3/12 - NJ Spotlight: Sick Leave in NJ, What the Law Provides

3/12 - NJ Spotlight: Experience with Virtual Snow Days Helps NJ School Prepare for COVID-19 Closures

3/12 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus ‘Rapid Response’ Funds Proliferate as Threat Grows

3/11 - NJ.com: NJ schools feed 500K kids for free. What happens if coronavirus closes them?

3/11 - Daily Beast: Will Coronavirus make America finally care about the homeless

3/11 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus Is Hard on Nonprofits That Rely on Events

3/11 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Nonprofits Who Can’t Cancel: The Ones that Serve Those at Greater Risk of COVID-19

3/10 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: As Coronavirus Threat Continues, Experts Tell Nonprofits to Shore Up Reserves

3/9 - Nonprofit Times: Lessening the Risk of Coronavirus at Nonprofits

3/9 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Community Healthcare Centers Funding at Risk at Time of Health Peril

3/9 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronavirus Spread

3/8 - ROI-NJ: NJ Insurers Announce Coverage Related to Coronavirus

3/8 - Nonprofit AF: A few things for nonprofits and foundations to consider in light of the Coronavirus

3/5 - Washington Post: RWJF CEO Pens Opinion Piece on Coronavirus

3/5 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus Giving Tops $1 Billion Worldwide

3/4 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofits Work to Protect Employees and Volunteers as Coronavirus Threat Grows

3/3 - Candid.org: Funders Respond to Coronavirus

3/3 - CDNet: Tech Tools Offered for Free During Outbreak

3/2 - FSG: COVID-19 – Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do by Lauren Smith, MD, MPH

3/2 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofit Conference Attendees Worry About Coronavirus

2/18 - Professional Convention Management Association: Is Your Event (if cancelled) Covered by Insurance?

CNJG provides this information free to the philanthropic community. If you are not a CNJG member, please join so you can take full advantage of the many benefits of membership and help underwrite the cost of services like this.