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As we move beyond the election season and look to 2025, New Jersey’s philanthropic and nonprofit sectors will continue to engage in conversations and partnerships that inspire change and support an inclusive future for all. Ensuring that we are fully prepared for the work ahead demands curiosity, an openness to ongoing learning, a commitment to listening, and building relationships with a range of partners. These are key characteristics and traits of a true leader.

To help you navigate what’s next in a new administration and new Congress, several national partners are offering post-election analysis:

• The National Council of Nonprofits is hosting Impact of the Elections on Nonprofitson Tuesday, November 12 at 4 pm.
• The Council on Foundations is hosting Looking to 2025: Making Sense of the Elections on Thursday, November 14 at 2 pm.
• United Philanthropy Forum is hosting Decision '24 Post-Election Briefing: Debrief + Sector Outlook on Wednesday, November 20 at 12:00 pm. 

Leaders are committed to exploring new ideas, building connections, and finding common ground, and ways to come together. The New Jersey Center for Nonprofits’ annual conference, The Road Ahead on Wednesday, December 4 will bring together social sector leaders from across the state for just these purposes. I encourage you to register as soon as possible if you plan on attending. Space is filling up quickly.

Leaders come from all walks of life, and we’re especially fortunate in the philanthropic sector to have an abundance of talented, thoughtful, and caring leaders. After connecting with social sector leaders, and building on your leadership acumen at the Center’s conference, we’re looking forward to seeing you at the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering on December 11. Our theme, Inspiring Change through Leadership: Maximizing Philanthropic Impact, could not be more timely.

As a leader, you know that in these complex times, philanthropic investment and commitment matter more than ever. Each of us, and our individual organizations, bring unique and deeply informed expertise, perspectives, influence, and skills that enrich our collective effort. Together, New Jersey’s philanthropic community will continue to build a space where all voices are heard, and collaboration is valued, so we can move forward to address critical issues in meaningful ways. 

Underwriting or sponsoring convenings is another strategy to engage in leadership activities. I hope you will consider supporting the annual meeting of the CNJG membership with a sponsorship or special donation. This event is the one time per year when a significant number of Council members come together in one space, often sowing the very first seeds of collaboration. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities. 

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, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Victoria Foundation; Supporting Sponsor – Grunin Foundation, Pincus Family Foundation, and WSFS Bank; and Colleague Sponsor – Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

Wishing us all a safe, restful, and restorative Thanksgiving later this month when the campaign of 2024 becomes a distant memory, but our resolve to champion the causes that matter most to our communities remains steadfast. That’s what leaders do. 
 

Warmly, 

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

At the October Grantmakers for Education Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., the Newark Funders Education Committee presented a workshop called “How Not to Read the Prize” to a standing-room-only audience of national, regional, and local foundations.

They did so not to dispute the findings in Dale Russakoff’s book, “The Prize,” but rather to expound upon the progress and challenges that have occurred during the period since Mark Zuckerberg’s $100-million-dollar gift was announced in September 2010 and to paint a fuller, more nuanced picture.

The process of putting together the panel was a learning experience for all of us who participated. It helped us to clarify our own thinking about what the gift enabled Newark to accomplish, how we as local funders have come to work together more effectively, and how we might advise national foundations interested in place-based impact to engage with the community and with local funders.

In September 2010, Mark Zuckerberg announced a $100 million gift, to be matched dollar for dollar, to transform education in Newark in five years. The Foundation for Newark’s Future was created as a local foundation that would manage a then-undetermined portion of the gift.

The Prize, by Dale Russakoff, documents the first five few years of this reform effort. As Russakoff illustrates, there were strong personalities involved in the reform effort who had or have now moved to new positions. Also, this was the donor’s first foray into philanthropy and despite efforts at community engagement, many community leaders and activists felt that district and state leaders and national foundation representatives did not invite or respect authentic community participation in its decisions. The book and subsequent book tour largely focused on these themes.

The narrative in philanthropy is that “this bold effort largely failed.” With the benefit of time, we would write a different narrative: there were missteps along the way, and some philanthropic overreach, but Newark is moving forward, education outcomes are improving, and some of the work that was started because of this initiative has had sustained positive impact. Most importantly, there is a robust education dialogue in the city that has moved from vigorous disagreement to an agreement to collaborate even when we disagree. So, the hashtag for this work seven years on might be: #notfinishedyet or #needapart2.

On this webinar, attendees received an update on funds and interventions in the City of Newark. We then took a deep dive into the issue of food insecurity and heard about the current public health response and needs from Dr. Denise Rodgers.

Speakers:
Kevin Callaghan, Newark Philanthropic Liaison, CNJG
Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Newark
Carlos Rodrigues, President and CEO, Community Food Bank of NJ
Richard Uniacke, Executive Director, Bridges Outreach
Dr. Denise Rodgers, Chair, Newark Homeless Commission and Chair of Believe in a Health Newark

Webinar Video

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced the New Jersey Community Stage Relief Grant Program. The $17.5 million program will provide grants of up to $300,000 to eligible for-profit establishments that host at least two regularly occurring live performances or events per week.

“From Count Basie and Springsteen to Sinatra and Queen Latifah, New Jersey has a long and rich history of supporting performing artists and the venues where they connect with their fans. The COVID-19 pandemic hit performing arts businesses particularly hard, and now that we are able to begin safely reopening it is critical that we help them get back on their feet,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The New Jersey Community Stage Relief Grant Program, along with the New Jersey Council on the Arts program for nonprofit establishments, will provide much-needed funding to help performing arts venues recover from the impact of COVID-19 and get back to hosting the shows that help make New Jersey such a vibrant, exciting place to live.”

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts held its first public meeting of 2023 on February 28, where nearly $2 million was awarded to 140 New Jersey artists through the Council’s Individual Artist Fellowship program.

The Fellowships are competitive awards to New Jersey artists in 12 rotating disciplines granted solely on independent peer panel assessment of work samples. The anonymous process is focused on artistic quality, and awards may be used to help artists produce new work and advance their careers. New Jersey artists applied for awards this year in the categories of choreography, crafts, music composition, photography, playwriting/screenwriting, poetry, and sculpture. This program is carried out in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts.

At the Council’s Annual Meeting last July, the Council voted to authorize an unprecedented investment of $2 million in the Individual Artist Fellowship program. Through that commitment of funding, this year’s Fellowship cohort is the largest one the Council has added to its distinguished list of Fellows in over 30 years. In order to further support the increased number of artists applying to the program, the Council developed a new level of awards in addition to the Fellowship Award. For the first time, the Council announced Finalist Awards. The Finalists Awards are given to those applicants who scored highly, but just below the cutoff to receive a Fellowship.

On March 9th, 2023, the City of Newark unveiled a Harriet Tubman monument in the newly re-named Harriet Tubman Square. The Newark Philanthropic Liaison played a key role on the monument project team for two years, ensuring that funds were available to make the vision of the Mayor and community a reality. We are proud to be a grantee of the Mellon Foundation’s Monuments Project, and appreciate the significant philanthropic support of Audible, Inc. and the partnership of the Newark Museum of Art, Rutgers University – Newark, and the Newark Public Library. In addition to foundation partnerships, the NPL’s office designed and led a “Buy a Brick” campaign raised nearly $40,000 from almost 200 individual donors.

Related Stories 
A Monument to Harriet Tubman Replaces a Columbus Statue in Newark Newark Unveils Harriet Tubman Monument Honoring Underground Railroad Conductor

Any and all staff and/or trustees from new CNJG members and any new staff or trustees of veteran CNJG members are invited to this in-person meeting prior to the Annual Meeting and Holiday Luncheon Pre-Meeting Workshop to meet fellow new members and a few CNJG staff, hear about each other’s funding strategies, and learn about the programs and services CNJG offers. This is a great chance to meet fellow funders in a casual, yet professional setting, and build your personal network within the CNJG network. You’ll see these familiar faces throughout the rest of the day’s events..

Registration for CNJG’s Annual Meeting and Holiday Luncheon is separate from the New Member Orientation. Please register here for the Annual Meeting and Holiday Luncheon.

There is no cost to attend for CNJG members. A light breakfast, and coffee, tea, beverages will be available.

If you have any questions about who can or should attend, please contact Craig Weinrich, Director of Member Services at 609-414-7110 x802.

The Regional Foundation announced $2,000,000 in Neighborhood Planning and Implementation Grants to 11 organizations throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.

After several years, the foundation returned to investing in neighborhood revitalization that centers a resident-led planning process. Structured between 12 and 18 months in length, Neighborhood Planning Grants support the creation of neighborhood plans that address root causes of inequality and community development priorities including but not limited to affordable housing, workforce development, human services, commercial corridor initiatives, environmental justice, transportation, and education.

The Neighborhood Implementation Grants support comprehensive community development plans that target specific neighborhoods, are resident-driven, and equity-focused. The multi-year funding is designed to assist the foundation’s grantee partners to start or sustain momentum in their comprehensive neighborhood revitalization initiatives.

“The pressing needs of our community continue to exist and weigh down those who need it most from changing their lives from one of despair to one of hope. We are excited that the investments we are announcing today are a small part of creating the change needed to ensure individuals, families, and whole communities have the resiliency to continue along a path of success,” stated Kevin Dow, Executive Director of the foundation.