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The Foundation Legal Help Desk is designed to provide community, private and family foundations with access to answers to legal questions related to the operations of a foundation. The foundation world is a complex field that requires specialized legal knowledge and many foundations do not have easy access to an attorney with expertise in this field. The Help Desk is operated by our colleagues at the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA).
How Does it Work?
The service operates through a website. Participants log in with a username and password and type in their question. The software will send it to the attorney “on-call” for their topic area. The attorney will respond either with a written answer or will make arrangements for a phone conversation.
The attorneys providing this service have specialized knowledge in grantmaking, scholarships, fund management, planned giving, nonprofit law, the Pension Protection Act, UPMIFA and other laws that specifically affect the operations of a foundation.
The Details
- This service is designed to provide quick answers to questions and is limited to a maximum of one hour on any one question. The attorney will be able to advise the foundation if they need to engage counsel to assist them with a complex legal issue or gift.
- The attorney will engage directly with foundation staff or board members, and will not work directly with donors or professional advisors.
- The attorney can review documents but will not prepare any documents.
- This service is for legal questions that relate to the operation of a foundation, not legal issues facing a foundation’s grantees.
Foundations will contact IPA directly to subscribe to the service, and IPA will provide them with a subscription agreement. Once they send the agreement back to IPA with their payment, IPA will provide them with their login credentials. IPA will let you know when any of your members sign up for the service, and will provide each PSO with an annual report on usage by your members and the topic areas of questions handled.
Service Levels and Costs
|
|
Cost |
Service |
|
Entry |
$1000 |
5 inquiries/year |
|
Basic |
$1,700 |
10 inquiries/year |
|
Premium |
$2,500 |
Unlimited |
How to Subscribe
Email [email protected] to request a registration form and subscription agreement. Please indicate that you are a CNJG member.
The Silicon Valley Out-of-School-Time Collaborative invested in a cohort of regional nonprofit organizations to sustain and strengthen their ability to serve more students with stronger academic and social-emotional programming. Partners in the collaborative included three family foundations that together made an initial $1.6 million pooled investment over three years, and eight nonprofits that collectively served more than 7,000 low-income middle and high school students outside normal school hours. From the start of the partnership, funders and grantees held regular meetings focused on shared learning, trust building and dialogue. A midcourse evaluation of the collaborative showed that grantees were stronger, programs were better and are reaching more students, and funders had adopted new, collaborative grantmaking practices. The funders invested another $900,000 into a second phase of the work and committed to more flexibility –– letting grantees drive the group’s planning and learning efforts, and manage consultants, budgeting and group communications. Grantees also opted to redirect the focus of the collaborative from capacity building to program development and evaluation, with the added goal of sharing effective afterschool and summer program models with others, both inside and outside the region.
The rise of ESG and the SEC's impending climate disclosure requirements has put increasing pressure from the investment community on companies to meet specific reporting requirements. In addition, employees, communities and customers are demanding that companies address their concerns on a wide range of social and environmental issues. The growing number of reporting standards and frameworks can make it difficult for CSR and Philanthropy professionals to determine the best approach to reporting on their company's efforts.
This session will provide concrete ideas and steps on how to create an effective impact report that balances competing demands from a range of stakeholders. Specifically, how do companies acknowledge the tension between the need to meet a particular reporting requirement and authentically reporting on the relationships with the community? Within these structures that they can’t change, what are their choice points for more equitable practices?
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $150 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
This program is presented by Philanthropy New York.
CNJG is pleased to offer this program to family foundation members as part of NCFP's Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy 2023 webinar series, providing guidance on the core tenets of effective family philanthropy.
A family philanthropy has a much better chance of success if there is an intentional culture that values continuous improvement, feedback and professional development, and an integrated approach of learning and assessment across governance, philanthropic strategy, succession, and more. The assessment process asks organizations to evaluate their philanthropic purpose, governance, team, accountability, finances, and family—to answer how you can continually keep people engaged and excited about this work, and improve on what already exists. This webinar will explore how board and staff can create a learning culture within the philanthropy, different tools to assess the organization internally, and strategies to build assessment and feedback into all facets of the work.
Cost: This event is free for CNJG Members who are family foundations.
Other types of foundations are ineligible to join this webinar.
This program is a CNJG membership benefit for family foundation members, including staff and trustees, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
CNJG is pleased to offer this program to family foundation members as part of NCFP's Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy 2024 webinar series, providing guidance on the core tenets of effective family philanthropy.
Discover how family philanthropy can be a powerful catalyst for systems change by forging meaningful partnerships with like-minded organizations, initiatives, and stakeholders, and working together on initiatives such as pooled funds, donor collaboratives, and other strategies. Through expert insights, real-world success stories, and practical advice, we’ll guide you in harnessing the potential of collaboration to tackle complex social challenges.
Cost: This event is free for CNJG Members who are family foundations.
Other types of foundations are ineligible to join this webinar.
This program is a CNJG membership benefit for family foundation members, including staff and trustees, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
Funding nonprofit endowments can be a tool to ensure the stability of an organization, as well as to advance equity and shift power to frontline organizations. However, according to new, forthcoming CEP research, endowment giving represents only a small slice of foundation funding.
The webinar will explore the how and why of endowment funding from both funder and nonprofit perspectives, including U.S. foundation practices in endowment giving, how funding endowments can foster nonprofit sustainability and advance equitable social change, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s approach to endowment funding as a tool to advance equity.
The panel includes:
Maisha E. Simmons, Assistant Vice President, Equity and Culture, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (moderator)
Darren Isom, Partner, The Bridgespan Group
Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Vice President of Research, Center for Effective Philanthropy
John Jackson, President and CEO, Schott Foundation for Public Education
COST: Free for CNJG Members and Non Member Grantmakers
All registrants will receive a recording of the webinar after the event.
This program is presented by CEP and The Bridgespan Group and co-hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
CNJG is pleased to offer this program to family foundation members as part of NCFP's Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy 2024 webinar series, providing guidance on the core tenets of effective family philanthropy.
Designed specifically for family philanthropy in rural areas, this session will delve into the insights and strategies of donors who have been supporting rural communities for years. Our speakers, representing family philanthropies and nonprofits, will explore the unique challenges and successes of investing and working with local initiatives and grassroots organizations in rural areas. Discover how to maximize the impact of your family’s philanthropic place-based efforts, learn from real-world case studies, gain practical tools to define strategic approaches and enhance your understanding of rural communities and rural grantmaking practices.
Cost: This event is free for CNJG Members who are family foundations.
Other types of foundations are ineligible to join this webinar.
This program is a CNJG membership benefit for family foundation members, including staff and trustees, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
CNJG is pleased to offer this program to family foundation members as part of NCFP's Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy 2024 webinar series, providing guidance on the core tenets of effective family philanthropy.
This webinar will equip families with the knowledge and strategies needed to prepare the next generation to confidently take the helm and the current generation of leaders to feel secure in stepping back. By delving into engaging discussions and sharing practical insights, we’ll unravel the complexities of nurturing leadership skills, fostering a deep understanding of philanthropic values, and encouraging multi-generational collaboration within your family’s philanthropy.
Cost: This event is free for CNJG Members who are family foundations.
Other types of foundations are ineligible to join this webinar.
This program is a CNJG membership benefit for family foundation members, including staff and trustees, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
CNJG is pleased to offer this program to family foundation members as part of NCFP's Fundamentals of Family Philanthropy 2024 webinar series, providing guidance on the core tenets of effective family philanthropy.
Join us to explore the considerations of family philanthropy lifespan. In addition to philanthropic traditions, families want to think ahead about their philanthropic timeframe. This webinar will guide families through the decisions surrounding the sustainability and potential conclusion of their philanthropic efforts. Drawing from real-life examples, this session will equip you with the tools to ensure your family's philanthropic mission thrives and evolves in harmony with your vision, values, and the changing landscape of giving. Whether you're exploring the notion of sunsetting or seeking to refine your family's philanthropic approach, this webinar offers a roadmap to transform your values into action.
Cost: This event is free for CNJG Members who are family foundations.
Other types of foundations are ineligible to join this webinar.
This program is a CNJG membership benefit for family foundation members, including staff and trustees, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
The Bunbury Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $3.8 million in grants to more than four dozen local nonprofits, marking the final phase of its $17 million Sunset Awards.
As part of its sunsetting process, the Fund has distributed a total of $17,139,000 across 74 grants to 55 organizations, concluding its 75-year philanthropic legacy that began with The Bunbury Company. The Fund transitioned to a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation in 2015, and its sunset grants mark the culmination of a decade of impactful giving.
“The Bunbury Fund Advisors hope these sunset grants will amplify what has always been at the heart of our grantmaking—enhancing effectiveness and fostering innovation for the greater good,” said Jamie Kyte Sapoch, Lead Advisor to the Fund.
Over the past decade, the Bunbury Fund has awarded more than $24 million to nearly 100 regional nonprofits. The final round of grants includes unrestricted support for organizations and competitive capacity-building funding aimed at strengthening nonprofits’ operations and strategic growth.
How can being more transparent about your philanthropy strengthen your relationships and build trust with grantees and partners?
The annual Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report showed that 57 percent of Americans trust the nonprofit sector—much higher than the government, media, or the business sector. Yet, only 33 percent have trust in the philanthropic sector (primarily private foundations and high net-worth individuals). Why is this and how can family philanthropy increase this trust?
By prioritizing transparency, families can grow trusting relationships with the communities and organizations that they support, be more accountable donors, and ultimately enhance the effectiveness of their philanthropic efforts.
Cost: This event is free for CNJG Members who are family foundations.
Other types of foundations are ineligible to join this webinar.
This program is a CNJG membership benefit for family foundation members, including staff and trustees, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
Join our first Newark Funder Affinity Group meeting of the year as we discuss effective practices in wraparound support and advocacy for new immigrants to the area. The conditions at the border due to unrest in Central and South America and the busing of migrants from Texas to Northeastern cities mean that Newark is seeing an increased number of immigrants in need of immediate assistance. We will use this session to discuss ways that philanthropy can become engaged.
Speakers:
Priscilla Monico Marín, Executive Director, NJ Consortium for Immigrant Children
Amy Torres, NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice
Chia-Chia Wang, Organizing and Advocacy Director, American Friends Service Committee
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
Thanks to the Community Foundation of New Jersey, we have also opened an account for any foundations interested in pooling resources to support our immigrant community with legal and wraparound services. If you are interested in exploring this further with colleagues, please contact Kevin Callaghan, Newark Philanthropic Liaison.
Prudential Financial, Inc. recently announced the recipients of its third annual Prudential Community Grants Program. Recipients were honored on April 24 during a ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey.
“Prudential’s Community Grants Program is part of our commitment to our hometown of Newark. It exemplifies our place-based approach,” states Shané Harris, vice president and head of social responsibility, Prudential Financial, and president of The Prudential Foundation. “This initiative reflects our 150-year dedication to Newark and reinforces our ongoing support for all residents, now and into the future.”
The Community Grants Program focuses on neighborhood-based solutions that foster community vitality, providing direct support to Newark residents and organizations working to make a difference. “Our approach ensures that the solutions we fund are effective and tailored to the community’s needs,” Harris says. “This program addresses funding gaps and helps build resilient, thriving neighborhoods in Newark, enabling residents to live better lives, longer.”