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The Culture Funders Affinity Group and the Health Funders Affinity Group are pleased to collaborate on this meeting. During the meeting, we will delve into critical questions on the topic - can the arts really improve wellness, what can funders learn from existing statewide models and what is needed to further this work? Globally, the field of arts and health is well-established with healthcare systems strategically positioning the arts to support wellness and wellbeing. In the US, many states are establishing Arts and Health programming to intentionally leverage art experiences as mitigation, intervention, and even as preventative care. In New Jersey, vibrant cross-sector partnerships have resulted in innovative programming and dynamic models to increase arts access and participation while expanding the traditional bounds of health and wellbeing. Bringing together voices from both the nonprofit and funding communities, this panel explores what’s working and envisions what’s possible as partners break down silos to build a stronger, healthier New Jersey through the art. Join us for an enlightening conversation. Light refreshments will be served.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is open to all funders.

A coalition of six major journalism funders have announced commitments totaling $36.5 million in emergency grants to public media stations at risk of closure following federal funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The grantmakers include Pivotal Ventures, as well as the John S. and James L. Knight, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur, Robert Wood Johnson, Schmidt Family, and Ford foundations. The commitment includes $26.5 million in support for the Public Media Bridge Fund, a philanthropic effort managed by Public Media Company and developed with seed funding from the Schmidt Family Foundation.

In addition to supporting the fund, the MacArthur Foundation is committing $10 million in direct support to public media stations, programs, and organizations. The collaboration is accompanied by an open call to other funders to support local public media; if stations close or scale back, millions of Americans will lose access to free, reliable local news, educational content, cultural programming, and emergency alerts.

Six million immigrants in the US have jobs that could increase their risk of contracting the virus -- from physicians and home health aides to agriculture and food production workers. Another 6 million work in areas that have suffered major financial loss, including the restaurant and hospitality industry, in-home childcare, agriculture, and building services.

Yet, documented and undocumented immigrants are ineligible for federal relief funds and government-sponsored safety-net programs. Many “essential” workers lack health insurance. Language barriers often make getting services difficult. And, fear of repercussion if they test positive for COVID or uncertainty around immigrant policies prevent many immigrants from even seeking assistance.

During this webinar briefing, we will hear from Abel Rodriguez, Director for the Center on Immigration and Assistant Professor of Religion, Law, and Social Justice at Cabrini University and Sara Cullinane, Director of Make the Road New Jersey.

Topics will include:
• How immigrants and their families have been impacted by COVID, nationally and in our state.
• Supporting immigration policies and programs that advance the social and economic well-being of immigrant populations.
• Efforts in New Jersey communities to provide direct support, education, and other needed resources to immigrants during the pandemic.

Nearly 1 in 4 New Jersey residents is an immigrant. And despite their vital importance to this state and our country’s culture and economy, immigrants are often left out of programs and denied services that are critical for recovery. Join us for an important briefing on why your organization’s response to COVID must uplift immigrants and their families – now and for the future.

Cost: Free for CNJG Grantmakers. $50 for Non Member Grantmakers

Webinar Video

The Future of Work and the Role of Philanthropy

Dates: Wednesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 20
Time: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

One of the most valuable learning and networking events for the social sector in the state, CNJG’s 2021 Virtual Spring Conference considered the role of philanthropy in shaping how, where, and why we work.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted and propelled the future of work in ways we couldn’t have imagined. But even before the pandemic - the automation of jobs, the gig economy, the ongoing need for reskilling and retraining, changing demographics, green careers, lack of job security and more – has been setting the stage for novel ways of working. The Spring Conference explored this new, accelerated work paradigm, it’s profound impact on New Jersey’s industries, workers and communities, and the implications for grantmakers and their nonprofit partners.

This timely and important event brought together national and local thought leaders, experts and stakeholders to share what the social sector can do to ensure a better future for New Jersey’s workforce. Attendees engaged in candid, visionary conversations around equitable labor standards and professional practices, the changing, post-pandemic workplace, strategies to fill gaps in skills, education, and opportunity, the effects of new federal job policies on workers, and much more.

Thank you for joining the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers for an exploration about what lies ahead as we prepare for and address pressing and unprecedented changes in the world of work.

Only people who registered for the Conference will be able to access WHOVA. For assistance or additional information, please contact Anna D’Elia, Manager of Programs and Learning.

What does an age-integrated society look like and how can funders be part of the movement to strengthen aging initiatives in the philanthropic sector? Join this special conversation with Lindsay Goldman, CEO of Grantmakers In Aging, a community of funders mobilizing money and ideas to strengthen policies, programs, and resources for all of us as we age. Lindsay will share insights on how aging intersects with funding priorities including health, caregiving, social connection, and housing.

Lindsay Goldman serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Grantmakers In Aging (GIA), a position she assumed in January 2021. She draws on nearly 20 years of experience in program development and administration, direct service, philanthropy, and health and social policy. Most recently, Lindsay was the founding director of the Center for Healthy Aging at The New York Academy of Medicine. Specializing in public-private partnerships to create age-inclusive environments, Lindsay oversaw a portfolio that included the award-winning Age-friendly NYC, Health & Age Across All Policies NYS, and IMAGE: The Interactive Map of Aging. Earlier in her career, Lindsay was responsible for strategic planning and allocations to support older adults in New York and Israel while working for the UJA-Federation of New York. She also directed the Health Enhancement Partnership at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House and received a Best Practice Award from the National Council on Aging in 2008. She began her career at Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, where she coordinated an intergenerational mentoring program in the Bronx. She holds a BA from Wesleyan University and an MSW from NYU.

Emily Hinsey is the Director of Programs. In her capacity, Emily coordinates the programmatic work of the organization, including the webinar series, member meetings, funder networks on housing, serious illness, caregiving, technology, rural health, and multisector plans for aging, and grant-funded projects. Prior to beginning her work with GIA in 2017, Emily was the Administrator and Project Development Manager at Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana, where she advised on the organization’s accreditation and new business development. Emily began her career as the Prevention Coordinator at the Open Arms Domestic Violence Center. Emily serves on the Fort Wayne Mayor's Age-Friendly Council. Emily holds a BA in Social Work from Bluffton University.

This program is open to all interested attendees.

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by Tai Cooper and Jeremy Johnson

“When I Become Mayor, We All Become Mayor”
When Ras J. Baraka won the mayoral election for New Jersey’s largest city last year, expectations were high. The former South Ward councilman, one-time principal of Central High School and son of the famed poet-activist Amiri Baraka championed a populist vision. During the campaign, he famously told residents, “When I become Mayor, we all become Mayor!”

In the days leading up to, and following the election, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers recognized an opportunity to work intensively with the incoming mayor. CNJG had previously established a nonpartisan, City Hall-based Newark Philanthropic Liaison office, in collaboration with then Mayor Cory Booker in 2007.

Following the transition, Mayor Baraka and CNJG built exciting new bridges.

For example, the Mayor included the grantmakers’ recommendations for collaboration as an appendix to his strategic plan, The Blueprint for a New Newark.

“We felt this transition was a time for funders to ‘lean in,’” said Nina Stack, President of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers.   “The grantmaking community spent seven years organizing ourselves to work collectively with the City of Newark.  Under Mayor Baraka, we saw an opportunity to build on old investments and create new ones.”

Prioritizing Five Pillars
It’s impossible for philanthropy to be a panacea for all of Newark’s challenges.  But the Mayor’s team appreciated the value that philanthropic partners brought to the table. Fueled with support from CNJG members, including the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Newark Philanthropic Liaison office, in concert with the Mayor’s Chief Policy Advisor, set about to convene, connect, and leverage partnerships and resources for Mayor-identified pillars.

Among dozens of issues, the Mayor has cited five initiatives as worthy of philanthropic engagement and top of mind attention.  So far in 2015, $3 million in private support is helping seed strategies that show promise for Newark residents.

1. Public Safety

Mayor Baraka has long understood violence to be a public health issue.  He has won praise for a constant rhythm of neighborhood events, summits, and youth presentations to address violence.  Local funders have rallied around several prongs of the Mayor’s initiatives.   For example, CNJG members funded a cross-sector retreat to coalesce multiple public safety partners working in the city.  That retreat has led to the creation of the Safer Newark Council, committed to inter-connected solutions to reduce violent crime and improve perceptions of safety.

An accompanying funder-supported initiative is the Newark Community Street Team.  The team comprises 15 outreach workers in the South Ward Model Neighborhood Initiative.  They are assisting approximately 100 individuals to stabilize their lives and turn away from a life of crime, through mentoring, life skills, and case management.

2. Education – Communities Schools/Read and Believe

As a former principal, Mayor Baraka has been outspoken on the critical role of education in Newarkers’ lives.  His appointment of Dr. Lauren Wells as Chief Education Officer in the Office of Comprehensive Community Education has helped inaugurate long-term and short-term public-private efforts.

Dr. Wells has written how “community schools” help mitigate the impacts of poverty on students and provide an environment that can greatly improve schools.  Launching community schools will necessitate early support from the funding community. Encouraging discussions are underway among neighborhood residents, funders, and education leaders.

Read and Believe, a literacy-focused initiative, imagines a city that takes on literacy as a communal cause. The umbrella campaign includes, among several programs,My Very Own Library.  CNJG members, including the Foundation for Newark’s Future, as well as Rutgers, individual donors and Scholastic’s Summer Reading Challenge, enabled MVOL to serve 27,000 Newark Public School students in grades K-8 students.  Each child selected four free books to take home for summer break.

3. Centers of Hope

The Centers of Hope are nine community-based centers in all five of Newark’s wards that allow access to City services, wellness and enrichment opportunities where people live and work.  Four centers have opened thus far, some focusing on young women, special needs, entrepreneurship, and municipal ID access.  All offer a variety of after school, athletic, arts and culture, educational, environmental, healthy living, free WiFi and recreation programming to engage children and families.

4. My Brother’s Keeper Newark

The Mayor’s My Brother’s Keeper Newark initiative is part of a nationwide, White House-led campaign to empower boys and men of color and strengthen the systems that ensure their success.  MBKN’s goals are dependent on cross-sector partnerships, data-mining, and a combination of policy and direct-service projects.  CNJG members have provided seed funding for the MBKN’s initial roundtables, forums, and on-ramping initiatives.  Most notable was a “Young Men of Color and Law Enforcement” forum at Central High School, designed to address issues that damage the relationship between African-American and Latino youth and law enforcement.  The White House has recognized MBKN as a leader among the national communities that are building greater supports for young men of color.

5. Summer Youth Employment Program and Postsecondary Access

One of the biggest success stories of the year was the dramatic increase in the number of teenagers employed in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program.  Newark went from 1,500 last summer to over 2,600 youth who got jobs.  The growth was prompted by a partnership between the Mayor’s office, funders, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC).  One thousand of the teens were enrolled in jobs that provided not only a paycheck but also learning opportunities for coding, urban landscaping, and an NCLC Summer Learning Institute on the campus of Essex County College.  Financial empowerment and banking support for these first time workers, made possible from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, was an added bonus.

The New York Times recently praised Mayor Baraka for defying expectations. Working collaboratively with residents, institutions, and funders, the Mayor is driving the change that makes Newark a city we all can believe in.

Tai Cooper is Chief Policy Advisor to Mayor Ras J. Baraka.  Jeremy Johnson is the Newark Philanthropic Liaison, a position funded by the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers as a joint venture with the Mayor.

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is pleased to announce a six-part webinar series addressing common questions, clarifying misconceptions, and exploring ways to overcome obstacles in implementing trust-based philanthropy. CNJG is pleased to share this opportunity with our members.

Series Description: Trust-based philanthropy is a philosophy and approach rooted in values of relationship-building, mutual learning, and systemic equity – with a vision of advancing a healthier and more impactful nonprofit sector. While this approach is generally associated with six core grantmaking practices such as multi-year unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, the day-to-day work of trust-based philanthropy is very nuanced and dynamic. In fact, funders who have embraced this approach are finding that it requires ongoing self-reflection and rigor with regards to how they think about – and evolve – many of the deeply embedded practices and assumptions of traditional philanthropy.

Given these nuances, it is not surprising that there are many questions and occasional misperceptions about what it actually means to embody trust-based philanthropy in practice. In this 6-part webinar series, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will explore some of the most commonly asked questions and the underlying misperceptions that may be roadblocks to understanding and operationalizing trust-based philanthropy.

Each session in the series will focus on a frequently asked question from the field, and will feature perspectives from foundation leaders and others who have grappled with similar or related questions. At the end of each session, participants will walk away with: 1) a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the underlying cultural philosophy of trust-based philanthropy; 2) tips for how to think about and approach these nuances in their own work; and 3) talking points for how to answer these FAQs when they come up from colleagues or peers.

Each session will also provide dedicated space for small-group peer dialogue (among CNJG members) about ways to implement these practices into your grantmaking.

Cost: Free

Who should attend: Anyone in a grantmaking role that is curious about understanding the nuances of trust-based philanthropy and how it applies to your work. This series will be ideal for those who have some baseline familiarity with trust-based philanthropy and have questions about how it manifests in practice.

Please note: this webinar series is separate from CNJG’s 2023 Conference for the Social Sector, which features an in-person luncheon keynote by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. CNJG’s conference is open to both funders and nonprofits, so the keynote will differ from this series. Because CNJG’s Doing Good Better initiative leans on the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy, we encourage our members to register for these sessions - as time allows - for funders to learn about different approaches to changing systems in New Jersey.

Demystifying Trust-Based Philanthropy Series Sessions
Session #1: Does Trust-Based Mean Unconditional Trust?
Session #2: Does Unrestricted Funding Automatically Make a Funder Trust-Based?
Session #3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-Based Funding?
Session #5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #6: What Does Racial Equity Have To Do With Trust-Based Philanthropy?

Resources
Recording: Session 5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Transcript: Session 5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Presentation: Session 5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Trust-Based Philanthropy Peer Exchange for Grantmakers
The 6 Practices of Trust-Based Philanthropy
Trust-Based Philanthropy in 4D Overview
Trust-Based Philanthropy Story Map
Trust-Based Framework for Learning and Evaluation
Headwaters Foundation Grant Reporting Process
AJWS Accompaniment Model
Satterberg Foundation's Insight Circles Report
Headwaters Foundation Learning Book
AJWS Social Movements Tool
Center for Effective Philanthropy Blog: Rigorous Evaluation Versus Trust-Based Learning: Is This a Valid Dichotomy?

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is pleased to announce a six-part webinar series addressing common questions, clarifying misconceptions, and exploring ways to overcome obstacles in implementing trust-based philanthropy. CNJG is pleased to share this opportunity with our members.

Series Description: Trust-based philanthropy is a philosophy and approach rooted in values of relationship-building, mutual learning, and systemic equity – with a vision of advancing a healthier and more impactful nonprofit sector. While this approach is generally associated with six core grantmaking practices such as multi-year unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, the day-to-day work of trust-based philanthropy is very nuanced and dynamic. In fact, funders who have embraced this approach are finding that it requires ongoing self-reflection and rigor with regards to how they think about – and evolve – many of the deeply embedded practices and assumptions of traditional philanthropy.

Given these nuances, it is not surprising that there are many questions and occasional misperceptions about what it actually means to embody trust-based philanthropy in practice. In this 6-part webinar series, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will explore some of the most commonly asked questions and the underlying misperceptions that may be roadblocks to understanding and operationalizing trust-based philanthropy.

Each session in the series will focus on a frequently asked question from the field, and will feature perspectives from foundation leaders and others who have grappled with similar or related questions. At the end of each session, participants will walk away with: 1) a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the underlying cultural philosophy of trust-based philanthropy; 2) tips for how to think about and approach these nuances in their own work; and 3) talking points for how to answer these FAQs when they come up from colleagues or peers.

Each session will also provide dedicated space for small-group peer dialogue (among CNJG members) about ways to implement these practices into your grantmaking.

Who should attend: Anyone in a grantmaking role that is curious about understanding the nuances of trust-based philanthropy and how it applies to your work. This series will be ideal for those who have some baseline familiarity with trust-based philanthropy and have questions about how it manifests in practice.

Please note: this webinar series is separate from CNJG’s 2023 Conference for the Social Sector, which features an in-person luncheon keynote by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. CNJG’s conference is open to both funders and nonprofits, so the keynote will differ from this series. Because CNJG’s Doing Good Better initiative leans on the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy, we encourage our members to register for these sessions - as time allows - for funders to learn about different approaches to changing systems in New Jersey.

Demystifying Trust-Based Philanthropy Series Sessions
Session #1: Does Trust-Based Mean Unconditional Trust?
Session #2: Does Unrestricted Funding Automatically Make a Funder Trust-Based?
Session #3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-Based Funding?
Session #5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #6: What Does Racial Equity Have To Do With Trust-Based Philanthropy?

Resources
Recording: Session 3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Transcript: Session 3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Presentation: Session 3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Trust-Based Philanthropy Peer Exchange for Grantmakers
The 6 Practices of Trust-Based Philanthropy
Trust-Based Philanthropy in 4D Overview
Legal Considerations for Trust-Based Philanthropy
How to Show Up in a Trust-Based Way