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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, through its philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, issued $555,000 in grants to 15 non-profit organizations for health, cultural programs and disaster relief throughout New Jersey during the third quarter of 2021.

The Foundation’s mission is to support organizations that make New Jersey healthier.

A total of $50,000 in disaster relief grants was awarded to the following organizations to support designated FEMA disaster areas and fill the gaps in the response effort:

• $25,000 to Community FoodBank of New Jersey
• $25,000 to ReNew Jersey: Ida Relief

Other grants issued in the third quarter include:

AtlantiCare Foundation, through the Community Foundation of New Jersey, in Morristown, received a $50,000 grant to support the Atlantic City Patient Transportation project, which provides free, easily accessible and reliable transportation for low-income patients in Atlantic City, using the health system’s services.

Diabetes Foundation, in Hackensack, received a $30,000 grant to support Improving Health Outcomes through Education and Guidance, a prevention and education program provided in English and Spanish, for patients with pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Food Bank of South Jersey, in Pennsauken, received a $25,000 grant to support Prevent T2, an evidence-based intervention for seniors designed to delay and/or prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

Garden State Equality Education Fund, in Asbury Park, received a $25,000 grant to support the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Self-Healing Community Model, which addresses the impact of trauma and ACEs on mental and physical health among LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities in Camden.

George Street Playhouse, in New Brunswick, received a $75,000 grant to support the production of Anytown, a musical drama for students in grades 7-12, focusing on the challenges and consequences of opioid abuse and its impact on teens and families.

Greater Newark Health Care Coalition, in West Orange, received a $50,000 grant to support the Greater Newark Community Health Worker (CHW) Learning Collaborative, a project that promotes the growth, leadership and interconnections of CHWs in the Greater Newark region through monthly meetings, resource sharing and training.

Hopeworks ‘N Camden, in Camden, received a $20,000 grant to support Returning Stronger, which is focused on the development of a youth-built, youth-focused, easy-to-access website, to help young people find relevant mental health resources.

Mercer Council on Alcoholism & Drug Addiction, in Trenton, received a $20,000 grant to support the Community Oriented Recovery Effort (CORE), a pilot project to create and promote a larger, more inclusive space for those in the recovery community in Trenton and the surrounding area.

Millhill Child and Family Development Corporation, in Trenton, received a $20,000 grant to support Eat Right, Keep Moving, an obesity education and prevention program that aims to build a Culture of Health within the communities that Millhill serves.

Newark Boys Chorus School, in Newark, received a $40,000 grant to support the school’s music and concert touring programs, as well as academic initiatives.

The Newark Museum of Art, in Newark, received a $100,000 grant to support The Horizon Foundation Community Days, which occur once a month and provide free diverse programming for all ages.

Saint Vincent Academy, in Newark, received a $25,000 grant to support the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Leadership Promise Scholarship, which provides one four-year scholarship to a Greater Newark-area student.

St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, in Newark, received a $25,000 grant to support the Steven Grossman Student Counseling Center, which provides students with mental health education, resources and services.

The National Center for Family Philanthropy and Youth Philanthropy Connect, a program of the Frieda C. Fox Foundation, have joined together to bring new resources to the field of philanthropy focused on engaging the next generation of donors and family members. Igniting the Spark: Creating Effective Next Gen Boards is the first publication of its kind, offering a comprehensive overview of the growing practice among family foundations and donor advised fund holders of using next generation boards.

The issue brief outlines creative options for involving children as young as 8 in family philanthropy.  It is supplemented by case studies of seven foundations using next gen boards and other approaches for engaging youth in philanthropy.  Throughout both resources, the voices of next gen donors describe what works — and what doesn’t — providing family members and staff with guidance and insights new to the field.

President Obama's Hurricane Sandy Task Force released this rebuilding strategy to serve as a model for communities across the nation facing greater risks from extreme weather and to continue helping the Sandy-affected region rebuild. The Rebuilding Strategy contains 69 policy recommendations, many of which have already been adopted, that will help homeowners stay in and repair their homes, strengthen small businesses and revitalize local economies and ensure entire communities are better able to withstand and recover from future storms.

Summer always brings to mind those great “summer reads.” This has been an “occasional series” of CNJG eNews during the summer, over the years. In addition to this year’s curated list – I’m thrilled to share recommendations from a few CNJG Board members and the CNJG team!

CNJG Board of Trustees’ Secretary, Maisha Simmons, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recommends Heather McGhee’s The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How we can Prosper Together. There’s also a podcast series, and the book has been adapted for young readers.

The Work: My Search for a Life that Matters by Wes Moore is the top pick from Board member, Jasmyne Beckford, The Prudential Foundation. Jasmyne reflects, this book helped her think about how she can live a life that creates impact for generations both personally and professionally.

CNJG Board member Justin Kiczek, F. M. Kirby Foundation, recently read Getting Beyond Better: How Social Entrepreneurship Works. “As our foundation holds both stewardship and entrepreneurship as core values, it helps me understand how social entrepreneurs start their journey and scale their solutions.” 

In honor of Black Philanthropy Month this August, I’m excited to feature a few great reads created to inspire and inform your philanthropic journey. Thank you to Manager of Communications Shakirat Odunsi for curating this list:

• Madam C. J. Walker's Gospel of Giving: Black Women's Philanthropy during Jim Crow highlights Walker’s visionary approach to philanthropy and community-building, emphasizing the vital role of Black women’s giving in advancing social justice. Freeman’s work sheds light on how Walker’s philanthropy was an extension of her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to racial and gender equality.
   
• Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker reimagines Andrew Carnegie’s vision of philanthropy for the modern era in From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth, urging philanthropists to go beyond charity and address systemic inequalities to foster justice and lasting change.
   
• Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds encourages readers to embrace adaptability and resilience by using emergent strategies – small-scale actions that create large-scale impact. Author adrienne maree brown challenges traditional models of organizing and invites us to envision a more just and equitable world through collaboration, creativity, and deep connections with others. It’s a guidebook for those seeking to shape the future and navigate the complexities of change.
   
• Isabel Wilkerson explores how entrenched hierarchies based on race and class impact every aspect of our lives in Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Through compelling narratives and meticulous research, she reveals how this hidden system continues to perpetuate inequality and injustice, challenging us to confront these deeply rooted structures and work toward true equality.

From the CNJG team, Director of Member Services Craig Weinrich is currently reading How We Give Now: A Philanthropic Guide for the Rest of Us by Lucy Bernholz. This book demonstrates that philanthropy is about much more than money. Bernholz posits that even giving our data willingly to companies is an act of philanthropy. This is a great intersection to the Spring Colloquium conversation around AI, and ongoing discussions about how we can expand our definition of philanthropy as guided by our Strategic Plan.

Chanika Svetvilas, Manager of Programs and Learning recommends Against Technoableism by Ashley Shew and Imagination A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin. Not too long ago I read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, which prompted me to really consider what each of us should focus on in our day-to-day work, and what we need to let go. It’s a practical, insightful guide that led to several “aha” moments. All three books challenge us to think very differently about our world and what’s possible. 

And finally, a recently discovered read I’ve gifted to family and friends, All the Colors of Life by renowned artist Lisa Aisato; this will lift your spirits as you find yourself paging through it and experiencing it over and over again. 

Happy Summer Reading!

On a different note, I hope you will join us at the Summer Joint Policy Forum – Nonprofit and Philanthropic Champions for New Jersey on August 13, at The Heldrich in New Brunswick. I look forward to seeing you there, and hearing what’s on your summer reading list! 
 
Sincerely, 

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

In this arts briefing, Nadia Elokdah, Vice President and Program Director for Grantmakers in the Arts, will discuss the unique opportunity for arts grantmakers to support advocacy and influence policy through their funding decisions and why the arts should be included in decision-making processes. She will also cover the importance of arts funding in building narrative power and driving cultural change. Vanessa Ramalho, Director of External Relations of ArtPride New Jersey, will highlight the challenges faced by arts and cultural organizations in New Jersey and their intersections with community issues relating to the ongoing changes in federal policy. She will also share how ArtPride New Jersey is leveraging its statewide reach to develop collaborative advocacy strategies to influence and help shape policies informed by the needs and voices of the arts sector and the communities they serve. Vanessa will explore ways that funders might shift their focus and priorities to better meet the needs of organizations that are navigating increasing financial uncertainty as a result of federal policy changes.

Nadia Elokdah is an urbanist and design strategist with more than a decade working at the intersection of public systems and cultural practice. She currently serves as Vice President & Director of Programs at GIA. Most recently she served as special projects manager with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs coordinating the City’s monuments commission. Prior, she served as coordinator in the development of the City’s first cultural plan, CreateNYC, in which she coordinated and led hundreds of engagements with a broad cross-section of the public, as well collaborating in the writing and production of the plan. She is devoted to civic engagement through culturally responsible, inclusive, and equitable design practice, exemplified in collaborations with the International Design Clinic, in.site collaborative, and Monuments Lab. Nadia is a trained architect and designer, researcher, professor, and published author, including Identity Crisis, a cultural exploration of urban planning through the hammam. She currently serves as steering committee member of the Women of Color in the Arts (WOCA) Non-Black POC Solidarity! into Action Committee, National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response (NCAPER) Programming Working Group, and an advisory board member for Unsettled.

Vanessa Ramalho, Director of External Relations, supports ArtPride’s advocacy and government affairs work, leading efforts to move forward legislative priorities that support the sustainability of the arts in New Jersey. Vanessa also builds relationships with constituents throughout the state — from community members to arts organizations, and local and state representatives — to support the cultivation of a thriving arts ecosystem. With nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit arts & cultural sector, Vanessa has led community education, fundraising, and grassroots advocacy projects across a range of organizations, including the Sadie Nash Leadership Project, the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS (APICHA), Project KISS of New York Presbyterian Hospital, The Princeton Ballet School, the Asian Arts Initiative, and the Center for Babaylan Studies.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.

Programs in this Series:
March 13: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Immigration
March 20: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Health
March 27: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Environment
April 3: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Education
April 10: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Housing
April 17: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Media & Journalism
April 24: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Arts

Webinar Video

This resource guide includes various virtual volunteer opportunities, additional resources, and best practices for corporate volunteer programs during the coronavirus pandemic. 

This resource will be updated, as CNJG and corporate members collect new information and opportunities to share with colleagues.

How the government can partner with impact investors to unleash new capital, talent and energy for maximum impact.