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It’s been a while since the Trenton/Mercer County Affinity Group has come together. Please join us as we look to revive and rebuild our collaboration in the region. We truly value your voice, and this gathering is all about reconnecting, realigning, and reimagining what’s next for our group.
During our time together, we will set goals, plan actions and next steps based on our vision.
Whether you’ve been involved in the past or are new to the group, your perspective matters. Let’s come together to shape the future of the Trenton/Mercer County region. Light refreshments will be served.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
We will hear from four organizations which have varying focuses and strategies, but share the same goal to help struggling New Jersey communities fight against the growing impact of the coronavirus. Join us for an overview of the purpose and progress of these COVID-19 funds and assistance programs.
We’ll hear about the ALICE Recovery Fund from CEO Kiran Gaudioso and Senior Vice President Theresa Leamy from the United Way of Northern New Jersey and the PHL COVID-19 Fund from Kate Houstoun, Managing Director for Capacity Building at the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. These funds support two different locals and populations reeling from coronavirus crisis. The ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) population is especially vulnerable to economic disruption and illness during this pandemic. The PHL COVID-19 Fund focuses on the 5 southern counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, and Cumberland.
We’ll also hear from Tim Sullivan, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, who will outline how they are working with philanthropy and nonprofits to develop funds and programs that support our communities during this difficult time. We’ll round out the webinar with a presentation from Wayne Meyer, President of New Jersey Community Capital, who will discuss the Garden State Relief Fund, and its focus on providing low interest loans to nonprofits and small business which have been disproportionately affected by this crisis.
Register now to keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 funds and programs helping to address critical needs and provide equitable relief throughout New Jersey.
Cost: Free for CNJG Member and NonMember Grantmakers.
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
African Americans make up just 14% of New Jersey’s population, but they account for 21.3% of COVID-19 deaths, according to state fatality figures. This disparity is due to a number of factors which existed long before the coronavirus pandemic hit our state and our country. Discrimination in our health systems directly contributes to disproportionate rates of chronic disease and barriers to accessing health care for Black individuals. This web briefing will explore how philanthropy and our partners can help turn the tide and begin to address these complicated issues head on. Going back to normal is not good enough. The philanthropic community is in a unique position to bring these kinds of conversations to the forefront of our work.
Hear Dr. Denise Rodgers, Vice Chancellor of Interprofessional Programs at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, discuss the social determinants underlaying long-standing racial health disparities, and how New Jersey can address health inequity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’ll also be joined by Bob Atkins, Director of the New Jersey Health Initiatives of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who will share his perspective on how funders can help support better outcomes for Black individuals and communities during this pandemic. To end our session, he will facilitate a conversation for grantmakers to share how their organizations are addressing racial inequity amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Join us to explore how philanthropy can help reduce the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities in New Jersey.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and NonMember Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
At a time when nonprofits and philanthropy were needed the most, the pandemic forced most social sector organizations to go fully or partially remote. As we enter 2021, it seems that many organizations will continue to operate virtually for some time, and others are even considering what it would be like to make this transition permanently.
During this informative webinar session, Christine Michelle Duffy, Director of the New Jersey Program at Pro Bono Partnership, and Christopher Petermann, Partner at PKF O’Connor Davies, will share practical suggestions, policies, and procedures that nonprofits and foundations should consider when some or all of their workforce is working remotely. We’ll also discuss the major challenges that nonprofits have faced when adapting to this new virtual world, and how philanthropy can help its grantee partners moving forward.
Anyone interested in providing a remote work option for employees, going fully virtual for the long-term, or supporting nonprofit operations in the current context will want to attend this webinar.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Nonmember Grantmakers
Webinar Video
The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey (HFNJ) has awarded $1,219,591 to 12 New Jersey non-profit organizations in the first quarter of 2022.
All awards given this cycle were in support of new projects, and many awards were given to organizations receiving their first-ever grant from HFNJ. The largest grant of this cycle, a $500,000 gift to Morristown Medical Center, will help the hospital fund an ambitious renovation of its pediatric emergency department, doubling space available for children facing behavioral health crises.
Many grants this cycle embody a “win-win” approach to ameliorating multiple social problems with one project. For instance, a $160,000 grant to Youth Build Newark will allow the group to create a post-secondary career track to healthcare professions for Newark-area youth currently disconnected from school or employment. The project will both help the young people gain a foothold to promising career paths, and help fill regional staffing shortages in the healthcare industry. Likewise, a $50,000 grant to support Newark’s Working Kitchens project will both feed hungry families, and help ensure that restaurants that have seen downturns in business due to the pandemic can continue to remain solvent.
“HFNJ is pleased to end our first quarter of funding in 2022 by providing over $1.2M in funding for critical projects that will support residents in the greater Newark area, especially grants that will help train the next generation of healthcare workers, who are in short supply and are vitally needed as communities recover from the pandemic,” said Michael Schmidt, Executive Director and CEO of the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.
TD Charitable Foundation on Monday said it awarded a total of $7 million to 37 nonprofits across the bank’s footprint through the 17th annual Housing for Everyone grant program.
According to the charitable giving arm of Cherry Hill-based TD Bank, “America’s Most Convenient Bank,” grants ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 will support organizations that work to deliver rental assistance, rehabilitate affordable rental housing properties and build organizational capacity to address resident sustainability for the long-term.
As individuals and families across the country struggle with inflation and an exponential rise in rental costs, affordable housing providers face increased hardship, given the growing demand for affordable rental units and emergency rental assistance.
“The affordable housing crisis continues to burden the most vulnerable members of our communities and the organizations committed to supporting them,” Paige Carlson-Heim, director of the TD Charitable Foundation, said. “At TD, we’re committed to doing our part to help create a more sustainable and inclusive future for everyone, and that includes providing access to safe, affordable homes. This year’s grant recipients are mission-critical to that work, and the TD Charitable Foundation is proud to support them in their efforts to create a positive impact and a pathway to housing stability in the communities we serve.”
TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, today announced it awarded a total of $7 million to 37 non-profits across the bank's Maine to Florida footprint and in Michigan through the 18th annual Housing for Everyone grant program. Grants ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 will support independent living for marginalized community members, especially those who experience homelessness and face conditions that make it difficult to maintain a stable home without additional help.
As the affordable housing crisis continues, gaining access to and sustaining safe affordable housing remains out of reach for many across the U.S. The 2024 Housing for Everyone grant recipients represent organizations focused on housing solutions including rapid re-housing (such as short-term rental assistance), permanent supportive housing (such as a combination of leasing and/or rental assistance and/or support services) or transitional housing (such as temporary accommodations) that lead to stable, independent living situations.
"These organizations are making it their primary mission to help relieve some of the most vulnerable members of our community — those who are unsheltered or experiencing homelessness due to higher eviction rates as pandemic-era programs have ended or financial insecurity grows through inflation or other factors," said Paige Carlson-Heim, Director of the TD Charitable Foundation. "Housing for Everyone grant recipients are working closely with TD to improve access by creating innovative solutions that are helping to create a more sustainable and inclusive future for everyone. It is a privilege to support our 2024 Housing for Everyone grant recipients and to continue to be a part of this imperative work."
We’ve all heard the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Partnerships and collaborations are how we don’t go it alone.
Just last week, one of our partners via United Philanthropy Forum, (our philanthropy-serving organizations network), Northern California Grantmakers offered an online briefing for funders throughout the nation to understand how the latest round of wildfires are impacting communities in the state, and what philanthropy can do. Good partners work together to galvanize support on issues of importance.
Partially because of our partnership as a member of the Forum, we are able to engage Phil Buchanan, President of The Center for Effective Philanthropy to give the keynote at the upcoming CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon. The CNJG staff heard Phil speak at the Forum's Annual Conference in July, and were inspired by his words. Good partners create opportunities to learn and grow.
Our partnership with the Center for Non-Profits is an exceptional example of two organizations working different sides of the same street to improve the whole community. A considerable portion of the partnership’s work over the years has been focused on addressing systemic issues prevalent in the social sector. We’ve tackled the overhead myth, government contracting, the true costs of providing programs and services, and more.
The upcoming Annual Meeting Pre-Meeting Workshop will continue this legacy of partnership and addressing systemic issues. President of the Center, Linda Czipo, and Tim Delaney, President of the National Council of Nonprofits will help us consider how to overcome power dynamics between funders and nonprofits, and how funders can create trusting and transparent relationships with grantees. We’ll also explore strategies to incorporate full cost funding – a key systemic issue that once solved - strengthens the effectiveness of grantmakers and grantees' work. Good partners stand shoulder to shoulder doing the hard work to make meaningful change.
When I asked google how to describe a good partnership – it came back with words like supportive, open, respectful, effective, genuine… And while these adjectives are spot-on requirements for a good partnership, we should also note that partnerships are hard and require constant care and attention. And so we are constantly vigilant to nurture, maintain and grow our partnerships. The value of working in partnership with others has long been a powerful strategy in the social sector. Nonprofit organizations understand that partnerships can be highly effective given the right mix of trust, communication, and an understanding of the unique strengths each partner brings to the table. Our partnerships clearly reflect this important mix.
Another type of partnership is the one between our member sponsors and our Signature events. Thank you to our sponsors of the Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon: Signature Sponsor – Novartis, Sustaining Sponsor – The Prudential Foundation, Speaker Sponsor – New Jersey Health Initiatives, Gift Sponsor – The Princeton Area Community Foundation, Program Sponsor – Novo Nordisk, Pre-Meeting Workshop Sponsor – Sixers Youth Foundation and Devils Care Foundation, Performance Sponsor – The Provident Bank Foundation, Contributing Sponsor – Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Supporting Sponsor – The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, with additional support provided by NJM Insurance Group. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our sponsors. We could not do this work without you. Good partners support one another.
The Council’s work relies on partnerships with a vast number of other organizations and entities. Among them: You and other CNJG members, colleague philanthropy-serving organizations, nonprofit associations, national affinity groups, government leaders, corporate stakeholders, communities throughout our state, and so many more either known or yet to be engaged.
We’re thrilled that we can showcase concrete examples of our partnerships up front and center at the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon. I hope you’ll join us – register here!
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Words to live by.
In partnership,
Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
These articles have a philanthropic focus. We encourage grantmakers to read, share, and use strategies detailed here.
5/13/22 - ABC News: Two New Jersey towns illustrate the race gap in the COVID pandemic
NJTV: LIVE UPDATES: Tracking the Coronavirus in New Jersey
3/16/21 – Denver Post: On Philanthropy: Pandemic puts nonprofits in peril – what donors can do
8/26 – Center for Disaster Philanthropy: $12 Billion Pledged Worldwide to Fight COVID-19 through June 2020
8/25 – Generocity: Changing Metrics for Impact: The Emergence of a New Donor-Grantee Business Model
8/19 – Good News Network: Generous American Are Giving More to Charities Through The Pandemic, Survey Says
6/8 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: How Foundations Can Make Covid Research Grants More Equitable
6/5 – Governing Magazine: The America Ethos and the Betrayal of Expertise
5/19 – Nonprofit Quarterly: COVID-19 Calls for Philanthropy to Redefine Urgency
5/13 – Nonprofit Quarterly: Will Philanthropy Stand Up for Black America?
5/11 – Nonprofit Quarterly: Deer Eyes, Circle Mind: Reflections on Pandemic & Philanthropy
5/8 – Inside Philanthropy: Pandemic Philanthropy: Moving From Relief to Power
5/5 – NY Times: In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows
5/5 – Funders Together to End Homelessness: COVID-19 Response and Recovery: Recommendations for Philanthropy to Support Immediate Needs and Long-Term Solutions to End Homelessness
5/5 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: Op-Ed: Flexibility for Grantees Is Not Enough. Let Them Decide Where the Money Goes
5/5 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: Op-Ed: Change Is Too Rapid in Covid-19 Era to Tie Nonprofits’ Hands With Old Rules
5/4 – Bridgespan Group: Racial Equity and Philanthropy: Disparities in Funding for Leaders of Color Leave Impact on the Table
5/4 – Stanford Social Innovation Review: Overcoming the Racial Bias in Philanthropic Funding
5/1 – Stanford Social Innovation Review: For a More Equitable America, Understand Race and Racism as Actions We Do and Can Undo
4/30 – National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Large Funder Quadruples its giving in response to COVID-19
4/30 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: How the 25 Biggest Grantmakers are Responding to the COVID Crisis
4/30 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: In Covid-19 Crisis, Philanthropy’s Attention Must Focus on People With Disabilities
4/30 – Inside Philanthropy: A Time for Reform: Philanthropy and the Push for Better State Policymaking
4/28 – Newsweek: Why the Coronavirus Pandemic is Philanthropy's Big Moment
4/23 – Bridgespan Group: Want to Support Your Community’s Equitable Recovery from COVID-19? Invest in Child Care
4/21 – Center for Effective Philanthropy: Essential Questions for Foundation Boards in a Time of Crisis
4/20 – LA Times: Charity is off the charts amid the coronavirus. Is that a sign of America’s strength or weakness?
4/20 - Nonprofit Times: Foundations Paying Out, Expect Deep Recession (quotes from Community Foundation of New Jersey)
4/17 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Why Grantmakers Need to Break Their Restriction Habit—Permanently
4/16 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Philanthropy’s Stimulus Plan Must Bolster Democracy
4/16 - Nonprofit Quarterly: How Philanthropy Can Support Black Workers
4/15 - Candid.org: A Call for COVID-19 Grants Data
4/15 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: In This Crisis, Philanthropy Must Tackle 3 Existential Challenges All At Once
4/14 - Bridgespan Group: Four Ways for Community-Focused Philanthropy to Confront the Coronavirus Crisis
4/9 - Inside Philanthropy: COVID and the Count: Funders Confront New Challenges to the 2020 Census
4/9 - Forbes: COVID-19 And Aging: What Can Philanthropy Do?
4/7 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Coronavirus Crisis Has Changed How I View What Matters in Philanthropy
4/7 - App.com: Coronavirus: 10 ways to avoid becoming victim of a scam
4/7 - Washington Post: Coronavirus is a Totally Different Disaster for Philanthropies to Handle
4/6 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Small Nonprofits Struggle to Get Payroll Loans in New Federal Program
4/6 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Foundations and Nonprofits See Crisis as Opportunity to Advance Equity
4/3 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: What Philanthropy Can Do Now to Promote Education Equity After the Pandemic
4/2 - Inside Philanthropy: The Hardest Hit: Who is Supporting Communities of Color During COVID-19?
4/2 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Philanthropy, Meet Our Matrix Moment: Which Pill Will You Choose?
4/1 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Grant Maker Dilemma: Spend More Now or Protect Shrinking Endowments?
4/1 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Foundations Adopt Policies to Move More Money Faster, and With Fewer Restrictions
4/1 - NJ Spotlight: A Coronavirus Checklist to Help Keep NJ Residents Informed
3/30 - Nonprofit Quarterly: COVID-19: Using a Racial Justice Lens Now to Transform Our Future
3/26 - NJ.com: City of Newark Creates $6 million fund for Non-Profits, arts organizations, resident, businesses, and homeowners
3/23 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Federal Aid Plan for Nonprofits Needs More Input From Black-Led Organizations
3/20 - Nonprofit Quarterly: A Growing Group of Foundations Pledge ‘No Business as Usual’
3/20 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Senate Bill would create ‘Universal Deduction’ & Expand Loans for Nonprofits
3/20 - Asbury Park Press: Digital Divide in Schools Will Affect Web-Only Lessons
3/17 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Grantmaker Responses for Nonprofits in Need Vary Widely
3/17 - Strategy & Action Philanthropy: 5 Things Funders Can Do Right Now to Help Nonprofits During This Crisis
3/17 - Trust-based Philanthropy Project: Philanthropy Needs To Trust Nonprofits Now More Than Ever
3/16 - Exponent Philanthropy: Market Volatility in the Face of COVID-19
3/16 - Philadelphia Inquirer: Free Wifi from Comcast
3/16 - Inside Philanthropy: Philanthropy Has a Duty to Respond Quickly to the COVID-19 Outbreak. Here’s How We Can Do It
3/16 - NJBiz.com: NJ Government recommendations on March 16, 2020
3/13 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: As Disasters Go, Coronavirus Impact on Philanthropy Unprecedented and ‘Crazy’
3/13 - Bloomberg: Nonprofits Prepare for Worst with Wealthy Losing Billions
3/12 - Forbes: Philanthropy: COVID19 Doesn’t Need to Slow You Down
3/12 - Inside Philanthropy: On the Frontlines of a Pandemic, Local Philanthropy Scrambles to Respond
3/12 - NorthJersey.com: Many seniors face coronavirus fears while cut off from activities and social networks
3/12 - Independent Sector/Chronicle of Philanthropy: A Novel Opportunity to Strengthen Public Trust in the Nonprofit World
3/12 - NJ Spotlight: Sick Leave in NJ, What the Law Provides
3/12 - NJ Spotlight: Experience with Virtual Snow Days Helps NJ School Prepare for COVID-19 Closures
3/12 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus ‘Rapid Response’ Funds Proliferate as Threat Grows
3/11 - NJ.com: NJ schools feed 500K kids for free. What happens if coronavirus closes them?
3/11 - Daily Beast: Will Coronavirus make America finally care about the homeless
3/11 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus Is Hard on Nonprofits That Rely on Events
3/11 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Nonprofits Who Can’t Cancel: The Ones that Serve Those at Greater Risk of COVID-19
3/10 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: As Coronavirus Threat Continues, Experts Tell Nonprofits to Shore Up Reserves
3/9 - Nonprofit Times: Lessening the Risk of Coronavirus at Nonprofits
3/9 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Community Healthcare Centers Funding at Risk at Time of Health Peril
3/9 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronavirus Spread
3/8 - ROI-NJ: NJ Insurers Announce Coverage Related to Coronavirus
3/8 - Nonprofit AF: A few things for nonprofits and foundations to consider in light of the Coronavirus
3/5 - Washington Post: RWJF CEO Pens Opinion Piece on Coronavirus
3/5 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus Giving Tops $1 Billion Worldwide
3/4 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofits Work to Protect Employees and Volunteers as Coronavirus Threat Grows
3/3 - Candid.org: Funders Respond to Coronavirus
3/3 - CDNet: Tech Tools Offered for Free During Outbreak
3/2 - FSG: COVID-19 – Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do by Lauren Smith, MD, MPH
3/2 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofit Conference Attendees Worry About Coronavirus
2/18 - Professional Convention Management Association: Is Your Event (if cancelled) Covered by Insurance?
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.
The 2023 New Jersey Philanthropy Benefits & Salary Summary Report provides a valuable benchmarking resource for CNJG members on the benefits offered to employees and trustees and salaries for employees. Developed and compiled exclusively for CNJG members, the report presents comprehensive benefits data specific to New Jersey's grantmaking community, alongside data from the Council on Foundations' annual salary survey. Produced every three years, this benchmarking report is a highly anticipated and valued benefit of your CNJG membership.
The first section, 2023 CNJG Benefits Summary Report, includes benefits data for the 2023 calendar year and covers employment numbers, leave benefits, insurance benefits, and more. Within this section, we are pleased to also present demographic data on the board and staff of those that responded. Thank you to the members that completed our benefits survey earlier this year enabling us to produce this report.
The second section, 2023 Grantmaker Salary Tables: National, Mid-Atlantic and New Jersey provides data on compensation across a wide range of positions and grantmaking entities. Thank you to the CNJG members that completed the Council on Foundations’ annual survey on salaries that enabled us to produce this section of the report. Thank you to the Council on Foundations for compiling and sharing this data with us for free to use our report.