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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
Dear CNJG Community,
I am writing to let you know that last week Council of New Jersey Grantmakers’ President and CEO Nina Stack, notified the Council’s Board of Trustees that she will be stepping down in June to become the Executive Director of The Champlin Foundation, the largest private foundation in the state of Rhode Island.
This is certainly bittersweet news. While we will miss her tremendous leadership, enthusiasm, and good spirit she has brought to our state’s philanthropic community these past thirteen years, anyone who knows Nina knows that Rhode Island is also near and dear to her heart.
Yesterday, I convened a meeting of our Executive Committee, which includes Bill Engel/Hyde & Watson Foundation, Annmarie Puleio/Fred C. Rummel Foundation, Cynthia Evans/Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Bill Leavens/Leavens Family Foundation to consider how the Council will address this transition phase and search process.
In addition, the full Board of Trustees will be meeting later this month to build on these initial conversations. We are developing a thorough, thoughtful, and deliberate transition plan and search process. I will be back in touch with all of you, the members of CNJG and colleagues, in the coming weeks to share those details.
The good news is that under Nina’s extraordinary leadership over these many years, the Council is in an excellent position. Our finances are very strong, our membership continues to grow, our members are more engaged, our programming is exceptional, our partnerships are robust, our staff is talented, and our influence with policymakers, business leaders, and others across the state deepens.
In the meantime, Nina will remain on staff until June 1. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Spring Colloquium – Breaking Through in the New Media Paradigm – on May 24.
Please join us for what will be Nina’s last program as President and CEO of the Council, I encourage you to register as soon as possible. Seating is limited, and I have no doubt it will sell out very soon.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Pearson
Chair, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
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Providence Business Journal: Stack to head Champlin Foundation come June
It’s Jan. 1 and I am thinking about 2015, as many of us are. Thinking about plans, what must be accomplished, what new projects and ideas we’ll explore, and so on. But I realize the building blocks for our 2015 plans are embedded in 2014, and even 2013, and 2012 and before.
As Deputy Director at the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, part of my role is building our public policy work on behalf of New Jersey’s philanthropic sector and our members.
I believe the best definition of public policy that engages all of us — citizens, the community, nonprofits, for-profits, and philanthropy is: Government programs and decisions that impact the economy, people and our society. Such a basic, thoughtful, and powerful definition that speaks to everyone at our core. I would even say the definition is elegant in its simplicity.
Key to our work is the profound realization of the power of partnerships — not that we didn’t already know that. We’ve been fortunate and proud over the last few years to have developed a strategic and planned relationship with the Center for Non-Profits.
In 2014, this partnership added another milestone. The Center for Non-Profits and Council of New Jersey Grantmakers on Nov. 9 co-presented a two-hour briefing for New Jersey Legislative staff on “Understanding New Jersey’s Non-Profit Community: Role, Impact, Myths & Facts.” The session was a great success. Legislative staff from some key sections and committees that need to understand the work of the nonprofit and the philanthropic sectors attended the briefing. Attendees were quite engaged and asked a number of insightful questions.
We’re confident everyone came away with a heightened understanding of the many nuances of the nonprofit, charitable and philanthropic communities. We also encouraged each attendee to reach out to our organizations when they have questions about the sectors, as well as for information and assistance. We’re scheduled to provide another briefing to the Office of Legislative Services in 2015.
Another initiative of critical importance to the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors that launched in 2014 is the Stand for Your Mission campaign. A joint partnership of the National Council of Nonprofits, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, BoardSource, Alliance for Justice, the Campion Foundation, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the campaign “seeks to unleash the full potential of the nonprofit sector to create positive impact by engaging board leaders more directly in the advocacy work of their organizations.”
This means encouraging board members and social sector decision-makers to actively represent their organization’s mission and values. This is basic advocacy and honors the elegant definition of public policy noted above.
For these reasons (and frankly more) 2015 looms with abundant promise. Can’t wait to see what comes next. How will you and your organization engage in public policy to further the missions so dear to your work and to make a positive impact on our communities?
Theresa Jacks, Deputy Director, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers.
You don’t need to be a technologist to understand that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing our world, including philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
As you attend next month’s CNJG 2024 Spring Colloquium – A Conversation for the Social Sector on June 18, consider what philanthropy does best as the conversation unfolds. Philanthropy takes risks. Philanthropy tests new ideas and concepts, that can then be scaled. Philanthropy drives experimentation. Philanthropy convenes thought leaders, practitioners, and community voices, to engage in full and deliberate conversations.
We’re excited to welcome Jean Westrick, Executive Director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), to moderate the morning panel session. TAG and Project Evident recently released their Responsible AI Adoption in Philanthropy framework to help grantmakers adopt AI in a manner that aligns with their mission. Jean will help us dig deeper into the framework during an afternoon session. Not only does the framework provide practical guidance, it is a clarion call for philanthropy to play a crucial role in advancing the responsible use of AI for nonprofit enablement.
Understanding this seminal role, last year, ten major foundations announced a $200 million investment to ensure AI advances the public interest. The investment is centered around five areas of need including: ensuring AI advancements protect democracy and the rights and freedoms of all people, empowering workers to “thrive amid AI-driven changes,” and supporting the development of AI international norms and rules.
Colloquium panelist Don Chen, President and CEO of the Surdna Foundation, recently spoke at the Partnership for AI’s 2024 Philanthropy Forum. There he discussed the importance of working with partners to make investments in responsible infrastructure. He expanded on these ideas, encouraging ongoing AI conversations to be reparative and healing, especially for racial equity and justice.
Governor Murphy created the New Jersey State Office of Innovation in 2018 to "improve the lives of New Jerseyans by solving public problems differently.” Colloquium panelist Dave Cole, Chief Innovation Officer, in a recent StateScoop Priorities Podcast, shared his commitment to solving problems for NJ residents using human-centered design and leveraging AI to improve services. The practical and pragmatic conversations about AI are central to philanthropy’s role in harnessing technology for good.
Our third panelist, Rachel Kimber, joined fellow social sector leaders in calling for philanthropy to move forward with “responsible AI development and adoption.” Published by the Center for Effective Philanthropy, the blog Responsible AI: How Philanthropy Can (and Should) Support the Movement outlines four critical concepts for philanthropy: drive sector-level vision, fund the back-end, develop guidelines, and invest in equitable innovations.
I encourage you to review the resources we’re gathering on the Colloquium web area to further inform your thinking.
While AI and analytical technologies are revolutionary tools reshaping industries, as Vilas Dhar, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, said in an interview with the Chronicle of Philanthropyrecently, “These conversations are very rarely actually about technology.” In the article, How A.I. Could Solve Humanity’s Biggest Problems — If Philanthropy Catches Up, Dhar implores philanthropy to look closely at how AI is changing our world and challenges us to examine how philanthropy must change. Indeed, philanthropy has several roles to play, including fueling the big picture and visionary conversations, and helping to drill down on the more practical applications of AI for grantmakers and nonprofits in support of a just and equitable world.
Join us at the CNJG 2024 Spring Colloquium: A Conversation for the Social Sector - Empowering the Future: Harnessing AI and Data for Philanthropic Social Impact on Tuesday, June 18, to engage in these big, bold, and transformative conversations.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Nonprofit Finance Fund's Annual Survey chronicles the challenges facing the nonprofit sector and calls out some of the targeted investments we can start to agree on as a society to salvage the investment we have collectively made in our social infrastructure. We believe that a coordinated intervention now will not only better prepare us for inevitable future economic crises; it can lead to a happier, healthier community for us all.
The City of Newark and Newark Philanthropic Liaison are working closely with several consortia of nonprofits to address some of the City’s most critical challenges. Grantmakers with an interest in Newark are connecting with these groups to better understand issues, interact with organizational leaders, and find ways to leverage philanthropy across a range of needs.
The coalitions often have ambitious agendas that focus on reviewing and changing policy on local, statewide and national levels. They offer a platform to share information and create strong cases for increased investment from both public and private sources. Below is an overview of just three of these groups. Through their convenings, they provide a powerful opportunity for Newark-related nonprofits and grantmakers to mobilize to improve the fortunes of the State’s largest City.
Opportunity Reconnect
Mayor Cory Booker has made public safety the leading priority of his administration. Success will come only through lowered recidivism, better management, and increased job opportunities and support for persons returning from prison. The Opportunity Reconnect (OR) consortia meets weekly at Essex County College, the site of OR’s comprehensive one-stop center that offers ex-prisoners an array of services from dozens of organizations and agencies.
OR’s strength lies in its ability to create partnerships and memorandums of understanding among for-profit government contractors, community-based groups and government agencies. The shared protocols are having a profound effect on the City’s ability to provide efficient and effective services for thousands of returning inmates each month. The agreements are enabling the City to respond to RFPs from both private and federal sources to strengthen the capacity of OR and its effect on public safety. The City welcomes participation of grantmakers to further leverage the strength of these proposals and maximize OR’s continued growth.
Interagency Collaboration for Addiction Treatment
This informal collaborative of nonprofits, faith-based groups, government agencies, and funding partners meets regularly at Integrity House, a long-term residential and outpatient treatment program. Integrity House is the lead agency for the United Way’s Bridge to Recovery, a consortium effort of over 200 agencies dedicated to helping those with addiction problems.
Among ICAT’s goals is the creation of a central Newark facility to handle all intake, referral and screening of individuals in need of detox. The group is also seeking to link and combine databases among agencies for better support of clients, who often include the homeless and ex-prisoners. A number of legislative barriers prevent some persons from receiving aid to cover costs of addiction treatment. These persons often end up in hospital emergency rooms or under the jurisdiction of law enforcement. ICAT is looking at ways to advocate for policy changes that would provide the additional preventive-care funding to remedy these situations.
Green Future Summit Working Groups
Mayor Booker has called for the City to become a leader in urban sustainability by implementing economic and environmental strategies that will make Newark a safer, wealthier, and healthier place for its children and families. Under the auspices of Apollo Alliance, a national organization, a team of allies is developing an agenda and recruiting participants for the “Green Future Summit” in Newark on September 11-12. Pre-summit planning sessions have involved a coalition of businesses, government leaders, environmental groups, community-based organizations and grantmakers.
The coalition has divided into working groups focused on three areas: green buildings, green space, and green economic development/jobs. The working groups are now drafting roadmaps and defining concrete, measurable goals and strategies for each issue area (e.g. "retrofit 100 homes"). They are also securing commitments from stakeholders on how they will work to meet these goals.
The groups communicate through listservs and periodic check-in calls as they shape the Summit agenda, recruit speakers, and build the relationships necessary to carry their work forward to develop a roadmap for the City. Members of the CNJG are playing an active role in the Summit and additional partners are welcome.
CNJG members can gather a wealth of information by tapping into the resources of Newark’s collaborative groups. Additional consortia have been formed to address the foreclosure crisis, homelessness, newly-formed Family Success Centers, and other areas.
"Find people who will make you better."
—Michelle Obama
The day has arrived. It is my last day serving as President and CEO of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. In a few days, I will step over to your side of the aisle in my role leading the Champlin Foundation.
As I said at that beautiful and overwhelmingly wonderful farewell gathering last week, it has been an extraordinary gift and a profound privilege to serve in this role these past 13-plus years. And I feel very good about leaving this precious network in the hands of the exceptional team of Pat Foo, Theresa Jacks, and Craig Weinrich, along with the very capable interim leadership of Jon Shure and Connie Ludwin.
I’ve been struggling with what to say in my farewell message to all of you, the spectacular membership of the Council. First and foremost, I want to express my thanks and gratitude.
Thank you for the deep and wide education I’ve received these past 13 years because of all you do and want to do better. I’ve often said the best thing about this job is that I get to learn a little bit about a lot of different things because the membership has such fascinating and intensely important interests. I have gratitude for the amazing relationships I’ve been able to have with some of the smartest, kindest, most thoughtful, and creative people imaginable.
I also am enormously grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.
- My year in Lead New Jersey that really laid so much of the groundwork I needed for CNJG’s programming and affinity groups.
- My two-month sabbatical that led directly to our Race, Racism and Ramifications for Philanthropy learning journey.
- The privilege to serve on the board and then chair our national network, the United Philanthropy Forum.
- And, the ability to help the Council make a meaningful difference in our field and our state through initiatives like Facing Our Future, the Disaster Philanthropy Playbook and our post-Sandy work, as well as creation of CNJG’s Guiding Beliefs and Principles.
Here is what is at the heart of all of it though: When a funder joins the Council it means they recognize they cannot do their best work in a vacuum or in isolation. They realize the need to find people who will make them better, just as I reference in Michelle Obama's quote above. They want to be smarter, work more thoughtfully, be truly effective. The Council is at its best when our members come together to learn, share ideas and strategies, collaborate, and be open to innovation. When I was given the gift of leading the Council, my mother would ask me to explain again what it was I would be doing. My response to her became my consistent little “elevator speech" for years to come. “My organization helps those that make grants be the best grantmakers they can be.”
As you all know well, working as a funder can get pretty heady. How does the joke go? Congratulations, you got a foundation job. You’ve now told your last bad joke. The power imbalance is so extreme.
What I’ve learned is that the best funders are the ones that really listen, not talk at their grantees about what they ought to be doing. Respect, faith, and appreciation for the people working in nonprofit charities is the hallmark of their approach. The best funders are the ones that show up as planned, on time for meetings and site visits, that don’t make an applicant jump through endless hoops for a grant -- especially a small grant.
The funders I’ve come to admire most are those that seek to understand a charity’s work and trust the expertise and wisdom of its executive leadership. These funders don’t micro-manage, mansplain, second-guess, or over burden. These funders recognize the power dynamic at play yet seek candid, colleague-to-colleague conversations and problem-solving with nonprofit leaders. They power-up nonprofit colleagues instead of powering over them.
These are just some of the marvelous lessons you’ve shared with me over the years, and I’m grateful to have them as I head into the role of a grantmaker for the largest private foundation in a small but mighty state.
With bountiful thanks and appreciation,
Nina Stack, President
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
A CNJG member queried our listserves with the question "Does anyone have templates that can be used and/or shared related to grant approval letters and terms and conditions related to COVID-19 grants?" CNJG compiled the answers from responding members.
Catalyzing New Jersey Communities: Building Local Coalitions
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center
10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Join over 125 of your fellow CJNG members and special guests for a day to celebrate the end of the calendar year, connect with colleagues, and explore this year's theme: Catalyzing New Jersey Communities: Building Local Coalitions. We will celebrate our collective impact, share stories of success, learn from one another’s experiences, and collectively envision a more connected, resilient, and equitable future for New Jersey. The Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering includes a panel discussion that will explore the profound and tangible ways that philanthropy can move beyond traditional grantmaking to become powerful coalition builders for lasting change.
During the luncheon, we will convene our annual business meeting to elect new trustees, recognize new CNJG members, and report on our activities for the year. There will be time to connect and collaborate with colleagues and friends, old and new.
The day kicks off with a New Member Orientation for any new CNJG members or new staff of existing members to learn more about CNJG’s many offerings. Separate registration is required.
Prior to the Annual Meeting, CNJG will offer a deeper dive into the Impala platform that will launch in New Jersey for all grantmakers and all nonprofits. During this workshop, we will showcase the Impala for Grantmakers product which can help you:
- Conduct due diligence for potential and returning grantees
- Find nonprofits that you might not yet know
- Find who else is funding in a particular geographic or topical area
- Find which nonprofits are working in a particular geographic or topical area
- Find connections to other funders
- Communicate to potential applicants what your funding criteria is
| Agenda | |
| 9:00 am – 12:00 noon | Registration, Networking, Continental Breakfast and Coffee |
| 10:00 am – 11:30 am | Workshop |
| 12:00 noon – 12:45 pm | CNJG Annual Meeting of Members |
| 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch and Networking |
| 1:30 pm - 2:20 pm | Panel followed by Q & A |
| 2:20 pm – 2:35 pm | Meeting adjourns |
| 2:35 pm – 3:00 pm | Networking |
On a recent Saturday, the Jeremy Johnson, the Newark Philanthropic Liaison and over 150 arts lovers, historians, and community leaders gathered to reflect on the past, acknowledge the present, and imagine the future of the historic Newark Symphony Hall. The liaison shares his observations from the conference.
Newark Symphony Hall, the aging national treasure on the south end of Broad Street in downtown Newark, comprises a 2800-seat main auditorium, a 1,000 seat-auditorium/banquet hall, a 200-seat black box theatre, a dance studio, a new TV studio, and much more.
Its history is unsurpassed. The place has hosted every imaginable superstar since 1925, from Toscanini to Marian Anderson to Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash, Judy Garland and Newark's own Sarah Vaughan. It's going to take millions (estimates ranged from $40M to $100M or more) to restore it to its former glory.
The planners are on the right track, engaging experts, philanthropists, historians, residents, educators, government and corporate leaders, and arts and nonprofit groups. However, to justify the outlay of millions in public-private funds during these economic times, Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) will need to frame this nascent campaign beyond that of the restoration of another culturally important edifice.
Sure, the arts and history will play an important role in its rebirth, but for this effort to be truly achievable, sustainable and worthwhile, NSH should consider:
- Jobs, jobs, jobs. Can the renovation, preservation, retrofitting and weatherization of NSH be implemented as a job training laboratory for Newark workers to gain skills in "green" trades? This experience can then be exported to the broader community where workers can help green energy-inefficient homes and buildings throughout Newark and the region. NSH, which has a long-term lease with the city, could join forces with the Mayor in attracting public and private investment for green job development and energy-saving initiatives. Natural allies in this effort would be Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD), which is achieving inroads with green job training, or the Obama-endorsed YouthBuild, which has a strong outpost in Newark.
- Education. Through the Amistad Commission, the state now requires that African American history be taught as in integral part of United States History. Such history resonates at NSH. Think of Paul Robeson, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone or Marian Anderson, who performed more at NSH than any other hall during her first years of touring--she was the first black artist to perform at NSH in the 1940s. School systems could be encouraged to subscribe to annual NSH tours and learn of this rich history, providing ancillary income to NSH while also instilling invaluable lessons to our youth.
- Space usage. Think creatively about use of the Hall's enormous spaces. Possibilities could range from the creation of New Jersey's largest green roof to rental possibilities for space-starved charter schools and after-school programs.
- “Think big” was the advice of Larry Goldman, President and CEO of NJPAC. Could NSH be re-imagined as the nation's largest LEED-certified renovated historic theater, designed on a template of green-job apprenticeships for urban residents?
- Secure the right leadership. Philip Thomas, NSH's estimable executive director and the growing board, mustn't fall prey to provincialism nor favoritism as it outlines a formidable mission, development, and operational plans for this initiative. Call on leadership from within the community but also from beyond it. This project is regional and even national in scope and it should be approached as such.
- Finally, leverage partnerships. Tap the expertise of higher education institutions. Rutgers historian and Newarker Clement Price, who spoke at the convening, is a terrific example. Historic and cultural agencies are obvious partners, but also seek out federal and state sources, such as departments of labor, transportation, energy, education, human services, bureau of justice, and organized labor. Thomas stated there may be some private dollars to help initiate early studies and linkages. This is good news, for these can leverage the larger resources and community engagement needed to ultimately make the Newark Symphony Hall dream come true.
In 2001, the Schumann Fund for New Jersey and 10 private and corporate foundations agreed to collaborate on the multi-year Newark Lighthouse Initiative. The Initiative, led by two state nonprofit partners, the Association for Children of New Jersey and New Jersey Community Capital, had program and policy goals: to help three Newark-based early childhood programs move from good to exemplary, and to identify policy changes that would be necessary to enable other early-childhood programs to engage in similar efforts.
Funders over the initiative’s six-year life included the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Schumann Fund for New Jersey, Prudential Foundation, Lucent Technologies Foundation, Bank of America, Grable Foundation, Sagner Family Fund, Victoria Foundation, Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, BEA Foundation, United Way of Essex and West Hudson, MCJ Foundation, and Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation. Many funders agreed to make multi-year grants or to consider proposals for renewal of support over the life of the project.
The money was used first to support a needs assessment for each center, and then to help the centers attract and retain the most qualified teachers, implement the best teaching methods, and obtain or renovate to improve facilities. A portion of the funds was set aside for an independent evaluation of the initiative. The three centers chosen – Friendly Fuld Neighborhood Child Care, Ironbound Children’s Center, and Vailsburg Child Development Center – already had strong programs and recognized leadership. The funders believed that the extra support would enable them to improve the quality of their programs, serve as exemplars for other programs in the city, and provide teachers and parents tangible evidence of what quality looks like.
The Schumann Fund participated in the collaborative for a number of reasons. First, we understood the value of high-quality early-childhood education to children’s later success in school and in the workforce. We knew that many of the community-based programs in Newark had been operating for years with insufficient resources. We viewed the Abbott decision, which requires that the state’s 31 poorest school districts make “high-quality, well-planned preschool” available to every three-and four-year-old in those districts, as an opportunity to expand access to preschool and improve it significantly. We recognized that our investment in quality improvement could be sustained by the operating funds that the state and districts were providing to the preschool programs.
Second, each collaborating funder brought different strengths: knowledge of early-childhood policy and evaluation, expertise in community economic development, and long-term commitment to community service organizations in Newark. Third, we believed that by working together, we could more effectively use our finite resources. We could make it possible for grantees to focus on quality improvement rather than raising monies from separate funders. Participating grantmakers helped to develop the project’s framework and encouraged their colleagues to consider supporting it. Finally, we believed that by modeling collaboration among ourselves, we could encourage greater collaboration among our grantees.
There were challenges, of course. Each grantmaker had different guidelines, reporting requirements, and timetables and processes for reviewing proposals. Some were able to make multi-year grants; others were not. Several changed their guidelines or operating approach during the course of the project and were not able to continue funding it for the entire six years. During its initial phase, some elements of the original proposal changed, including the evaluation process and timeline. It took longer for the project to get off the ground than we originally anticipated. But ultimately, the trust that was established between all of the involved parties enabled us to approve the changes in the operations and timeline.
The Lighthouse project achieved its original goals of supporting quality improvements in all of the participating programs. The Association for Children of New Jersey and New Jersey Community Capital provided excellent technical assistance and planning support and identified obstacles to quality improvement that needed to be addressed through policy advocacy. In addition, the directors of two of the three programs have become effective leaders in Newark’s early-childhood community, and have presented their experiences with this project to national audiences.
This effort required us to commit time and expertise, in addition to money. It takes more effort to collaborate than it does to work in our conventional way, but it is worth it. We came away with a new appreciation for the work of our grantees; an understanding of the need for flexibility amid changing conditions on the ground; and the satisfaction – backed up by a dynamic evaluation – that our efforts contributed to tangible improvements in life-opportunities for the children and families that the centers serve.
Would we do it again? We are. This year, several New Jersey funders joined with six nonprofits, including three community organizing groups, to respond to a national request for proposal for support of education organizing. We were awarded the grant, the only statewide effort of the four that were awarded. We anticipate that the effort will engage parents and community members in local and statewide efforts to improve schools. And, we have brought national attention and national money to our work.
The nonprofit and philanthropic communities are important contributors to well informed policies for all residents of our state. Nonprofits and philanthropy are essential partners with the government in ensuring a strong quality of life for everyone, and our voices in public policy are more vital than ever.
Opening Speaker:
The Honorable Britnee Timberlake, New Jersey Senator, District 34
Panel Discussion
Outlook 2026: Navigating What's Next
As New Jersey prepares to elect a new governor and Assembly members this November, nonprofits and funders are navigating a moment of transition — and opportunity. In addition, national trends around democracy, the economy, philanthropy, and nonprofits are also reshaping the environment we work in. This session takes a wide-angle, grassroots-informed look at what’s ahead: the political shifts, social currents, and structural changes likely to impact our missions, our communities, and our ability to create change. Panelists will explore how we can stay grounded, work together, and move forward with purpose in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Panelists:
Kiran Gaudioso, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Northern New Jersey
Paul DiLorenzo, Executive Director, Salem Health and Wellness Foundation
Brandon McKoy, President, The Fund for New Jersey
Moderator: Doug Schoenberger, Government Affairs Specialist, NJ Center for Nonprofits
Additional panelists to be announced.
Panel Discussion
Power in Participation: Voter Engagement for a Stronger New Jersey
In a critical election year, voter engagement is more than a civic duty — it’s a pathway to equity, representation, and lasting change. This panel brings together voices from across the field to explore how nonprofits and funders can help strengthen democracy by supporting inclusive, community-driven voter outreach. From youth organizing to culturally grounded strategies and nonpartisan education, our speakers will highlight what’s working, what’s needed, and how we can all play a role in building power at the ballot box.
Panelists:
Claire Abernathy, Associate Professor of Political Science, Stockton University
Jesse Burns, Executive Director, League of Women Voters New Jersey
Danielle Iwata, Director of Organizing, AAPI New Jersey
Moderator: Michele Tuck-Ponder, CEO, Destination Imagination
Open Space Discussion: Strategizing for Impact in the Next Administration
Join this focused Open Space session to tackle a critical question:
What priorities should the next governor focus on in the first 90 days, and how can nonprofits and philanthropy advocate and partner with the new administration on the advancement of those priorities?
Get the complete 2025 Joint Policy Forum Resource List including a printable Agenda on the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits website.
This co-created forum empowers participants to surface priority policy issues, identify strategic opportunities, and explore cross-sector collaborations essential for systemic change. Facilitated by Gathering Ground, known for convening diverse groups to generate equitable, community-rooted solutions, this session offers a unique space to build actionable momentum for New Jersey’s social sector in the months ahead.
Presented by the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers