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The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) has announced $272,408 in grant funding to 22 organizations across the state for Spring 2023.
The awards are split between 11 Incubation Grants and 11 Action Grants. Incubation Grants help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events. Action Grants help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours and discussion groups.
“This grant funding represents support for a mixture of new projects and ongoing, important work,” said Carin Berkowitz, Ph.D., executive director of NJCH. “In that way, it mirrors the fundamental purpose of the humanities, examining our history and culture in ways that shape our current understanding of the world.”
Prudential Financial has awarded “microgrants” to 54 nonprofits and individuals throughout the city to help them continue their effort to address community issues and improve quality of life for people and families.
Prudential, headquartered in Newark, recently distributed $280,000 from a $500,000 Community Grants Program, launched in March. Prudential partnered with the Community Foundation of New Jersey to administer and distribute the microgrants.
“We know a strong city is built on strong neighborhoods and we understand that those closest to the challenges in our community are best positioned to solve them,” said Lata Reddy, senior vice president with Prudential Financial and chair of The Prudential Foundation.
The Grunin Foundation, in partnership with CNJG, invites you to join the next Monmouth & Ocean County funder roundtable. Join Monmouth and Ocean County funders for a virtual session to discuss the planning of a 2024 Spring PEEP (Party to Enhance Equity in Philanthropy) event. PEEP will be in-person casual gathering where nonprofit and philanthropy leaders get together to hang out and break down some of the pervasive power dynamics in our sector.
COST: Free for members and non-members
Please note: You do not need to be a member of CNJG to attend this event. However, this gathering is geared towards those who fund in Monmouth & Ocean Counties.
The PSEG Foundation has awarded more than $1 million to 301 community organizations, 39 of which are first-time recipients, the group announced this week.
The grants range from $500 to $21,000 for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, many of which are supported by Public Service Electric & Gas and PSEG Long Island employee-volunteers year-round. The PSEG Foundation, a separate legal entity from Public Service Enterprise Group, is a 501(c)(3) organization.
The funding responds to a record number of applications for the annual Neighborhood Partners Program and nearly doubles the number of organizations awarded funding since 2020. Founded in 2014, the NPP provides grant funding for organizations based on demonstrated program effectiveness, depth and overall alignment with the PSEG Foundation’s strategic pillars: environmental sustainability, social justice and equity and economic empowerment.
CNJG is pleased to offer the 2024 Virtual Budget and Tax Briefing Series, hosted by our partners at Economic Opportunity Funders, to our members.
This year presents opportunities to get ready for transitions both politically and with the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2025. Learn more about key battles and opportunities and what’s at stake and in play in 2024 and beyond.
Part 1 (35 minutes): Noted tax and budget policy expert Sharon Parrott will provide an overview of the key provisions in the federal budget, discuss current and upcoming budget and tax debates, and offer insights on the potential impact on struggling families, workers, and communities.
Sharon Parrott, President, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Part 2 (55 minutes): A panel of experts will share how funders and the field are working together to build long-term power and achieve a racially and economically just tax system.
Amy Matsui, Director of Income Security and Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center (invited, pending confirmation)
Sarah Pray, Executive Director, Better Taxes for a Better America
Amber Wallin, Senior Policy and Outreach Director, State Revenue Alliance
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 10:55 am. 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 on YouTube.
For questions, please contact Chanika Svetvilas, Manager of Programs and Learning.
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) has announced $231,768 in grant funding to 19 organizations across the state.
The awards are split between 9 Incubation Grants and 10 Action Grants and represent 10 counties in New Jersey. Incubation Grants help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events. Action Grants help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours and discussion groups.
“Our most recent grantees are bringing under-told stories from throughout the state and world to new audiences,” said Carin Berkowitz, Ph.D., executive director of NJCH. “They demonstrate that understanding our shared history is key to understanding our current world.”
Panasonic today announced the Panasonic Foundation, in partnership with the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ), has allocated four $25,000 Challenge Grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing STEAM education in Newark, NJ. The select recipients of this funding are After School All Stars, the Trust for Public Land, Students 2 Science, and Liberty Science Center.
With funding from the Challenge Grants, the select nonprofit partners will continue to advance and develop accessible STEAM education programs with the goal of improving education and workforce outcomes for Newark students.
“We are thrilled to award Challenge Grants to nonprofits dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of leaders. These grants underscore our commitment to fostering accessible STEAM education, propelling Newark students toward brighter educational and workforce opportunities,” said Alejandra Ceja, Vice President of Social Impact and Inclusion at Panasonic.
More than $1 million was awarded to more than two dozen local nonprofits by the Bunbury Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation.
The grants, totaling $1,035,205, were awarded to 26 nonprofit organizations in 2023. It marks the fifth year in a row that the Bunbury Fund issued more than $1 million in funding.
"Through our experience as Bunbury Fund Advisors, our team continues to learn about the key issues in our region and what it takes for a nonprofit organization to effectively address them, often as a result of undercapitalization," said Jamie Kyte Sapoch, Lead Fund Advisor and former Community Foundation Trustee. "We believe that the capacity building resources approved by the Bunbury Fund in 2023 will result in meaningful, enhanced delivery of missions for the 26 nonprofit organizations listed below."
In our most recent funding rounds, the Dodge Foundation made more than $5.4 million in grants to nonprofit organizations supporting the arts, education, environment, informed communities, sector capacity building, and new Imagine a New Way and Momentum Fund grantees.
In our Imagine a New Way and Momentum Fund grantmaking, we have been investing in and taking guidance from networks, movements, organizations, and leaders who are closest to the harms of injustice; who have been historically excluded from investment and opportunity; and who are working to address the root cause and repair of structural racism and inequity in their work.
These grantee partners lead organizations and initiatives that strategically build power; dismantle systems of injustice; and strengthen economic resilience through narrative change, movement building and organizing, policy advocacy, and sector capacity building.
As we navigate today's challenges and opportunities, it's important that we continue to gather, exchange ideas, and move forward the causes we value. We all know how a single conversation can spark a big idea or inspire a new partnership. 
That's why you won't want to miss our much-anticipated 2024 Spring Colloquium: Empowering the Future: Harnessing AI and Data for Philanthropic Social Impact - a must-attend gathering for every funder working in New Jersey. Join us for valuable insights and opportunities to connect with colleagues and passionate thought leaders who share your commitment to driving social change.
I look forward to seeing you there and engaging in the vibrant discussions and community building opportunities that awaits us.
Thank you to the generosity of our sponsors: Signature Sponsor - PSE&G, Collaborator Sponsor - Wells Fargo, Connector Sponsors - Campbell Soup Company, Sixers Youth Foundation, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Exhibitor Sponsor - PKF O'Connor Davies. We couldn't do this without you.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
The William Penn Foundation is pleased to announce it has recently awarded nine Watershed Protection grants totaling more than $3 million. Our Watershed Protection Program supports efforts to secure healthy rivers and streams in the Delaware River watershed.
The William Penn Foundation is pleased to announce it has recently awarded 24 Great Learning grants totaling more than $4.2 million. Our Great Learning Program grantmaking focuses on increasing the number of children from Philadelphia’s low-income communities who experience academic success.
The William Penn Foundation is pleased to announce it has recently awarded 15 Creative Communities grants, totaling over $6.6 million in support of programs and initiatives that ensure people across Greater Philadelphia benefit from inclusive, diverse, and high-quality arts, culture, and public space experiences.
The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium has announced its final round of grantmaking for 2024, awarding a total of $878,859 to 11 projects that strengthen the state’s news and information ecosystem. This funding supports nine renewal grants, one bump-up grant, and an additional one-off grant to support the transition of a newsroom from a for-profit profit to a nonprofit business model.
The grantmaking emphasis on renewals reflects the Consortium’s commitment to sustaining impactful programs.
“This grant round reflects the breadth of New Jersey’s information needs and the power of collaboration in building a more informed and engaged state,” said Chris Daggett, Interim Executive Director and Board Chair of the Consortium. “We are proud to continue supporting projects that prioritize local voices and equitable access to civic information.”
The Victoria Foundation in Newark, New Jersey, has announced grants totaling $12.8 million in 2024 as part of its centennial anniversary.
The grants support area nonprofits as part of the Thriving Neighborhoods Initiative, the foundation’s long-term commitment to building power and generational well-being, focusing on the neighborhoods of Fairmount Heights, Lower Broadway, and Upper Clinton Hill. In December, at a year-end gala to celebrate its anniversary, the foundation presented “surprise” Centennial Impact Awards to seven organizations totaling $2.5 million.
“These funds ensure that our grantees continue to provide quality programs and support to meet the needs of Newark families,” said Victoria Foundation executive officer Craig Drinkard. “We look forward to 2025 and our continued partnership in all the important work.”
Recent Supreme Court affirmative action rulings and sweeping government executive actions are targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and access initiatives in the public and private sectors. Please join us for this web briefing, the first in a series, which will cover the latest legal developments and offer suggestions for nonprofits to chart a course in this landscape, remaining true to their missions and the people and communities they serve, while mitigating risk to their organization.
Note: this session will not be recorded.
Presenter: Lloyd Freeman, Esq., Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Buchanan Ingersoll
This program is co-presented by the Council of New Grantmakers, New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, Gathering Ground, Grunin Foundation, Pro Bono Partnership, Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective, and Support Center.
Join Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) for a conversation with Norma on visionary strategy, collective practice, and what leaps we need to make in a time of maximum fear.
In her book, When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse, Zen master and Indigenous Hawaiian leader Norma Wong describes this time as an era of collective acceleration, where the swiftly moving current, fed and shaped by human actions, sweeps us toward ever uncertain futures. In her book and in her work, Norma invites us not only to imagine, but to live into, a story beyond crisis and collapse.
Registration:
There is no cost for this webinar.
You will need to log in or create an account on GCIR's website to register for this program.
Recent Supreme Court affirmative action rulings and sweeping government executive actions are targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and access initiatives in the public and private sectors. Please join us for this web briefing, the first in a series, which will cover the latest legal developments and offer suggestions for nonprofits to chart a course in this landscape, remaining true to their missions and the people and communities they serve, while mitigating risk to their organization.
Presenter: Lloyd Freeman, Esq., Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Buchanan Ingersoll
Cost: Free for all funders
Note: this session will not be recorded.
This program is co-presented by the Council of New Grantmakers, New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, Gathering Ground, Grunin Foundation, Pro Bono Partnership, Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective, and Support Center.
Recent Supreme Court affirmative action rulings and sweeping government executive actions are targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and access initiatives in the public and private sectors. Please join us for this web briefing, the first in a series, which will cover the latest legal developments and offer suggestions for nonprofits to chart a course in this landscape, remaining true to their missions and the people and communities they serve, while mitigating risk to their organization.
Presenter: Lloyd Freeman, Esq., Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Buchanan Ingersoll
Cost: Free for all funders
Note: this session will not be recorded.
This program is co-presented by the Council of New Grantmakers, New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, Gathering Ground, Grunin Foundation, Pro Bono Partnership, Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective, and Support Center.
I can’t believe October began last weekend. I honestly don’t know where the time goes. Before you know it, the new year will be here.
Before that, I’m looking forward to our annual gathering of members – the CNJG 2023 Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering.
On Thursday, December 14, over 150 Council members and special guests will gather at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edison to celebrate the holiday season, welcome new CNJG members, convene a brief business meeting to elect new trustees, feature a dynamic discussion related to the vital work of philanthropy, and provide an excellent opportunity to connect with your colleagues and friends – both old and new.
This year’s overall theme is Philanthropic Collaboratives: Driving Impact and Opportunity.
Together we’ll explore the collaborative process, surface opportunities and challenges, and uncover how to create sustainable partnerships for lasting impact. We’re thrilled to have FSG lead the morning workshop, Tools for Funder Collaboration. The morning workshop will share real life examples of how funders have actively engaged in collaborative efforts, used data for continuous learning, and ensured momentum and buy-in among partners.
Thank you to the Signature Programs Committee, led by co-chairs Christine Healey, President of the Healey Education Foundation, and Atiya Weiss, Executive Director of the Burke Foundation, for their commitment to bring this important topic to CNJG members. The 2023 - 2025 Strategic Plan uplifts collaborations as a way to create more value for member-organizations and the social sector, and catalyze other partnerships in support of all our communities.
The Annual Meeting is the one time per year when many CNJG members come together in one place, at one time, to convene, connect, and celebrate together. And as the “annual meeting of members,” I invite you to consider sponsorship of the event. Even if you’ve never sponsored this gathering before, this is an excellent opportunity to support our work, while also increasing visibility for your own organization and philanthropic efforts. We have a number of outstanding sponsorship opportunities for this event - all outlined here.
We hope you’ll consider supporting the Annual Meeting this year with a sponsorship.
Please call me at (609) 414-7110 extension 805, or email me if you need more information or require an online application to secure your sponsorship. We can also customize a sponsorship package for you.
Thank you to our sponsors to date – we could not do this without you: Signature Sponsor – Prudential, and Contributing Sponsors - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Devils Youth Foundation.
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering. In the meantime, happy fall.
With all good wishes,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey 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.
By now you’ve heard the sad news. One of New Jersey’s most recognized, accomplished, and beloved leaders in the philanthropic sector passed away on Sunday, January 28.
Jeffrey Vega, President and CEO, Princeton Area Community Foundation, CNJG Board Chair from 2021 to 2023, and Board Trustee from 2016 to 2023, succumbed to an especially rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Jeff joined the CNJG Board of Trustees in 2016. As Board Chair, he led and guided CNJG through the pandemic years, a leadership transition, and strategic planning process. His legacy of leadership includes the 2023 - 2025 Strategic Plan, the creation of a Racial Equity Taskforce, now a committee of the Board, strengthening and improving our governance practices and policies, our first policy agenda, and adoption of the New Jersey Principles for Philanthropy, our equity principles.
It was with great pleasure that we celebrated Jeff at the Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering on December 14, as he rotated off the Board, and presented him with a framed gift highlighting and praising his leadership and work with the Council. Jeff shared with me that the event was one of the best days of his life. He told me how grateful he was for the love and friendship he felt in the room. Angie, his wife, accompanied him to the gathering, and recorded the business portion of the meeting. Jeff said, when he and Angie went home, they watched the event with Nico, his son. Jeff was truly happy and touched. It meant so much to him. I’m grateful that we were able to give him that special day.
The CNJG Board and team are discussing how we can honor Jeff. Once we have a better idea, we’ll share with you. In the meantime, the Princeton Area Community Foundation has created a beautiful tribute – Remembering Jeffrey M. Vega.
On a more personal note, it was an absolute joy to work so closely with Jeff in his role as Board Chair. When Jeff and I were planning the Board agendas and Board discussions, he always wanted to focus on the positive. He always wanted Board members to walk away feeling uplifted, valued, and inspired. He spoke many times about how much he appreciated his Board colleagues, and all the CNJG members. There was a certain kind of harmony that surrounded Jeff. One felt enveloped in that harmony in talking and sharing space with Jeff.
Like all of us, I can’t believe he’s gone, and I miss him. We all miss him. Rest in peace, dear friend, and colleague. Thank you for inspiring us, Jeff. You truly made a difference in the lives of so many. I can truly say that I am a better person for just knowing you. I’ve heard countless others say the same. Your legacy lives on.
Warmly,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers