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Bank of America announced Wednesday that it has made more than $1.5 million in grants to 28 New Jersey nonprofits to help drive economic opportunity for individuals and families.
The grants focus on workforce development and education to help individuals chart a path to employment and better economic futures, as well as basic needs fundamental to building lifelong stability, such as access to food.
While New Jersey’s economy is recovering from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state still trails the nation in terms of employment and job creation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey’s unemployment rate is 4.1%, compared with the national average of 3.6%.
Employment is a key driver of economic mobility in New Jersey.
Bank of America New Jersey President Alberto Garofalo said that is why the bank is focused on building pathways to employment by supporting a range of workforce development and educational opportunities that will help vulnerable individuals and families stabilize and advance.
“We’ve chosen to partner with nonprofits that address the most critical issues facing New Jersey, including workforce development, food insecurity and economic and social progress,” he said. “Our philanthropic investment in these organizations helps us deploy capital locally, where it will have the most impact and build sustainable communities.”
New Jersey Community Capital, the state’s largest community development financial institution, announced Tuesday that it has donated a total of $50,000 to the municipalities of Newark, Paterson, Camden, Trenton and New Brunswick.
Each of the five municipalities will receive $10,000 in funding for specific community organizations or initiatives focused on economic development, youth programs, public health and more. The donation is part of NJCC’s commitment to this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration theme: “It starts with me: cultivating a beloved community mindset to transform unjust systems.” NJCC CEO Bernel Hall said the organization feels the donations will have great impact.
In honor of the life, legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, New Jersey Community Capital invites you to join it in furthering NJCC’s mission of promoting equitable opportunities for all.
“We’re thrilled to be able to build on Dr. King’s mission and integrate it into our work throughout New Jersey and support such well-deserving community organizations and impactful programming,” he said. “These cities are doing crucial work to make New Jersey the best it can be, and partnering with them to do even more will provide better outcomes and opportunities for residents.” Hall said NJCC’s charitable giving corresponds to its work across the state to finance the predevelopment, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and mini-permanent needs of affordable housing units for ownership and rental opportunities. NJCC’s lending takes a holistic and equitable approach by financing projects that use the diverse pillars of a community, including small businesses, commercial office and retail spaces and early childhood education centers.
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
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.
Link up with your fellow Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy! We want to get to know you and form connections in-person for the first time since the pandemic. Over savory refreshments, you will have the opportunity for a casual conversation to connect with colleagues, learn more about what’s happening across New Jersey philanthropy, and discuss possible changes within your own work and the sector. You also can share your ideas for future Emerging Leaders Affinity Group meetups. All emerging leaders who are relatively new to the philanthropic field are welcome to break bread together and catch up. Ficus Cafe is BYOB, so feel free to bring your preferred beverage (wine will be available too). Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Space limited.
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.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members, $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
Open to Emerging Leaders Funders/Grantmakers
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. This meeting will focus on current trends in Philanthropy from the perspective of Brandon McKoy, President of the Fund for New Jersey, who brings a wealth of knowledge as someone who first served as a Program Associate at the Fund.
Brandon McKoy is President of the Fund for New Jersey and is an established leader in public policy analysis and advocacy statewide and nationally. Returning to The Fund for New Jersey in 2024 served as a homecoming given that Brandon worked as a Program Associate at the organization and served as its first philanthropy fellow from 2012 to 2014.
Brandon is well known for his accomplishments from his time at New Jersey Policy Perspective, where he held several roles over the course of seven years, first as a State Policy Fellow through the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ program, next as a Policy Analyst, and then as Director of Government and Public Affairs, before assuming leadership of the organization as NJPP’s President from 2019 through late 2021.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Join funder colleagues to learn about two newly created funds to help address the challenging environment many nonprofits are experiencing today. United Way organizations in New Jersey have a long history of strengthening local communities by providing direct support and fostering collaboration across sectors. In response to the evolving needs of nonprofits and the communities they serve, six United Ways have partnered to establish the New Jersey Sustainability and Resiliency Fund. Learn about how the this newly created fund can help nonprofits recover, adapt, and thrive in the face of ongoing challenges. Equip NJ is also working to establish a fund to assist nonprofits focused on policy and systems change. To set the stage for this introduction, we’ll hear from our colleagues at the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits about how the upheaval of critical supports and systems nationally are posing grave threats to New Jersey’s nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
A Virtual Discussion Series to Activate Collective Action
This is a three part series being held March 26, April 30, & May 29 from 2-3:30pm.
In this moment of rapid change and uncertainty, many in philanthropy are scrambling to figure out what to do next. While a handful of foundations have taken swift action to support grantees – including significant moves to increase payouts – there isn’t yet a groundswell of coordinated action. Meanwhile, nonprofits are going into strategy-and-survival mode to keep their work afloat as our communities face unprecedented challenges.
Amid all this confusion, one thing is clear: philanthropy has a critically important role to play in this moment. As many leaders are pointing out, now is the time for philanthropy to lean into trust-based principles and rise up in solidarity with nonprofits that are working on the front lines of every issue facing our communities. While trust-based philanthropy was not designed as a crisis response strategy, it is exactly in these moments when this approach can be leveraged for impact.
Join the trust-based philanthropy community for a virtual discussion series as we break down insights and recommendations for how funders can meet this moment to support the strength and resilience of our communities. Over time, we have built a collective movement of funders who see the inherent value of partnering alongside nonprofits to meet the needs and dreams of our communities. Now is the time for us to tap into our collective power to ensure that we can weather this storm together.
Register using the above link. Once your registration has been reviewed you will receive a calendar invite to save the dates. A Zoom link will be provided closer to the session's date.
The Montclair Foundation is proud to announce the awarding of $90,000 in grants to 17 local nonprofit organizations through its Spring 2025 grant cycle. These grants will support critical initiatives in the areas of Education, Community Service and Cultural Arts — continuing the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to nurturing and strengthening the greater Montclair community.
Thanks to the success of the Foundation’s recent capital campaign, this grant cycle includes several larger awards and a multi-year grant, reflecting an exciting new chapter of expanded community investment.
“We are incredibly grateful to our donors and supporters whose generosity through our capital campaign has allowed us to increase both the scope and impact of our grantmaking,” said Peggy Deehan, Chair of the Grants Committee. “Montclair is home to so many extraordinary organizations making a meaningful difference every day. It’s a privilege to partner with them in creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and compassionate community.”
This season’s recipients include organizations providing emergency medical services, youth tutoring and mentoring, early childhood care, community wellness, arts education, and cultural programming. Among the highlights is a multi-year grant to Imani — the inaugural recipient of the newly established Emer Featherstone Education Grant, named in honor of our esteemed past Board Chair - and a $15,000 grant to the Montclair Ambulance Unit to support a critical outreach campaign. The Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to all applicants for their dedication and invaluable work in the community.