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In the sixth and final session in Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers's Putting Racism on the Table series (2016), the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Dr. Gail Christopher discussed the role of philanthropy in addressing racism and racial inequity. Click the image below to watch the video of Dr. Christopher's talk.
Watch the video
Funding Indigenous Peoples: Strategies for Support, looks at how funders collaborate with and bring support to indigenous communities around the world. Through examples from a diverse range of foundations, this guide explores how grantmakers work with indigenous peoples, the approaches they take, and the practices they find effective.
This guide was developed in collaboration with International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP).
On October 5, 2015, Building Public-Private Partnerships to Enhance Disaster Resilience: A Listening Session was convened by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Division for At-Risk Individuals, Behavioral Health, and Community Resilience (ABC)and co-hosted with Grantmakers In Health (GIH). This is a summary of the final meeting report.
Food is essential. But how often do you consider where your food comes from?This issue of What Funders Need to Know from the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers explores the stages of the food system, from production all the way to disposal. Why is this important to philanthropy?
Because hunger, food insecurity, nutrition-related chronic disease, the health of resource lands and waterways, wages, and equal opportunity in the food economy all converge in our regional food system.
Developed by Washington Regional Associations of Grantmakers' Public Education Working Group, How Do Teachers Become Great? shows that the highest level of student performance is directly linked to having high-performing teachers. High-performing teachers are products of effective professional development - and the development and teaching strategies of these educators can be replicated.
What factors should you consider if you want your grant investment to have the greatest impact on student academic success?
With confidence increasing from consumers on up to CEOs, so too is the amount of corporate giving taking place in the U.S., jumping 9.9 percent in 2012 and continuing to rise. This South Jersey Biz interview with Nina Stack, president of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, talks about the business of philanthropy and how companies can make a difference.
Newark’s 40th Mayor Ras J. Baraka (pictured, second from right) invited the Newark Funders Group to hear his vision for the city at special August meeting. Just 30 days into his term, the Mayor called on the Newark Philanthropic Liaison Jeremy Johnson (far left) to organize a convening with the Newark group, co-chaired by Etta Denk of Bank America (second from left) and Barbara Reisman of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey (third from left). Irene Cooper-Basch (far right), Chair of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Executive Officer at the Victoria Foundation, introduced the Mayor to more than 50 grantmakers who attended the session at the PSEG headquarters in downtown Newark. Rick Thigpen (not pictured), Vice President, State Government Affairs at PSEG, welcomed the Mayor and Grantmakers to the company’s conference center.
Mayor Baraka talked about new interventions for youth at risk and targeting crime in hot spots in the city. He said increased “literacy” would help get to the core of many of Newark’s problems. During the questions and answer period, the Mayor elaborated on his proposed response to the budget, the arts, downtown development, prisoner reentry, early childhood education and the city’s relation to Newark Public Schools. He thanked grantmakers for their contributions to “The Blueprint for a New Newark,” a document of transition recommendations.
The Newark Funders Group is an affinity group of CNJG and meets quarterly. The group’s activities include an active Education Subcommittee, Early Learners Funders Group, and College Access and Success committee.
The 2018 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services for our members and, by extension, the communities they serve. The Council is an engaged and cohesive network of grantmakers dedicated to our state’s communities and people.
CNJG is pleased to offer this series of webinars to our members, hosted by our partners at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
With COVID-19 there seem to be more questions than answers, particularly for funders who want to respond effectively and efficiently. This series of seven webinars will bring expert panelists together to address some of the most pressing issues, including getting money out the door quickly, supporting vulnerable populations and managing other disasters in the midst of the pandemic.
Join the Center for Disaster Philanthropy for one or multiple webinars to gain a better perspective on the role of philanthropy in COVID-19 response and recovery.
Cost: Free for CNJG members and Nonmember Grantmakers
CNJG thanks the Center for Disaster Philanthropy for hosting this series.
Past Webinars in this Series:
April 14: Making Effective Rapid Response Grants
April 28: Managing Multiple Disasters Amid the Pandemic
May 12: Place-based Grantmakers and Investing in Local Communities
May 26: How Philanthropy Can Stand Up for Vulnerable Populations
June 9: Grantmaking to Support Children and Older Adults
June 23: Managing a Global Response
The 2020 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services for our members and, by extension, the communities they serve. The Council is an engaged and cohesive network of grantmakers dedicated to our state’s communities and people.
The 2021 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services for our members and, by extension, the communities they serve. The Council is an engaged and cohesive network of grantmakers dedicated to our state’s communities and people.
The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund is awarding $2.2 million in grants to 96 nonprofit organizations across the state.
The fund recently received a $1.5 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support grantmaking. The fund awards grants to organization that contribute to cultural equity and community well-being, a mission that aligns with the philanthropy goals of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The fund has also received significant support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is the center for philanthropy in New Jersey, serving the leading independent, corporate, family and community foundations as well as public grantmakers of our state. We support our members by strengthening their capacity to address New Jersey and society’s most difficult problems. We also access the resources of the philanthropic community – funding, expertise, leverage - to provide leadership on statewide issues.
Vision
CNJG envisions a healthy, thriving, and civically engaged New Jersey where people of all places, racial identities, socio-economic backgrounds, abilities, and identify expressions are valued for their gifts and talents, and we can all reach our full potential and participate generously in the common good.
Mission
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers supports and elevates New Jersey’s philanthropic community through shared learning, collaborative and trusting relationships, network building, and leadership.
CNJG extends philanthropy’s contribution to a changing society.
Philanthropy is dedicated to the public good. It joins the public and private sectors to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities across the U.S and the world. The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is the network of and for philanthropy in our state.
Our members elevate their practice of philanthropy by working with their donor colleagues and learning from experts in their field. CNJG is able to broker partnerships and alliances to solve problems, leverage shared resources, and forge sustainable solutions to bring about long-term change. This is essential when faced with fragmented systems, insufficient resources, and needs that seem only to be growing.
Whether you are a funder meeting society’s most urgent needs, addressing how sectors operate at a systems level or focused on problem solving and influencing policy, CNJG can help you maximize your impact.
This program is presented in partnership with the Maryland Philanthropy Network. As the number of organizations in funder portfolios who are undergoing a leadership transition grows, many common practices of funders, including a “Wait and see” approach, are failing organizations just when they need extra support. Given the deeply destabilizing impact of transitions and the steep increase in volume of transitions, it is more important than ever that funders embrace transitions as a normal yet fragile part of the organizational life cycle. Further, funders can develop better strategies for supporting leadership transitions involving BIPOC leaders.
Join this values-driven and action-oriented session with Leading Forward to learn from social sector professionals who are leaning into trust - and leaning into the change - with new strategies to support leaders who are leaving, leaders who are entering, and the board and staff who manage the change from old to new.
Session take-aways:
A framework and set of principles to rely on when building out grantmaking programs and cohorts related to leadership transitions for your grantees.
Deeper understanding of the unique challenges of BIPOC leadership transitions as well as the current context (large number of transitions, shorter tenures for leaders, etc.).
Practical considerations for how to approach conversations about leadership transitions with your grant partners.
Strategies and tactics for supporting organizations before, during, and after leadership transitions, particularly transitions involving BIPOC leadership.
Speakers
Amalia Brindis Delgado, Chief Strategy Officer for the Panta Rhea Foundation
Ai Lun Ku, Principal of AiLun Ku Consulting, LLC
Sabrina Thornton, Program Officer, Creativity and Innovation for the T. Rowe Price Foundation
Lisa Kane, President of Firefly Advisors
COST: Free for CNJG Members and Non Member Grantmakers
This program is presented in partnership with the following philanthropy-serving organizations: Maryland Philanthropy Network, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, Florida Philanthropic Network, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, and North Carolina Grantmakers.
You will have an opportunity to learn about the collaborative process that resulted in this first version of the framework. In addition, you will hear from peers and practitioners who contributed to the development of the framework. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the framework's design principles and how they foster equity, transparency, and responsible AI adoption.
Speakers
Jean Westrick, Executive Director, TAG
Gozi Egbuonu, Director of Programs, TAG
Who Should Attend
Grantmaking Executives
Philanthropy Tech Professionals
Program Managers
Technology Leaders
AI for Good Enthusiasts and Advocates
COST: Free for CNJG Members and Non Member Grantmakers
Jean Westrick, Executive Director
Technology Association of Grantmakers
Jean Westrick is the Executive Director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers, a nonprofit organization that cultivates the strategic, equitable, and innovative use of technology in philanthropy. Westrick brings two decades of experience building communities, leveraging technology, and leading innovative and programmatic strategies. Prior to being named Executive Director of TAG, Westrick was the Director of IT Strategy and Communications at The Chicago Community Trust where she led change management efforts for the foundation’s $6M digital transformation initiative. Also, while at The Trust, Westrick directed On the Table, an award-winning engagement model designed to inspire resident action that was replicated in 30 cities nationwide. A longtime advocate for equity in STEM education, expanding technology access and increasing science literacy, Westrick holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a Master of Science from DePaul University.
Gozi Egbuonu, Director of Programs
Technology Association of Grantmakers
Gozi Egbuonu is the Director of Programs at the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), a nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate the strategic, equitable, and innovative use of technology in philanthropy. Prior to TAG, Gozi was an Impact Officer at Network for Good’s (now Bonterra) capacity-building program called Jumpstart. Through her advocacy for philanthropic investments in the technological capacity of talented nonprofit leaders and organizations throughout the United States, Gozi helped generate more than $500,000 in capacity-building funds to help nonprofits become more sustainable. In addition to helping generate lasting impact for nonprofits, Gozi created meaningful content and events aimed at educating philanthropic communities on the power of trust-based partnerships between grantmakers and nonprofits. Committed to using technology to improve lives and advance social change, Gozi is researching the use of medical technology to improve healthcare delivery while earning her doctorate in behavioral health from Cummings Graduate Institute. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington and Lee University, a Master of Arts from Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and a Master of Science from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
A CNJG member received an application from a school district, and wanted to know if others granted funds to a school district, and what other funders learned from granting to a district.
CNJG affinity and interest groups provide a valued forum through which New Jersey grantmakers can connect, exchange information, and learn from experts in a wide range of fields and sectors. Members with a focus on a particular geography or issue meet on a regular basis and are self-organized. For additional information or to discuss forming a new group, contact Chanika Svetvilas.
Camden Funders Affinity Group
Camden Funders Affinity Group provides a valued forum for grantmakers working in Camden to connect and exchange information and to hear from stakeholders working in benefit of Camden.
Culture Funders Affinity Group
The Culture Funders Affinity Group includes private and public grantmakers working in the arts and humanities across New Jersey. It aims to maximize the leadership potential and grantmaking abilities of those interested in developing a strong and thriving arts community in New Jersey.
Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Affinity Group
The Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Affinity Group’s mission is to nurture, develop and support professionals in the philanthropic sector across all departments/roles within foundations. Programming for the Emerging Leaders group is geared towards early and mid-career professionals and will serve as: a professional learning community for emerging professionals working in diverse positions; an opportunity for professional development and individual capacity-building that will lead to institutional change within the member organizations; and as a critical partner in the creation of a pipeline into senior/executive leadership in NJ philanthropy.
Environmental Grantmakers Affinity Group
The Environmental Grantmakers Affinity Group formed in 2007 to provide a network and sounding board for environmental grantmakers who share an interest in: (1) insuring a healthy environment for all residents of the Garden State; (2) preserving, restoring and regenerating natural resources, including air, water, land, energy resources, as well as native flora and fauna; and (3) encouraging solution-based responses to resource challenges, wiser use of resources, and sustainable practices at individual, public agency small business and corporate levels.
Finance & Investment Affinity Group
The Finance & Investment Affinity Group brings together grantmakers of all types and sizes to discuss financial market trends and to exchange strategies to help ensure the greatest endowment growth. At each meeting, the latest market performance reports and commentaries are also discussed.
Funders for NJ Education Affinity Group
The Funders for NJ Education Affinity Group connects those making grants in support of education and provides interested members with insights into current initiatives, research findings, and best practices. Past topics of discussion have included analyses of school funding, innovative educational programming, measuring teacher effectiveness and youth development programs and have included roundtable discussions of emerging trends and key issues.
Funders for Strong and Thriving Communities Affinity Group
The Funders for Strong and Thriving Communities Affinity Group is an intrastate, inter-disciplinary network of public and private investors interested in enhancing the quality-of-life of the residents that live within New Jersey communities, through place-based investment or philanthropy. The group aims to draw upon and leverage the knowledge of public and private sector experts in the field of community development; including affordable housing, economic development, job creation, neighborhood building, and services to children and families.
Health Funders Affinity Group
The Health Funders Affinity Group is a collaborative network of grantmakers dedicated to advancing a holistic and intersectional view of health across New Jersey. This group provides a platform to exchange grantmaking strategies, funding priorities, best practices, and valuable insights while fostering collaboration to address health-related challenges and opportunities across diverse populations and life stages.
New Jersey Corporate Philanthropy Network Affinity Group
The New Jersey Corporate Philanthropy Network Affinity Group convenes corporate funders whose giving footprint includes New Jersey. Meetings cover such topics as current and emerging trends in strategic philanthropy, the business case for Corporate Social Responsibility, marketing/branding, sponsorships, employee matching gifts, employee engagement/volunteerism, and more. Best practices are shared and opportunities for collaboration are offered. A traditional Round Robin, where current burning issues/questions are discussed closes out the meetings. We hope you will join us at an upcoming event.
Newark Funders Affinity Group
The Newark Funders Affinity Group began in 2010 as a result of the convening work of CNJG’s Newark Philanthropic Liaison. As of May 20th, 2025, the Newark Education Funder Affinity Group merged with the Newark Funders Affinity Group to ensure alignment and coordination among funders dedicated to the city. The group meets quarterly hearing from elected officials, senior government and educational leaders, members of the nonprofit community, and local civic stewards to better understand Newark's emerging needs and opportunities, all with the goal of leveraging grantmaking for greater impact.
Paterson Funders Affinity Group
The Paterson Funders Affinity Group helps facilitate awareness of work by nonprofits and funders in Paterson, foster collaboration, and improve the lives of Paterson residents. Past meetings have focused on information regarding funder projects in the city, including some new grants made and lessons learned on ongoing projects in the areas of education, health and nutrition, arts and culture, and civics.
Trenton Area & Mercer County Funders Affinity Group
The Trenton Area & Mercer County Funders Affinity Group’s goal is to explore the most pressing needs and issues in the Trenton and Mercer County region and to uncover ways to leverage resources and develop solutions to this community’s greatest concerns. Past meetings have included roundtable discussions on the unique needs of the Trenton area and guest speakers that highlighted the dynamic interrelationship between the City of Trenton and the State of New Jersey.
CNJG’s 2024 Affinity Group co-chairs (name/affinity group):
Front row: Sharnita Johnson/Culture Funders; Leslie Walker/Camden Funders; Bill Leavens/Environmental Grantmakers; Julia Stoumbos/Paterson Funders; Chanika Svetvilas/CNJG’s Manager of Programs and Learning
Back rows: Theresa Jacks/CNJG’s President and CEO; Kevin Callaghan/CNJG’s Newark Philanthropic Liaison; Shakirat Odunsi/CNJG’s Manager of Communications; Julie Holland/Paterson Funders; Katherine Nunnally/Trenton Area and Mercer County Funders; Jasmyne Beckford/Newark Funders; Monica Hall/Emerging Leaders; Erik Estrada/Camden Funders; Jessica Nugent/Health & Aging Funders; Sharif Braxton/Health & Aging Funders; Liz Crowley/Environmental Grantmakers
Not pictured: Tammy Herman/Culture Funders; Alana Vega/Emerging Leaders; Rich Riberio/Finance & Investment; Paul Stierhoff/Finance & Investment; Jessica McKenzie/Newark Education Funders; Pat Hartpence/NJ Corporate Philanthropy Network; Etta Denk/NJ Corporate Philanthropy Network; Kortney Swanson Davis/ Education Funders; Melissa Litwin/Education Funders
Current Vacancies (as of 4/2024): Trenton & Mercer County Funders (1); Strong & Thriving Communities Funders (2); Newark Funders (2)
This PowerPoint presentation developed by Southeastern Council of Foundations provides an excellent overview to the pros and cons of different philanthropic structures for Corporate entities, including Corporate Foundations, Corporate Giving Programs, and working through Community Foundations.