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The 2020 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services for our members and, by extension, the communities they serve. The Council is an engaged and cohesive network of grantmakers dedicated to our state’s communities and people.
The 2021 President’s Report is our annual look back at CNJG’s robust programming and services for our members and, by extension, the communities they serve. The Council is an engaged and cohesive network of grantmakers dedicated to our state’s communities and people.
Feeding America estimates that an additional 17.1 million Americans may go hungry due to the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. Join us to explore how COVID-19 is exacerbating food insecurity in New Jersey and how philanthropy can support solutions that reduce hunger in the wake of this crisis. Cathy McCann, Chair Emeritus of NJ VOAD and former COO of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, will open up the program with an overview of the issue, what food insecurity looks like during this particular disaster, and long-term needs that will need to be addressed during recovery.
We’ll then hear from Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Carlos will present what he is seeing on the ground, challenges that local food banks and pantries are experiencing, and how philanthropy can help to combat food insecurity in the short, mid, and long-term phases of this crisis.
To close out the webinar, Adele LaTourette, Director of Hunger Free New Jersey, will outline state and federal responses to increased need during COVID-19, share advocacy efforts to address food insecurity issues, and offer solutions to help spur change.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and NonMember Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
The New Jersey Corporate Philanthropy Network Co-Chairs Etta Denk, NJM Insurance Group and Pat Hartpence, Bank of America invite you to meet your colleagues in the corporate philanthropy sector to discuss important issues in the field today and to plan programs for 2024.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
Resources
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Charity Navigator
Audit requirements
PNC Corporate Responsibility – Grow up Great
Community Foundation of New Jersey: Community Grants Program
Bank of America Neighborhood Builders
Benevity
We are pleased to share the 2022 Newark Philanthropic Liaison Report to the Field. The role continues to demonstrate meaningful impact in Newark while serving as a model to other cities and states across the country interested in deepening the intentionality of public-private partnerships.
Learn how to support a disability-inclusive COVID-19 response.
COVID-19 disproportionately threatens the physical, financial, and emotional health of people with disabilities. Individuals with pre-existing health issues are at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus, many in the disability community still lack access to healthcare, and -- according to the National Trends in Disability report from the Kessler Foundation and University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability -- nearly one million working-age people with disabilities lost their jobs.
In this webinar, we’ll hear from Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC/SLP, Senior Vice President Grants and Communication at the Kessler Foundation and Audrey Winkler, Executive Director of JESPY House.
Speakers will explore:
· Unique challenges facing people with disabilities during COVID-19.
· How philanthropy can support workforce opportunities for people with disabilities.
· Efforts to address ableism and create more inclusive policies and practices, on a national and local level.
For a truly equitable recovery that centers the experience of people facing multiple forms of systemic discrimination, we must address the ableism embedded in our systems, institutions, and culture. Join us for this important conversation on how your organization can address ableism in your fight for social justice, and support a more disability-inclusive response to COVID-19.
Cost: Free for CNJG Grantmakers. $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
With support from the Campbell Soup Company, Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, and the William Penn Foundation, CNJG is pursuing a long-expressed request from several members to create a forum focused on the City of Camden - providing convenings, as well as information and resources for the many grantmakers working in the city. As a precursor to this forum, in April 2009, CNJG convened a group of Camden funders for a briefing with representatives from the Governor’s Office and the Camden Redevelopment Authority at the Campbell Soup Company. After the briefing, CNJG members expressed an interest in continuing the dialogue, sharing information about the philanthropic activity in the city and exploring opportunities for the future.
CNJG launched the Camden Funders Affinity Group in February 2010, inventoried current philanthropic investments in Camden, established an interactive map of funders’ investments, provided a Camden Funders Listserve and disseminated the “Camden Weekly News Round Up” for Camden grantmakers from 2010 to December 2011.
Building on these efforts, CNJG released the 2012 Camden Funders Survey. The survey updates and expands upon the 2006 Camden Funders Survey commissioned by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. We thank the Annie E. Casey Foundation for their support of this initiative.
With support from the Ford Foundation, William Penn Foundation and other local donors, CNJG was also instrumental in assisting the planning and development of the Community Foundation of South Jersey. Today CFSJ focuses its giving on the eight counties in Southern New Jersey, including Camden County.
For additional information, contact Theresa Jacks at (609) 414-7110 x805.
A CNJG member queried our listserves on policies regarding: 1) number of vacation days for new full-time employees; 2) paid time off (PTO); and 3) working remotely. CNJG compiled the answers from responding members.
There is a plurality of definitions of the term systems change, each contextualized within different cultures and purposes. Doing Good Better embraces systems change as an inter-sector process that addresses complex social problems nonprofits and funders confront with collective action centered on equity, mutual respect, and resilience. Systems change refers to changing the parts and their relationships within a system with the understanding that this change will have ripple effects. As grantmakers, we need to create an environment that enables grantee effectiveness, so they can deliver on their mission. Systems change in philanthropy focuses on structures, policies and processes, resources, values, power, mindsets and, infrastructure that is illustrated in three iterative phases. In time, we hope that the application of this model will result in collective impact and a more resilient social sector for all of New Jersey.
The first phase is structural (operational) change, which involves funders adopting new policies, practices, and resource flows. The second phase is characterized by new relationships and connections that emerge from structural change eschewing old power dynamic practices. Finally, the third phase is transformative change, which occurs when change becomes rooted in organizational culture and mores. We cannot underestimate the length of time and learning at each stage. Achieving transformative change can be a long journey, but it is a learning journey. One grantmaker stated, “One change led to another and another, like dominos. I started to see what people meant by systemic change. New energy and excitement surged among us as hope grew and the cloudy vision of what we wanted became clearer and clearer.”
Although the figure below displays the six developmental stages as linear and distinct, change is unlikely to follow a linear path. Any change in a system will seldom stay fixed at one of these stages but rather will shift back and forth from one stage to another on the path toward the ideal state. We believe just one organization can’t shift the conditions that hold problems in place; we all must share the same perspectives and move the sector together and simultaneously. We call for all of those involved in the sector to work together to build a better and more equitable nonprofit and philanthropy system for all New Jerseyans.
Graphic comes from “The Water of Systems Change” by John Kania, Mark Kramer, and Peter Senge.
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.
It was absolutely wonderful being together in person with so many members and nonprofit partners at the CNJG 2023 Conference for the Social Sector on May 23. I’m proud that our conferences elevate important issues for the field, this year focusing on Doing Good Better - a joint initiative between CNJG and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. And it was our highest attended conference ever!
The day opened with an insightful panel of foundation leaders who have joined the movement and are taking their organizations on the Doing Good Better journey by implementing trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking in their organization’s DNA. Thank you Tanuja Dehne, President and CEO, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Craig Drinkard, Executive Officer, Victoria Foundation, Jeremy Grunin, President and CEO, Grunin Foundation, and Samantha Plotino, Executive Director, The Provident Bank Foundation, for sharing your wisdom and showing us what’s possible.
Keynote speaker Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, was masterful at both introducing trust-based philanthropy to audience members new to these concepts, while also deepening and expanding our understanding of trust-based philanthropy for those of us already familiar with the ideas. As part of her presentation, she also trusted us with 2 compelling stories of power sharing from her personal experience. It was a powerful moment.
Each of the morning and afternoon sessions offered practical steps to address a specific area or challenge within the Doing Good Better tent. We’re grateful to all our conference speakers. It was a dream link-up of talent and expertise.
Following Shaady’s presentation, we posed 4 questions for discussion. And because these questions are so important to help inform our ongoing Doing Good Better work, I’m posing them again to you:
- What are some practice changes your organization can make to embody trust-based philanthropy and/or the broader ideals under the Doing Better Good tent?
- What are funders doing to lean into a trust-based approach that centers relationship-building, mutual learning, and transparency? What more could be done?
- Have you implemented any of the principles of trust-based philanthropy or Doing Good Better ideals, and what has been your organization’s experience?
- What are some of the ways that racial equity, and intersectional equity issues, can be addressed using the ideas under the Doing Good Better tent and/or trust-based philanthropy practices?
Your ideas and responses will help us in our Doing Good Better work – I hope you’ll share them with me.
Finally, thank you to our sponsors for supporting this event: PSEG, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sixers Youth Foundation, Citi, Grunin Foundation, Panasonic Foundation, Valley National Bank, PKF O’Connor Davies, TriNet, LISC – Greater Newark, and The Palace at Somerset Park. We’re grateful for your support.
Doing Good Better invites philanthropy and nonprofits to rethink traditional philanthropy, and advance equity in the nonprofit sector, in philanthropy, and in New Jersey. CNJG’s new strategic plan specifically embraces shared power and leadership, equity as an organizing principle, trust-based philanthropy, participatory grantmaking, elevating partnerships, and cross-sector relationships grounded in inclusion. These ideas make up the Doing Good Better tent, and I’m proud we could share them at our 2023 Conference.
In partnership,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
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?
Explore how philanthropy can empower organizations led by people of color, advocate for structural change, and confront the impacts of white dominant culture during COVID-19.
With the ongoing spread of coronavirus, protests demanding racial justice, and new data confirming the racial inequity of the pandemic – action is needed now. The social sector must acknowledge and actively work against the embedded racism in a range of systems, including healthcare, employment, education, housing, immigration, and criminal justice.
During our COVID-19 Funders Briefing Series I, Dr. Denise Rodgers from Rutgers University and Bob Atkins of New Jersey Health Initiatives discussed how philanthropy can respond to the systemic racism that underlies the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities. This webinar will expand on those ideas to offer additional strategies and examples of how philanthropy can create a more equitable New Jersey during recovery and beyond.
We’ll hear from Ryan Haygood, President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and Pat Eng, President and CEO of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP).
Topics will include:
- Actions taken to center equity during the pandemic.
- The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the physical, mental, and financial well-being of communities of color.
- How philanthropy can support organizations led by people of color in the fight for social justice.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members. $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
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.
The 2020 Census is coming and it counts — in more ways than one.
The Census isn’t just a population tally. State and local governments, businesses, nonprofits and foundations, rely on Census data to allocate funding, define where services are delivered, and promote economic development. The information is valuable for health care, education, housing, transportation, and business. It helps determine congressional representation, political participation, and other fundamentals of community wellbeing and American democracy.
A full, fair count is crucial, but it isn’t guaranteed.
The Census disproportionately misses people of color, young children, and the rural and urban poor. Our state and nation have too much at stake for the social sector to stay on the sidelines.
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers’ 2019 Spring Conference brought together foundation and nonprofit leaders throughout the state to learn what their organizations can do to make sure New Jersey is counted.
The Conference featured national and state experts who shared information and tools to meet the many challenges communities across the state will face to be counted. We heard serious concerns regarding access to the Census, hard-to-count people, and potential funding cuts and changes in the process that could hamper participation.
Speakers offered a number of opportunities for action and partnership, from spreading awareness about the importance of 2020 Census in your communities and networks to funding outreach efforts from grass-roots organizations. The Conference raised and answered the most important questions about the Census and what needs to be done for a complete and accurate count. Now, the social sector must build the capacity to meet this once-in-a-decade obligation to engage at the deepest level.
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers looks forward to continuing conversations, partnerships, and action around the 2020 Census. Please explore our resources from the conference below and visit our webpage Philanthropy’s Role in the 2020 Census to learn more.
AGENDA
Opening Plenary: Census 101
A comprehensive update on all things census, including how the Census Bureau is getting the word out, what is guiding the planning for 2020, and what still needs to be done before Census Day.
Presenter: Jeff T. Behler, Regional Director, US Census Bureau - New York
What Philanthropy Can Do for the 2020 Census
Explore ways in which the philanthropic sector can leverage resources to ensure the most accurate census information, so the voices of undercounted groups and regions are heard in the decade to come.
Presenters: Gary D. Bass, Ph.D., Executive Director, Bauman Foundation
Vanita Gupta, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Moderator: Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Session 1: Challenges to a Fair Count
Two experts in civil and voting rights law will walk us through what the citizenship question really means for the census count, and the potential impact it will have on already hard-to-count communities.
Presenters:
Ryan P. Haygood, Esq., President & CEO, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Ezra Rosenberg, Co-director of the Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Facilitator: Bob Atkins, Director, New Jersey Health Initiatives--Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Session 2: Where are the Kids? The Undercount of Children
Children are one of the largest undercounted populations in the Census. In this session, we will learn what your organization can do to prevent an undercount in 2020, and why an accurate count is essential for our children’s futures.
Presenters:
Peter Chen, Policy Counsel, Advocates for Children of New Jersey
Alana Vega, Kids Count Coordinator, Advocates for Children of New Jersey
Facilitator: Melissa Litwin, Early Childhood Program Director, The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation
Panel Discussion: Opportunities for Action
Nonprofit, foundation, and government leaders invite your organization to step up for the 2020 Census count. Panelists will provide concrete examples and resources to get involved now.
Panelists:
Kiki Jamieson, President, The Fund for New Jersey
Betsy Plum, Vice President of Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
Inge Spungen, Executive Director, Paterson Alliance
The Honorable Tahesha Way, New Jersey’s 34th Secretary of State, Department of State
Moderator: Linda M. Czipo, President & CEO, Center for Non-Profits
Luncheon Plenary: Call to Action for the 2020 Census: A Once-in-a-Decade Opportunity to be Counted
Another undercount for 2020 means another ten years of relying on inaccurate data to inform our state’s political representation and funding for vital resources. For too long, the census has missed disproportionate numbers of people of color, young children and the rural and urban poor, and with new challenges in 2020, participation of hard-to-count populations may be hindered further. With the count only a year away, now is the time for the philanthropic sector to step up and get New Jersey counted.
Speaker: Arturo Vargas, Chief Executive Officer, NALEO Educational Fund
CNJG thanks our conference sponsors and supporters: Signature Sponsor – PSEG; Collaborator Sponsors – The Fund for New Jersey and JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Connector Sponsors – New Jersey Natural Gas and Wells Fargo; Colleague Sponsors – FirstEnergy Foundation and Subaru of America Foundation; Exhibitor Sponsors – Glenmede and PKF O’Connor Davies; and Venue Sponsor – The Palace at Somerset Park.
Conference Photos
Additional resources, articles, and videos about the Census may be found on our webpage - Philanthropy's Role in the 2020 Census.
The presence of lead in New Jersey, whether in drinking water, paint, or soil, is one of many environmental justice issues that disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color. This funder briefing for all funders in New Jersey will cover how lead affects New Jersesyans, where it comes from, as well as local solutions, success stories, and partners to help communities equitably remove lead. Panelists will also discuss what funders can do in partnership with local governments to address the issue, including understanding new state mandates for lead pipe replacement and lead paint inspections and remediation.
Speakers:
Deandrah Cameron, New Jersey Future
Ruth Ann Norton, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
Heather Sorge, Lead-Free NJ
Shereyl Snider, East Trenton Collaborative
Moderator: Anthony Diaz, Newark Water Coalition
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Deandrah Cameron
Deandrah develops and advances state policies that affect health, water infrastructure, and redevelopment, with a primary focus on lead in drinking water. Prior to joining New Jersey Future, Deandrah worked as a case investigator at the Monmouth County Health Department to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Deandrah holds a B.S. in Public Health from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, as well as a Master of Public Health focused on Health Systems and Policy with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Nutrition from the Rutgers School of Public Health.
Ruth Ann Norton
Ruth Ann Norton, President & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, joined the organization in 1993 and has led its development into one of the nation’s most effective and foremost authorities on healthy housing and its impact on the social determinants of health. GHHI is dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health and racial equity through healthy housing. An expert on lead poisoning prevention, healthy housing and the intersection of climate, energy and health, Ruth Ann directs GHHI’s national strategy, policy framework and services to integrate climate, healthcare and healthy housing as a platform for improved health, economic, educational and social outcomes for low-income communities.
Heather Sorge
Heather is the Lead-Free NJ program manager and oversees its day-to-day operations. Lead-Free NJ is a new inclusive and equitable collaborative focused on addressing lead hazards and preventing childhood lead poisoning. Heather’s work is centered on facilitating a diverse statewide network that hopes to ultimately ensure the eradication of childhood lead poisoning in New Jersey within 10 years. Prior to joining New Jersey Future, Heather was the organizer for Healthy Schools Now with the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC), a coalition of over 80 organizations representing a diverse set of stakeholders dedicated to ensuring all New Jersey children and school employees learn and work in safe, healthy, modernized school buildings. Heather graduated from Churchman Business School with a degree in Accounting Finance.
Shereyl Snider
Shereyl Snider joined the East Trenton Collaborative (ETC) in 2019 as a Community Organizer. Originally a New Yorker, she has lived in East Trenton since 2003. As an ETC staff member, Shereyl provides dynamic leadership, amplifies the voices of the marginalized, facilitates collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds, and develops a robust commercial and residential community. After moving to Trenton, she earned an associate’s degree in Early Child Care from Mercer County Community College and worked as a substitute teacher in the Hamilton School District for five years. As a neighborhood resident and volunteer at the ETC, she learned how to organize in her local community. In addition to her work in the East Trenton neighborhood, Shereyl is also a member of The City of Trenton American Rescue Plan Committee championing for a lead safe Trenton.
Anthony Diaz, moderator
Anthony Diaz was born and raised in Newark, NJ where he currently resides and is the oldest of 4 boys. He is the co-founder and executive director of the Newark Water Coalition, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the city's lead water crisis and other social justice issues. The Newark Water Coalition has given out over 100,000 gallons of water and over 90,000 lbs of food. He has traveled nationally and internationally to work on water issues on indigenous lands and rural communities. Anthony was able to represent Newark at the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. He believes that people power can win against the interconnected struggles of humanity. He is an avid Star Wars and Anime fan.
Webinar Video
Articles of Interest
Gov. Murphy announced grants for organizations ridding NJ of lead exposure
New Jersey will grant $38 million to lead abatement. Here’s where it will go.
New Jersey Lead Poisoning Prevention Action Plan
Jersey Water Works Lead in Drinking Water Task Force
Facts about Lead in the Home
Lead in Drinking Water, a Permanent Solution in New Jersey
Lead in Drinking Water in Child Care Facilities: Ensuring the Future for New Jersey’s Children
Lead Free NJ
East Trenton Collaborative
Newark Water Coalition
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund
Hosted by: Community Foundation of New Jersey
The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) was established to raise funds and organize and coordinate resources to fight the medical, social and economic impact of COVID-19 on New Jersey’s most vulnerable. One hundred percent of donations received online by NJPRF will be used to fight the medical, social, and economic impact of COVID-19, supporting organizations that provide essential services and aiding those on the front line of the pandemic.
4/20 - New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund announces statewide health grants
5/8 - NJPRF gives out 27 additional food security and need-based grants
5/13 - New Jersey Pandemic relief fund announces fourth round of grants
5/15 - Pandemic Relief Fund’s Murphy, Weinreich offer details on its goals — now … and moving forward
7/16 - Pandemic Relief Fund wraps up phase 1, having raised $37M and provided $18M in immediate relief
7/30 - Pandemic Relief Fund Provides $4.5 Million in Cash Assistance
9/11 - NJPRF Matches Grants to Newark and Camden Teachers
11/20 - New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund gives $2.6 Million to help close digital divide
12/2 - New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund gives $4.5 Million to organizations helping minority and women owned businesses
12/16 - New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund received $20 Million from Mackenzie Scott
2/2 - N.J. Pandemic Relief Fund to provide $2.5 million in grants to address mental health issues
South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund
Hosted by: Community Foundation of South Jersey
The South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to pool resources to address both the short and long-term impact of COVID-19 in local towns, counties, and the South Jersey region as a whole.
6/4 - South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund Announces Second Round of Grants
7/20 - South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund Announces Third Round of Grants
Restaurant Rescue Fund
Hosted by: Heart to Harvest Foundation (NY)
The Restaurant Rescue Fund will establish a grant program for restaurateurs in the New York Metro area and New Jersey. The goal is to help owners reopen their restaurants and the small farmers who supply them. Ongoing assistance will be available to grant recipients, to include assistance with landlords, vendor payments, resources that can help with HR and more.
Hoboken Relief Fund
Hosted by: Hoboken Rotary Club Foundation
The Hoboken Relief Fund will solicit donations and provide grants to local businesses and Hoboken residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hoboken Relief Fund will be Hoboken’s authorized vehicle for COVID-19 relief, and act in ways as an umbrella for other, ongoing, complementary efforts to address various pressing needs in our community related to COVID-19, such as food insecurity.
5/11 - Virtual fundraising event headlined by Buddy Valastro and local Hoboken artists streamed in May
8/25 - Hoboken Relief Fund issues grants to local businesses
COVID-19 Emergency Financial Assistance Fund
Hosted by: Interfaith Neighbors
Funded by the generosity of several local foundations including the Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation, the Stone Foundation of New Jersey and the Jay & Linda Grunin Foundation, as well as many individual donors; the COVID-19 Emergency Financial Assistance Fund is providing financial assistance to individuals and families in Monmouth County that have experienced financial distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jersey City COVID-19 Community Relief Fund
Hosted by: Jersey City Economic Development Corp
The Jersey City COVID-19 Community Relief Fund will provide resources and support to Jersey City’s most vulnerable residents. It will help minimize hardships for needy families and seniors by improving access to food and other necessities. The Fund will also invest in the local Jersey City economy by helping small businesses and nonprofits - the backbone of Jersey City’s neighborhoods - get back on their feet.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
Hosted by: Jewish Federation of Southern Jersey
The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will provide direct support to individuals and families by providing essential resources for those in crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Montclair Foundation Emergency Fund
Hosted by: Montclair Foundation
The Montclair Foundation Emergency Fund was created to support key local outreach organizations with emergency grants so these community partners can receive immediate financial help in this difficult time.
5/5 - Montclair Foundation Awards $15,000 From COVID-19 Emergency Grant Fund
5/13 - Montclair Foundation Funnels $65K To Coronavirus Relief
New Jersey 30 Day Fund
Hosted by: New Jersey 30 Day Fund
The New Jersey 30 Day Fund provides forgivable loans for New Jersey-based small businesses. The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance (within maximum three days) to meet payroll, preserve healthcare coverage for employees and save jobs while they await recently approved federal funding and reopening.
7/10 - 30 Day Fund Announces 100 Small Business Loans
Garden State Relief Fund
Hosted by: New Jersey Community Capital
The Garden State Relief Fund ensures that small businesses and non-profits are provided with quick yet equitable and inclusive opportunities for relief, stability, and growth through low interest loans. The fund provides this financial support for those that often lack access to conventional capital and have been disproportionally affected by this evolving public health crisis.
NNJCF COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund
Hosted by: Northern New Jersey Community Foundation
The NNJCF COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund provides immediate resources to vetted small nonprofit organizations in Bergen County, New Jersey with limited budgets serving vulnerable populations in this area. The fund will also support nonprofit arts organizations and those providing arts programs and services in the county to build community engagement in a time of isolation.
4/30 - Northern New Jersey Community Foundation's COVID-19 Rapid Respond Fund Raises Nearly $240,000
5/22 - NNJCF awards $240K worth of grants for COVID-19 response
9/29 - Northern NJ Community Foundation's COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund Awards Over $300,000 to Nonprofits in Region
PHL COVID-19 Fund
Hosted by: Philadelphia Foundation & United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern NJ
The PHL COVID-19 Fund rapidly and equitably deploys solutions and resources to help nonprofit community navigate near-and longer-term challenges from COVID-19 and ensure that critical resources remain available for those in their community who need it most. This fund supports nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia Area—five Pennsylvania counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia) and five Southern New Jersey counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, and Cumberland).
4/16 - PHL COVID-19 Fund grants $2.5 million to Nonprofits
4/23 - PHL COVID-19 Fund Provides Rapid Response to Community: $7.3M Distributed to Nearly 200 Nonprofits in Three Weeks
4/24 - PHL COVID-19 Fund, ‘A Godsend’ For Nonprofit Organizations, Distributes 3rd Round Of Grants
5/14 - PHL COVID-19 Fund Continues to Meet Deep Community Needs in Fifth Round of Funding to Nonprofits
6/25 - PHL COVID-19 Fund Deploys Funds to Aid Pandemic Recovery Efforts
7/1 - PHL COVID-19 Fund Awards $4 Million for Arts in Philadelphia Region
9/25 - PHL COVID-19 Fund Awards $400,000 to Philadelphia-area nonprofits
COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund
Hosted by: Princeton Area Community Foundation
The foundation assembled a coalition of funders to create the COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund to help support nonprofits working with the most vulnerable residents in Mercer County and the surrounding region.
5/29 - COVID-19 Grants Total Over $900,000
New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund
Hosted by: Princeton Area Community Foundation
A coalition of funders has established the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund (NJACRF) to help ensure the survival of the state’s cultural sector that has faced economic devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic. NJACRF will provide grants to the cultural community to offset expenses incurred due to pandemic cancelations, reopening adaptations, and support for artists and sector professionals.
8/20 - NJACRF announces launch of fund
9/3 - WPIX-TV Channel 11 profiles the NJ Arts & Culture Fund by interviewing Jeremy Grunin of the Grunin Foundation and SHarnita Johnson from the Dodge Foundation
9/7 - The Mellon Foundation and NJ’s Own Colberts and Stewarts Help Grow the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund
Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund
Hosted by: Princeton Children’s Fund
The Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund benefits economically-disadvantaged Princeton families impacted by work stoppage during the outbreak. The fund is supported in part with a grant from the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation.
Sustain Summit Fund
Hosted by: The Summit Foundation and Summit Downtown
The Sustain Summit Fund will provide grants to support small businesses that operate in the City of Summit and are experiencing economic hardship as a result of recent closings and restrictions from COVID-19. The first $50,000 in donations will be matched on a 1:1 basis by The Summit Foundation.
5/7 - 'Sustain Summit' Initiative Awards $270K Among 117 Hilltop City Businesses
5/21 - 'Jumpstart Summit' Program formed to Further Assist Summit Businesses' Reopening and Recovery
UWCJ COVID-19 Recover Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Central Jersey
The UWCJ COVID-19 Recover Fund will provide assistance with crucial expenses including rent, utilities, prescription medication/medical supplies, child care and food, identifying clients who are most in need of temporary assistance utilizing referrals from their non-profit community partners.
Salem County Does More: Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Delaware
The Salem County Does More COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund will assist in providing food, shelter, utilities, rent assistance, and other critical services for Salem County residents struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19 Compassion Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Greater Mercer County
The COVID-19 Compassion Fund supports struggling families in Mercer County financially impacted by the health crisis. Donations will support relief programs, like food pantries and other services to help with basic needs. They continue to work with their partners to identify resource and service gaps and plan for long-term recovery.
Community COVID-19 Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Greater Newark
The Community COVID-19 Fund supports the community and their non-profit partners during the COVID-19 crisis. This is a regional fund serving their 13-municipality footprint including Newark, Irvington, East Orange, West Orange, South Orange, Orange, Belleville, Nutley, Maplewood, Kearny, Harrison, East Newark and North Arlington.
4/17 - United Way of Greater Newark Raises More Than $4M in Donations for Community COVID-19 Fund
4/24 - Mayor Baraka Announces First Round of Newark Grant Awards
UWGUC COVID19 Emergency Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Greater Union County
The UWGUC COVID19 Emergency Fund assists individuals financially impacted due to loss of wages or who incurred debt as a result of COVID19 in the areas of Union County, South Plainfield, and North Plainfield.
Community Response & Recovery Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Gloucester County
The Community Response & Recovery Fund addresses the critical needs of the Gloucester County community through partnership with local non-profit providers. The funds will only be utilized to assist individuals in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
UWMOC COVID-19 Recovery Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
The UWMOC COVID-19 Recovery Fund addresses the unmet needs of those economically impacted by this crisis in the long-term. This fund will help ensure resources are available today, and in the months and years ahead, to assist residents during the recovery process--primarily through our Financial Success Center (FSC) Network.
9/11 - United Way of Monmouth & Ocean Counties Awards $70,000 in Pandemic Relief Funds
ALICE Recovery Fund
Hosted by: United Way of Northern New Jersey & United Way of Hunterdon County
The ALICE Recovery Fund (#ALICErecovery) is a crisis recovery fund that will address emerging needs of ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households and those in poverty in response to the spread of COVID-19. The state of emergency created by the spread of the coronavirus is exposing critical shortcomings in our economy, health care system, and public education. No one is immune to its direct or indirect effects, but ALICE families are particularly vulnerable to hardship from both illness and economic disruption.
COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund for Passaic County
Hosted by: United Way of Passaic County
The COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund for Passaic County addresses immediate and long-term needs of residents and non-profits in Passaic County. Immediate needs to be addressed include food, education and support for critical non-profits. Longer term, the fund will make grants to nonprofits to ensure their continued viability in Passaic County and address unmet needs of residents in the aftermath of COVID-19.
We Love Local Fund
Hosted by: Westfield United Fund
The Westfield United Fund is dedicated to helping independently owned local businesses in Westfield during this crisis.
5/10 - Westfield couple raise over $7000 in pallet painting fundraiser for fund
CNJG provides this information free to the philanthropic community. If you are not a CNJG member, please join so you can take full advantage of the many benefits of membership and help underwrite the cost of services like this.
Back in person - we’re bringing together funders and nonprofits for a day of shared learning, exchange, and networking at the 2023 Conference for the Social Sector on May 23!
Our conferences have always elevated timely and important topics. And that tradition continues. The conference theme, Doing Good Better, is a direct result of what we’ve learned and experienced over the past few years.
We stand in extraordinary times. The pandemic showed the limitations of existing philanthropic structures. Grantmakers recognized that organized philanthropy must rethink traditional grantmaking practices and shift their routines. Doing Good Better - a partnership initiative with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits - is a big tent that includes trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking; rightsizing the power dynamics between funders and nonprofits; simplified grant applications and reporting; increasing GOS and multi-year grants; unburdening nonprofits so they can focus on their work; addressing the equity issues that exist throughout the sector; and recognizing nonprofit leaders and those closest to the problem as the experts in the room.
Our new strategic plan outlines the very same values emanating throughout the Doing Good Better ideals – shared power and leadership, equity, trusting cross-sector relationships, and learning and dialogue.
The Conference features a range of notable thought leaders and experts for a day of connection, not-to-be-missed discussion, and side-by-side learning with foundation and nonprofit colleagues. Our opening plenary, How Philanthropy Can Do Good Better, will hear from leading New Jersey foundation CEOs about how they’ve shifted their funding practices to better support nonprofit partners. Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will outline the underlying values of a trust-based approach during the luncheon keynote. Breakout sessions will highlight participatory grantmaking, equitable capacity building, tools to address nonprofit burnout, and more.
As we look forward to our time together, I also encourage you to review the many thought-provoking articles and useful websites available on the Conference Resource tab. This information extends your own opportunities to learn and build your knowledge.
We’re grateful to our sponsors for supporting the conference. Thank you to PSEG for serving as our Signature Sponsor for several years. Thank you to Connector Sponsors, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Sixers Youth Foundation, and Colleague Sponsors Citi, Grunin Foundation, Panasonic Foundation, and Valley National Bank. Thank you also to NJM Insurance Group for your donation in support of the event.
It’s been a long 4 years since we’ve been together in person for the CNJG spring conference. I’m looking forward to seeing you. Register today!
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
I can't believe October is already here! We are deep in planning for the CNJG 2024 Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering, and I'm thrilled to invite you to be a part of this special event!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 11, as we come together at the APA Hotel Woodbridge with over 150 Council members and special guests to celebrate the holiday season, welcome new members, and host a brief business meeting to elect trustees. It's also the perfect time to connect with colleagues and friends, old and new, while participating in a thought-provoking discussion about the ever-important topic of leadership in philanthropy.
This event is the one time each year where New Jersey’s philanthropic community comes together to connect, network, learn, and celebrate our collective work. It's a time to reflect on our impact, recharge with new ideas, and plan for the year ahead. Guided by the CNJG Signature Program Committee’s vision for this event, our focus this year is on leadership: Inspiring Change through Leadership: Maximizing Philanthropic Impact. Our morning workshop will explore the New Jersey Principles for Philanthropy – our equity principles emboldening leadership in action, followed by our keynote presentation featuring Amalia Brindis Delgado, Chief Strategy Officer, Panta Rhea Foundation, focused on transformative leadership transitions. It's a topic that feels more important than ever, and I can't wait for the conversations it will inspire.
The Annual Meeting is truly a highlight of the year. In addition to your participation, I invite you to consider supporting the Annual Meeting of Members through a sponsorship, grant, or contribution. Whether you've sponsored before or are considering it for the first time, this is an incredible opportunity to show your support for CNJG, while also raising visibility for your organization. We offer a variety of sponsorship options to fit any level of interest, and we're happy to tailor a package to meet your needs. Your support would help underwrite this vital event, ensuring it continues to serve as a place where our sector can grow stronger together. It's a valuable opportunity not only to give back to CNJG, but to highlight your commitment to the philanthropic community and its ongoing work in New Jersey.
If you'd like more information regarding sponsorship, please reach out to me via e-mail.
A big thank you to our sponsors to date - we couldn't do this without you! Special thanks to Signature Sponsor – Prudential; Contributing Sponsors – Devils Youth Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Supporting Sponsor – Grunin Foundation; and Colleague Sponsor – Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Thank you for your continued engagement with CNJG. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon and can't wait to see you at the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering in December. Until then, enjoy the beauty of fall!
Warmly,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Collaboration. Partnership. Alliance. Joint effort. Collective.
Whatever we call it - every one of us has been involved in a collaboration of some kind at some point in our lives. At the same time, both simple and complex, the definition of collaboration – the act of working together with other people or organizations to create or achieve something – means we collaborate nearly every day. To be human is to collaborate.
We’ll explore the constructs of more complex collaborations at the CNJG 2023 Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering on December 14. Following the pre-meeting workshop, Tools for Funder Collaboration, the business meeting to elect new trustees, and the networking luncheon, the fireside chat, Sustainable, Effective, and Equitable Collaboration – A Conversation that Centers Community, will feature Nidhi Sahni, Partner and Head of US Advisory Group, Bridgespan, and Lucy Vandenberg, Executive Director, the Schumann Fund for New Jersey, to explore what makes a successful collaboration, and how collaboration strengthens the impact of funding initiatives across sectors.
The Annual Meeting is the place where the seeds of collaboration are often first sown. Consider the collaborations you’re involved with now or have engaged in previously – where did those ideas first take shape – possibly in a conversation with another funder that, like you, wanted to have impact on a particular issue, solve an entrenched problem, or explore an untried solution.
Council members collaborate in a number of ways with other funders and nonprofit organizations. As a prelude to the Annual Meeting, on November 16, we’ll learn about the Morris County Funders Group and their Mental Health First Aid collaborative partnership. This first initiative of the funders group aims to address the growing mental health crisis in young people and adults.
Over 25 years ago, CNJG began its life as a collaboration – New Jersey foundations gathered together to form a collective to learn together, build relationships, and share resources. We have several resources to inform your collaborative journey as part of the Annual Meeting resource tab.
One of our core activities has always been to share resources. As we witness the conflict and heartbreaking devastation and sadness in Israel and Gaza following the October 7 attacks, some key resources to inform your work are available through the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the go-to resource for disaster-related giving, and the Council on Foundations. You can connect quickly with your CNJG colleagues to share additional resources via our 25 listserves, including the Disaster Response Funders listserve. Contact Director of Member Services Craig Weinrich to join listserves that interest you.
Another joint effort highlighting what happens when funders come together, this time to share their own data, is the 2023 New Jersey Philanthropy Benefits & Salary Summary Report. Thank you to CNJG members that completed the surveys to inform this report.
As part of your registration for the Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering, you’re asked if you have or are participating in a collaboration. I think it’s safe to say the answer is “YES!” for everyone. Maybe the question we should ask as we speed toward 2024, is where are the additional opportunities for collaborations? How can I build on past or current collaborations? Who else should I invite in?
I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering to further explore these ideas and questions.
Thank you to our Annual Meeting sponsors, Prudential, Victoria Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Devils Youth Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and the Princeton Area Community Foundation. There’s still time – I hope you will consider sponsorship for this special event – our annual “meeting of members.”
In Partnership,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers