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We are pleased to share Strengthening Philanthropy in Newark - Report to the Field 2015 from the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison. First established in 2007, the Liaison office represents one of the nation’s first formal partnerships between a city and the philanthropic community. The initiative began as a partnership between the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in collaboration with then Mayor Cory A. Booker. We are proud this unique partnership continues with Mayor Ras Baraka and his new administration.
This report provides a brief summary of some of the substantial activities and impact the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison facilitated throughout 2015. The strategy of collective impact is thriving throughout Newark thanks in large part to the work of the Liaison, and the funding community’s support of and robust engagement with the Office of the Mayor and anchor institutions across the city continue to reap positive outcomes. The Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison is supported by: Bank of America, The Foundation for Newark’s Future, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The MCJ Amelior Foundation, The Nicholson Foundation, Panasonic Corporation of North America, The Prudential Foundation, Schumann Foundation for New Jersey, Turrell Fund, Victoria Foundation, and PSEG Foundation providing in-kind support and meeting space.
Join us for an informative session with Justin Scheid, New Jersey Field Office Director at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Field Office manages a range of important programs and special initiatives, including Opportunity Zones, EnVision Centers, Section 3 economic opportunities, Promise Zones, ConnectHome, and homelessness.
During this discussion, Justin Scheid will share updates on CARES Act Funding and other HUD related programs and resources critical to COVID recovery and relief. We’ll also discuss strategies for philanthropy to partner with HUD to leverage resources and maximize impact in local communities.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members. $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
At a time when nonprofits and philanthropy were needed the most, the pandemic forced most social sector organizations to go fully or partially remote. As we enter 2021, it seems that many organizations will continue to operate virtually for some time, and others are even considering what it would be like to make this transition permanently.
During this informative webinar session, Christine Michelle Duffy, Director of the New Jersey Program at Pro Bono Partnership, and Christopher Petermann, Partner at PKF O’Connor Davies, will share practical suggestions, policies, and procedures that nonprofits and foundations should consider when some or all of their workforce is working remotely. We’ll also discuss the major challenges that nonprofits have faced when adapting to this new virtual world, and how philanthropy can help its grantee partners moving forward.
Anyone interested in providing a remote work option for employees, going fully virtual for the long-term, or supporting nonprofit operations in the current context will want to attend this webinar.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Nonmember Grantmakers
Webinar Video
Following a recent meeting of the Board of Directors, the F. M. Kirby Foundation announces 87 grants totaling $7.7 million were made in the first four months of 2021 to nonprofit organizations working to foster self-reliance and create strong, healthy communities throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, as well as national nonprofits largely based in Washington D.C. and New York City.
Early 2021 grantmaking includes grants in support of COVID-19 relief, as well as increased contributions to nonprofit organizations in the arts and humanities, education, environment, health and medicine, human services, public policy, and religion. As part of its Diversity and Justice Initiative, the Foundation has invested $1.8 million during the first four months of 2021 in support for current and new grantee partners led by people of color or directly serving communities of color. Most of these grants will provide general operating support, giving these organizations flexibility to meet immediate and shifting needs.
“The mission of this Foundation is to invest in opportunities that foster self-reliance or otherwise create strong, healthy communities,” stated Justin Kiczek, Executive Vice President. “Our grants within the Diversity and Justice Initiative reflect the belief that strong and healthy communities are inclusive and equitable. Over the past year, in the face of incredible challenges, our grantee partners have led the way in finding new and bold ways to create stronger communities. The first four months of 2021 provided us several opportunities to make extraordinarily impactful investments.”
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.”
The F. M. Kirby Foundation Board of Trustees announced 248 grants totaling $14,136,250 were made in 2021 to nonprofit organizations working to foster self-reliance and create strong, healthy communities in a year of unprecedented challenges. Over half of these organizations have been in at least 20-year partnerships with the Foundation, which holds a philosophy of long-term investments in effective programs.
The Foundation’s 2021 grantmaking included increased contributions to nonprofit organizations in the arts and humanities, education, environment, health and medicine, human services, public policy, and religion. Some 104 grants totaling over $5.7 million were awarded to New Jersey-based nonprofit organizations working to make a direct impact on people’s lives throughout the state, 66 of which, totaling $3.5 million, supported work in Morris County, the Foundation’s home county. Additional grants totaling $8.4 million supported organizations in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, regions connected to Kirby family members, as well as national nonprofits largely based in Washington D.C. and New York City.
Additionally, recognizing the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate effects on historically disadvantaged groups, the Foundation committed $3.5 million in support of current and new nonprofit partners working to increase access to resources, address immediate needs, and advocate for change for underrepresented groups.
We are pleased to share CNJG’s 2021 Newark Philanthropic Liaison Report to the Field. First established in 2007, the Liaison office represents one of the nation’s first formal partnerships between a city and the philanthropic community. The initiative began as a partnership between the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in collaboration with then Mayor Cory A. Booker. We are proud this unique partnership has continued with Mayor Ras J. Baraka and his administration.
This report provides a brief summary of the substantial activities and impact the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison facilitated throughout 2021. The strategy of collective impact is thriving throughout Newark thanks in large part to the work of the Liaison, and the funding community’s support of and robust engagement with the Office of the Mayor and anchor institutions across the city continue to reap positive outcomes. The Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison is supported by: Bank of America, Burke Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Maher Charitable Foundation, The Prudential Foundation, Schumann Foundation for New Jersey, Turrell Fund, Victoria Foundation, and the longtime support of the Nicholson Foundation which sunset in late 2021.
To influence systematic change in employment practices for individuals with disabilities, Kessler Foundation provided a $100,000 initial investment grant for the May launch of "Employing Abilities at Work Certificate" by SHRM Foundation, the 501c (3) philanthropic arm of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Developed in partnership with the St. Augustine, FL-based consulting firm Global Disability Inclusion, the free certificate program aims to educate human resource (HR) professionals, people managers, and business leaders about the benefits of providing a more equitable, diverse workplace for individuals with disabilities. The program will prepare human resource professionals to confidently attract, hire, and retain this population successfully in the workplace.
According to CDC data, more than one in four (26 percent) of the U.S. population identifies with a disability. This community provides a large, unrealized pool of candidates consisting of considerable skills and strengths.
"People with disabilities have the talent and ability to fill the many employment opportunities in today's job marketplace," said Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SLP, Senior Vice President, of Grantmaking and Communications, Kessler Foundation. "The new SHRM Foundation certificate program provides a roadmap for HR professionals to enable authentic disability inclusion, which allows all employees to feel welcome, included, and respected," she says, adding, "more importantly, this certificate is free, enabling SHRM members and others to effect change and growth in companies looking to diversify their workforce."
Impact 100 Garden State, an all-women organization for collective giving and a fund at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, has entered a record-breaking year as it celebrates its 10th anniversary of giving. The organization has announced:
- 364 members, the biggest number ever
- $364,000 to give in grants in 2022, the highest amount ever
- An 85% renewal rate and 64 new members, despite the challenges of the pandemic
- Two special 10th Anniversary Grants of $20,000 each, one in the area of Arts & Culture and the other in the category of Environment, Preservation & Recreation, to be awarded in October 2022.
At its Annual Awards Meeting on June 9th, Impact 100 Garden state awarded $100,000 in grants.
By the end of 2022, Impact 100 Garden State will have awarded more than $2.8 million to nonprofits in its service area of Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union Counties.
“As we celebrate our tenth year of grant-making, I continue to be amazed by the collective womanpower of our members, which makes these grants possible,” says Impact 100 Garden State President Debby Seme. “Our ability to make a significant impact in our communities begins with individual members’ donations and continues through outreach to nonprofits, membership recruitment and engagement, grant evaluation and grant oversight. We couldn’t be more proud to support these outstanding organizations.”
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) is pleased to announce that we have awarded $402,514 in grant funding to 33 organizations across the state for Spring 2022. These awards cap off a banner grant cycle which saw the largest-ever response to an NJCH call for applications, with 83 Letters of Intent submitted earlier this year. The high demand for funding reflects both the robust activity of the cultural sector and the need for ongoing support in that sector, as we emerge from the COVID-related challenges of the last few years.
The grantees’ projects reflect the creativity, excellence, and lifelong learning that public humanities programming contributes to New Jersey’s cultural and civic life. NJCH’s awards include Incubation Grants, which help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events; Action Grants, which help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours, and discussion groups; and Seed Funding, a brand-new award type that recognizes promising applicants from the Action and Incubation award pools and supports them in building greater capacity to do high-impact public humanities projects.
“From telling underrepresented stories to exploring new modes of audience engagement as we emerge from the pandemic, the new grantees’ projects speak to the astonishing breadth and depth of public humanities work in the state,” said NJCH Executive Director Carin Berkowitz. “NJCH’s grantmaking not only highlights those who are already doing exemplary work in the field, but also supports those organizations and communities that traditionally have less access to the public humanities. This approach ensures that New Jersey’s cultural sector will continue to thrive—now and well into the future.”
CNJG’s Finance and Investment Affinity Group exists to keep foundation executives informed as they manage the investment of their corpus. Growth of foundation assets and the active exchange of sound investment strategies is the focus of each program.
We are pleased to welcome Ethan Harris, head of Global Economics Research at Bank of America Global Research to lead our breakfast that kicks off the new year with a Market Outlook for 2023. Mr. Harris will give us his insights on:
- Inflation
- Potential for continued interest rate hikes and where might they pause
- Labor market impact on the Fed’s direction
- Impact of Fed moves
- Expectations for US economy and other economies around the world
- Growth and recession risks, and
- Some discussion of the big global issues
Agenda
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - Program begins
10:00 a.m. - Meeting concludes
Cost: $35 for CNJG Members; $70 for Non Member Grantmakers (includes full breakfast)
COVID-19 Safety and Information
CNJG will follow all health and safety guidelines and recommendations outlined in our COVID-19 Liability Waiver for in-person programs and events.
Please do not attend the program if you are ill, exposed to the COVID-19 virus within 14 days prior to the program, or exhibit any symptoms of the COVID-19 virus prior to the program.
These are the protocols as of June 6, 2022. We will continue to monitor the health and safety protocols and will be sure to communicate if these change prior to the program.
From February 26-28, 2023, members of the NLC’s Mayoral Network on Community Safety and Violence Prevention, city representatives and resource guests were welcomed by Mayor Ras J. Baraka in Newark, New Jersey. Attendees saw firsthand the strides made by Mayor Baraka, Office of Violence Prevention & Trauma Recovery Director Lakeesha Eure, and the rest of the Newark team. Alongside community partners, the city team members are advancing new safety strategies alongside longstanding ones. This collaborative, people-centered approach to addressing violence and promoting safety led to 60-year lows in homicides for the city.
The philanthropic community in Newark is an instrumental part of the city’s transformation of its public safety ecosystem over the past nine years. Several local foundations supported the development and implementation of a new public health centered strategy from its infancy by providing the resources for two public safety retreats, multiple community-based violence prevention and interruption organizations, new data tools and collaboratives, and trauma training for community and police.
Lisa Block, Senior Program Officer with the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, shared her thoughts on the work in this article for Grantmakers in Health.
Today, we are excited to announce that the Dodge Foundation’s latest cycle of grants provides support to over 30 organizations focused on addressing the root cause and repair of structural racism and inequity across New Jersey. These organizations are working on everything from building power among immigrant communities to advocating for housing and environmental justice.
We have been honored to partner with our Imagine a New Way grantees over the last few years, including those we supported in our first grantmaking cycle in 2023. In addition to those we are announcing today, we have been able to fund organizations that have already mobilized meaningful change for communities across the state. Just last week, advocates stood at Perth Amboy’s ferry port where slave ships docked from Africa in the 1700s. During a Juneteenth celebration, our partner, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, launched the New Jersey Reparations Council to measure slavery’s impact, to determine how to repair the damage, and to repay the generations who suffered. The Council will establish nine committees to examine the wealth gap, disparities in health and incarceration, school segregation and more.
The announcement of the new Council builds on the important impacts of NJISJ over the last few years. In 2021, NJISJ was part of a coalition that secured $8.4 million in state funds to create “restorative justice hubs” in Camden, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton, offering services for young people returning from incarceration. Other Imagine a New Way partners have also had tremendous impact – just last year, our grantee partners at Salvation and Social Justice successfully advocated to require, for the first time, New Jersey police officers to be licensed — as doctors and lawyers are — and set rules for decertifying officers who engage in misconduct.
CNJG’s Finance and Investment Affinity Group exists to keep foundation executives informed as they manage the investment of their corpus. Growth of foundation assets and the active exchange of sound investment strategies is the focus of each program.
As stewards of your organization’s assets, you’ve likely had discussions at the Board level regarding the merits of incorporating Values-Based Investing (“VBI”) approaches into the investment program. As the industry has evolved, VBI incorporates Socially Responsible Investing, Environmental Social & Governance (“ESG”), and Impact Investing. While the opportunity and investment thesis for capturing VBI attributes are well articulated across the industry, a cautious and thoughtful approach is warranted. VBI should not be “one size fits all”; rather, a customized opportunity exists to reflect your organization’s values across the investment portfolio. Further, given the meteoric rise of VBI across the investment industry, there are a plethora of products that claim to incorporate responsible principles; however, a closer examination may raise doubts about the value-add being provided, especially on a net of fees basis. Lastly, certain VBI arenas such as ESG have unfortunately become a hot-button political issue, with both ends of the spectrum equating ESG investing with other political agendas. When considering the appropriateness of VBI for your organization, we believe it is important for the Board to have a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved.
Agenda
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - Program begins
10:00 a.m. - Meeting concludes
Cost: $35 for CNJG Members; $70 for Non Member Grantmakers (includes full breakfast)
As we know, COVID-19 had a significant impact on student academic achievement. School districts across the state and country are working to accelerate student learning with a particular focus on literacy. Join us for our next Newark Education Funder meeting as we explore how funders can support a community approach to literacy, including the recently released Ten Point Literacy Plan. We will hone in on statewide and local data with the support of a recent study published by JerseyCAN, and then discuss how we can collaborate with grantees on systems that complement the traditional K-12 school day, particularly early literacy and support for reading at home, after-school and community programs, and collaborations with institutions like the Newark Public Library.
Panelists:
Paula White, Executive Director, JerseyCAN
Christian Zabriskie, Director, Newark Public Library
Nayibe Capellan, CEO, Programs for Parents
Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Newark
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
The rising cost of housing, a limitation on supply of affordable housing stock, and economic shocks and disruptions have led to an increase in homelessness across the United States. Over this time period, the City of Newark has made strides in fostering collaborative and innovative approaches to housing the unhoused. In December, the City released a strategic plan to end chronic homelessness, the first plan of its kind in some time. Specifically, its vision states that “Newark will strive to end chronic homelessness for all individuals over the next three years through collaboration, prevention, and housing.” The vision goes on to state that when it [homelessness] cannot be prevented, it will be a rare, brief, and nonrecurring experience.”
We hope that you will join us as we hear from leaders of this collaborative effort as they discuss how they are working toward their shared vision.
Panelists:
Luis Ulerio, Newark Homelessness Czar, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services
Jim Pelliccio, Chair of the City of Newark Commission on the Homeless and President and CEO of Port Newark
Evan Weiss, President and CEO, Newark Alliance
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
The Morris County Funders Group, a coalition of 10 grantmaking organizations, pooled $325,000 to support mental health in the region. With funding from this newly formed collaboration, the Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) will facilitate mental health first aid training for up to 45 Morris County organizations. This first initiative of the funders group aims to address the growing mental health crisis in young people and adults.
Supporters of this initiative include the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation, Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Six Talents Foundation, F. M. Kirby Foundation, MCJ Amelior Foundation, and the Mimi Washington Starrett Foundation.
Moderated by Justin Kiczek, F. M. Kirby Foundation, you’ll hear from panelists Bernie Moriarty, Hyde & Watson Foundation and Aaron Turner, Community Foundation of New Jersey, Bob Kley from MHANJ and a partner nonprofit. The panel will share how the funders came together to support this important and urgent issue, and how they worked in collaboration with MHANJ. Following the panel discussion, participants will have time for Q & A.
Webinar Video
Resources
Mental Health Association in New Jersey
Jersey Gives a Damn Podcast
Shifting Narratives to Change Systems
Wednesday, December 14, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Luncheon & Keynote Presentation
Location: The Sheraton, Edison, 125 Raritan Center Parkway, Edison, NJ 08837
Friday, December 16, 11:00 – 12:15 pm
Virtual Workshop via Zoom
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers thanks everyone who attended our 2022 Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon and the Virtual Workshop! We were delighted to see so many familiar faces, and meet many new staff and trustees of our members.
At the business meeting, members elected the new class of trustees, and heard reports about the state of the organization. After lunch and time to reconnect with each other, we heard from our keynote, Bridgit Antoinette Evans, who explained the narrative ocean in which philanthropy swims, and gave examples of how Pop Culture Collaborative is funding organizations to reframe their narratives in which they operate.
During the virtual workshop, members learned about the changemaker experience, how it affects the relationships between funders and their nonprofit partners and even grantseekers. Attendees were led through an exercise to create a journey map, and think through strategies how to examine the experiences that nonprofits have with their organizations.
CNJG members can view recordings and additional resources from the event on the resources tab, when logged in.
Philanthropic Collaboratives:
Driving Impact and Opportunity
Thursday, December 14, 2023 - 9:00am to 3:00pm
Luncheon, Keynote Presentation & Workshop
Location: Crowne Plaza Edison, 2055 Lincoln Highway, Edison, NJ 08817
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers thanks everyone who attended our 2023 Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon and the Pre-Meeting Workshop that explored Philanthropic Collaboratives: Driving Impact and Opportunity. We were thrilled to reconnect with friends and colleagues and meet new members.
At the Business meeting, the membership elected the new class of Trustees. We also honored our outgoing Board Chair, Jeff Vega, for all the incredible work he accomplished during his term. After lunch and networking time, we listened attentively to Nidhi Sahni, Partner and Head of US Advisory Group, New York, Bridgespan, and Lucy Vandenberg, Executive Director of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey in conversation about the nuances and benefits of collaboration.
At the pre-meeting workshop, Tools for Funder Collaboration, presented by John Harper, Chirlie Felix, and Waheera Mardah of FSG, members were presented multiple models of collaboration and examples of collective impact followed by an opportunity to engage in dynamic discussion to further explore the concepts.
CNJG members can view the FSG PowerPoint and additional resources from the event on the resources tab, when logged in.
CNJG is pleased to re-convene the South Jersey Funders Consortium for a lunch meeting at La Scala Fire in Glassboro. Join your fellow South Jersey funders for lunch and a round robin discussion on what your organization is funding, and any new initiatives that you are working on.
When the Pascale Sykes Foundation sunset their operations, including gathering this group together on a periodic basis, the Consortium agreed to have CNJG take on the management and stewardship of the group.
Any funder located in or funding in the eight southern counties of New Jersey is welcome to attend (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic, and Ocean). Although Camden city is located in south Jersey, and because we already have a Camden funders affinity group, the topics of discussion of the South Jersey Funders Consortium should focus on south Jersey, outside of the city of Camden.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Non Member Grantmakers
For 2023, CNJG will cover the cost of the South Jersey Funders Consortium lunch thanks to a grant from the Pascale Sykes Foundation.
Parking is available in a garage behind the restaurant and is free for two hours.