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Community foundations are beginning to deepen and shift how they work, adopting an anchor mission that seeks to fully deploy all resources to build community wealth. Moving into territory relatively uncharted for community foundations, they are taking up impact investing and economic development — some in advanced ways, others with small steps. This report offers an overview of how 30 representative community foundations — including The Seattle Foundation, the Vermont Community Foundation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation — are working toward adopting this new anchor mission.
This Democracy Collaborative report was written by Marjorie Kelly, Senior Fellow and Director of Special Projects and Violeta Duncan, Community Development Associate.
Share your giving data and Get on the Map!
Your data will power valuable resources for your organization and our region including access to the CNJG Foundation Funding Map and COVID-19 Funding Map on the powerful interactive searchable mapping platform, engineered by Candid.
How to share your data
Export your grants data from your software system.
Most grants management software products have documented how to export the information.
If you don’t see your software provider on that list, download their eReporting template, an Excel spreadsheet, which you can use to complete the information they need.
Submit your data to Candid by emailing the completed template with your data in it to [email protected] and cc Craig Weinrich.
You can also follow the detailed instructions on this page.
Candid will make every effort to post your data to the map within 5 business days.
Get the answers to your Frequently Asked Questions including:
What information do I need to provide?
Why is it important to provide a grant description?
How is my grants data coded by Candid?
How frequently should I share my grants data?
How quickly will my information appear on my complimentary map?
Can I embed my complimentary map on my website?
What should I do if corrections need to be made to my data?
How will my grant information be used and shared?
How do I responsibly share sensitive grants data?

Date: Wednesday, June 18
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location
The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ
CNJG’s 2025 Conference for the Social Sector—Stronger Together: Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, features recognized thought leaders, national and regional experts, and community leaders for a full day of connection, shared exploration, thoughtful discussion, and side-by-side learning with philanthropic and nonprofit colleagues.
This year's conference will examine how funders and nonprofits can work together to address and increase civic engagement, focusing on several key areas, including advocacy, local media, participatory budgeting, guaranteed income, public-private partnerships, the arts, and youth education through the lens of civic participation.
Civic engagement is about more than voting or elections. As our colleagues at Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) define it:
“Civic engagement is the process of helping people be active participants in building and strengthening their communities, whether defined as a place or a shared identity or interest. It’s a spectrum of ways people can participate in self-governance, from interactions with government to voluntary associations, and everything in between.”
The opportunity for local communities to convene, learn together, and form partnerships can lead to meaningful action and increased public participation. Let’s explore how philanthropy can impact the social sector by buttressing these connections.
CNJG represents over 130 of NJ’s leading philanthropic organizations – foundations, corporations, and donors. Each year, we present a large-format meeting to include nonprofit partners to discuss big picture topics fostering learning and dialogue between funders and nonprofits.
| Agenda | |
| 8:00 - 9:00 am |
Registration/Breakfast/Networking/Resource Marketplace |
| 9:00 - 10:00 am | |
| 10:00 - 10:15 am |
Networking & Resource Marketplace |
| 10:15 - 11:30 am |
Morning Sessions: The Future of Civic Engagement |
| 11:30 - 11:45 am |
Networking & Resource Marketplace |
| 11:45 - 1:30 pm | |
| 1:30 - 1:45 pm |
Networking & Resource Marketplace |
| 1:45 - 3:00 pm |
Afternoon Sessions: Mobilizing New Jersey |
| 3:00 - 4:00 pm |
Ice Cream Reception/Networking/Resource Marketplace |
Conference Photos
Sample bylaws for Community Foundations.
Already, 2025 has been a year unlike any other. The changes in federal policy are coming at a pace we’ve not experienced before. Not even a month in, the new administration immediately issued several significant Executive Orders (EOs), creating uncertainty across the social sector. From attempts to freeze Congressionally approved funding, to efforts banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and questionable tactics to slash the federal workforce; funders and nonprofit partners are gravely concerned about how the fabric of our democracy and the systems of constitutionally mandated checks and balances are fraying right before our eyes. To help you cut through the noise, the National Council of Nonprofits is tracking and continuously updating its analysis of the impact of these EOs on nonprofit organizations in real time.
This is the time to shore up relationships with colleagues and nonprofit partners. I’m grateful that in New Jersey, we have a strong partnership with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. Advocacy and policy are at the heart of the Center’s mission. They have been at the forefront of keeping us informed about the Office of Mangement and Budget's (OMB) freezing of federal grants and loans. I encourage you to:
- Sign up for the Center’s email list for up-to-date, reliable information.
- Ask your grantees and nonprofit partners to complete the annual NJ Trends and Outlook survey, launched today. This year, the survey is also collecting stories about how executive actions are impacting nonprofit organizations.
On behalf of philanthropy-supporting organizations, United Philanthropy Forum is also mobilizing to serve as a key source for accurate, reliable information with their newly created resource page, “Executive Actions Impacting the Philanthropic & Nonprofit Sectors."
Funders across the country are asking what they can do immediately. As I noted above, leveraging your partnerships and strengthening your relationships is key. Echoing sage recommendations from the Council on Foundations and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, here are other strategies for your consideration:
- Reach out to your grantees and nonprofit partners – don’t wait for them to reach out to you. They need to hear from you and know that you are championing their often-thankless work.
- Offer flexible funding and move funding quickly. Allow your grantees to repurpose their current grant funding to meet the needs of their organization and those they serve. Giving nonprofits every resource and tool they need to be nimble is critical.
- Share your funding opportunities with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits to post on their revamped funding page.
- Get comfortable introducing your grantees to new partners, other grantees, and potential funders. This is how we build strong, resilient communities of practice and service.
We’re embarking upon untested times. As we celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History in March, it is important to remember that meaningful change starts and ends with partnership, collaboration, and advocacy. Philanthropy has a critical role to play in this equation.
To help you better understand the federal policy landscape, we’re hosting an eight-part Funder Briefing Series: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for
New Jersey, beginning in March. This series will provide an overview of key issues that directly impact philanthropy, and more broadly, the charitable sector. The first session, on March 13 at 4:00 pm., will focus on immigration.
In addition, we will be launching a web page with information and resources to help inform your decision-making, as well as reintroducing our policy infused e-newsletter, CNJG ...for the field. Covering both big 'P' and little 'p' policy issues, the first edition will land in your inbox later this month, providing key updates and relevant articles.
I want to end with some exciting news — Craig Weinrich has been
promoted to Senior Director, Member Experience. Craig has been with CNJG for 11 years, and his leadership and dedication have been invaluable to our community. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion!
And channeling Craig – a quick reminder: it’s time to renew your CNJG membership. Please reach out to him if you have questions.
We look forward to engaging with you in the months ahead. Philanthropy has an important role during these tenuous times. Let’s use our collective power for good.
In solidarity,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
This publication from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations offers a framework for thinking about how to measure progress and results in place-based and community change initiatives.
A CNJG member queried the Health & Aging listserves asking for sample letters of inquiry. This document includes a few responses from fellow members. If you would like to add yours to this list, please email us.
Foundations Facilitate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Partnering with Community and Nonprofits, a new report by the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning, confirms that foundations can, in fact, facilitate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through their grantmaking processes and their partnerships with nonprofits—and identifies eight specific practices for foundations to emulate.
The report takes a deep dive into the work of nine foundations that represent a diverse cross-section of types and sizes, and offers useful lessons about how foundations can better partner with nonprofits to be more effective in their work.
Tax Exempt Organization Search helps users find information about a tax-exempt organization’s federal tax status and filings. You can find:
- Organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions (Pub 78 data).
- Automatically revoked organizations
- IRS determination letters dated on or after January 1, 2014
- Form 990-series returns
- Organizations that have filed a Form 990-N (e-Postcard)

Steering Committee
Jorge Cruz, Executive Director, LISC Greater Newark
Linda Czipo, President & CEO of the New Jersey Center of Nonprofits
Jackie Edwards, Executive Director, Parents Inc of NJ
Victoria Fernandez, Director of Thriving Communities, Grunin Foundation; and Co-Founder, Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective
Tyneisha Gibbs, Founder and Principal Consultant of 144th & Vine; and Co-Founder, Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Bridget Phifer, Chief Executive Officer, Parkside Business & Community in Partnership
Rosalía Velázquez, Director of Strategic Partnerships, New Jersey Center of Nonprofits
Advisory Group
Keith R. Adams, Executive Director, NJVOAD
Carin Berkowitz, Executive Director, New Jersey Council for the Humanities
Elsa Candelario, Professor of Professional Practice, Latino/a/x Initiatives for Service, Training, and Assessment, Rutgers School of Social Work
Jane Cohen, Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy
René O. Deida, Director, Corporate and Community Engagement, Prudential Financial, Inc.
Hans Dekker, President, Community Foundation of New Jersey
Craig Drinkard, Co-Executive Officer, Victoria Foundation
Bill Engel President, The Union Foundation
Andy Fraizer Executive Director, Community Foundation of South Jersey
Laurie Goganzer, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Monmouth County
Jeremy Grunin, President, Grunin Foundation
Bob Guarasci, Founder & CEO, New Jersey Community Development Corporation
Susan Hoskins, Executive Director, Friends Foundation for the Aging
Sharnita C. Johnson, Vice President of Strategy, Impact and Communication, Victoria Foundation
Elaine E. Katz, Sr. Vice President, Kessler Foundation
Eddie LaPorte, Director, New Jersey Office of Faith Based Initiatives
Taneshia Nash Laird, President and CEO, Newark Symphony Hall
Tammy Rice Herman, Director of Grants & Strategies, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
John Thurber, Partner, Br'Island Group
Keith Timko, Executive Director & CEO, Support Center
Sandra Toussaint, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Mercer County
Allison Tratner, Executive Director, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Mark Valli, CEO, NORWESCAP
Margaret Waldock, Executive Director, Duke Farms
Catherine Wilson, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Newark
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.

Date: Tuesday, May 23
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location
The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Ave, Somerset, NJ
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is pleased to present our 2023 Conference for the Social Sector on May 23, 2023. The conference theme will focus on our initiative: Doing Good Better, a partnership between the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. This long-term initiative aims to shift the culture of the New Jersey philanthropic and nonprofit ecosystem by encouraging funders, nonprofits, and government to create shared power rooted in collaboration, mutual trust, and respect.
The 2023 Spring Conference for the Social Sector: Doing Good Better will explore how funders and nonprofits can address philanthropy’s power imbalances, rethink traditional grantmaking practices to better serve New Jersey communities, and position equity as a driving force. For many years, but particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and the heightened outcry for racial equity and social justice, funders have been urged to embrace more flexibility and transparency in their grantmaking. Practices such as general operating support, simplified application and reporting procedures, multi-year funding and others have been shown to level the power imbalance, advance greater equity, strengthen partnerships between funders and their nonprofit partners, and thereby improve community impact. The conference will present strategies and tools including trust-based philanthropy, participatory grantmaking, power redistribution, and others that we can all employ to inform and realign processes, systems, and culture in the social sector. Join foundation, philanthropic, government, and nonprofit colleagues to learn about and leverage these tools. Together, we will discover and strategize how we collectively can "do good better”.
| Agenda | |
| 8:00 - 9:00 am | Registration/Breakfast/Networking/Resource Marketplace |
| 9:00 10:00 am | Opening Plenary |
| 10:00 - 10:15 am | Networking & Resource Marketplace |
| 10:15 - 11:30 am | Breakout Sessions |
| 11:30 - 11:45 am | Networking & Resource Marketplace |
| 11:45 - 1:00 pm | Luncheon Plenary |
| 1:00 - 1:30 pm | Table Discussions |
| 1:30 - 1:45 pm | Networking & Resource Marketplace |
| 1:45 - 3:00 pm | Breakout Sessions |
| 3:00 - 4:00 pm | Ice Cream reception/Networking/Resource Marketplace |
As we settle into the festive spirit of the holiday season, it's the perfect time to take a step back and reflect on the impact we've made - and the exciting possibilities ahead. I'm reaching out once again to remind you about the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering - our key year-end event where we gather to reflect, learn, and most importantly, strengthen the connections that make our work in philanthropy so impactful.
This year's theme, Inspiring Change through Leadership: Maximizing Philanthropic Impact, is about how we can use leadership to drive meaningful and lasting change. I'm excited to share that this year's gathering will offer an inspiring mix of learning, reflection, and connection - an opportunity to think about where we've been and where we want to go next.
Here's what to look forward to:
- Leadership in Action Workshop: We'll be diving into the New Jersey Principles for Philanthropy with a panel of CNJG members who have led the efforts for CNJG to adopt the principles. The panelists will discuss how they are aligning their work with the principles, where some challenges lie ahead, and how we can promote these principles within our organizations to engage in further work. It will be an excellent opportunity to learn, discuss, and brainstorm how you, too, can apply these guiding principles to your own work and further strengthen your organization's impact.
- Keynote Address by Amalia Brindis Delgado: I'm especially excited about our keynote speaker, Amalia Brindis Delgado, Chief Strategy Officer, Panta Rhea Foundation. Amalia will speak on leadership and leadership transitions as well as share insights from her work with Leading Forward and Resilience & Renewal Grantmaking. Her talk will offer valuable lessons on navigating change and building organizational resilience - something that's more important than ever as we look towards the future of philanthropy.
A Special Announcement:
I'm also pleased to share that we have a new face joining the
CNJG team. Please join me in welcoming Fortunata Cuomo as our new Development Associate. Fortunata brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit fundraising, and we're excited for you to meet her at the Annual Meeting. Her role will focus on improving and expanding our sponsorship and Resource Marketplace programs, managing all aspects of our grant funding, and spearheading efforts to build new revenue streams. This position is a critical investment in CNJG to help us expand our business model and create new opportunities to generate revenue.
With just a few days to go, I encourage you to take a moment to register for the Annual Meeting (if you haven't already) and join us for what promises to be an inspiring, energizing day of conversation and connection. We are truly looking forward to seeing you on December 11 at APA Hotel Woodbridge in Iselin.
A big thank you to our sponsors to date - we couldn't do this without you! Special thanks to Signature Sponsor – Prudential; Contributing Sponsors – Campbell’s, Devils Youth Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Victoria Foundation; Supporting Sponsors – Grunin Foundation, LISC NJ, Pincus Family Foundation, and WSFS Bank; and Colleague Sponsor – Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Warmly,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
The Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) invite you to join an informal conversation to learn from funder peers who are practicing participatory grantmaking (PG). We’ll begin with a brief overview of PG, and how this practice can be used to center equity and justice as we shift away from extractive grantmaking practices. We’ll then hear from a few HEFN and SAFSF members who are implementing different models of PG in their grantmaking.
If you’re new to the concept of participatory grantmaking, this webinar is a great opportunity to see examples of it in action. If you’re familiar with participatory grantmaking (or working to implement these practices in your own world), this is a chance to dive deeper into others’ practices for learnings and insight. Time will be reserved in the agenda for discussions in smaller groups and, as you might expect, the call will be participatory!
Speakers:
Amanda Tello, St. Louis Environmental Justice Fund
Shavaun Evans, Food and Farm Communications Fund
Mark Muller, Regenerative Agriculture Foundation
Resources
Zoom Recording
Webinar slides
Deciding Together Shifting Power and Resources Through Participatory Grantmaking
Amanda Tello’s communal agreements
PG Learning Community Summary
As we navigate today's challenges and opportunities, it's important that we continue to gather, exchange ideas, and move forward the causes we value. We all know how a single conversation can spark a big idea or inspire a new partnership.
That's why you won't want to miss our much-anticipated 2024 Spring Colloquium: Empowering the Future: Harnessing AI and Data for Philanthropic Social Impact - a must-attend gathering for every funder working in New Jersey. Join us for valuable insights and opportunities to connect with colleagues and passionate thought leaders who share your commitment to driving social change.
I look forward to seeing you there and engaging in the vibrant discussions and community building opportunities that awaits us.
Thank you to the generosity of our sponsors: Signature Sponsor - PSE&G, Collaborator Sponsor - Wells Fargo, Connector Sponsors - Campbell Soup Company, Sixers Youth Foundation, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Exhibitor Sponsor - PKF O'Connor Davies. We couldn't do this without you.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

