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The PSEG Foundation celebrated a decade of community impact through its Neighborhood Partners Program (NPP), hosting a special event to honor more than 400 nonprofit organizations that have received nearly $8 million in grants since the program’s inception. This year, the program set new records, with an 11% increase in applications and $1.2 million in total giving—a 20% rise from last year’s $1 million.
Representatives from more than 100 nonprofits that have benefited from the program attended the event, sharing testimonials about its impact on their communities. The NPP provides grant funding to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that demonstrate effective programming aligned with the PSEG Foundation’s three strategic pillars: environmental sustainability, social justice, and equity and economic empowerment.
“In 10 years, the Neighborhood Partners Program has not only awarded millions in grants but has stood alongside hundreds of community-led organizations to create lasting change throughout New Jersey. NPP now serves as a role model for other funders who also seek to be catalysts for progress at the neighborhood level,” said Calvin Ledford Jr., president of the PSEG Foundation. “We are proud to support these transformative partnerships, which embody our unwavering commitment to empowering communities, tackling critical environmental and socio-economic challenges, and advancing equity—especially for those with the greatest need—so that all communities can thrive in a more sustainable and just New Jersey.”
In their 2017 book The New Localism, Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak make the case that we're at the beginning of a new era: one in which cities and counties must take the lead on new strategies to address pressing social and economic challenges.
But if they hope to be successful, city leaders cannot take on this burden alone: they need to unleash the collective power of their communities. The good news is that a growing number of cities are finding that supporting communities in small ways — for instance, with microgrants — can deliver outsized impact.
Consider the case of the Denver Foundation, which has kept its Strengthening Neighborhoods initiative going for nearly two decades. The initiative provides grants ranging from $100 to $5,000 to fund community-driven solutions that take advantage of the skills and resources already present in a community. Similarly, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's Spark Grants program relies on a grassroots leadership model to bring diverse groups together to strengthen local neighborhoods.
The power of small grants to drive change has not been lost on city leaders, many of whom are embracing the potential of micro-philanthropy — and pairing it with a citizen-led ecosystem that supports the effective implementation of those grants. In Newark, we've taken these lessons to heart and are eager to share some of what we've learned about how small grants can help lay a foundation for improved social and economic mobility.
CNJG's Storify content from their Signature Events.
Sample conflict of interest policies for Community Foundations.
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
Adopted by CNJG”s Board of Trustees in October 2023, these eight Principles offer philanthropy a source of direction for their own equity journey. Each principle begins with a common understanding followed by developmental steps, and the aspiration for each principle. These principles are intended to promote continuous learning, vulnerability, and reflection for how philanthropy can evolve from its historical roots to a more trusting, accountable, and equitable model.
How can funders make grant applications and reporting less burdensome for nonprofit partners? How do we connect with smaller nonprofits working on-the-ground in communities? How can we encourage more unrestricted grants? How should funders compensate nonprofit leaders when asking for their expertise and limited time?
We’ll explore those questions, and more, at the upcoming CNJG 2023 Conference for the Social Sector: Doing Good Better on May 23.
But don’t delay in registering for the event. We’ll be at capacity very soon and will likely need to close registration. CNJG is the network serving you, our members; and our members – you - work toward the shared goals of improved practice and empowering stronger communities. Please register soon.
Getting back to our new team member – I’m pleased to welcome Chanika Svetvilas, CNJG’s new Manager of Programs and Learning. Chanika started with us on April 19. She will coordinate and manage our overall programming, including affinity group meetings, funder briefings, partner programs, skill-building workshops, and signature events. Chanika brings a range of experience in program implementation and planning. You can read her full bio here.
You’ll get the chance to meet Chanika at the Conference on May 23. The entire CNJG team is looking forward to seeing you there.
See you soon,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Join us at the second NJ Corporate Philanthropy Network meeting of the year which will focus on what specific information you should zero in on when searching for any red flags in non-profit 990’s and financial statements. Seasoned Accountants, Sherise D, Ritter and Lovepreet Buttar, from The Mercadien Group will guide us. We’ll also touch on vetting sponsorship requests and hold our traditional round robin where meeting participants can share their burning questions/issues and lessons learned.
Lovepreet Buttar, Managing Director with Mercadien’s Nonprofit and Human Services Group, has extensive experience performing and overseeing audit engagements for various nonprofit organizations, including associations, schools, private foundations, and health and human services organizations. She is passionate about helping these organizations support their constituents and achieve their mission. She is also head of the firm’s Audit and Assurance practice and is responsible for both firm-wide and engagement-specific quality control matters and overseeing training for various for-profit, not-forprofit and government/public entities. In this role, she helps ensure the firm is using best practices that are compliant with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Sherise (Sherry) Ritter is Managing Director and Co-Chair of the The Mercadien Group’s Nonprofit and Human Services Group, as well as the Advisory Services Group. Serving as a trusted advisor, she meets with all of her clients at least once a year to advise them on topics such as tax planning and preparation, identifying risk areas and formulating solutions, strategy to meet growth goals, and multi-state and unrelated business income taxation and filing exposures. Additionally, she helps her clients with strategic planning, process efficiency and improvement studies, and mergers and acquisitions. She also specializes in the areas of cash flow management, accounting systems design, and board governance training.
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
Blank 990 Form
990 Forms and their Schedules
The Overhead Myth: Crash Course to Fundraising Transparency
Charity Navigator's Assessment of Finances
In this funder briefing, Christopher Miller, Environmental Law Center, will cover recent and anticipated changes impacting water and air quality, and environmental justice, and the need for legal advocacy at the state and local level. Additionally, Alison Mitchel and Barbara Blumenthal, New Jersey Conservation Foundation will discuss the impact of federal policy on land conservation, clean energy, and climate change issues.
Dr. Barbara Blumenthal is research director with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, which advocates for cost-effective clean-energy policies to achieve deep decarbonization. Dr. Blumenthal collaborates with national experts to develop foundational policy strategies and regulatory approaches for New Jersey. Dr. Blumenthal also collaborates with a wide range of environmental, environmental justice and consumer advocates to analyze costs that inform the implementation of affordable and effective clean energy policies.
Chris Miller is an environmental lawyer and the executive director of Eastern Environmental Law Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit law organization based in Newark, New Jersey. EELC partners with community groups and nonprofit organizations to advance equitable clean energy solutions, achieve environmental justice and defend our region's open space and natural resources from unsustainable development.
Alison Mitchell serves as the Executive Director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and has worked for New Jersey Conservation Foundation for over 30 years. Previously Assistant Director and Acting Development Director, Alison served as the Conservation Foundation’s Public Policy Director for over a decade. In earlier years, Alison also worked on land acquisition initiatives and led NJ Conservation’s Conservation Assistance Program, and played a leadership role in the organization’s farmland preservation efforts. In addition to her work at the Conservation Foundation, Alison was a founding trustee and former president of the Hunterdon Land Trust, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Isles. She also served as a public member appointed by Governor McGreevey on the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Programs in this Series:
March 13: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Immigration
March 20: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Health
March 27: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Environment
April 3: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Education
April 10: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Housing
April 17: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Media & Journalism
April 24: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for NJ: Arts
Webinar Video
Links
Report: Nature For All: A 2050 Vision for New Jersey
NJ Conservation Blueprint - data-driven, interactive mapping tool
This weekly funder briefing webinar series welcomed New Jersey-based grantmakers along with national funders and provided an opportunity for grantmakers to hear from a wide range of nonprofit experts. This series started on March 13, 2025, less than a month after the first executive order was issued and continued through April 24, 2025. The recordings of each are below.
Immigration Webinar
Health Webinar
Environment Webinar
Education Webinar
Housing Webinar
Media & Journalism Webinar
Arts Webinar
In our most recent round of funding, the Dodge Foundation made more than $5 million in grants which served to acknowledge long-standing partners and collaborators, support new partners who are driving racial equity and justice, and respond to the real-time issues and crises facing people across the State of New Jersey. These grants represent our purposeful efforts to support and recognize the impact of years-long partners and institutions, while also strengthening and growing our support to new organizations focused and aligned to our new strategic direction of building a just and equitable New Jersey.
The Dodge Foundation provided multi-year funding to support a number of partner organizations, representing a collaborative strategy of providing the space, time, and opportunity for each organization to strengthen and build their capacity and encourage new voices and funding partners to join the movement. The goal of this support is to achieve long-term sustainability that allows these organizations to continue their impact well into the future. As the Foundation continues our transformation to center racial equity and justice in our work and our funding, we are also thrilled to recognize these long-standing partner organizations and the impact they have had and will continue to have on communities across New Jersey.
In this funding cycle, we provided three organizations each with a three-year grant of $1M general operating support. For all of these initiatives, the Dodge Foundation was a core partner from the earliest days and an integral supporter in achieving years of state-wide impact.