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To influence systematic change in employment practices for individuals with disabilities, Kessler Foundation provided a $100,000 initial investment grant for the May launch of "Employing Abilities at Work Certificate" by SHRM Foundation, the 501c (3) philanthropic arm of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Developed in partnership with the St. Augustine, FL-based consulting firm Global Disability Inclusion, the free certificate program aims to educate human resource (HR) professionals, people managers, and business leaders about the benefits of providing a more equitable, diverse workplace for individuals with disabilities. The program will prepare human resource professionals to confidently attract, hire, and retain this population successfully in the workplace.
According to CDC data, more than one in four (26 percent) of the U.S. population identifies with a disability. This community provides a large, unrealized pool of candidates consisting of considerable skills and strengths.
"People with disabilities have the talent and ability to fill the many employment opportunities in today's job marketplace," said Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SLP, Senior Vice President, of Grantmaking and Communications, Kessler Foundation. "The new SHRM Foundation certificate program provides a roadmap for HR professionals to enable authentic disability inclusion, which allows all employees to feel welcome, included, and respected," she says, adding, "more importantly, this certificate is free, enabling SHRM members and others to effect change and growth in companies looking to diversify their workforce."
With a resounding endorsement, The Westfield Foundation recently voted in three new board members: Toni Janota, Michael Moye and Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift, all of Westfield. At the same time, the organization recognized the service of outgoing members: Tim Boyle, Stan Gersch and Rich Elbert.
“We express our deepest appreciation for the invaluable contributions of Tim Stan and Rich and their unwavering commitment during their tenure!" said outgoing president Larry Darrow.
Our new board members had the privilege of witnessing our Q2 grants meeting in early May where we funded over $100,000 to community programs. Some notable grants this quarter: providing a new mode of transportation for the Westfield Community Center, renovation funds for The Our House Foundation’s New Providence Day Program site, and continued support for the Presbyterian Church of Westfield’s mission to supplement local in-need families with nutrient-dense food.
New Jersey’s housing, land use, and education policies are at a turning point. Decisions made today will shape how we grow, where we live, and how we prepare the next generation. The Fund for New Jersey and the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs welcome policy experts, community leaders, policymakers, and residents to Princeton University for the fourth and final Crossroads NJ Conversation on these critical issues. The discussion will focus on how today’s challenges can be addressed through thoughtful policy and community-driven action.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Peggy Bailey, Executive Vice President for Policy and Program Development, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Staci Berger, President and CEO, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
Dr. Jesselly De La Cruz, DSW, LCSW, Executive Director, Latino Action Network Foundation
Adam M. Gordon, Esq., Executive Director, Fair Share Housing Center
Robert Kim, Esq., Executive Director, Education Law Center
Cost: This event is free to attend and open to all, but space is limited.
On-site parking is available. Light refreshments will be served.
The Tepper Foundation in Short Hills, New Jersey, has announced an $8.75 million commitment to Jewish Federations of North America in support of interfaith bridge-building and on-site security for Jewish early childhood, day camp, and afterschool programs.
Awarded through the foundation’s Security Fund, the funding will support more than 100 federations across 39 U.S. states and Canada. The grants will bolster increased security personnel and augment efforts to strengthen local community relations and vital interfaith and intergroup projects. The most recent gift brings the Security Fund’s total commitment to Jewish Federations to nearly $18 million across 2024-25.
“The Security Fund is continuing to provide a critical service for Jewish spaces across the United States, and the Jewish Federations play a key role in helping more families feel safe,” said Tepper Foundation CEO Randi Tepper. “While most Jewish organizations have existing funds dedicated to security, many institutions have had to pull money from other budget lines to meet increased security needs. We want to ensure these organizations can not only provide security but continue their missions serving local families.”
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 |
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) in collaboration with National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), present a briefing that features a panel of speakers representing nonprofit organizations working on the front lines to strengthen our democracy and advance immigrant rights in their communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear what groups need as we move into 2025 and beyond, directly from movement leaders.
According to a report from National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, since 2012 there has been an 11 percent shrinkage in philanthropic funding towards immigrant movement groups. While there was an uptick in rapid response funding between 2017-2018, this has not created the conditions for the long term sustainability of immigrant serving organizations.
In a critical election year, over 60 anti-immigrant bills have been introduced in state legislatures nationwide. Immigrant advocacy groups – already facing a myriad of historically systemic challenges such as burnout, unlivable wages, and hostile state level political environments – are facing this wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, often at the sacrifice of their own safety and well being. And while philanthropic interest has focused on the national elections and scenario planning, movement groups are already planning for 2025 and an uncertain future regardless of presidential election outcomes. Philanthropy must not only meet this moment but also invest in the critical infrastructure needs of organizations and movements, particularly at the local and state levels.
As right wing movements seek to undermine our democracy on all fronts, immigrant communities cannot be left behind and must be included in any political, social, or philanthropic efforts that seek to build a multi-racial democracy. Built through the collaborative efforts of GCIR and NCRP, this briefing will feature a panel of speakers representing nonprofit organizations working on the front lines to strengthen our democracy and advance immigrant rights in their communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear what groups need as we move into 2025 and beyond, directly from movement leaders.
Cost: Free for Funders
Must log in or create an account to register on GCIR’s website.
CNJG’s listserves facilitate ongoing group e-mail discussions among subscribed members. Members can share information and expertise, ask questions, and gather opinions of colleagues across the network. Listserves also enable members to get the most up-to-date information on related programs being offered throughout the field.
These listserves can be a great resource if members participate on a regular basis. You can use the listserves to:
- Pose a question to the group.
- Discuss and brainstorm issues related to New Jersey grantmaking.
- Request assistance on a specific topic, problem or issue.
- Alert members about time-sensitive or other helpful information.
Members are automatically included in relevant listserves based on their member profiles. You can begin using the listserves to communicate with your colleagues as soon as you’d like. Please refer to the Listserves’ Membership Policies page for access to the direct email address of each listserve, information on using the listserves, and the directories of who is subscribed to each list.
CNJG now offers 25 listserves.
- Bergen Funders
- Camden Funders
- Community Foundation CEO’s (this list connects to a national listserve for Community Foundation CEO’s)
- CNJG Member CEO's
- CNJG Member CFO’s and Finance Managers
- CNJG Member Communications Staff
- COVID-19 Funders
- Culture Funders
- Corporate Funders
- Disaster Response Funders
- Education Funders
- Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy
- Environmental Funders
- Family Funders
- Food Funders
- Health Funders
- Monmouth & Ocean Roundtable of Funders
- Newark Funders
- New Jersey Census Funders
- Paterson Funders
- Racial Equity Funders
- South Jersey Funders
- STEAM Funders
- Strong and Thriving NJ Community Funders
- Trenton Area Funders
If you would like to join, opt out, have questions, comments or concerns about the listserve, please contact Craig Weinrich at (609) 414-7110 x802.
Every person wants to lead a safe and healthy life. We want the opportunity to fulfill our greatest potential, and to receive the support and guidance we need to travel down our own unique path. We wish this for ourselves and seek it for our children and loved ones.
In fact, communities all over the country go to great lengths to create conditions for young people to thrive. Every year, efforts to promote youth wellbeing amount to hundreds of billions of dollars in public expenditures in education, health care, community development, and related fields. Together with significant resource contributions from the philanthropic, nonprofit, academic and private sectors, these investments make clear that creating, promoting, and sustaining health and safety for young people is a national priority.
This report details how funders can embrace the power of young people to advance healthier and safer communities.
The 2017 New Jersey Foundation Benefits & Salary Report provides a valuable benchmarking resource. Developed and compiled for Council members exclusively, the report presents comprehensive benefits data specific to New Jersey's grantmaking community, alongside data from the Council on Foundations' annual salary survey. Produced every few years, this benchmarking report is a highly valued benefit of your membership in the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers.
The first section, 2017 Benefits Summary Report, includes benefits data for the 2017 calendar year and covers employment, leave benefits, insurance benefits, and more. The second section, 2016 Grantmaker Salary Tables: New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic and National Data provides data on compensation across a wide range of positions and grantmaking entities.
Nina Stack has dreamed of being a philanthropist since long before she could probably even spell the word.
As a child, Stack would fantasize about working for the United Nations. She loved "trick-or-treating for UNICEF," and the idea that she could help children who lived in such horrible conditions was profound, Stack said. "To me, naively perhaps, the UN meant there would be no more war and children wouldn’t die of starvation," she said. "In many ways, collecting donations in that little orange box was my first experience with philanthropy."
Stack loved those early experiences. Today she continues to reach out to help others. Stack is president of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers (CNJG), which she has led since 2005. The statewide association serves as a network, advocate and resource for more than 100 foundations in New Jersey.
On this webinar, Newark funders discussed the childcare practice and policy during COVID-19 and heard front line observations on matters of mental health and domestic violence.
Speakers:
Ceil Zalkind, President and CEO, Advocates for Children of New Jersey
Beverly Lynn, CEO, Programs for Parents
Maria Ortiz, Executive Director, Student Life, Newark Board of Education
LaKeesha Eure, Director, Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center and Chair, Newark Anti-Violence Coalition
Webinar Video
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) recently awarded $199,637 in Incubation and Action Grant funding to sixteen organizations. Incubation Grants help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events. Action Grants help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours, and discussion groups.<BR><BR>
Public humanities programming allows individuals to engage in lifelong learning and share in the exploration of history, values, cultures, and beliefs. NJCH supports and acts as a resource for cultural and service-oriented nonprofit partners as they bring the public humanities to the residents of New Jersey, harnessing the power of the humanities to strengthen communities.
The Overdeck Family Foundation has announced third-quarter grants totaling $13.5 million.
Six new grants and twenty-seven renewal grants were awarded in support of cost-effective programs with the potential to accelerate improvement in key academic and socioemotional outcomes for all children. Recipients include Future City, a four-month-long afterschool STEM program for grades six through eight, which was awarded $200,000 to increase the number of under-resourced students served, diversify revenue streams, and refine data tracking and reporting practices; Teaching Lab, which will receive $200,000 to pilot a virtual, adaptive, and competency-based delivery model; and Public Impact, which was awarded $700,000 in support of efforts to restructure Pre-K–12 schools to extend the reach of excellent teachers, principals, and their teams to more students, for more pay, within recurring school budgets.