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I’m absolutely thrilled about the upcoming 2025 CNJG Conference for the Social Sector on June 18. Planning for the event has given us ample opportunity to consider and explore the many different ways that people participate in civic engagement. 

It’s also broadened our definition. One definition comes from our colleagues at Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement: 

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.

This past Memorial Day, my husband and I visited our fathers’ gravesites at Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Both of our dads served in the Air Force. We grew up with a sense of civic engagement. I share this because — EVERYONE — has, or is currently, partaking in civic engagement. If you were a girl scout — civic engagement. If you’ve ever written a letter to a government official — civic engagement. If you’ve volunteered for a community cleanup — civic engagement. If you collect data as part of a citizen scientist project — civic engagement. If you serve on your local school or a nonprofit board — civic engagement. If you voted — civic engagement. 

Civic engagement is undeniably crucial for a healthy democracy. By participating in civic activities, individuals contribute to a more vibrant and equitable society.

Democracy in action IS civic engagement. We’re partnering with our friends at the
New Jersey Council for the Humanities to collect conference attendees’ thoughts on our democracy and reflect on their role in civic society. During the opening session, we’ll have a prompt card at each table asking attendees to answer a question related to civic engagement. This will add our voices — New Jersey’s philanthropic and nonprofit sector leaders – to our national story and underscore that the actions we take in our own communities absolutely matter. 

We have an exciting and packed conference agenda, vibrant and brimming with examples and stories of civic engagement! The opening Spark! Civic Pulse session will hear from six dynamic New Jersey social sector leaders who will share their definition of civic engagement through the lens of their organizations’ missions and work. The morning sessions will foster inspiration and conversation about civic engagement, while the afternoon sessions will focus on mobilization and action. Keynote speaker Dale Anglin, Press Forward, will tackle the vital role that local news plays in fueling strong communities. 

I’m immensely proud of the range of topics our spring conferences have elevated over the years. The 2019 New Jersey Conference for the Social Sector: Census 2020 – Defining the Next 10 Years was a clear and explicit call to support a full and accurate census. During COVID, our 2021 Virtual Conference dove into the future of work. The information and insights shared during the event still resonate today. The 2023 Conference challenged us to understand and embed Doing Good Better in our philanthropic discussions and grantmaking protocols. Lifting up these topics feels like civic engagement to me.  

CNJG has added our support to several sign-on letters - another act of civic engagement. I hope you will consider adding your foundation’s name to the National Letter to Protect and Strengthen Nonprofit Organizations in the Tax Package. As you know, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed by the House and is now in the hands of the Senate. While it does include a time-limited universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers, the bill also includes several provisions that will adversely affect the philanthropic and nonprofit sector, among them: 

• Tiered Tax Increase on Private Foundation Investment Income: The proposal to impose substantially higher excise tax rates on the net investment income of private foundations based on their asset size remains in the bill. This could still significantly reduce funds available for grantmaking and charitable programs.
   
• 1% Floor for Corporate Charitable Contributions: The bill retains the 1% floor, meaning corporations could only deduct charitable contributions exceeding 1% of their taxable income. This could lead to a decrease in corporate philanthropy.

The letter urges lawmakers not to use the nonprofit sector “as a revenue source to pay for other unrelated policies.” Thank you to our national partners, United Philanthropy Forum, the Council on Foundations, the National Council of Nonprofits, and Independent Sector for coordinating the sign-on letter and continuing to advocate on behalf of the sector. The deadline to sign the letter is Friday, June 6, at 9 a.m.

And finally, in case you missed it, the Community Foundation of New Jersey has created a rapid-response fund; the NJ Strong: Emergency Fund aims to provide a safety net for nonprofits, help them weather this funding crisis, and minimize service disruptions in our communities. Other funds include the New Jersey Sustainability and Resiliency Fund and EQUIP NJ’s fund.

I look forward to seeing you at the 2025 CNJG Conference for the Social Sector: Stronger Together — Philanthropy and Civic Engagement on June 18! The opportunities for civic engagement are boundless. Whether your organization’s mission clearly states a commitment to civic engagement or works behind the scenes to move forward strong communities, I hope you will leave the gathering inspired and energized!

And in the spirit of participation — early voting has already started. I encourage you to make your voice heard!

Best,

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

Impact 100 Jersey Coast awarded four $100,000 Impact grants and five $1,600 Mission grants at their recent event.

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

Welcome to the new year! It was wonderful seeing so many members at the 2022 Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon on December 14, and the accompanying virtual workshop on December 16. Both our luncheon keynote speaker, Bridgit Antoinette Evans, Pop Culture Collaborative, and workshop facilitator, Chantal Forster, Technology Association of Grantmakers, helped us explore philanthropy’s role in narrative change. You can find resources from the event, including slides and workshop recording, on the resource tab of the Annual Meeting page. You must be logged in to access resources. (Forgot your password – click here.)

As part of the meeting, we elected three new board members for their first 3-year term, as well as re-electing board members for a second term. Welcome and congratulations to new board members Marcy Felsenfeld, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Jeremy Grunin, the Grunin Foundation, and Maria Spina, PSEG Foundation. And we said good-bye to Michael Unger, Atlantic Foundation, and Diane Hagerman, New Jersey Health Initiatives. We’re grateful for your service.

Following the annual meeting of members, the board elected their officers for 2023:  Jeff Vega, Chair, (Princeton Area Community Foundation), Craig Drinkard, 1st Vice Chair, (Victoria Foundation), Christine Healey, 2nd Vice Chair, (The Healey Education Foundation), Maisha Simmons, Secretary, (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), and Catherine Wilson, Treasurer, (United Way Greater Newark). Congratulations!
 
We also introduced the 2023 – 2025 Strategic Plan to the membership. CNJG envisions a healthy, thriving, and civically engaged New Jersey where people of all places, racial identities, socio-economic backgrounds, abilities, and identity expressions are valued for their gifts and talents, and we all can reach our full potential and participate generously in the common good. Our mission supports and elevates New Jersey’s philanthropic community through shared learning, collaborative and trusting relationships, network building, and leadership.
 
Board committees, working in concert with the CNJG team, will move forward the strategic plan. And while the four goals outlined in the strategic plan will play a pivotal role in the work of all committees, the Member Engagement Committee will reflect on an expanded definition of philanthropy as part of goal 1. The Racial Equity Task Force will consider how we embed an organizational commitment to equity and power building as part of goal 2. The Leadership and Policy Committee will create a policy agenda as part of goal 3. Our overall partnership work with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits and Doing Good Better clearly falls within the realm of goal 4, expanding and establishing partnerships and collaborations that unite NJ’s social sector. I’m thrilled to announce the Signature Programs Committee has identified Doing Good Better as the theme for our Conference for New Jersey’s Social Sector on May 23.
 
This is an important and exciting time to serve on the Council’s various committees. If you are interested in joining a committee, please reach out to me. You’ll be in good company! CNJG is an extraordinary organization that grows in terms of its impact and partnerships, year after year. I’m thrilled about the future, and where the strategic plan will take us.
 
I want to end with gratitude for the CNJG Board of Trustees, our committee and affinity group chairs, our partners, and you – our members. You are truly our champions. And another thank you to our Annual Meeting sponsors for their generous support, Prudential, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and the Devils Youth Foundation.
 
Happy New Year!

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers