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How can family philanthropies ensure their internal operations and grantmaking practices are disability- inclusive?

One in four US adults—61 million people—have some type of disability, but few people working in philanthropy self-identify as disabled. There is a growing recognition across the philanthropic sector that to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, it must approach its work through a disability lens. For funders, there are opportunities throughout their work to shift internal operations toward more equitable and values-aligned practices. In this interactive session, we focus on embedding disability and inclusion in operations and learn best practices to embed disability inclusion in their internal practices, processes, and policies.

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 National Center for Family Philanthropy as we explore fundamental questions in the context of family philanthropy: “Who is considered family?” and “What is the role of family in family philanthropy?”  

As family philanthropies evolve, choosing how to define family—whether it includes lineal descendants or extends to spouses, chosen family, or others—is essential.  Families must also decide how and when to include community voices. We will examine the role family members play in shaping philanthropic goals, decision-making processes, and the long-term impact of their giving, while navigating personal relationships and maintaining a commitment to learning.  

This session will provide valuable insights for families looking to build, refine, or sustain their philanthropy with shared values and vision. 

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.

How can a place-based approach maximize philanthropic impact and drive meaningful, community-led progress?

In this session we will consider the power of place-based funding and the unique opportunities it presents for achieving impact at scale in urban, rural, and Tribal communities. We will examine the commonalities that connect these diverse communities—such as shared challenges related to economic development, access to resources, and social equity—while also highlighting the distinct needs and opportunities within each context. You will learn how place-based philanthropy can create tailored, sustainable solutions that address the root causes of local and systemic issues, fostering long-term change.

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 tracking philanthropy’s response to the coronavirus pandemic by elevating our “Get on the Map” Campaign partnership with Candid (formerly Foundation Center). Candid recently launched their new coronavirus map, as a part of their coronavirus webpage. Now, we need your help to share funding efforts related to the coronavirus pandemic, so your COVID-19 grants can get on this new map. The more data that they can gather to complete the map, the more useful this resource will be for your organization.

Learn how you can share your data with Candid in this webinar as Kati Neiheisel, EReporting Liaison will walk us through the why and how of sharing data, and how sharing grants data informs the sector, locally, regionally, and globally. It is critical to be transparent and share this information with philanthropy in the coming weeks and months. Tracking this data will help coordinate and inform all of NJ Grantmakers' efforts for COVID-19 response and relief.

After this demonstration, we will hear from Linda Czipo, President and CEO at the Center for Non-Profits for an update on the results of the 2nd Rapid Response Coronavirus Nonprofit Survey conducted from April 3 to April 7. Linda will share information on nonprofits most urgent needs to better inform your grantmaking during this crisis. For results from the first survey, visit here.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members and NonMember Grantmakers
This program is only open to Grantmakers.

Webinar Video

More than a decade ago, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Philanthropy New York spearheaded a project to develop common application and report forms to help streamline the grant application process and ease the often time-consuming grant preparation process.

This application is a four-page form, which includes directions for use, a sample cover sheet, and the common grant proposal guidelines.

The separate Common Report Form follows closely the format of the New York/New Jersey Area Common Application Form.

Information for Grantmakers:

One of the core values at the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (with whom CNJG partnered on a trust-based grantmaking learning series in the summer of 2021 – read about Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) encourages funders to streamline their requirements for paperwork from nonprofits. Accepting the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Report Form is one way. Another is to accept reports from nonprofits that they submitted to a different funder.

Recent articles from Vu Le at NonprofitAF.com (We need to have a serious talk about character limits on grant applications and Trust-based grantmaking: What it is and why it’s critical to our sector), Joan Garry in the Chronicle of Philanthropy (A Plea from Community Nonprofits for Investment Equity and less Bureaucracy), and the research project by the Technology Association of Grantmakers (Grant Applications Share 39% Similarity According to New Research by TAG) in the summer of 2021 have re-focused attention on the concept of a common grant application.

CNJG encourages our members to review the application and report form, and consider accepting these forms (or using these questions on your online application / report form) from your current or potential grantees.

CNJG surveyed our members in August 2021 asking if they accepted the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application and report form. CNJG members can download that report (link forthcoming).

Information for Grantseekers:
Before sending this (or any) application to any funder, be sure to check their specific funding guidelines and application requirements. Some funders require preliminary, additional, or supplementary information. Some funders only accept their own application form. CNJG members are under no obligation to accept either the common grant application or common grant report form.

Additional notes when using the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application Form:

• Please check with each individual funder if they accept only their own form, the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application form, or some other form.
• Funding area guidelines still apply. Research each organization’s funding areas to be sure your proposal fits within their guidelines before submitting your application.
• Any funder that has agreed to accept the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application may request additional information at any stage in their application process.
• Every funder has different deadlines and timetables. Refer to each organization's funding and/or reporting guidelines.
• Do not submit the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application or report form to the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. Submit your application directly to the organization from which you are requesting support.
• Questions should be directed to the organization from which you are requesting support.

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 session will explore the dynamic ways in which cultural and faith-based values can shape and inform the mission and impact of your family’s philanthropic endeavors. Faith has been imbedded in US philanthropy from its earliest days and many donors continue to lean on those values when driving change. Some donors openly talk about the link between their faith and giving, while others use their faith as quiet motivation. Panelists will share practical strategies, case studies, and best practices for aligning your family’s giving with your cultural and faith-based principles, allowing you to achieve a deeper and more meaningful impact in your grantmaking efforts in ways that also ensure equity and promote open dialogue. Whether you seek to honor your heritage, promote justice, and/or support causes close to your heart, this webinar will provide valuable guidance for harnessing the power of culture and faith in 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.