Site Search
- resource provided by the Forum Network Knowledgebase.
Search Tip: Search with " " to find exact matches.
The Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison (NPL) —an innovative collaboration between the city of Newark and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers (CNJG) —is tasked with harnessing interest, fostering greater effectiveness, and attracting resources toward policy and programmatic areas that affect and improve the lives of Newark’s residents. Supported by a dedicated cohort of funders through CNJG, the office is non-partisan and based in the Mayor’s Office in Newark City Hall. The Liaison represents one of the nation's first formal partnerships between a city and the philanthropic community, and has become a national model for public-private alliances. At its core, the role has three main functions:
- Connect – Align citywide initiatives and bring together cross-sector partners for collective action.
- Convene – Foster strong partnerships with regional and national philanthropic leaders and support Newark and New Jersey funder collaboration through funder affinity groups.
- Leverage – Identify and maximize public and private resources for City priorities.
As Newark is at a pivotal time in its growth and development, the Office of Newark Philanthropic Liaison is focused on a number of big issues including equitable economic development in our neighborhoods, educational equity, employment, serving the needs of our immigrant and other vulnerable communities, housing for the homeless, and expanding broadband and health services. Now more than ever, we need collaboration and partnerships. These issues are too big for any one person or entity to solve alone.
The Newark Philanthropic Liaison project is supported by Bank of America, the Burke Foundation, the Community Foundation of New Jersey, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Maher Charitable Foundation, the MCJ Amelior Foundation, The Prudential Foundation, Schumann Fund for New Jersey, Turrell Fund, and the Victoria Foundation. While the Nicholson Foundation sunset in late 2021, we acknowledge and thank the foundation for its long-term support of the initiative.
We also acknowledge the City of Newark for its commitment to collaborating with the position and elevating the voice of philanthropy. A special thank you to the Community Foundation of New Jersey, which facilitates and manages grant funds for many of our partnerships.
It’s summer – and that means summer reading! Whether you’re reading at home or in the coffee shop, at the beach, or while traveling by train or airplane, I'm thrilled to share a collection of summer reading recommendations from CNJG’s Board of Trustees and staff. While some recommendations speak directly to philanthropy and the social sector, others explore leadership, civic engagement, economics, and personal growth, all offering insights and ideas to excite our curiosity and inspire us.
Board Chair Craig Drinkard has been re-reading the timeless classic Good to Great by Jim Collins. Craig shared that so much more is resonating this time around as he re-reads it. The first time he read the book, the theory is what stood out; this time it’s deeper, more strategic, and thought provoking, with fresh insights gained during this second look. This book is worth a read for everyone dedicated to leadership and organizational improvement.
First Vice Chair, Justin Kiczek continues to be inspired by our recent convening, 2025 Conference for the Social Sector - Stronger Together: Philanthropy & Civic Engagementand recommends Habits of Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture from Our Common Purpose - a publication he says has been a "continued source of wisdom and good ideas" and passes on to pretty much anyone he knows! He also follows two Substack columns focused on civic culture and renewal: Daniel Stid’s The Art of Association and Gabe Lerner’s Democracy Notes.
Treasurer Catherine Wilson has been diving into a diverse reading list including Autocracy, Inc.by Anne Applebaum, The Art of More: How Mathematics Created Civilization by Michael Brooks, and The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell.
Also from our board members:
Paul DiLorenzo is catching up on his back-dated New Yorker magazines and especially loved a story called Amelia Earhart’s Reckless Final Flights.
Maisha Simmons recommends checking out this insightful blog post: The Challenge and Opportunity for Funder and Nonprofit Listening Right Now.
Tammy Rice Herman has been reading the weekly blog, "Better Allies" where author Karen Catlin shares five simple actions each week to create a more inclusive and engaging workplace. You can sign up here to receive the blog every Friday.
Margarethe Laurenzi recommends listening to Ann Patchett at Parnassus Books talk about all the great books being written that serve as a rebuttal to the idea that literary fiction has lost its way.
Jasmyne Beckford has been enjoying reading Choosing Purposeful Alignment: The Messy Middle of Transformation. The book really speaks to her, “because it’s all about how growth happens in that uncertain, messy middle where you have to keep choosing what aligns with your values.”
Lucy Vandenberg’s summer reading and all year round includes her “daily devouring of The New York Times and NJ Spotlight!”
The CNJG team has a few reading recommendations for you too!
Senior Director, Member Experience, Craig Weinrich recommends Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth, who argues that GDP should no longer be the sole indicator for a nation’s (and the world’s) economic health. Measuring something as complex as an economy needs an updated tool – thus the doughnut model that includes social and ecological benefits and harms, resulting from economic activity.
Manager of Programs and Learning, Chanika Svetvilas is currently reading Systemic: How Racism Is Making Us Sick by Layla Liverpool. She notes Liverpool's observation that “Racism is an insidious threat to our health precisely because it is so easily overlooked or, in some cases, perhaps willfully ignored.”
Manager of Communications Shakirat Odunsi picked up two books at United Philanthropy Forum’s UnConference last month: Future Good: How to Use Futurism to Save the Worldby Trista Harris and A New Era of Philanthropy by Dimple Abichandani. These picks reflect her interest in how our sector can evolve and adapt. Harris's work explores how futurist thinking can be applied to social change, while Abichandani's book examines the transformation happening in philanthropic practices and approaches. Both seem perfectly timed for those of us thinking about where philanthropy is headed next.
For my own summer reading, I've been reassured by reading Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service edited by Michael Lewis – the stories of the real women and men working in the public sector without bravado and bluster. These are the civil servants that oversee our veterans’ cemeteries, explore our universe, hunt down cyber criminals and preserve our archives. These unsung heroes do the daily, unseen, yet necessary work of the people. “Although they often go unnoticed, public servants are the heartbeat of our nation.”
I also recently read, Meditations for Mortals - Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman. I plan on re-reading it so I can gain some deeper insights during my upcoming sabbatical.
Yes – that’s correct - I will be on sabbatical beginning Monday, August 11, and will return to the office on Tuesday, October 14! I started my journey at CNJG in May 2008. I’m grateful to the CNJG Board of Trustees for giving me this opportunity, and grateful to an incredibly dedicated and competent team that will ensure work of the Council continues during my absence! Thank you!
Special thanks to Craig Weinrich, who will be the senior executive in charge, while I am on sabbatical. Please feel free to reach out to Office Manager Dana Schwartz, as well, at [email protected].
I'm struck by the breadth and depth of what our community is reading, from civic engagement and economic models to health equity and the future of philanthropy. These recommendations reflect the commitment to continuous and shared learning that makes our CNJG community so special. I’m looking forward to exploring some of these recommendations during my time away. And in case you missed it, the annual CNJG 2024 President's Report also celebrates what makes our CNJG community so special!
With appreciation,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
We are pleased to share Strengthening Philanthropy in Newark - Report to the Field 2015 from the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison. First established in 2007, the Liaison office represents one of the nation’s first formal partnerships between a city and the philanthropic community. The initiative began as a partnership between the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in collaboration with then Mayor Cory A. Booker. We are proud this unique partnership continues with Mayor Ras Baraka and his new administration.
This report provides a brief summary of some of the substantial activities and impact the Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison facilitated throughout 2015. The strategy of collective impact is thriving throughout Newark thanks in large part to the work of the Liaison, and the funding community’s support of and robust engagement with the Office of the Mayor and anchor institutions across the city continue to reap positive outcomes. The Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison is supported by: Bank of America, The Foundation for Newark’s Future, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The MCJ Amelior Foundation, The Nicholson Foundation, Panasonic Corporation of North America, The Prudential Foundation, Schumann Foundation for New Jersey, Turrell Fund, Victoria Foundation, and PSEG Foundation providing in-kind support and meeting space.
This weekly conference call series welcomed New Jersey-based grantmakers along with national funders and provided an opportunity for grantmakers to hear from a wide range of experts in the field of disaster philanthropy. This series started on November 5, 2012, one week after Sandy struck New Jersey, and continued through March 25, 2013. The written summaries of each recording are listed below.
President Obama's Hurricane Sandy Task Force released this rebuilding strategy to serve as a model for communities across the nation facing greater risks from extreme weather and to continue helping the Sandy-affected region rebuild. The Rebuilding Strategy contains 69 policy recommendations, many of which have already been adopted, that will help homeowners stay in and repair their homes, strengthen small businesses and revitalize local economies and ensure entire communities are better able to withstand and recover from future storms.
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers’ 2023 – 2027 Strategic Plan reimagines the future for CNJG. As a result of the extensive strategy development process, the plan includes a renewed vision, mission, core values, and goals. The work is informed by previous efforts, and current issues and trends impacting philanthropy and society.
The 2023 - 2027 Strategic Plan is a roadmap for the next five years, built upon CNJG's past strategic plans and learnings. We look forward to executing this plan, the additional learnings and opportunities it will bring, and delivering on these goals to move us into the future.
Employee engagement through cause is a vital means by which to strengthen employee relationships, enhance employee morale and even build critical skill sets and expertise. Plus, employees are hungry for ways to get involved in cause. Not sure how to integrate cause into your company’s employee engagement strategy? Network for Good is here to help.
We are pleased to share the Newark Philanthropic Liaison's latest Report to the Field. In 2023, we were proud of the multiple opportunities we had to spotlight the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers' leadership in starting and continuing this innovative model. Partners from across the country, from Philanthropy Serving Organizations (PSOs) to state and local governments, are considering the creation of a role similar to the Newark Liaison. Now more than ever, it is through partnerships that we will achieve our biggest collective goals in our sector.
CNJG hosts regular briefings where funders hear from government officials, disaster recovery and health experts, nonprofit leaders, funders, and other stakeholders dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The briefings provide an opportunity to share how colleagues are changing grantmaking practices for rapid response, learn about new policies and government actions, and connect with local leaders who work with people whose financial, physical, and mental health suffers due to COVID-19. Series I topics included food insecurity, mapping response funding, racial health disparities, federal and state policy, and updates from New Jersey response funds and Rapid Response Surveys, completed in partnership with the Center for Non-Profits in March, April, and July 2020.
CNJG celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2017 marked by extraordinary progress and service to members over this time. As the nexus for the philanthropic community in New Jersey, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers’ body of work grows more robust every year. This is clearly evident by the exponential growth in programs and services since CNJG was founded in 1987. However, this proliferation in programs and services does not reflect the full realm of CNJG's transformation over twenty years. CNJG has evolved to become a leader in the state, spearheading important and significant initiatives throughout our history.
These programs, services and leadership initiatives elevate, not only our members’ work and practice, but also grantmakers throughout New Jersey, and even beyond. CNJG's success stems from its ability to broker partnerships and alliances to solve problems, leverage shared resources, and forge sustainable solutions to bring about long-term change. During its 20 years, CNJG has grown to become a valuable, highly relevant leadership organization serving a diverse range of funders. View our CNJG Through the Years pictorial. CNJG thanks our members and partners for your ongoing support and leadership that has propelled us through the last 20 years. We look forward to the next twenty!
Newark Philanthropic Liaison
Philanthropy has played a vital role in Newark for decades. In 2007, in collaboration with the Office of the Mayor, CNJG hired the city’s first liaison – modeled after a similar position in the State of Michigan – to harness interest, foster greater effectiveness and attract resources toward policy and programmatic areas that affect Newark’s residents. In the years since, the Council’s Newark Philanthropic Liaison has become a model for the country.
Hurricane Sandy Response
Superstorm Sandy officially came ashore in New Jersey on October 29, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. and its aftermath continues to be felt in communities throughout our state. Not 24 hours after the storm made landfall, CNJG began planning a series of actions to help inform funders what to be prepared for, share information and discuss strategies. CNJG's support of the philanthropic community as it navigates the shifting landscape of disaster recovery, continues.
Facing Our Future
Facing Our Future was a landmark initiative looking at the systemic, long term fiscal challenges facing all levels of government in New Jersey. It grew out of a 2010 briefing CNJG held for members that outlined how a Governor’s budget is annually crafted. CNJG leadership worked with members to convene a group of enthusiastic former government leaders. Their collective experience crossed party lines, and many of them had served multiple New Jersey governors. This Leadership Group included 4 former Attorney Generals, 3, former Commissioners, 2 former State Treasurers, a former Director of the State Senate and a former Chief Justice of the NJ Supreme Court, in addition to leading New Jersey researchers.
Establishing South Jersey’s Community Foundation
The Community Foundation of South Jersey formally launched in 2009 after two years of extensive planning through the efforts of CNJG and a number Council members. CFSJ is dedicated to the southernmost counties of New Jersey - Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem. These counties are exceptionally diverse, stretching from rural farm lands to pockets of densely populated and poor urban areas, juxtaposed against wealthy suburban communities. However, they share many of the same social problems – a challenging economy, unengaged youth, access to healthcare, as well as issues related to hunger, unemployment and housing. Realizing the need, Council members through the work of CNJG formed The Community Foundation of South Jersey. CNJG is extremely proud to have played a role in building the foundation to serve South Jersey for generations to come.
Spring Colloquium
Held for the first time in 2008, CNJG's Spring Colloquium focuses on critical trends and issues affecting foundations and the people and communities they serve. Past discussions have featured Governor Tom Kean with US Editor for the Economist Matthew Bishop, writer David Borestein and philosopher Anthony Appiah, and Idealist.org founder Ami Dar with Cindy Rizzo of the Arcus Foundation.
Spring Conference
CNJG's Conference for Grantmakers brings together staff and trustees of all types and sizes of foundations for a day of networking and focused sessions dealing with key aspects of grantmaking, leadership, and management and operations.