Site Search
- resource provided by the Forum Network Knowledgebase.
Search Tip: Search with " " to find exact matches.
In this funder briefing, Christopher Miller, Environmental Law Center, will cover recent and anticipated changes impacting water and air quality, and environmental justice, and the need for legal advocacy at the state and local level. Additionally, Alison Mitchel and Barbara Blumenthal, New Jersey Conservation Foundation will discuss the impact of federal policy on land conservation, clean energy, and climate change issues.
Dr. Barbara Blumenthal is research director with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, which advocates for cost-effective clean-energy policies to achieve deep decarbonization. Dr. Blumenthal collaborates with national experts to develop foundational policy strategies and regulatory approaches for New Jersey. Dr. Blumenthal also collaborates with a wide range of environmental, environmental justice and consumer advocates to analyze costs that inform the implementation of affordable and effective clean energy policies.
Chris Miller is an environmental lawyer and the executive director of Eastern Environmental Law Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit law organization based in Newark, New Jersey. EELC partners with community groups and nonprofit organizations to advance equitable clean energy solutions, achieve environmental justice and defend our region's open space and natural resources from unsustainable development.
Alison Mitchell serves as the Executive Director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and has worked for New Jersey Conservation Foundation for over 30 years. Previously Assistant Director and Acting Development Director, Alison served as the Conservation Foundation’s Public Policy Director for over a decade. In earlier years, Alison also worked on land acquisition initiatives and led NJ Conservation’s Conservation Assistance Program, and played a leadership role in the organization’s farmland preservation efforts. In addition to her work at the Conservation Foundation, Alison was a founding trustee and former president of the Hunterdon Land Trust, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Isles. She also served as a public member appointed by Governor McGreevey on the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission.
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
Links
Report: Nature For All: A 2050 Vision for New Jersey
NJ Conservation Blueprint - data-driven, interactive mapping tool
Foundations Facilitate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Partnering with Community and Nonprofits, a new report by the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning, confirms that foundations can, in fact, facilitate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through their grantmaking processes and their partnerships with nonprofits—and identifies eight specific practices for foundations to emulate.
The report takes a deep dive into the work of nine foundations that represent a diverse cross-section of types and sizes, and offers useful lessons about how foundations can better partner with nonprofits to be more effective in their work.
Since 1998, Alliance Magazine has been the leading magazine for philanthropy and social investment worldwide providing news and analysis of what’s happening in the sector.
The latest 12 issues of Alliance are behind a paywall and are available only for subscribers, although selected articles are made freely available. The remainder of the archive is free to all.
We are pleased to partner with Alliance magazine to offer our members and your members a 20% discount on new print and digital subscriptions. Simply enter 'Forum20' at checkout to claim your discount.
CNJG members are eligible for a 20% discount off the only peer-reviewed journal of philanthropy - The Foundation Review - a product of The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Grand Valley State University. The journal, written by and for foundation staff and boards, provides rigorous research and writing, presented in an accessible style. It will share evaluation results, tools and knowledge about the philanthropic sector in order to improve the practice of grantmaking, yielding greater impact and innovation.
To receive the discount, use FORUM18 as your discount code.
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is pleased to release our annual look back at the Council’s robust programming, leadership initiatives and advocacy efforts. From funder briefings to our Signature events to providing New Jersey’s philanthropic sector with integral connections and services – CNJG is an engaged and cohesive network of grantmakers dedicated to our state’s communities and people.
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is pleased to release our annual look back at the Council’s robust programming, leadership initiatives and advocacy efforts. From funder briefings to our Signature events to providing New Jersey’s philanthropic sector with integral connections and services – CNJG is an engaged and cohesive network of grantmakers dedicated to our state’s communities and people.
2016 marked a new high mark for the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and for our members. The 2016 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services in benefit to our members and by extension, the communities that our members serve. These programs, services and leadership initiatives elevate not only our members’ work and practice, but also grantmakers throughout New Jersey, and often even beyond. CNJG remains at the ready to assist New Jersey grantmakers in meeting the ongoing challenges of yesterday and today.
The 2017 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services in benefit to our members and by extension, the communities that our members serve. These programs, services and leadership initiatives elevate not only our members’ work and practice, but also grantmakers throughout New Jersey, and often even beyond. CNJG remains at the ready to assist New Jersey grantmakers in meeting the ongoing challenges of yesterday and today.
CNJG’s Newark Philanthropic Liaison, Kevin Callaghan, organized a series of webinars for our Newark Funders Affinity Group and other funders to know the specific challenges of New Jersey’s largest city responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest speakers included, Mayor Ras Baraka, Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger Leon, consulting firm McKinsey & Co., and Catherine Wilson, CEO of United Way of Greater Newark.
Learn how to meet ongoing critical needs, support resiliency, and prepare for COVID-19 recovery.
COVID-19 is not your “typical” disaster. There are still many unknowns about the pandemic’s full impact and how long restrictions on business and nonprofit services will last. Unlike with storms and other weather events, response and recovery phases overlapping, and New Jersey could even face concurrent disasters during hurricane season.
In a departure from weather events and other natural disasters, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy now recommends “frontloading” funding for COVID-19 – putting all possible resources into immediate relief, rather than holding back -- and planning for one or more upticks in virus cases, and even a second wave. Additionally, CDP says, partnering with government will be more important than ever to fill gaps in need and reach the hardest hit communities. So far, philanthropy has been adaptive during the COVID-19 pandemic, responding rapidly to the urgent needs of new and existing grantee partners. But, where do we go from here?
Hear from Sally Ray, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Keith Adams, Executive Director of New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).
Topics will include:
• Responding to pressing needs of food insecurity, housing, and job loss.
• Funding strategies to plan for additional upticks and support an equitable recovery.
• How the sector can build local organizations’ capacity to persevere through uncertainty and tackle the ever-growing demand for services.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
In April, we celebrate Global Volunteer Month, and for corporate volunteer programs this represents a wonderful opportunity to engage your employees through volunteerism. Over the past three years, there has been a whirlwind of change around these volunteer programs, moving away from in-person to virtual volunteer events, and a rethinking by many companies about how these programs now work with remote employees.
Join your fellow corporate CNJG members for an online discussion (via Zoom) about your volunteer programs; how they’ve changed, and how they continue to evolve as we emerge from the pandemic. We will hear from Rowena Madden from the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism on a state-level view of volunteerism, and then we will have a dedicated time to hear from your corporate peers from across the state on their programs, and a time for you to share what your company is doing. We encourage every attendee to participate in this discussion. You may wish to share your answers to these questions or others that come up in the conversation:
- Does your corporate giving align with volunteerism efforts?
- How are volunteers/volunteer programs part of your grantmaking?
- Does your company observe “Global Volunteer Month”?
- How are you leveraging skills-based volunteerism?
- How do you recognize your volunteers?
- Do you measure and track volunteerism? If so, what program do you use? For what purposes?
- Does your company support ways for employees to serve on nonprofit boards?
- Are your volunteer programs expanding this year?
- What system(s) do you use to track volunteers?
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Helpful Websites for Corporate Volunteer Programs
BoardSource
Points of Light Foundation
Taproot Foundation
YouGIveGoods
and also “Amazon.com drives”
This one-hour webinar will offer a high-level overview of employment law trends and best practices for foundations. Attorneys from the Labor & Employment and Nonprofit & Tax-Exempt Organizations groups of Dentons, the world’s largest global law firm, will present practical tips for small and mid-size foundations with regard to employment and workplace issues. Drawing from both national trends in the industry and the impact of the pandemic and social change, topics will include:
- social media policies;
- remote and hybrid work considerations;
- job descriptions and changes with hiring practices; and
- independent contractor agreements.
Our speakers will hold time for Q&A at the end of the presentation. As part of the registration process, attendees may also submit questions or topic area suggestions for our speakers to address if time allows.
Speakers
Carsen Ruperto, Counsel, Dentons Cohen & Grigsby
Hayley Haldeman, Counsel, Dentons, Cohen & Grigsby
This program is for members of the following philanthropy-serving organizations: Maryland Philanthropy Network, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, Florida Philanthropic Network, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, Philanthropy Wisconsin, NY Funders Alliance, and North Carolina Grantmakers.
CNJG’s partner, the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits annual conference.
Don’t miss the premier conference for New Jersey nonprofits and allies, packed with the great insights, tools, and the super-charged networking you’ve come to expect. This full day event will also include plenary speakers, and morning and afternoon breakout sessions.
Full conference information is available on the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits website.
Native Voices Rising is a joint research and re-granting project of Native Americans in Philanthropy and Common Counsel Foundation. This report focuses on the practices and challenges of community organizing and advocacy, focusing on the need for increased investment in and sustained support for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities.
Impact Investing Bootcamp: Fundamentals for Driving Sustainable Philanthropy in New Jersey is a 3-part series introducing CNJG members to impact investing. The series will take place from March to May 2024.
The Council on Foundation defines impact investing as “any investment activity that intends to generate positive social and financial returns. Whether called impact investing, mission investing, social investing, social-impact investing, mission-related investing, program-related investing, or sustainable and responsible investing, the practice focuses on activating new financial resources to solve social and environmental problems.”
Impact investing as a tool can generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. By attending this series you will:
- Learn the fundamentals of how to create a more sustainable model of philanthropy through impact investing tools.
- Hear from experienced practitioners.
- Learn how to successfully integrate grantmaking and investment resources.
- Participate in interactive discussions with local peers.
- Hear examples of investments made in New Jersey and nationally.
- Attend a site visit to see impact investing in action.
- Receive a copy of the book “Impact Investing: The Practical Guide” by John Duong.
Session 2: This session will feature a site visit to Hinchliffe Stadium to highlight the project and explore local case studies of NJ foundations implementing impact investment strategies. Grantmakers will have the opportunity to tour the project site, hear from nonprofit partners and participants, ask questions, and learn directly from those involved.
COST: Free for CNJG Members
Registrants must attend all three sessions of the series.
Space Limited. No more than two people per organization can register.
Additional Session Information:
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm - Session 1: In this full day workshop John Duong, founder and CEO of Kind Capital, will lead a dynamic and intensely focused full day of learning, knowledge-building, and exchange. The curriculum will include baseline information, the fundamentals of impact investment, methods and models, and opportunities for peer to peer and small group discussion and dialogue. A light breakfast and lunch is included.
Thursday, May 16, Time TBD - Session 3: This virtual session will focus on setting the groundwork for New Jersey philanthropy to explore additional shared learning and co-investment opportunities. The discussion will be led by John Duong, Kind Capital.
Speaker:
Mr. Duong has been an investment banker at JP Morgan Chase, was founding Managing Director of Lumina Impact Ventures with Luminia, and was Program and Portfolio Officer with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. John holds an executive MBA with a concentration in management and entrepreneurship from the Kellogg School of Management.
This CNJG program is sponsored by: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Victoria Foundation and presented by Kind Capital.
Resources
The Impact Principles website
Planet Tracker website - Reports for climate focused investors
Catalyzing Finance for Racial Equity
RPA Impact Investing Handbook
Impact Investing: A Primer for Family Foundaitons
What Can Foundations Do to Foster Community Investment?
The Role of Impact Capital in Advancing Racial Equity
Impact Capital for Racial Equity: Investing with Intention and Measuring Impact
Emerging Sources of Community Investment Capital and Strategies to Direct it at Scale
Mapping the Journey to Impact Investing
Roadmap for the Future of Impact Investing: Reshaping Financial Markets
Community Foundation Field Guide to Impact Investing
Essentials of Impact Investing
Endowments & Investing
Place-Based Impact Investing: Three Briefs for Practitioners
CNJG is pleased to offer a new member benefit: ValuesAdvisor. Many foundations now recognize that the investments made from their corpus have the power to support their mission, but don’t know how to take the first step: finding a trusted financial advisor with the right expertise. We now offer you free access to ValuesAdvisor, a nonprofit, online, searchable database of peer-recommended financial advisors who have the expertise you need. You can learn more about the platform by watching this short, 3 minute video. In this webinar with ValuesAdvisor Co-Founder Kate Simpson, you will learn about how the platform can be used to further your mission (climate, DEI, place based, etc.).
This webinar pairs nicely with CNJG’s Impact Investing Bootcamp series.
COST: Free for CNJG Members
Webinar Video
Join us for an insightful funder briefing on the United for ALICE initiative, a vital program addressing the needs of ALICE families—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This briefing will explore the challenges faced by ALICE households, who work hard but struggle to make ends meet due to financial constraints. We will provide a comprehensive overview of ALICE's impact, share success stories, and discuss strategies for enhancing support and expanding opportunities. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the economic pressures on ALICE families and learn how targeted funding and collaborative efforts can drive meaningful change. This is an opportunity to engage with key stakeholders, explore innovative solutions, and contribute to a more equitable future for all.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Lunch will be served.
RESOURCES
ALICE Video: A Day in the Life: Family Child Care
For more ALICE data:
New Jersey ALICE Dashboard
ALICE Economic Viability Dashboard
ALICE Legislative Tool
Join us for an engaging and informative in-person program that explores innovative strategies and real-world solutions for affordable housing. You will have the opportunity to hear from a robust panel including Taiisa Kelly, CEO, Monarch Housing; Julio Coto, Executive Director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen; Michael Callahan, Director, Office of Homelessness Prevention, Department of Community Affairs; Alicia Alvarez, Landlord Liaison, NourishNJ; and Lucy Vandenberg, The Schumann Fund for New Jersey. Q & A follows. Gain valuable insights from a dedicated Advisory Committee member who brings lived experience to the discussion, offering a unique and heartfelt perspective on the challenges and successes in affordable housing. Experience firsthand the impact of Monarch Housing’s initiatives of Kilmer Homes, showcasing the design, functionality, and community benefits of this affordable housing project. Enjoy lunch and a networking opportunity with fellow attendees. This event promises to be a thought-provoking and inspiring experience, highlighting how we can collectively work towards more inclusive and sustainable housing solutions. Register now to be a part of the conversation that shapes the future of affordable housing!
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Continental breakfast and lunch provided.
National Low Income Housing Coalition: The Gap - A Shortage of Affordable Homes
National Low Income Housing Coalition: Out of Reach - The High Cost of Housing
Department of Community Affairs: Fourth Round Page
Monarch Housing Associates: NJCounts - Point-in-Time
The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is pleased to announce a six-part webinar series addressing common questions, clarifying misconceptions, and exploring ways to overcome obstacles in implementing trust-based philanthropy. CNJG is pleased to share this opportunity with our members.
Series Description: Trust-based philanthropy is a philosophy and approach rooted in values of relationship-building, mutual learning, and systemic equity – with a vision of advancing a healthier and more impactful nonprofit sector. While this approach is generally associated with six core grantmaking practices such as multi-year unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, the day-to-day work of trust-based philanthropy is very nuanced and dynamic. In fact, funders who have embraced this approach are finding that it requires ongoing self-reflection and rigor with regards to how they think about – and evolve – many of the deeply embedded practices and assumptions of traditional philanthropy.
Given these nuances, it is not surprising that there are many questions and occasional misperceptions about what it actually means to embody trust-based philanthropy in practice. In this 6-part webinar series, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will explore some of the most commonly asked questions and the underlying misperceptions that may be roadblocks to understanding and operationalizing trust-based philanthropy.
Each session in the series will focus on a frequently asked question from the field, and will feature perspectives from foundation leaders and others who have grappled with similar or related questions. At the end of each session, participants will walk away with: 1) a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the underlying cultural philosophy of trust-based philanthropy; 2) tips for how to think about and approach these nuances in their own work; and 3) talking points for how to answer these FAQs when they come up from colleagues or peers.
Each session will also provide dedicated space for small-group peer dialogue (among CNJG members) about ways to implement these practices into your grantmaking.
Cost: Free
Who should attend: Anyone in a grantmaking role that is curious about understanding the nuances of trust-based philanthropy and how it applies to your work. This series will be ideal for those who have some baseline familiarity with trust-based philanthropy and have questions about how it manifests in practice.
Please note: this webinar series is separate from CNJG’s 2023 Conference for the Social Sector, which features an in-person luncheon keynote by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. CNJG’s conference is open to both funders and nonprofits, so the keynote will differ from this series. Because CNJG’s Doing Good Better initiative leans on the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy, we encourage our members to register for these sessions - as time allows - for funders to learn about different approaches to changing systems in New Jersey.
Demystifying Trust-Based Philanthropy Series Sessions
Session #1: Does Trust-Based Mean Unconditional Trust?
Session #2: Does Unrestricted Funding Automatically Make a Funder Trust-Based?
Session #3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-Based Funding?
Session #5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #6: What Does Racial Equity Have To Do With Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Resources
Recording: Session 4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-based Philanthropy?
Transcript: Session 4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-based Philanthropy?
Presentation: Session 4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-based Philanthropy?
Trust-Based Philanthropy Peer Exchange for Grantmakers
The 6 Practices of Trust-Based Philanthropy
Trust-Based Philanthropy in 4D Overview
Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project Welcome Packet
Center for Effective Philanthropy’s Grantee and Applicant Perception Report
The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is pleased to announce a six-part webinar series addressing common questions, clarifying misconceptions, and exploring ways to overcome obstacles in implementing trust-based philanthropy. CNJG is pleased to share this opportunity with our members.
Series Description: Trust-based philanthropy is a philosophy and approach rooted in values of relationship-building, mutual learning, and systemic equity – with a vision of advancing a healthier and more impactful nonprofit sector. While this approach is generally associated with six core grantmaking practices such as multi-year unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, the day-to-day work of trust-based philanthropy is very nuanced and dynamic. In fact, funders who have embraced this approach are finding that it requires ongoing self-reflection and rigor with regards to how they think about – and evolve – many of the deeply embedded practices and assumptions of traditional philanthropy.
Given these nuances, it is not surprising that there are many questions and occasional misperceptions about what it actually means to embody trust-based philanthropy in practice. In this 6-part webinar series, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will explore some of the most commonly asked questions and the underlying misperceptions that may be roadblocks to understanding and operationalizing trust-based philanthropy.
Each session in the series will focus on a frequently asked question from the field, and will feature perspectives from foundation leaders and others who have grappled with similar or related questions. At the end of each session, participants will walk away with: 1) a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the underlying cultural philosophy of trust-based philanthropy; 2) tips for how to think about and approach these nuances in their own work; and 3) talking points for how to answer these FAQs when they come up from colleagues or peers.
Each session will also provide dedicated space for small-group peer dialogue (among CNJG members) about ways to implement these practices into your grantmaking.
Who should attend: Anyone in a grantmaking role that is curious about understanding the nuances of trust-based philanthropy and how it applies to your work. This series will be ideal for those who have some baseline familiarity with trust-based philanthropy and have questions about how it manifests in practice.
Please note: this webinar series is separate from CNJG’s 2023 Conference for the Social Sector, which features an in-person luncheon keynote by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. CNJG’s conference is open to both funders and nonprofits, so the keynote will differ from this series. Because CNJG’s Doing Good Better initiative leans on the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy, we encourage our members to register for these sessions - as time allows - for funders to learn about different approaches to changing systems in New Jersey.
Demystifying Trust-Based Philanthropy Series Sessions
Session #1: Does Trust-Based Mean Unconditional Trust?
Session #2: Does Unrestricted Funding Automatically Make a Funder Trust-Based?
Session #3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-Based Funding?
Session #5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #6: What Does Racial Equity Have To Do With Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Resources
Recording: Session 3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Transcript: Session 3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Presentation: Session 3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Trust-Based Philanthropy Peer Exchange for Grantmakers
The 6 Practices of Trust-Based Philanthropy
Trust-Based Philanthropy in 4D Overview
Legal Considerations for Trust-Based Philanthropy
How to Show Up in a Trust-Based Way