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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
Community colleges offer greater affordability than private or state colleges, are adept at providing flexible education schedules and delivery, and are often deeply tied to the local areas in which they reside. This type of accessibility and inclusivity provides enormous opportunities for students left out of traditional higher education models. And while there is a road to recovery for community colleges post-COVID, they can play a critical role in building a future workforce in local communities and creating a more equitable higher education system for New Jersey students.
During this program, we’ll hear from several community college leaders on the impact of the pandemic on enrollment and learning, the biggest challenges facing higher education right now, and the opportunities they see to close education gaps and improve student outcomes. Join us to learn more about community colleges as a pathway to success for students in New Jersey, and philanthropy’s role in supporting more accessible, affordable, and flexible higher education models.
Speakers include:
Brian Bridges, Ph.D., Secretary of Higher Education, State of New Jersey
Dr. Michael Gorman, President, Salem Community College
Steven M. Rose, President, Passaic Community College
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
In this briefing, Bob Kim, Executive Director, Education Law Center, will address need for systemic litigation and legal services, research, and data collection. He will also contextualize the current environment by discussing broader trends affecting education, such as privatization, lack of trust in government, and culture wars. Robert Morrison, CEO, Quadrant Research, will address the federal government's limited role in public education, with ultimate authority residing at the local district level and the need for funders to understand these trends and their implications for New Jersey's education system. Moderated by Brandon McCoy, President and CEO, Fund for New Jersey, this discussion will address the biggest challenges faced, lessons from historical efforts, and gaps in education policy and advocacy.
Robert Kim, Esq. is the Executive Director of Education Law Center, a legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing and protecting public education and the rights of public school students nationwide. In 2020, he served as a member of the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team. From 2011 through 2016, he served in the Obama Administration as deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which enforces federal civil rights laws in K-12 and postsecondary institutions nationwide. Earlier in his career, Kim served as a senior policy analyst at the National Education Association and as a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. His most recent publications include Education and the Law, 6th ed. (West Academic Publishing, 2024) and Elevating Equity and Justice: Ten U.S. Supreme Court Cases Every Teacher Should Know (Heinemann, 2020).
Robert B. Morrison, CEO of Quadrant Researc, is a nationally renowned leader in arts and music education, recognized for his pioneering research, influential advocacy, and transformative policy initiatives. As founder and CEO of Quadrant Research—the nation’s leading arts education data analytics and market research firm—Morrison has driven groundbreaking advancements in expanding access to music and arts programs across the United States. Morrison played a pivotal role in establishing New Jersey as a national model. He founded and directed Arts Ed NJ, New Jersey’s statewide arts education policy group, and spearheaded initiatives that led to the state being the first in the country to include arts education in annual school reporting. In Arkansas, his collaboration with the governor helped mandate music and arts programs for all public school students, a policy later adopted by Louisiana.
Brandon McKoy, President and CEO of Fund for New Jersey, is an established leader in public policy analysis and advocacy statewide and nationally. Prior to his current position, he worked as the Vice President for State Partnerships and Co-Leader of the State Fiscal Policy Division at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C. At New Jersey Policy Perspective, McCoy 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. Throughout those years, he researched and promoted a variety of issues including the minimum wage, paid sick leave, equitable taxation, public budget processes, the legalization and regulation of cannabis, and much more.
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
Education Law Center: Trump 2.0 Federal Revenue Tool - Track how federal funding (Title I, IDEA, etc.) cuts would affect NJ
United States Department of Education Letter: Consider how the current federal guidance against DEI may represent an incursion into state responsibility and autonomy over school operations and curriculum
How the government can partner with impact investors to unleash new capital, talent and energy for maximum impact.
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 briefing on housing and homeless, you will hear about the changes of federal policy on housing and their impact in New Jersey, you will hear from a panel who will discuss the potential effects of state policy changes on homelessness and housing, including the administration of housing choice vouchers. Potential funding cuts can lead to staffing reductions on housing and homeless services. The uncertainty faced by agencies regarding their funding and the need for legal support can create fear and confusion among agencies in New Jersey. Panelists will discuss what funding strategies and ways to support grantees. At the state and local levels, there is also a need for funders to support policy advocacy and legal assistance.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Adam Gordon, Executive Director, Fair Share Housing Center, coordinated strategy of organizing, litigation, and policy development to advance racial, economic, and social integration throughout New Jersey and the United States. Since joining the organization in 2006, he has worked to implement New Jersey’s Mount Laurel Doctrine, which has created over 70,000 affordable homes in historically exclusionary communities. He also litigated the largest federal fair housing case in U.S. history and has worked to make federal disaster recovery policy more equitable. Under Gordon’s leadership, FSHC secured passage of the first statewide Fair Chance in Housing Act to limit discriminatory tenant screening policies, a landmark $305 million fund to accelerate affordable housing development, and major legislation to strengthen enforcement of the Mount Laurel Doctrine. Gordon is a co-founder and former Board Chair of Next City.
Elisa Harrigan is the Policy Strategist for the Fund for Housing and Opportunity. She is a disrupter, change agent, and bridge-builder in the philanthropic space. She has an extensive track record centering impacted communities and applying an intersectional equity lens to her work. Elisa brings almost 20 years of experience and expertise to FHO as an influential voice for housing justice in governmental, philanthropic, and nonprofit arenas. The Fund for Housing and Opportunity is a nationwide collaborative working to protect renters and prevent homelessness. FHO brings funders together from across sectors and perspectives to support organizations on the frontlines of housing justice.
Taiisa Kelly, CEO, Monarch Housing Associates, has experience in housing development working with federal, state and local funding sources to secure financing for special needs housing projects. Mrs. Kelly is a dedicated advocate for social justice who has assisted Monarch in expanding services to include strategic planning, grant writing, system oversight, project monitoring, grant administration, innovative program development, and data analysis. Since becoming CEO in 2019, Ms. Kelly has worked to expand and innovate the housing development focus of the agency. Monarch is developing new partnerships to support the creation of housing for marginalized communities with an eye towards innovations in development. Under Ms. Kelly’s leadership Monarch is focused on integrating racial equity into all aspects of homeless planning and housing development with the intent of ending homelessness in New Jersey. Ms. Kelly was inducted into the NJ Housing and Economic Development Hall of Fame in 2023, and was named as one of the 2021 Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ Magazine. Mrs. Kelly serves on the Boards of Directors for Nourish.NJ and for the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (HCDNNJ). She is a Member of United Black Agenda Committee and of the Enterprise Community Leadership Council and Enterprise Community Loan Fund Board, as well as a Commissioner on the Newark Commission on Homelessness. She additionally serves on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation JEGNA Council, the New Jersey State of Affordable Housing (NJSOARH) Advisory Committee.
Lucy Vandenberg is the Executive Director of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey. She leads the Fund’s mission to empower low-income children and families of color to thrive. Lucy ensures that Schumann Fund’s investments positively impact opportunities for affordable homes and healthy communities, early childhood and education, and child welfare and youth justice in Essex County and statewide. From 2013 through 2021, Lucy served as Senior Program Officer for The Fund for New Jersey and managed a $3 million grant portfolio that included lead poisoning prevention, public education, public media, racial justice, immigration, and the environment. Previously, Lucy served as Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on Affordable Housing. She worked with municipalities to provide their fair share of affordable housing resulting from New Jersey’s landmark Mt. Laurel Supreme Court decisions. Earlier in her career, Lucy served as Senior Policy Advisor for Housing and Urban Revitalization in Governor James E. McGreevey’s administration, and as the Associate Director of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey.
Janel Winter, Assistant Commissioner leads the Division of Housing and Community Affairs, which includes the State’s public housing authority serving more than 40,000 households annually; home energy assistance programs serving more than 200,000 families annually; affordable housing production programs; the Office of Homelessness Prevention; the Office of Eviction Prevention; weatherization and lead remediation and abatement programs; neighborhood revitalization programs; and a variety of other community of other community development initiatives. She has managed the distribution of $2 Billion in federal Covid-related funds to address rental and utility arrears and community revitalization and development throughout the State. Prior to joining DCA, Janel led the Office of Housing at the NJ Department of Human Services and served as Associate Director at the Corporation for Supportive Housing/CSH. Before returning to her home state of NJ, Janel worked at various direct service homelessness and housing agencies in Chicago.
Webinar Video
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
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
Retributing Power by Simplifying and Streamlining Processes
Sisters of St. Joseph Health & Wellness Foundation
When Beth Collins joined the Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation as the new Executive Director, she knew that the foundation could be doing more to support its nonprofit ecosystem. With a background in direct service, Beth remembered when she was on the other side of the funding relationship – sometimes spending hours writing lengthy application materials or digging up data to meet reporting requirements, all while juggling her never-ending to-do list. By aligning the values of Trust-Based Philanthropy to the virtues and mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, she has catalyzed a shift toward redistributing power in its community partnerships.
This power shift began when Beth started a conversation about values with the foundation board. By approaching the board with curiosity and bringing the voice of the community into the conversation, she set the tone for trust, openness, and an ongoing dialogue. The Foundation is now working toward fully embodying its values in its practices. The Sisters of St. Joseph have expanded their general operating support portfolio, shifted the bulk of the application process from applicants to the Foundation, replaced written reports with honest conversations, and created more opportunities for the public to provide feedback and engage in candid dialogue with the board. Focusing on only the essential information for applications and reporting has enabled staff to redirect their time and energy to develop wholehearted relationships with community partners. By starting with the why, Beth is leading the Foundation toward a clear vision for the how: “Trust Based Philanthropy is about humility – at Sisters of St. Joseph, we recognize that we are just one piece of the puzzle – and we are encouraging others to think outside of themselves.”
Offering Support Beyond the Check
Liberty Hill Foundation
A community-funded foundation since day 1, Trust Based Philanthropy is at the core of the Liberty Hill Foundation. Centered on social justice campaigns, research, and policy initiatives designed to drive systemic change, Liberty Hill Foundation refers to itself as a "Laboratory for Social Change Philanthropy”. When Julio Marcial stepped into the role of Senior Vice President of Programs, he looked beyond the funding and considered the myriad of ways the foundation can support community partners beyond the check by connecting them to other funders and donors. As a member of several pooled funds in Los Angeles, Liberty Hill Foundation proactively seeks opportunities that will benefit their community partners. The Foundation has introduced many funders in their circle to Trust Based Philanthropy principles – this has sparked several conversations at other foundations serving Los Angeles county, several of which have since shifted their practices. Beyond private and public foundations, Marcial advocates for a push to Trust Based Philanthropy in California state funding agencies.
The Liberty Hill Foundation embraces itself as a fundraiser for its nonprofit partners and its responsibility for the Los Angeles community. The Foundation raises the funds and opens doors for nonprofits and then “steps out of the way,” says Julio. According to Julio, partnerships are the key to maximizing trust and impact in the community: “We can't do this without our partners, peers, and donors. We need to call each other out – and to call each other in.”
Leading with Trust, Transparency, and Responsiveness
Headwaters Foundation
Headwaters Foundation is a health-conversion foundation working side by side with the community to achieve better outcomes towards a healthy and thriving Western Montana. Brenda Solorzano, CEO of Headwaters, has been at the helm of the foundation since its inception in 2017. With over 20 years of experience in traditional philanthropy, Brenda began asking big questions about standard philanthropic practices. Brenda is especially focused on tapping into the collective knowledge and experience of the community to create impactful systems. Early on in her tenure as CEO, Brenda shared her vision for Trust Based Philanthropy with the foundation’s board and they have supported her as she’s stewarded the foundation through its strategic planning process.
Community input and feedback was important to Brenda. With the board’s support, she took this a step further by engaging the community as co-creators and decision-makers. To accomplish this, Brenda invited 600 nonprofit representatives across the state to the table to share their thoughts. Brenda asked each person 2 questions: “If you were in my seat, what do you think the foundation should prioritize?” and “What’s the biggest challenge in your work?” By creating a space for open dialogue, Brenda took the pulse of the real challenges in Western Montana communities.
Soon after her introduction to Western Montana’s nonprofit sector, Brenda called on the community again to help design the foundation’s strategic focus. She hosted a series of public community meetings in each of Montana’s 15 counties. Headwaters facilitated a design-thinking process for members to discuss their challenges and co-create solutions. Two key strategies emerged: upstream systems and social change determinants prioritizing children and Indigenous populations.
Brenda engaged the community as decision-makers as Headwaters explored partner organizations for the foundation’s child thriving portfolio. The community nominated and voted on non-profit partners in a live meeting. This was a new approach and even some staff were nervous about the outcome. Headwaters proudly reports that a few years later, many of the organizations selected have grown to become blossoming collaborations. Grounded in Trust-Based principles since its inception, Headwaters is an exemplar of what it means to Do Good Better. Brenda says, “Trust Based Philanthropy is about starting from a place of trust.”
Co-Creating Goals by Soliciting and Acting on Feedback
T. Rowe Price Foundation
When John Brothers joined T. Rowe Price Foundation as President in 2015, the Foundation’s home in Baltimore was in the midst of social unrest following the tragic murder of Freddie Gray, a 25-year old Black man arrested over his legal possession of a knife and sustained injuries while being transported by the Baltimore Police. The T. Rowe Price Foundation recognized that it was a critical time to pause and listen to the Baltimore community. Within months of joining the Foundation, John Brothers and the Foundation team began an ongoing dialogue within Baltimore – in homes, places of worship, and community spaces. By leaning into the expertise and experience of community partners, John developed the T. Rowe Price’s Theory of Philanthropy, which mirrors principles to those similar to Trust-Based Philanthropy.
T. Rowe Price’s Theory of Philanthropy centers long-term impact by strategic investments in areas identified in partnership by those who live and work within the Baltimore community. The Foundation and community partners co-define a vision for success and community partners are trusted with the agency to make decisions in pursuit of shared goals. T. Rowe Price’s Theory of Philanthropy is considered a distinct model among other large corporate foundations. When asked how John managed to gain board consensus on this novel approach, he characterized the Theory of Philanthropy with a business metaphor: “People don’t buy stocks for an iPhone – they invest in Apple.” The Foundation focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations in a holistic way. By listening to the community early on, John shifted the Foundation’s approach from funding a variety of important, yet disconnected, programs to a co-creating strategic investment of capital and other support on more focused efforts that will have a lasting impact. To learn more please visit troweprice.com/foundation.
Doing Good Better, a partnership of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, is a community of funders and nonprofits taking action against the power imbalances and racial inequities in philanthropy, nonprofits, and government.
CNJG’s community foundation services (through the United Philanthropy Forum) breakdown into three categories:
1. a national listserv for CEOs
2. two in-person boot camp trainings
3. discount on the On-Line CF Express Training
National Listserv for Community Foundation CEOs
CNJG’s listserve for Community Foundation CEOs connects to a national listserv for the CEOs of community foundations. This active listserve allows community foundation CEOs to communicate easily via email with community foundation CEOs from across the country, to pose questions, engage in conversations and more. The service is being made available to our community foundations members as a benefit of your membership with CNJG and is operated by the Untied Philanthropy Forum, which is CNJG’s national network.
If you are interested in participating in this national community foundation listserve, please contact Craig Weinrich.
Community Foundation Boot Camps
The United Philanthropy Forum offers two or more Community Foundation Boot Camps a year that are made available to CNJG members at the member rate as a benefit of CNJG membership. The two-day Community Foundation Boot Camp program offers a comprehensive overview of the structure and operations of a community foundation. The program is an ideal in-depth introduction to community foundations for new community foundation staff, community foundation board members, or more experienced community foundation staff looking for a good refresher.
On-Line CF Express Training
The Forum is partnering with Kansas Association of Community Foundations (KACF) to offer a $400 discount on KACF’s On-Line CF Express Training. The online training and certificate program focuses on core essentials over a 15-module series that covers nearly every aspect of community foundation work: from asset development and quality grants programs design to fiduciary and policy matters. Plus, enjoy 24-hour-access to the easy-to-navigate short (5-15 min) modules in any order from the comfort of a home or an office, in private, or as a group training.
Watch the CF Express Training Promo Video and view a sample module (password: mod15) to learn more. To take advantage of the discount, sign-up at https://cfexpresstraining.com and enter discount code: Forum2018. You can also reference the following attachments for more details.
CNJG's Storify content from their Signature Events.
Shifting Power to Shift Systems: Insights and Tools for Funders is a new report from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) that summarizes insights relating to power dynamics from leaders and experts on driving systems change.
Over the course of three months in early 2022, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Shifting Systems Initiative hosted a series of eight workshops focused on power and equity in philanthropy. During these workshops, an invited group of funders and other partners discussed the role of power dynamics in effectuating the systems change needed to address increasingly complex global challenges. The honest and rich conversations during those workshops surfaced several important themes and insights on how to balance power in a way that drives rather than inhibits change. RPA’s new report, Shifting Power to Shift Systems: Insights and Tools for Funders, distills some of the practical actions that funders can take in order to reduce that power imbalance.
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has released The Philanthropy Framework, a tool for analysis and planning to guide emerging and established philanthropies to better align resources for maximum impact. Created with input from leaders from more than 50 foundations worldwide, the tool seeks to address fundamental changes in philanthropy and the world such as generational shifts in attitudes, massive wealth creation, diversity of capital, new models for impact, and new operating environments among others.
It lays out three core elements for philanthropists to consider when determining how to maximize their impact:
- Charter, the organization’s scope, form of governance, and decision-making protocol
- Social Compact, its implicit or explicit agreement with society about the value it will create
- Operating Model, the approach to the resources, structures and systems needed to implement strategy.
In 2003, with member support, CNJG commissioned a report on the impact a potential conversion of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield to a for-profit might have on access to health care in New Jersey. Research from the Center for State Health Policy (CSHP) at Rutgers University, provided details about the law governing such conversions in New Jersey and the experience of other states with conversions. The report identified questions raised in other states when such conversions occur, especially about the valuation of assets, the impact on low-income families, and the operation of the philanthropic foundations that have been established as stewards of the assets generated by the conversions. CNJG’s purpose was to seek answers to critical questions relevant to the availability of healthcare coverage for New Jersey’s citizens and to discuss models of best practice for healthcare conversion foundations across the United States.
We are pleased to share Strengthening Philanthropy in Newark - Report to the Field 2013 – 2014 from the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison. First established in 2007, the Liaison office represents one of the nation’s first formal partnerships between a city and the philanthropic community. The initiative began as a partnership between the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in collaboration with then Mayor Cory A. Booker. We are proud this unique partnership continues with Mayor Ras Baraka and his new administration.
The report highlights a number of public-private partnerships guided by Liaison Jeremy Johnson. More than $50 million have been aligned and leveraged from public and philanthropic resources, supporting initiatives ranging from education to healthy homes to workforce development. The Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison is supported by: Bank of America, The Foundation for Newark’s Future, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Nicholson Foundation, The MCJ Amelior Foundation, The Prudential Foundation, Schumann Foundation for New Jersey, Turrell Fund, and Victoria Foundation.
CNJG is partnering with the Center for Non-Profits to have non-profits complete a rapid-response survey to scan the needs from the non-profit sector during this pandemic. Linda Czipo, President of the Center for Nonprofits, will then join us on a video call for CNJG members on Friday, March 20 to share the results of the survey.
After her presentation, we offer the time and space for funders to share what you are doing differently, and strategies to address the community's needs.
For more resources and articles on COVID-19, visit our Coronavirus Response page.
Cost: Free for Member and NonMember Grantmakers
Please note, this webinar is for funders only.
Thank you to the Center for Non-Profits for their continued partnership in this effort.
Webinar Video
Hear Executive Director Keith Adams speak on how New Jersey VOAD members are responding to the current crisis during our first COVID-19 Funder Briefing.
New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is a coalition of organizations dedicated to developing and sustaining community resiliency in the face of disasters. In his presentation, Keith will share how NJ VOAD is working with their members, nonprofits, and state partners to coordinate efforts and help to avoid duplicative services. He will also share some of the long-term needs and where there may be gaps in services. NJ VOAD’s dedication to helping communities throughout the entire disaster cycle will provide insight into the continuous and comprehensive efforts that will be essential for improving outcomes for New Jerseyans, especially for our most vulnerable populations.
Following Keith Adam's presentation, CNJG will provide an update on our own work assisting with COVID-19 response and relief efforts.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Nonmember Grantmakers.
This program is open to Grantmakers only.
Webinar Video
The Camden Funders Affinity Group serves as a vehicle for funders to connect and share updates about their initiatives throughout the city. We heard from Group members an interest to better understand the current environment that these programs serve and to identify opportunities for future endeavors.
In this first in-person meeting of 2024, please join your fellow Camden Funders to hear from each other about our current work in the city, as well as to gain insight into the upcoming efforts we each intend to engage in. Information gathered at this meeting will be used to inform our next meeting, where we will hear directly from leaders working across the city to advance progress in Camden. Light refreshments will be served.
To help with planning, please email Chanika Svetvilas about Camden initiatives and updates you'd like to share with attendees during the meeting.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
Beginning in October 2023, a group of funders got together and commissioned the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) to facilitate a series of dialogues with Newark’s nonprofit community to learn how foundations can be supportive of their capacity strengthening needs. The meetings made separate space for the funding community and nonprofit leaders to meet amongst themselves for learning, sharing, and action, and then brought all of us together in May for an honest discussion about the path forward.
We are utilizing our fall Newark Funder Affinity Group meetings to discuss a collective funder response to the needs of Newark’s nonprofit sector. Please join us for our second meeting on this critical topic in follow-up to the Newark Funder Affinity Group Meeting on September 19th. All are welcome to join us, whether you were able to make our September meeting or not. We will ensure that all attendees are updated so that we are all beginning from the same place.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Lunch will be served.