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Adopted by CNJG”s Board of Trustees in October 2023, these eight Principles offer philanthropy a source of direction for their own equity journey. Each principle begins with a common understanding followed by developmental steps, and the aspiration for each principle. These principles are intended to promote continuous learning, vulnerability, and reflection for how philanthropy can evolve from its historical roots to a more trusting, accountable, and equitable model.
CNJG COVID-19 Liability Waiver for in-person events.
I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing summer. For many, summer offers a time to move at a slower pace, and perhaps take some time for reflection and recharging. I hope you were able to do some of that at least during your official “away-from-the-office” vacation time.
As summer wanes and we come back to our offices, Governance Committee co-chairs, Craig Drinkard and Justin Kiczek, have extended an invitation – if you are interested in serving on the CNJG Board of Trustees, or know someone who would make a good trustee, please complete the application form, and email it to Office Manager Dana Schwartz, along with a brief biography, no later than September 13, 2023. Read Craig and Justin’s full letter.
The Board will present a slate of candidates to CNJG members at the annual meeting of members. Please save the date - the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering is on Thursday, December 14 at the Crowne Plaza Edison. Registration will be available soon.
In reviewing the nominations for board service, the Governance Committee considers participation and engagement in at least one CNJG committee, and/or serving as co-chair of a Council affinity group. Standing committees of the board include Audit, Finance, Governance, Member Engagement, Leadership and Policy, Racial Equity, Signature Programs, and Strategic Plan Implementation. Most committees meet at least twice a year. Committees focus on a specific issue or task, and ensures the board’s overall work is divided into manageable tasks. Committee participation is open to all CNJG members. If you are interested in learning more and/or serving on a committee, please let me know. Committee work allows you to expand your personal network and build relationships with colleagues, demonstrate and develop your own leadership, and gain new knowledge and skills that you might not regularly use in your day-to-day role. You’ll also be contributing to the success and future of CNJG, as well as helping to move forward the 2023 - 2025 Strategic Plan.
If you are already chairing a committee or affinity group, or serving on a committee – thank you for your leadership! We’re so grateful for your dedication and support. If you are interested in joining a committee, please reach out to me. Thank you!
Welcome back from the summer – I hope to see you at an upcoming CNJG program, and at the CNJG 2023 Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering on December 14.
Sincerely,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
A corporate member queried the corporate listserve which technology tools they use for their corporate giving system/platform. CNJG compiled the responses and combined it with previous responses from other technology systems queries to create this list of “Who Uses What Technology Systems.” If your organization is not listed, please email the names of those systems to Craig Weinrich.
Funders want to be the best versions of themselves. A critical step on that journey is getting feedback from grantees. However, not every foundation has the time or capacity to collect grantee feedback.
Exponent Philanthropy helps lean funders collect feedback from their communities through the Grantee and Applicant Perception Survey. Over the past 2 years, they’ve worked with six foundations to survey more than 400 nonprofits to learn what lean funders do well and where they can improve..
In this publication, they’ve compiled feedback from those surveys to try and help lean funders understand what nonprofits want them to learn. We’ve organized that feedback into two main sections:.
1. How nonprofits think funders should increase their impact
2. How nonprofits think funders should improve their processes.
Throughout this publication, you’ll find data from our surveys and direct quotes from nonprofit leaders. We provide additional context and data from the 2023 Foundation Operations and Management Report (FOMR) and links to additional resources to learn more about these topics.
The 2020 New Jersey Philanthropy Benefits & Salary Report provides a valuable benchmarking resource. Developed and compiled for CNJG members exclusively, the report presents comprehensive benefits data specific to New Jersey's grantmaking community, alongside data from the Council on Foundations' annual salary survey. Produced every three years, this benchmarking report is a highly valued benefit of your membership in the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. Thank you to the CNJG members that completed the benefits survey earlier this year that enabled us to produce this report.
The first section, 2020 Benefits Summary Report, includes benefits data for the 2020 calendar year and covers employment, leave benefits, insurance benefits, and more. We are delighted to also present for the first time in this triennial report, demographic data on the boards and staffs of those that responded. The second section, 2020 Grantmaker Salary Tables: New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic and National Data provides data on compensation across a wide range of positions and grantmaking entities. Thank you to the CNJG members that completed the Council on Foundations’ annual survey on salaries that enabled us to produce this section of the report.
On this webinar, speakers focused on mental health during this difficult time. Our speakers included Steve Margeotes from Main Street Counseling, Sonia Rodrigues-Marto from Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, and Ron Chaluisan from the Newark Trust for Education on their social-emotional learning work in schools. We were then be joined by Aisha Glover of the Newark Alliance who is working with the City of Newark, Partners in Health, and the MCJ Amelior Foundation to help to coordinate the city's contact tracing initiative.
Speakers
Steve Margeotes, Executive Director, Main Street Counseling
Sonia Rodrigues-Marto, Program Director, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care
Ron Chaluisan, Executive Director Newark Trust for Education
Aisha Glover, President & CEO, Newark Alliance
Cost: Free for CNJG Members/ $35 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
Join Deborah Cornavaca, Deputy Chief of Staff of Outreach to Governor Murphy for a general information session on the vaccine rollout in New Jersey, and to provide you with comprehensive updates and answer questions. The rollout is in constant motion, but Ms. Cornavaca and her team will provide the most up-to-date information, as well as hear your suggestions and thoughts.
The timely knowledge and resources shared during this briefing will be essential as foundations support nonprofit, community, and government partners in making sure all New Jerseyans are informed about the vaccine, how and where to get vaccinated, and where to go for questions or concerns. For additional information visit the New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub.
Register today to learn about the state’s plan to get vaccines to New Jersey communities, and what role philanthropy can play in ongoing efforts.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Community Catalyst, Community Change, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities have announced a $9 million commitment from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in support of an initiative focused on grassroots efforts to improve healthcare access, affordability, and dignity in care.
The Voices for Health Justice project will fund twenty-five state- and community-based organizations over two and a half years working to build grassroots power and effect policy change at the federal, state, and community levels. Grantees include local and statewide organizations working with Black and brown communities, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and low-income and rural communities to protect and expand access to Medicaid coverage, encourage states to provide comprehensive coverage regardless of immigration status, mobilize and engage alternative care providers in health policy reform, and narrow health inequities.
"The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is thrilled to launch this initiative with Community Catalyst, Community Change, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities," said RWJF senior program officer Andrea Ducas. "We are excited to support community-led efforts to advance policies that promote equity in health and health care. Now is the time for foundations in the health justice movement to focus on providing deeper investments in state- and community-based advocacy to address the root causes of America's health inequities because everyone deserves the opportunity to be healthy and thrive."
Impact100 South Jersey announced that it will award $200,000 in grants to local nonprofits as a result of its fall 2020 collective giving membership drive. Members gathered virtually on Wednesday, Jan 6th for the Big Reveal and celebration. The event was held to share the number of members who have joined and the total raised for grantmaking in 2021. This brings the total funds raised collectively by Impact100 South Jersey members to over $624,000 since 2017.
“With such a tremendous increase in need in our region, it’s been very rewarding to see how our generous members have responded, in a year that has been very challenging for many,” said Membership Co-Chair Angela Venti. “On behalf of the Impact100 Leadership Council, I’d like to express our deep appreciation for the way our new and existing members embraced coming together virtually in lieu of in person events, which we miss so much. We look forward to the time soon when we can bring our members together in person again to strengthen the bonds within our collective women’s giving community.”
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts held its first public meeting of 2023 on February 28, where nearly $2 million was awarded to 140 New Jersey artists through the Council’s Individual Artist Fellowship program.
The Fellowships are competitive awards to New Jersey artists in 12 rotating disciplines granted solely on independent peer panel assessment of work samples. The anonymous process is focused on artistic quality, and awards may be used to help artists produce new work and advance their careers. New Jersey artists applied for awards this year in the categories of choreography, crafts, music composition, photography, playwriting/screenwriting, poetry, and sculpture. This program is carried out in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts.
At the Council’s Annual Meeting last July, the Council voted to authorize an unprecedented investment of $2 million in the Individual Artist Fellowship program. Through that commitment of funding, this year’s Fellowship cohort is the largest one the Council has added to its distinguished list of Fellows in over 30 years. In order to further support the increased number of artists applying to the program, the Council developed a new level of awards in addition to the Fellowship Award. For the first time, the Council announced Finalist Awards. The Finalists Awards are given to those applicants who scored highly, but just below the cutoff to receive a Fellowship.
The New Jersey Bankers Association will be donating $5,000, through its charitable foundation, to the American Bankers Association’s Disaster Relief Program to help aid relief efforts in Mississippi after a series of deadly tornados swept through the region in late March.
All funds will be directed to the Heart of the Delta Foundation, which is supporting rural communities in the Delta region, and the CREATE Foundation, which is aiding relief efforts in Northeast Mississippi.
John Mangini, treasurer and secretary of the New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation, said the group always is eager to lend a hand when it can.
“The banking community extends beyond state borders, and, during difficult times, like what we’re seeing in Mississippi, the role banks play in their communities becomes paramount,” he said. “We hope this donation can help ensure people affected by this disaster can get access to the assistance and services they need.”
With a resounding endorsement, The Westfield Foundation recently voted in three new board members: Toni Janota, Michael Moye and Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift, all of Westfield. At the same time, the organization recognized the service of outgoing members: Tim Boyle, Stan Gersch and Rich Elbert.
“We express our deepest appreciation for the invaluable contributions of Tim Stan and Rich and their unwavering commitment during their tenure!" said outgoing president Larry Darrow.
Our new board members had the privilege of witnessing our Q2 grants meeting in early May where we funded over $100,000 to community programs. Some notable grants this quarter: providing a new mode of transportation for the Westfield Community Center, renovation funds for The Our House Foundation’s New Providence Day Program site, and continued support for the Presbyterian Church of Westfield’s mission to supplement local in-need families with nutrient-dense food.
The Philadelphia 76ers, looking to make an even greater impact in the community in which they train, are making a donation of $120,000 to the Camden County Police Department, the largest private donation ever.
The donation, made through the Sixers Youth Foundation, will fund youth fitness initiatives throughout Camden city, as it will be used to enhance and expand several programs in the Camden County Police Department’s Village Initiative, including the open gym and resource nights, Camden officials said.
Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli was floored by the gesture — but noted it follows the effort the team has been making for some time.
“From the start, this agency has been focused on community engagement and facilitating a lifelong dialogue in order to become part of the fabric of the city,” he said. “This investment by the Sixers underscores the importance of the work we do with our residents on daily basis with a focus on our youth in Camden.
“I want to thank them for walking the walk and being an important part of our village here in Camden County.”
Monmouth and Ocean County funders, join us at the PEEP at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws event! This is a time for connection and relationship building with people we don't always get a chance to see in the philanthropic and nonprofit world. Most importantly, this is for ALL levels of your organization, including those doing direct service and operations, and board members. This is a family-friendly event so feel free to bring your kids!
PEEP (started by Vu Le, writer of the blog, Nonprofit AF)—Party to Enhance Equity in Philanthropy - is a nationally celebrated movement to bring together nonprofit and philanthropic leaders to help break down the pervasive power dynamics in our work and a small tool to help us see each other in our full humanity.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Non-Member Grantmakers
This program is open to Monmouth and Ocean County grantmakers and nonprofits only.
This event is available to philanthropic and nonprofit professionals at no cost thanks to the generous support of members of the Monmouth-Ocean Roundtable of Funders, a program through the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers.
TD today announced $500,000 in contributions to support local relief efforts in parts of Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Donations will be distributed to a few local non-profits leading recovery efforts across the three states.
TD will give $300,000 to non-profit organizations in North Carolina, $100,000 in South Carolina and $100,000 in Florida. TD colleagues may also donate voluntary amounts to select local non-profits in the three states through the bank's employee giving portal, which the bank will match dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 total.
"TD is unequivocally committed to helping our customers, colleagues and community members in this difficult time," said Chris Ward, Regional President of the Mid-South Metro, TD Bank. "The devastation in the central and western parts of North and South Carolina is unprecedented in the region, and we extend our support during the long road to recovery."
I can't believe October is already here! We are deep in planning for the CNJG 2024 Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering, and I'm thrilled to invite you to be a part of this special event!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 11, as we come together at the APA Hotel Woodbridge with over 150 Council members and special guests to celebrate the holiday season, welcome new members, and host a brief business meeting to elect trustees. It's also the perfect time to connect with colleagues and friends, old and new, while participating in a thought-provoking discussion about the ever-important topic of leadership in philanthropy.
This event is the one time each year where New Jersey’s philanthropic community comes together to connect, network, learn, and celebrate our collective work. It's a time to reflect on our impact, recharge with new ideas, and plan for the year ahead. Guided by the CNJG Signature Program Committee’s vision for this event, our focus this year is on leadership: Inspiring Change through Leadership: Maximizing Philanthropic Impact. Our morning workshop will explore the New Jersey Principles for Philanthropy – our equity principles emboldening leadership in action, followed by our keynote presentation featuring Amalia Brindis Delgado, Chief Strategy Officer, Panta Rhea Foundation, focused on transformative leadership transitions. It's a topic that feels more important than ever, and I can't wait for the conversations it will inspire.
The Annual Meeting is truly a highlight of the year. In addition to your participation, I invite you to consider supporting the Annual Meeting of Members through a sponsorship, grant, or contribution. Whether you've sponsored before or are considering it for the first time, this is an incredible opportunity to show your support for CNJG, while also raising visibility for your organization. We offer a variety of sponsorship options to fit any level of interest, and we're happy to tailor a package to meet your needs. Your support would help underwrite this vital event, ensuring it continues to serve as a place where our sector can grow stronger together. It's a valuable opportunity not only to give back to CNJG, but to highlight your commitment to the philanthropic community and its ongoing work in New Jersey.
If you'd like more information regarding sponsorship, please reach out to me via e-mail.
A big thank you to our sponsors to date - we couldn't do this without you! Special thanks to Signature Sponsor – Prudential; Contributing Sponsors – Devils Youth Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Supporting Sponsor – Grunin Foundation; and Colleague Sponsor – Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Thank you for your continued engagement with CNJG. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon and can't wait to see you at the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering in December. Until then, enjoy the beauty of fall!
Warmly,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
I Am Trenton Community Foundation is proud to announce awarding $135,000 total through the recent “Making Trenton Even Better” grant program to community champions transforming vacant lots, encouraging art and artists, teaching new skills and providing compassionate support with respect and dignity.
“These community groups will make a real impact across our city and we are excited to support their work,” said IAT Co-President Marelyn Rivera. “Our community faces challenges together, and working together we make Trenton even better.”
Grant Committee Chair Regina Podhorin-Zilinski noted that more than 100 applications were received – and many worthwhile projects were not able to be funded. “This was our most generous grant round ever – with more funding and more applicants than ever before,” she said. “Our only regret is that many good ideas did not receive support – this time.”
What are the chances that a third grader in a New Jersey public school has learned the reading skills they need to progress through school? Post-Covid, only 42% of students read at grade level statewide, less than 20% in at least five cities. New resources are available, and new legislation mandates have proven strategies at scale. Hear from multiple perspectives of expertise to understand how kids learn to read and how to connect them to what they need. The panel includes Dawn DeLorenzo Teacher and Leader Policy Fellow at New Jersey CAN; Sandra Montoyez Diodonet, Superintendent of Passaic Public Schools; Lisa Haberl Executive Director, NJDOE Division of Teaching and Learning Services; and Paula White, Executive Director of JerseyCAN & Legacy of Literacy Campaign. There will be time for Q & A.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
The opioid epidemic continues to be a major public health crisis affecting both rural and urban areas. In 2023 alone over 80,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose. Communities face specific challenges in dealing with this crisis based on their location. These challenges include prevention methods, immediate services provision, and ongoing treatment. All funders—not just those focused on health issues—can make a difference.
In this conversation you will learn about:
-How communities are using federal investment, such as the Paradigm program, to provide advanced medical services to rural communities.
-How family funders can support community partners in responding to this crisis.
-Opportunities to support preventive methods for young people in education settings and to support incarcerated individuals seeking treatment.
-Ways that donors can provide key investments in solutions alongside state and federal mechanisms.
For those who would like to participate, we will have an additional 30 minutes of networking time at the end of the program.