Site Search

Much has changed since For Momentum’s first survey of corporate decision makers. They have found, across the board, that stakeholders have higher expectations of companies and their cause platforms. Consumers want companies to step up. Nonprofits need company support to build awareness and raise funds. And now, more than ever before, the C-suite sees CSR as a must-have strategy. But how are the corporate partnership decision makers reacting to these increased pressures? For Momentum polled seasoned corporate partner pros to learn more about their partnership perspectives. Their feedback, summarized in this report, provides timely, data-driven insights and comparative analysis to help cause practitioners navigate complexity in the social impact marketplace and set strategy to create next level partnerships.

Wells Fargo is donating $300,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation to support three organizations providing urgent relief in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Fiona. The funding to the Hispanic Federation, SBP, and World Central Kitchen will focus on necessities like meals and supplies as well as resources for rebuilding efforts.

"We understand the urgency when natural disasters hit – especially in Puerto Rico, where communities are still recovering from Hurricane Maria," said Otis Rolley, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation and head of Philanthropy and Community Impact. "At times like this, our company supports the resilience of Puerto Rico and is quickly deploying resources to help meet the many needs unfolding in the aftermath of this storm."

With new data in year two of a three-year study, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) further analyzes the effects and emerging impacts of MacKenzie Scott’s large, unrestricted gifts. For the first time, they examine to what extent Scott’s giving has influenced other funders’ approaches and continue to investigate whether nonprofits believe the grant increased their impact, whether they have experienced any unintended negative consequences, and more.

Join CEP in this webinar covering year two’s data and a conversation with MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey, GLSEN Executive Director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, The Oakland REACH Founder and CEO Lakisha Young, and CEP President Phil Buchanan and Vice President of Research Elisha Smith Arrillaga.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Non Member Grantmakers

It’s been a while since the Trenton/Mercer County Affinity Group has come together. Please join us as we look to revive and rebuild our collaboration in the region. We truly value your voice, and this gathering is all about reconnecting, realigning, and reimagining what’s next for our group.

During our time together, we will set goals, plan actions and next steps based on our vision.

Whether you’ve been involved in the past or are new to the group, your perspective matters. Let’s come together to shape the future of the Trenton/Mercer County region. Light refreshments will be served.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.

There are many ways to start a giving circle. These 10 steps can give you a starting point and a basic roadmap.

Step One - Set Goals and Structure

Bring your group together for a first meeting. Take time at this first meeting to discuss what a giving circle is. Begin the process of setting goals and structure now. Some of the decisions that you may want to discuss at this meeting are:

• How many times will the group meet?
• How will we determine our funding focus?
• Where do we hold meetings?
• Is there a limit on number of participants?
• What is the size or range of the financial contribution each member will make?
• What is the time commitment?

Remember: giving circles go beyond individual “pet” charities to pool your resources for a common goal with greater impact. Members will contribute time as well as dollars in the process.

Step Two – Establish Mission and Commitment

Once the group sets up regular meetings, it is a good idea to:

• Establish a mission
• Agree on common goals and objectives
• Name your group
• Set up an operating structure

Remember: The contribution amount can vary. Circles requirements vary – starting at $10 and going up to $25,000 or more. The group decides what is reasonable for their circle. It is important for the group to agree on the final amount.

Many circles choose one contribution level for everyone. Since no single vote on a potential grantee should outweigh another, many circles find this arrangement the best. Other circles find that a tiered giving structure or anonymous giving meets their needs.

Step Three – Decide Where to Place Your Collective Dollars

At the start of each year, members should make a financial commitment to the giving circle (i.e., write the check). There are options for where your circle members’ money can sit. There are benefits to all the options, depending on the circle’s needs, experience, and structure. Giving circles generally have no administrative “overhead.” Volunteers administer the circle and all dollars go to the designated nonprofit/s. However, some circles have found it useful to pay for administrative costs. They then receive a level of service that they cannot provide for themselves. You can:

• Open a joint bank account. (Check with a professional advisor on the tax implications)
• Partner with an organization that can act as a financial administrator of the funds.
• Establish a Donor Advised Fund at a Community or Public Foundation.
• Create a public foundation.
• Write individual checks to the chosen nonprofit/s.
• Explore other creative options that interest the group.

Step Four – Establish an Issue/Focus Area

This step may take significant discussion. Encourage the group to be as specific as possible. For example, if the group is interested in health issues for women – what specific health issues, age range or demographic? In what geographic area will you focus?

You may also want to invite “experts” to talk to the group. Some circles assign group members to investigate particular issues. Consensus is important when a giving circle decides on its focus area.

Step Five – Create Smaller Work Groups

Having members of the group volunteer for particular tasks will build personal commitment. Smaller groups make task members with different tasks.

Step Six – Develop Process and Criteria for Funding

You may decide to ask for written applications from a charity. Or, you may evaluate a group in another way. Some questions to consider as you determine your funding philosophy:

• How will we decide who receives funding?
• Will we review grant applications?
• Will we visit specific organizations that could “qualify”?
• What kind of a report will we want at the end of the project period from the recipient of these funds?

This process can be simply choosing a recipient organization based on information you gather. Or the process can be more involved. Some circles review written applications, visit the organizations and ask for a presentation on the work the organization does.

If your group is unsure of how to assess an organization, you may want to consider asking someone with a background in grant making or nonprofit administration to give the group assistance.

It is also important at this stage to establish final evaluation criteria. How will you measure your giving circle’s impact? How will the organization/s that receive funding measure the impact of this funding?

Note: Many circles try to match the level of effort they require from the grantee to the amount of money that they have to give. Nonprofits are often understaffed and short on time. It can be a burden for them to create lengthy proposals and reports for relatively small amounts of money.

Step Seven – Define Partnership with Recipient of Grant Award

Do members of your circle want to volunteer for an organization you have funded? Your circle should define in what ways they could offer assistance. Web development, finances, program planning, legal work, and mentoring are some examples of how your members might get involved. Be sure to be clear with the expectations of all involved in this new partnership.

Step Eight – Review Potential Recipients

Conducting site visits with potential grantees can be helpful in the grantmaking process. This is the time to ask questions, get clarification, and see the organization in action.

The group should set aside plenty of time to discuss the potential grantees. Members may feel strongly about funding different organizations. There needs to be time to go through this process to reach agreement.

Smaller giving circles often use a consensus model for decision-making. Larger circles tend to rely on committees and voting systems.

Be willing to take a risk by funding a start-up nonprofit, or by funding a nonprofit that may seem unconventional to traditional funders. Remember you are the “Board of Directors” and can set your own guidelines.

Step Nine – Make Grant Awards

Immediately following the group’s decision, alert the recipient and let them know when they can expect a check. It is good practice to let organizations who are not receiving funds from your circle know of your decision, too.

Step Ten – Evaluate Your Giving Circle

On a regular basis, examine the short term and long term goals of the giving circle. This will help develop a sense of satisfaction with the work you are doing and show how your contributions have made a difference. Try to determine what impact the group has had. Candid feedback from the organizations you have funded and partnered with will be an important ingredient of this process.

The Fund for Women and Girls of the Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded a record $325,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations.

This funding is the largest amount awarded in any cycle of the Fund’s more than 20-year history and includes a first-time award for the Liz Gray Erickson Memorial Grant, a 3-year grant given in memory of the Princeton resident who served as the chair of the Fund from 2012 to 2014.

“Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our Fund for Women and Girls members, we’ve awarded more than $1 million in grants to more than three dozen nonprofits in the last five years,” said Jenifer Morack, Fund Co-Chair.

Fund members pool their donations, then recommend grants to be awarded annually to local nonprofits. Isabel Zisk, Fund Co-Chair, said making a gift to the Fund is incredibly effective. Individual donations create a leveraged pool of funding that greatly benefits nonprofits working to impact the well-being of women, girls and communities in our region.

“We do what no individual donor has the expertise, time or access to do,” she said, explaining that the Fund’s Grants Committee members read dozens of applications and conduct site visits with nonprofits. “Because of some very generous gifts, this year, we have the honor of awarding the Liz Gray Erickson Memorial Grant. With her visionary leadership, Liz planted the seeds of our grantmaking focus.”

CNJG is pleased to offer the 2024 Virtual Budget and Tax Briefing Series, hosted by our partners at Economic Opportunity Funders, to our members.

Learn about key trends, battles and opportunities, and what’s at stake and in play in 2024. Panelists will share insights on the recent historic state tax credit expansions, consequential state races and ballot initiatives, and efforts to support the equitable implementation of federal investments, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Kamolika Das, Associate Director, Local Taxes, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
Chris Melody Fields Figuredo, Executive Director, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Justin Maxson, Executive Director, BuildUS (invited, pending confirmation)

Cost: Free for CNJG Grantmakers and Non Member Grantmakers.
Note: This program is for funders and philanthropic advisors whose primary activity is grantmaking.

This program will be livestreamed via YouTube, starting at 1:40 pm. Registrants will receive a link to the livestream prior to the program. Please register by noon on March 18 to receive the link. If you cannot watch during this time, you can use the same link to access the recording and watch at a later time.

For questions, please contact Chanika Svetvilas, Manager of Programs and Learning.

A CNJG member queried the Health & Aging listserves asking for sample letters of inquiry. This document includes a few responses from fellow members. If you would like to add yours to this list, please email us.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers’ biennial Spring Colloquium – A Conversation for the Social Sector - being held on May 24 at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick. A CNJG signature event since 2006, the Colloquium brings together foundations and non-profits with national thought leaders to explore topics of critical interest to foundations and non-profits whose work impacts our state’s quality of life.

“The Colloquium is a natural outgrowth of our role as a central force in amplifying the voice of philanthropy in New Jersey,” said Nina Stack, President of the Council. “This special event gives foundation and non-profit leaders the benefit of hearing from our country’s leading social sector experts and the opportunity to apply what they learn to the important work they do to improve the lives of those they serve in New Jersey.”

The 2016 Spring Colloquium conversation will focus on how privatization and de-funding of many services once provided by the public sector has led to the expectation that grantmakers and their non-profit partners will increasingly assume responsibility for these services, despite dramatically diminished resources. The social sector is responding to this challenge with innovative funding initiatives. Detroit’s foundations, for example, devised the “Grand Bargain” to help solve that city’s pension crisis. Likewise, the use of social impact bonds is rising as a means of underwriting safety net programs. “This change in the ‘public contract’ necessitates thoughtful planning on the part of foundation and nonprofit leaders who must be prepared to meet this significant paradigm shift,” said Emily Tow Jackson, Executive Director and President of the Tow Foundation, and a 2016 Colloquium panelist.

Other panelists at this year’s Colloquium include moderator Robert S. Collier, the President and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations; Elizabeth T. Boris, Founding Director of the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute; and Michael McAfee, Vice President for Programs at PolicyLink.

Over the years, the Colloquium has considered a diverse range of topics including philanthropy’s role in restoring civility to society; strategies to ensure community and nonprofit sustainability; philanthrocapitalism; and driving change by being fearless. The event has featured such prominent speakers as former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean; Idealist founder Ami Dar; U.S. editor of The Economist Matthew Bishop; and Philadelphia Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Jeremy Nowak, among many others.

In addition to serving New Jersey’s social sector, the Spring Colloquium will be viewed by CNJG regional philanthropy association members across the country via simulcast-hosted gatherings.

“PSE&G strongly believes in the power of the social sector’s collective impact and the leadership that CNJG has exhibited over the years by providing New Jersey’s foundations and non-profits with access to our counterparts from across the country,” said Ellen Lambert, Chief Diversity Officer, Senior Director Corporate Citizenship and President, PSEG Foundation, a sponsor of the 2016 CNJG Spring Colloquium. For more details about the Colloquium please visit www.cnjg.org/investmentforum.

The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers works to strengthen and promote effective philanthropy throughout New Jersey. The leading resource for networking and information for New Jersey's philanthropic community, CNJG provides representatives of all types of grantmaking organizations access to valuable services and meaningful activities to advance their work.