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“A Time for Action: Mobilizing Philanthropic Support for Boys and Young Men of Color” lays out a vision and a bold plan of action to maximize the potential of philanthropy and the private sector to increase opportunity for boys and young men of color that benefits the entire country. While it focuses on systems, policies, and practices that profoundly shape the lives of our sons and brothers, the recommended actions also help to create the conditions for all children and young adults to thrive, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. The plan is bolstered by $194 million in initial investments in key initiatives, including for example programs to enhance school learning environments and reduce the overrepresentation of young people in the justice system.
The effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt all around New Jersey. In order to dig deeper into the impact of the pandemic on certain communities and stay connected during this difficult time, CNJG worked with our affinity group chairs and other members to develop programming that supplemented our COVID-19 Funders Briefing Series and Newark COVID-19 Series. These virtual affinity and interest group meetings were designed for colleagues to update each other on coronavirus response efforts, hear about the greatest needs in their funding area, and share what they have learned. CNJG members can access the recordings of these past meetings to hear what was said.
TD Bank announced four grant recipients of the 2024 TD Ready Challenge, an annual initiative that supports nonprofit organizations develop effective programs and solutions for communities within the bank's footprint.
Each year, the TD Ready Challenge solicits eligible organizations to submit applications that offer solutions to a different problem statement, with this year's focus being on innovative solutions to support underserved small business owners. Today's grant recipients will each receive $1 million through the TD Ready Challenge to advance initiatives designed to help disrupt barriers for underserved entrepreneurs while supporting the larger needs of the small business community.
Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Blue Foundry Bank, awarded $20,000 in grants to six New Jersey nonprofits in the first quarter of 2025, reinforcing its commitment to community support. The foundation focuses its giving efforts on four key areas: affordable housing, education, health and human services, and youth programs.
“Our dedication to the New Jersey communities we serve is at the heart of these grants, ensuring local services have the resources to create a stronger, brighter future,” said James D. Nesci, president and CEO of Blue Foundry Bank and vice president of Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation.
The Summit Foundation board of trustees approved $369,946 in grants to 28 local organizations on June 3, 2025. These grants support a range of initiatives and programs that positively impact public spaces, healthcare, education, the arts, youth development, housing, food distribution and people with disabilities.
“As a community foundation, our goal is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors,” said Dana Turk, president of The Summit Foundation. “We address local challenges and open doors to new opportunities for people to thrive. These grants reflect our ongoing commitment to do good by enhancing the well-being and dignity of people living in the Summit area."
In Q4 2025, our foundation awarded 49 grants totaling over $17 million.
Our fourth quarter grantmaking focuses on identifying and fueling the scale of cost-effective programs and solutions that accelerate improvement in key academic and socioemotional outcomes for all children. As always, we place an emphasis on grantmaking and strategic support that unlock innovation, evidence, and growth for our grantees.
We've highlighted just some of the direct impact and ecosystem organizations we’re proud to support this quarter as we conclude our 2025 grantmaking.
Times of mass mobilization like the uprisings for Black lives and global crises like the COVID pandemic broaden awareness of the work of organizations, collectives, and other groups of people working to transform harmful systems. Some of these groups turn to intermediaries—fiscal sponsors and donor intermediaries—to provide back-office support, grant funding, and other services to support their ongoing work and evolution.
This report explores the ways in which the ecosystem of funders and intermediaries can better support these groups—which we’re calling “constituent-led groups”—who do their work without formal 501c3 status and are often led by and supporting historically oppressed communities.
Today, many constituent-led groups, particularly those that are smaller and geographically isolated, struggle to find fiscal sponsors and other intermediaries that share their values and can provide services that are deeply rooted in racial equity. For a number of reasons, funders—who can’t otherwise support constituent-led groups—often prioritize partnering with intermediaries with a high capacity for scaling services and distributing resources and funds. Though equity values are important to funders in selecting intermediaries to partner with, many funders don’t know what equity-centered services look like or how to support intermediaries in deepening this work.
In this report, we share different ways fiscal sponsors and donor intermediaries have approached deepening equity in their work while meeting the volume of demand from constituent-led groups and funders. We also offer some pathways forward for funders seeking to strategically invest in intermediaries to strengthen their capacity in these areas so they might better serve constituent-led groups.
It’s always a mad dash to the end of the year, and this year is no exception.
But before we close out the year, CNJG members and special guests will gather next Thursday, December 14, at the 2023 Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering, to learn together at the pre-meeting workshop, welcome new members, attend the annual business meeting of members to elect trustees and recap our year, enjoy conversation and networking over lunch, and hear a dynamic discussion related to an important topic for New Jersey’s philanthropic sector. The Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering is always a great opportunity to see longtime friends, meet new colleagues, and network with other funders!
Our theme this year couldn’t be more timely - collaboration. The fireside chat, Sustainable, Effective, and Equitable Collaboration – A Conversation that Centers Community, will feature Nidhi Sahni, Partner and Head of US Advisory Group, Bridgespan, and Lucy Vandenberg, Executive Director, Schumann Fund for New Jersey. And the learning doesn’t stop - we’ve also curated several resources to help inform your collaborative efforts.
Thank you to our Annual Meeting sponsors, Signature Sponsor – Prudential; Collaborating Sponsor - Victoria Foundation; Connecting Sponsors - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Devils Youth Foundation; and Supporting Sponsors – Grunin Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Princeton Area Community Foundation, and WSFS Bank. CNJG thanks the NJM Insurance Group for a donation in support of the Annual Meeting. Sponsorship underwrites our Signature events. It is only through the generosity of our sponsors that we can provide our Signature events. We are grateful for your support.
Thank you for your membership and support in 2023. CNJG supports and elevates New Jersey’s philanthropic community through shared learning, collaborative and trusting relationships, network building, and leadership. We greatly value your membership in the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, and your ongoing support of our work to strengthen philanthropy in the state.
We can’t wait to see you next week! This event is often the place where the first seeds of collaboration and partnership are sown.
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Six million immigrants in the US have jobs that could increase their risk of contracting the virus -- from physicians and home health aides to agriculture and food production workers. Another 6 million work in areas that have suffered major financial loss, including the restaurant and hospitality industry, in-home childcare, agriculture, and building services.
Yet, documented and undocumented immigrants are ineligible for federal relief funds and government-sponsored safety-net programs. Many “essential” workers lack health insurance. Language barriers often make getting services difficult. And, fear of repercussion if they test positive for COVID or uncertainty around immigrant policies prevent many immigrants from even seeking assistance.
During this webinar briefing, we will hear from Abel Rodriguez, Director for the Center on Immigration and Assistant Professor of Religion, Law, and Social Justice at Cabrini University and Sara Cullinane, Director of Make the Road New Jersey.
Topics will include:
• How immigrants and their families have been impacted by COVID, nationally and in our state.
• Supporting immigration policies and programs that advance the social and economic well-being of immigrant populations.
• Efforts in New Jersey communities to provide direct support, education, and other needed resources to immigrants during the pandemic.
Nearly 1 in 4 New Jersey residents is an immigrant. And despite their vital importance to this state and our country’s culture and economy, immigrants are often left out of programs and denied services that are critical for recovery. Join us for an important briefing on why your organization’s response to COVID must uplift immigrants and their families – now and for the future.
Cost: Free for CNJG Grantmakers. $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video