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The Fund for Women and Girls of the Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded a record $325,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations.
This funding is the largest amount awarded in any cycle of the Fund’s more than 20-year history and includes a first-time award for the Liz Gray Erickson Memorial Grant, a 3-year grant given in memory of the Princeton resident who served as the chair of the Fund from 2012 to 2014.
“Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our Fund for Women and Girls members, we’ve awarded more than $1 million in grants to more than three dozen nonprofits in the last five years,” said Jenifer Morack, Fund Co-Chair.
Fund members pool their donations, then recommend grants to be awarded annually to local nonprofits. Isabel Zisk, Fund Co-Chair, said making a gift to the Fund is incredibly effective. Individual donations create a leveraged pool of funding that greatly benefits nonprofits working to impact the well-being of women, girls and communities in our region.
“We do what no individual donor has the expertise, time or access to do,” she said, explaining that the Fund’s Grants Committee members read dozens of applications and conduct site visits with nonprofits. “Because of some very generous gifts, this year, we have the honor of awarding the Liz Gray Erickson Memorial Grant. With her visionary leadership, Liz planted the seeds of our grantmaking focus.”
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
It was absolutely wonderful being together in person with so many members and nonprofit partners at the CNJG 2023 Conference for the Social Sector on May 23. I’m proud that our conferences elevate important issues for the field, this year focusing on Doing Good Better - a joint initiative between CNJG and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. And it was our highest attended conference ever!
The day opened with an insightful panel of foundation leaders who have joined the movement and are taking their organizations on the Doing Good Better journey by implementing trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking in their organization’s DNA. Thank you Tanuja Dehne, President and CEO, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Craig Drinkard, Executive Officer, Victoria Foundation, Jeremy Grunin, President and CEO, Grunin Foundation, and Samantha Plotino, Executive Director, The Provident Bank Foundation, for sharing your wisdom and showing us what’s possible.
Keynote speaker Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, was masterful at both introducing trust-based philanthropy to audience members new to these concepts, while also deepening and expanding our understanding of trust-based philanthropy for those of us already familiar with the ideas. As part of her presentation, she also trusted us with 2 compelling stories of power sharing from her personal experience. It was a powerful moment.
Each of the morning and afternoon sessions offered practical steps to address a specific area or challenge within the Doing Good Better tent. We’re grateful to all our conference speakers. It was a dream link-up of talent and expertise.
Following Shaady’s presentation, we posed 4 questions for discussion. And because these questions are so important to help inform our ongoing Doing Good Better work, I’m posing them again to you:
- What are some practice changes your organization can make to embody trust-based philanthropy and/or the broader ideals under the Doing Better Good tent?
- What are funders doing to lean into a trust-based approach that centers relationship-building, mutual learning, and transparency? What more could be done?
- Have you implemented any of the principles of trust-based philanthropy or Doing Good Better ideals, and what has been your organization’s experience?
- What are some of the ways that racial equity, and intersectional equity issues, can be addressed using the ideas under the Doing Good Better tent and/or trust-based philanthropy practices?
Your ideas and responses will help us in our Doing Good Better work – I hope you’ll share them with me.
Finally, thank you to our sponsors for supporting this event: PSEG, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sixers Youth Foundation, Citi, Grunin Foundation, Panasonic Foundation, Valley National Bank, PKF O’Connor Davies, TriNet, LISC – Greater Newark, and The Palace at Somerset Park. We’re grateful for your support.
Doing Good Better invites philanthropy and nonprofits to rethink traditional philanthropy, and advance equity in the nonprofit sector, in philanthropy, and in New Jersey. CNJG’s new strategic plan specifically embraces shared power and leadership, equity as an organizing principle, trust-based philanthropy, participatory grantmaking, elevating partnerships, and cross-sector relationships grounded in inclusion. These ideas make up the Doing Good Better tent, and I’m proud we could share them at our 2023 Conference.
In partnership,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
I hope you had a chance to pause and find moments of celebration and peace over the Fourth of July holiday with family and friends.
July 4 was also the day that President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill, a massive tax and spending package. The legislation includes a permanent universal charitable deduction ($1,000/$2,000) empowering all Americans to give, and removal of the foundation excise tax increase, protecting billions of dollars in investments for communities. Among its many devasting provisions, it cuts “$1 trillion from the federal Medicaid program, with over 360,000 in New Jersey potentially losing coverage. Almost $300 billion in cuts are also planned for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), impacting some 800,000 state residents enrolled in that program,” (New Jersey Spotlight). Ultimately these cuts will impact state budgets, including in our own state.
United Philanthropy Forum makes clear in their statement following the Senate passage, that cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital safety net programs will significantly harm communities and people that the social sector – philanthropy and nonprofits – work to empower and elevate. The letter goes on to state:
The irony is cruel: Congress has expanded incentives for charitable giving while simultaneously creating conditions that will dramatically increase the need for charitable services. Philanthropy cannot fill the massive gaps these cuts will create.
In the face of such challenges, the need for robust civic engagement has never been more urgent. Civic engagement is the bedrock of a healthy democracy – it's the process of empowering individuals to be active participants in building and strengthening our communities and ensuring all voices are heard. It encompasses everything from direct interactions with government to the vital work of voluntary associations. It is precisely in times like these that our collective participation, our shared insights, and our collaborative action become most critical.
It was with this understanding that we convened the CNJG 2025 Conference for the Social Sector — Stronger Together: Philanthropy & Civic Engagement on Wednesday, June 18th. The conference brought together more than 350 funders, nonprofit leaders, and changemakers for a discussion on how philanthropy and nonprofits can work together to address and increase civic engagement. We explored key areas like local news, participatory budgeting, guaranteed income, and public-private partnerships just to mention a few. The energy in the room was palpable, reflecting a shared commitment to finding solutions and building a more equitable
New Jersey.
Many attendees participated in the New Jersey Council for the Humanities’ Democracy Conversation Program, during the opening session and throughout the day, sharing their perspectives on democracy. To see what your colleagues were saying, click here and then scroll down to filters at the top of chart, and select the "CNJG" tag. Thank you to NJCH for capturing the social sector’s voices from our conference as part of this project.
To keep the momentum going and deepen our understanding and collective impact, we invite you to register for these upcoming programs:
Funder Briefing: New Jersey State Budget - FY 2026, Federal Threats & What Comes Next - Wednesday, July 16, 2025, | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - This timely funder briefing will break down the state budget and the implications of federal policies on New Jersey's communities and the social sector.
2025 Summer Joint Policy Forum: Nonprofit and Philanthropic Champions for New Jersey - a partnership program of CNJG and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits - Tuesday, August 5, 2025, | 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM | The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center, New Brunswick, NJ - Join us for a powerful day of advocacy and collaboration, shaping the policy landscape for a stronger New Jersey.
Staying informed and working collaboratively is one way we can navigate these challenging times and continue to build a more just and thriving New Jersey.
Warmly,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Join us for Foundations on the Hill, where foundation executives and staff, board members, and philanthropic leaders meet with their federal lawmakers in Washington. Presented by United Philanthropy Forum, the gathering brings foundation leaders together with their elected representatives to discuss key issues of importance to foundations and philanthropy.
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is delegation captain for New Jersey participants. CNJG will organize and schedule the congressional meetings. This opportunity is a valuable benefit of CNJG membership that helps raise lawmakers’ awareness of the vital work you do and inform them about issues Council members care about. Read about last year’s CNJG Foundations on the Hill visits to see what we accomplished. If you are interested in attending or need more information, please contact Theresa Jacks.
The aim of Foundations on the Hill is to:
- Inform and educate Congress about philanthropy
- Create visibility for foundations and philanthropy on Capitol Hill
- Advocate on issues affecting foundations
- Encourage Congress to view foundations as resources on key public policy issues
- Build CNJG’s relationships with lawmakers and their staff
Why attend?
It is critical that elected officials hear from their foundation constituents. On behalf of New Jersey grantmakers, the Council is pleased to have developed relationships with our representatives over the years as a result of FOTH. A meeting in Washington shows elected officials an extra level of dedication and commitment to your cause and the work of the philanthropic sector.
View the FOTH Agenda
The Council will plan meetings with our US Senators and House members in the afternoon of a day still to be determined.
REGISTRATION
Registration for FOTH is available on the United Philanthropy Forum website.
The registration fee is $297.00 per person Early Bird Special Until January 31st. $397 after Jan. 31st.
CNJG members attending FOTH will need to make their own hotel reservations.
HOTEL INFORMATION
JW Marriott Washington DC
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
We have a room block at the JW Marriott Washington DC, which is within walking distance of the Hill. The rooms are available for $349/night plus state and local taxes currently at 15.95% and the rooms are available until 5:00 pm ET, Friday, February 07, 2025. Please note that our room block often sells out before the cutoff date, so we recommend making your hotel reservation as soon as possible. You can reserve your room online, or by calling 1 202-393-2000, and asking for the “United Philanthropy Forum” rate.
As we witness the initial impact of Hurricane Dorian, we are reminded that many of our communities are still targets for further devastation from this storm over the next few days.
While we recognize that many of us have survived recent hurricanes like Sandy and Maria, we also know that the struggle continues, and we need to do our best to help meet the needs of current victims caught in the wake of the storm.
In light of this situation, we are providing our membership with the latest information to help you determine how your organization might engage in response and recovery efforts.
Resources
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has created a Hurricane Dorian disaster profile, which provides updates on the storm as well as information on the areas of greatest need
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has also launched the CDP 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund to support communities that will be affected by Hurricane Dorian. This fund focuses on medium- and long-term recovery, with the understanding that individuals and communities will need the support of private philanthropy for months and years to come as they navigate the road to recovery.
- The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is a comprehensive handbook outlining best practices and innovative approaches that the philanthropic community can adopt in addressing recovery after natural disasters. CNJG’s lessons learned in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy helped lead the creation of this Playbook.
- Locally in Florida, the Miami Foundation for a Greater Miami created a Hurricane Dorian resource page.
- The Jessie Ball duPont Fund resource Creating Order from Chaos: Roles for Philanthropy in Disaster Planning and Response provides a framework for steps that can be taken for philanthropy to respond to disasters.
- The New York Times has released an article sharing multiple ways to help Hurricane Dorian survivors in the Bahamas.
- Charity Navigator has created a list of high-rated organizations providing aid and relief for Hurricane Dorian for both short-term and long-term relief.
- Sadly, CNJG’s post Sandy work and the briefings hosted and compiled by CNJG still hold lessons for today. You can review the briefings from Series 1 and Series 2 in either audio or written format. The briefings provide timely, relevant information about how grantmakers can help in the aftermath of a major storm.
Finally, if you think it would be useful, we’ll convene an open-forum conference call for CNJG members to share how your organization might be thinking about your own response efforts. If you’re interested in connecting with your colleagues for this kind of discussion, please contact me, and we will set up a call.
Yours in solidarity,
Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Office of Broadband Connectivity, and New Jersey League of Municipalities invite you to the Internet for All: New Jersey Local Coordination Workshop in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
This day long workshop will bring together critical partners in New Jersey from the federal, state, and local governments, industry, and other key collaborators to discuss coordination on broadband efforts as the state prepares to receive significant broadband funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Connecting all people in New Jersey to affordable, reliable high-speed internet is critical to our economic stability and this event will provide an opportunity for us to discuss ways we can work together to efficiently and effectively utilize these federal dollars to the maximum extent.
Proposed agenda items include:
- State Update on Implementation of Federal Broadband Programs
- Coordination on Infrastructure Expansion
- Strategies for Broadband Infrastructure Development
- Telehealth
- Input on 5-Year and Digital Equity Plans
- Digital Access Challenges and Solutions for New Jersey
- Think Locally, Plan Regionally
- Workforce Strategy Panel
- Office Hours with NJ Office of Broadband Connectivity and NTIA
Cost: Free for Members and Non Members
CNJG is pleased to offer a new member benefit: ValuesAdvisor. Many foundations now recognize that the investments made from their corpus have the power to support their mission, but don’t know how to take the first step: finding a trusted financial advisor with the right expertise. We now offer you free access to ValuesAdvisor, a nonprofit, online, searchable database of peer-recommended financial advisors who have the expertise you need. You can learn more about the platform by watching this short, 3 minute video. In this webinar with ValuesAdvisor Co-Founder Kate Simpson, you will learn about how the platform can be used to further your mission (climate, DEI, place based, etc.).
This webinar pairs nicely with CNJG’s Impact Investing Bootcamp series.
COST: Free for CNJG Members
Webinar Video
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.
Join us for an engaging and informative in-person program that explores innovative strategies and real-world solutions for affordable housing. You will have the opportunity to hear from a robust panel including Taiisa Kelly, CEO, Monarch Housing; Julio Coto, Executive Director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen; Michael Callahan, Director, Office of Homelessness Prevention, Department of Community Affairs; Alicia Alvarez, Landlord Liaison, NourishNJ; and Lucy Vandenberg, The Schumann Fund for New Jersey. Q & A follows. Gain valuable insights from a dedicated Advisory Committee member who brings lived experience to the discussion, offering a unique and heartfelt perspective on the challenges and successes in affordable housing. Experience firsthand the impact of Monarch Housing’s initiatives of Kilmer Homes, showcasing the design, functionality, and community benefits of this affordable housing project. Enjoy lunch and a networking opportunity with fellow attendees. This event promises to be a thought-provoking and inspiring experience, highlighting how we can collectively work towards more inclusive and sustainable housing solutions. Register now to be a part of the conversation that shapes the future of affordable housing!
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Continental breakfast and lunch provided.
National Low Income Housing Coalition: The Gap - A Shortage of Affordable Homes
National Low Income Housing Coalition: Out of Reach - The High Cost of Housing
Department of Community Affairs: Fourth Round Page
Monarch Housing Associates: NJCounts - Point-in-Time
CNJG’s first-ever Policy Agenda that includes our approach to the policy work, and five policy priorities.