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Developed in partnership with United Philanthropy Forum and Northern California Grantmakers, this guide shares seven practices and 12 tools for Philanthropy-Serving Organizations who seek effective ways to mobilize resources to sustain their organization’s work. The guide features perspectives from dozens of leaders of national and regional PSOs and examples from our work with these organizations. Much of the content is based on conversations and strategy work with PSO leaders, staff and board members.

The Trust-Based Philanthropy Project is pleased to announce a six-part webinar series addressing common questions, clarifying misconceptions, and exploring ways to overcome obstacles in implementing trust-based philanthropy. CNJG is pleased to share this opportunity with our members.

Series Description: Trust-based philanthropy is a philosophy and approach rooted in values of relationship-building, mutual learning, and systemic equity – with a vision of advancing a healthier and more impactful nonprofit sector. While this approach is generally associated with six core grantmaking practices such as multi-year unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, the day-to-day work of trust-based philanthropy is very nuanced and dynamic. In fact, funders who have embraced this approach are finding that it requires ongoing self-reflection and rigor with regards to how they think about – and evolve – many of the deeply embedded practices and assumptions of traditional philanthropy.

Given these nuances, it is not surprising that there are many questions and occasional misperceptions about what it actually means to embody trust-based philanthropy in practice. In this 6-part webinar series, the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will explore some of the most commonly asked questions and the underlying misperceptions that may be roadblocks to understanding and operationalizing trust-based philanthropy.

Each session in the series will focus on a frequently asked question from the field, and will feature perspectives from foundation leaders and others who have grappled with similar or related questions. At the end of each session, participants will walk away with: 1) a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the underlying cultural philosophy of trust-based philanthropy; 2) tips for how to think about and approach these nuances in their own work; and 3) talking points for how to answer these FAQs when they come up from colleagues or peers.

Each session will also provide dedicated space for small-group peer dialogue (among CNJG members) about ways to implement these practices into your grantmaking.

Cost: Free

Who should attend: Anyone in a grantmaking role that is curious about understanding the nuances of trust-based philanthropy and how it applies to your work. This series will be ideal for those who have some baseline familiarity with trust-based philanthropy and have questions about how it manifests in practice.

Please note: this webinar series is separate from CNJG’s 2023 Conference for the Social Sector, which features an in-person luncheon keynote by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. CNJG’s conference is open to both funders and nonprofits, so the keynote will differ from this series. Because CNJG’s Doing Good Better initiative leans on the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy, we encourage our members to register for these sessions - as time allows - for funders to learn about different approaches to changing systems in New Jersey.

Demystifying Trust-Based Philanthropy Series Sessions
Session #1: Does Trust-Based Mean Unconditional Trust?
Session #2: Does Unrestricted Funding Automatically Make a Funder Trust-Based?
Session #3: How Do We Approach Risk and Due Diligence in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #4: What Does Grantee Accountability Look Like in Trust-Based Funding?
Session #5: How Do You Measure Impact in Trust-Based Philanthropy?
Session #6: What Does Racial Equity Have To Do With Trust-Based Philanthropy?

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

Newark’s 40th Mayor Ras J. Baraka (pictured, second from right) invited the Newark Funders Group to hear his vision for the city at special August meeting.  Just 30 days into his term, the Mayor called on the Newark Philanthropic Liaison Jeremy Johnson (far left) to organize a convening with the Newark group, co-chaired by Etta Denk of Bank America (second from left) and Barbara Reisman of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey (third from left).  Irene Cooper-Basch (far right), Chair of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Executive Officer at the Victoria Foundation, introduced the Mayor to more than 50 grantmakers who attended the session at the PSEG headquarters in downtown Newark.   Rick Thigpen (not pictured), ‎Vice President, State Government Affairs at PSEG, welcomed the Mayor and Grantmakers to the company’s conference center.

Mayor Baraka talked about new interventions for youth at risk and targeting crime in hot spots in the city.  He said increased “literacy” would help get to the core of many of Newark’s problems.  During the questions and answer period, the Mayor elaborated on his proposed response to the budget, the arts, downtown development, prisoner reentry, early childhood education and the city’s relation to Newark Public Schools.  He thanked grantmakers for their contributions to “The Blueprint for a New Newark,” a document of transition recommendations.

The Newark Funders Group is an affinity group of CNJG and meets quarterly.  The group’s activities include an active Education Subcommittee, Early Learners Funders Group, and College Access and Success committee.

Join funder colleagues to learn about two newly created funds to help address the challenging environment many nonprofits are experiencing today. United Way organizations in New Jersey have a long history of strengthening local communities by providing direct support and fostering collaboration across sectors. In response to the evolving needs of nonprofits and the communities they serve, six United Ways have partnered to establish the New Jersey Sustainability and Resiliency Fund. Learn about how the this newly created fund can help nonprofits recover, adapt, and thrive in the face of ongoing challenges. Equip NJ is also working to establish a fund to assist nonprofits focused on policy and systems change. To set the stage for this introduction, we’ll hear from our colleagues at the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits about how the upheaval of critical supports and systems nationally are posing grave threats to New Jersey’s nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.

Webinar Video

New Jersey Nonprofits: Trends and Outlook 2025 Report