Publication Date: December, 2010
This guide was designed to help the state’s philanthropic community understand their ethical, legal, and fiduciary requirements and obligations.
Publication Date: June, 2007
This includes insights and tips related to board governance, legal compliance, grantee communications, ...
... Vega, who passed away January 28. Jeff joined CNJG’s Board in 2016, and during his tenure served as First Vice Chair and Board Chair, and participated on multiple committees, ... for Philanthropy, and leading a dynamic and diverse board. Jeff was the President and CEO of Princeton Area ...
... data about the benefits offered to their employees, board, and more. Therefore, CNJG created our triennial ... the second time in this survey’s history, we asked for board and staff demographic data. As more attention is ...
... updated information such as annual budget, staffing, board member changes, etc., in their grant applications only ... be reached to encourage change? How can we involve more board members of funders in this effort? • For funders who ...
Publication Date: October, 2014
... papers on investment policy statements, spending policy, board governance and risk tolerance, together with their most ...
... includes a wealth of insights and tips related to board governance, legal compliance, grantee communications, ... New Jersey foundations in their grantmaking. CNJG’s board is in the process of updating these beliefs and ...
General Operating Support or General Project Support
Affirmation: Funds with the least restrictions are the most valuable
Nonprofits maintain and strengthen their organizations when their funds are unrestricted. Data shows flexible and reliable funding increases impact when nonprofit leaders have control over how funds flow to meet the needs of their constituents and internal operations, as demonstrated during the pandemic when funders released previously restricted funding. General operating support (GOS) funding signals trust in our partners and can open more honest dialogue about meeting the mutual goals of the funder and nonprofit. Funders who make project or program grants should trust the organization and provide flexible funding within a specific program.
Activities
• Over the short term, funders aim to shift their GOS activity by 30%. (30% more grants shift from program to GOS, or from fully restricted to negotiated GOS.)
• Provide grants as unrestricted organizational general operating support. The long-term ideal is for most, if not all, grants to be 100% GOS, unless a funder is legally precluded from doing otherwise.
• For project/program grants, 100% of the grant awarded is unrestricted (negotiated GOS), applying mission-based and mutually negotiated outcomes.
• Nonprofits articulate their organizational vision, strategies and intended outcomes to funders; funders understand the models of their grantee partners and learn from them how the grantee partner's work will lead to change.
• Trust nonprofit partners to know how to best apply their funding.
• Create a shared understanding of the meaning and importance of full-cost budgeting and real-cost funding.
Short-term Outcomes
• 70% of funders are shifting some of their distribution to making general operating support grants.
• 100% of program/project grants are designated unrestricted.
Long-term Outcomes
• 100% of all grants are made without restrictions, unless limited by covenant or donor wishes in the case of community foundations.
• All nonprofits can clearly articulate their vision, strategies, outcomes, and business models to funders; and funders understand them and trust them to know how best to use their funds.
How to Begin Doing Good Better on Flexibility Learning Opportunities
• Why aren’t some funders planning to award GOS or negotiate GOS?
• Ask funders: If you participated in CNJG’s 2022 funder survey and indicated that you planned to initiate GOS, have you done so? • Why are some grants restricted?
• What would it take for funders to change?
Pre-Work
• Seek and share learning opportunities for funders, prioritizing education of foundation boards, to address the barriers to awarding GOS and understand how restricted funding undermines financial sustainability.
• For funders who already regularly provide GOS funding, educate/advocate for others to do the same.
• Learn how GOS/negotiated GOS strengthens grantee partners and the multiple ways they can use and evaluate GOS. Actively seek insights from nonprofits to reinforce the message about GOS in their funding partnerships.
• As an incremental step for funders that are not receptive to GOS, provide education about negotiated general programming support (flexible funding within a mutually agreed-upon program area, as opposed to organization-wide GOS).
• Share promising practices on evaluation of GOS and negotiated GO
... for credit card membership payments. Though subject to the board’s approval, we typically activate membership within ... on 5% of the assets, rather than the annual grantmaking. Board minutes confirming the decision to sunset are required ... CNJG expects them to join the organization. CNJG’s Board of Trustees retains final discretion on all matters ...
... on the Annual Meeting Resources page. We elected two new Board trustees for their first 3-year term: Jasmyne Beckford, ... said goodbye to 3 trustees rotating off, including 2023 Board Chair, Jeff Vega. Thank you, Jeff, for your leadership ... to CNJG. Following the annual meeting of members, the Board elected their officers for 2024: Craig Drinkard, ...
Publication Date: December, 2020
... plan and embarked on a learning journey together with its board, staff, and members to normalize the conversation about ... Southeastern Council of Foundations (SECF) along with its board undertook a racial equity learning journey in order to ... to lead the effort of developing a Framework, and engaged board, staff and Task Force members in a racial equity ...
... Principles for Philanthropy —a framework approved by the Board last year, that sets forth an aspiration for each of ... Foundation, and Catherine Wilson. In his role as board chair, and to continue serving as chair in 2025, Craig ... we said good-bye to Paul Stierhoff as he rotated off the board. Thank you for your service! Jeffrey Vega, trustee from ...
... Initiatives’ Deputy Director of Programs, and CNJG Board Member Diane Hagerman penned “ Collaboration across ...
... of the historic village included working closely with the Board of Trustees, effectively guiding board and committee initiatives, developing and coordinating ... She is currently fulfilling her second term as School Board Director for her local district, New Hope-Solebury. She ...
Publication Date: February, 2018
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.
... for Non-Profits CEO and President William V. Engel CNJG Board Chair Gina M. Plotino Center for Non-Profits Board Chair We All Must Speak Out Against Racism ...
... up the opportunity for dialogue and reflection with your board, staff and funded agencies. Your response can serve as ... before starting this assessment. We also encourage your board and staff to go through the goals as you reflect on ...
... started a conversation about values with the foundation board. By approaching the board with curiosity and bringing the voice of the community ... to provide feedback and engage in candid dialogue with the board. Focusing on only the essential information for ...
... the new class of Trustees. We also honored our outgoing Board Chair, Jeff Vega, for all the incredible work he ...
... issues for potential action. In late 2023, CNJG’s Board of Trustees approved our first-ever Policy Agenda . The ...
