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Giving circles and other forms of collective giving (hereafter referred to as GCs) have grown significantly in visibility and popularity over the past 15 years. Often started by donors, they are widely understood to be highly flexible, democratic, do-ityourself vehicles for giving. Previous research has illuminated the positive impact that participation has on the giving and civic engagement of donors. Until recently, however, our understanding of the scope and scale of GCs was 10 years out of date!

This research presents an updated understanding of the current landscape of GCs and similar models of collective giving or giving collaboratives in the United States. This research comprises the first of a three-part inquiry, which also looks at research underway related to the impact of participation in GCs on donor giving and civic engagement, and a study of the relationships between GCs and their hosting organizations.

The Regional Foundation announced $1,950,000 in Implementation Grants to three organizations throughout New Jersey. The Neighborhood Implementation Grants program supports comprehensive community development plans that target specific neighborhoods, are resident-driven, and equity-focused. The multi-year funding is designed to assist the foundation’s grantee partners to start or sustain momentum in their comprehensive neighborhood revitalization initiatives.

“The grant investments announced today reflect the foundation’s ongoing commitment to sustained funding for our partners” stated Kevin Dow, Executive Director of the foundation. “Habitat and Parkside are strong partners doing amazing work including collaborations with other foundation partners and NJCDC is exciting as it moves our long-standing partnership from neighborhood planning to implementation and deepens our support in Paterson.”

These articles have a philanthropic focus. We encourage grantmakers to read, share, and use strategies detailed here.

5/13/22 - ABC News: Two New Jersey towns illustrate the race gap in the COVID pandemic 

NJTV: LIVE UPDATES: Tracking the Coronavirus in New Jersey

3/16/21 – Denver Post: On Philanthropy: Pandemic puts nonprofits in peril – what donors can do

9/9 – NPR: NPR & Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Poll: Financial Pain From Coronavirus Pandemic 'Much, Much Worse' Than Expected

8/26 – Center for Disaster Philanthropy: $12 Billion Pledged Worldwide to Fight COVID-19 through June 2020

8/25 – Generocity: Changing Metrics for Impact: The Emergence of a New Donor-Grantee Business Model

8/19 – Good News Network: Generous American Are Giving More to Charities Through The Pandemic, Survey Says

6/8 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: How Foundations Can Make Covid Research Grants More Equitable

6/5 – Governing Magazine: The America Ethos and the Betrayal of Expertise

5/19 – Nonprofit Quarterly: COVID-19 Calls for Philanthropy to Redefine Urgency

5/13 – Nonprofit Quarterly: Will Philanthropy Stand Up for Black America?

5/11 – Nonprofit Quarterly: Deer Eyes, Circle Mind: Reflections on Pandemic & Philanthropy

5/8 – Inside Philanthropy: Pandemic Philanthropy: Moving From Relief to Power

5/5 – NY Times: In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows

5/5 – Funders Together to End Homelessness: COVID-19 Response and Recovery: Recommendations for Philanthropy to Support Immediate Needs and Long-Term Solutions to End Homelessness

5/5 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: Op-Ed: Flexibility for Grantees Is Not Enough. Let Them Decide Where the Money Goes

5/5 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: Op-Ed: Change Is Too Rapid in Covid-19 Era to Tie Nonprofits’ Hands With Old Rules

5/4 – Bridgespan Group: Racial Equity and Philanthropy: Disparities in Funding for Leaders of Color Leave Impact on the Table

5/4 – Stanford Social Innovation Review: Overcoming the Racial Bias in Philanthropic Funding

5/1 – Stanford Social Innovation Review: For a More Equitable America, Understand Race and Racism as Actions We Do and Can Undo

4/30 – National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Large Funder Quadruples its giving in response to COVID-19

4/30 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: How the 25 Biggest Grantmakers are Responding to the COVID Crisis

4/30 – Chronicle of Philanthropy: In Covid-19 Crisis, Philanthropy’s Attention Must Focus on People With Disabilities

4/30 – Inside Philanthropy: A Time for Reform: Philanthropy and the Push for Better State Policymaking

4/28 – Newsweek: Why the Coronavirus Pandemic is Philanthropy's Big Moment

4/23 – Bridgespan Group: Want to Support Your Community’s Equitable Recovery from COVID-19? Invest in Child Care

4/21 – Center for Effective Philanthropy: Essential Questions for Foundation Boards in a Time of Crisis

4/20 – LA Times: Charity is off the charts amid the coronavirus. Is that a sign of America’s strength or weakness?

4/20 - Nonprofit Times: Foundations Paying Out, Expect Deep Recession (quotes from Community Foundation of New Jersey)

4/17 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Why Grantmakers Need to Break Their Restriction Habit—Permanently

4/16 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Philanthropy’s Stimulus Plan Must Bolster Democracy

4/16 - Nonprofit Quarterly: How Philanthropy Can Support Black Workers

4/15 - Candid.org: A Call for COVID-19 Grants Data

4/15 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: In This Crisis, Philanthropy Must Tackle 3 Existential Challenges All At Once

4/14 - Bridgespan Group: Four Ways for Community-Focused Philanthropy to Confront the Coronavirus Crisis

4/9 - Inside Philanthropy: COVID and the Count: Funders Confront New Challenges to the 2020 Census

4/9 - Forbes: COVID-19 And Aging: What Can Philanthropy Do?

4/7 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Coronavirus Crisis Has Changed How I View What Matters in Philanthropy

4/7 - App.com: Coronavirus: 10 ways to avoid becoming victim of a scam

4/7 - Washington Post: Coronavirus is a Totally Different Disaster for Philanthropies to Handle

4/6 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Small Nonprofits Struggle to Get Payroll Loans in New Federal Program

4/6 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Foundations and Nonprofits See Crisis as Opportunity to Advance Equity

4/3 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: What Philanthropy Can Do Now to Promote Education Equity After the Pandemic

4/2 - Inside Philanthropy: The Hardest Hit: Who is Supporting Communities of Color During COVID-19?

4/2 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Philanthropy, Meet Our Matrix Moment: Which Pill Will You Choose?

4/1 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Grant Maker Dilemma: Spend More Now or Protect Shrinking Endowments?

4/1 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Foundations Adopt Policies to Move More Money Faster, and With Fewer Restrictions

4/1 - NJ Spotlight: A Coronavirus Checklist to Help Keep NJ Residents Informed

3/30 - Nonprofit Quarterly: COVID-19: Using a Racial Justice Lens Now to Transform Our Future

3/26 - NJ.com: City of Newark Creates $6 million fund for Non-Profits, arts organizations, resident, businesses, and homeowners

3/23 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Federal Aid Plan for Nonprofits Needs More Input From Black-Led Organizations

3/20 - Nonprofit Quarterly: A Growing Group of Foundations Pledge ‘No Business as Usual’

3/20 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Senate Bill would create ‘Universal Deduction’ & Expand Loans for Nonprofits

3/20 - Asbury Park Press: Digital Divide in Schools Will Affect Web-Only Lessons

3/17 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Grantmaker Responses for Nonprofits in Need Vary Widely

3/17 - Trust-based Philanthropy Project: Philanthropy Needs To Trust Nonprofits Now More Than Ever

3/16 - Exponent Philanthropy: Market Volatility in the Face of COVID-19

3/16 - Philadelphia Inquirer: Free Wifi from Comcast

3/16 - Inside Philanthropy: Philanthropy Has a Duty to Respond Quickly to the COVID-19 Outbreak. Here’s How We Can Do It

3/16 - NJBiz.com: NJ Government recommendations on March 16, 2020

3/13 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: As Disasters Go, Coronavirus Impact on Philanthropy Unprecedented and ‘Crazy’

3/13 - Bloomberg: Nonprofits Prepare for Worst with Wealthy Losing Billions

3/12 - Forbes: Philanthropy: COVID19 Doesn’t Need to Slow You Down

3/12 - Inside Philanthropy: On the Frontlines of a Pandemic, Local Philanthropy Scrambles to Respond

3/12 - NorthJersey.com: Many seniors face coronavirus fears while cut off from activities and social networks

3/12 - Independent Sector/Chronicle of Philanthropy: A Novel Opportunity to Strengthen Public Trust in the Nonprofit World

3/12 - NJ Spotlight: Sick Leave in NJ, What the Law Provides

3/12 - NJ Spotlight: Experience with Virtual Snow Days Helps NJ School Prepare for COVID-19 Closures

3/12 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus ‘Rapid Response’ Funds Proliferate as Threat Grows

3/11 - NJ.com: NJ schools feed 500K kids for free. What happens if coronavirus closes them?

3/11 - Daily Beast: Will Coronavirus make America finally care about the homeless

3/11 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus Is Hard on Nonprofits That Rely on Events

3/11 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Nonprofits Who Can’t Cancel: The Ones that Serve Those at Greater Risk of COVID-19

3/10 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: As Coronavirus Threat Continues, Experts Tell Nonprofits to Shore Up Reserves

3/9 - Nonprofit Times: Lessening the Risk of Coronavirus at Nonprofits

3/9 - Nonprofit Quarterly: Community Healthcare Centers Funding at Risk at Time of Health Peril

3/9 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronavirus Spread

3/8 - ROI-NJ: NJ Insurers Announce Coverage Related to Coronavirus

3/8 - Nonprofit AF: A few things for nonprofits and foundations to consider in light of the Coronavirus

3/5 - Washington Post: RWJF CEO Pens Opinion Piece on Coronavirus

3/5 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Coronavirus Giving Tops $1 Billion Worldwide

3/4 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofits Work to Protect Employees and Volunteers as Coronavirus Threat Grows

3/3 - Candid.org: Funders Respond to Coronavirus

3/3 - CDNet: Tech Tools Offered for Free During Outbreak

3/2 - FSG: COVID-19 – Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do by Lauren Smith, MD, MPH

3/2 - Chronicle of Philanthropy: Nonprofit Conference Attendees Worry About Coronavirus

2/18 - Professional Convention Management Association: Is Your Event (if cancelled) Covered by Insurance?

CNJG provides this information free to the philanthropic community. If you are not a CNJG member, please join so you can take full advantage of the many benefits of membership and help underwrite the cost of services like this.

The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is the comprehensive resource of best practices and innovative approaches to guide the philanthropic community in responding to future disasters.

Designed as a multimedia, interactive online magazine, the Playbook compiles ideas and approaches from multiple organizations and is an “evergreen” resource designed for continued updates and knowledge-building. Community planning, civic rebuilding, legal services, housing, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, working with local, state and federal government, mitigation and preparedness are some of the common issues faced by communities post disaster that are covered in detail in the Playbook.

The Playbook also allows organizations to prepare for all phases of a disaster. What can we do to plan and prepare our community? What about mitigation? How do we help build a resilient community? What should we think about in the months and years after a disaster as we undertake the arduous path of recovery?

The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is a joint project of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in association with the United Philanthropy Forum (formerly the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers).

CNJG members are eligible for a 20% discount off the only peer-reviewed journal of philanthropy - The Foundation Review - a product of The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Grand Valley State University.  The journal, written by and for foundation staff and boards, provides rigorous research and writing, presented in an accessible style. It will share evaluation results, tools and knowledge about the philanthropic sector in order to improve the practice of grantmaking, yielding greater impact and innovation.

To receive the discount, use FORUM18 as your discount code.

The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) recently awarded $202,840 in Incubation and Action Grant funding to fifteen 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.

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.