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The Inclusive Growth ScoreTM provides local planners, governments and impact investors with a clear, simple view of social and economic indicators for any census tract in the United States.

For 20 years, The Nicholson Foundation worked to advance meaningful change in safety net service systems in New Jersey. Its grantmaking journey is described in Changing Systems, Changing Lives: Reflecting on 20 Years. Through stories and related text, the book showed how a small family foundation could take six guiding themes and put them into action through grants and partner support. In the process, the Foundation collaborated to spur real systems change that benefitted individuals, families, and communities. A recent scholarly paper built on that work, helping to make the Foundation’s approach broadly accessible to researchers, academics, and philanthropists. “A Framework for Creating Systems Change,” by Drs. William Brown and Wynn Rosser published in The Foundation Review, presents a new model for systems change. Five of the model’s seven components reflect themes in Changing Systems, Changing Lives. The sixth component slightly shifts the emphasis of the Foundation’s “Engaging with Government” theme, and the seventh highlights the Foundation’s overall approach by including performance measurement as a distinct and separate component of the model.

Download or order a free hard copy of The Nicholson Foundation book, "Changing Systems, Changing Lives"

Read Brown W, Rosser W. "A Framework for Creating Systems Change". The Foundation Review, 2023;15(4):50-6.

Join funders for a discussion on the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.

First Lady Tammy Murphy launched the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF), hosted by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, to fight against the ongoing pandemic by directing funds to local organizations providing “on the ground” services to our state’s most vulnerable populations.

On this webinar, we will hear from Executive Director of NJPRF, Josh Weinreich and President of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Hans Dekker. Together, they will discuss how funds are being collected and distributed, how NJPRF will help fill gaps in services across the state, and the importance of coordinated efforts between government and the private sector.

The various funds being set up by New Jersey foundations and philanthropic leaders can help ensure funding is directed to areas of greatest need, encourage greater collaboration among grantmaking, nonprofit, and government partners, and create a stronger, more resilient state. Register now to hear about how the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund is providing essential support for our communities.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Nonmember Grantmakers
This program is open to Grantmakers only.

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Reimagining Philanthropy: Data for Social Impact

Held:
Monday, December 7 -   2:00 to 3:30 pm -- Skill-Building Workshop
Tuesday, December 8 - 12:30 to 2:00 pm -- Business Meeting & Keynote Presentation

Thank you to everyone who attended CNJG’s first ever virtual Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering. This year’s meeting focused on the many ways philanthropy can use data for social impact.

Data science is a powerful tool to address housing and food insecurity, education inequality, health disparities, civic injustice, and other longstanding social issues that continue to intensify during the pandemic. Building data capacity equips local leaders with information to develop and advocate for more effective policies. New evaluation strategies can outperform outdated processes that reinforce inequities and slow progress. Research and technology that fuels innovation in the private sector can help nonprofit and government organizations drive impact in New Jersey communities..

On Day 1, the Annual Meeting Workshop focused on evaluation and learning practices that center equity and social impact. And on Day 2, Keynote panelists shared how data science can help connect people to services, address racial inequity, and create greater impact in our communities during the pandemic and beyond..

Philanthropy can’t go back to “normal,” because normal wasn’t good enough. During this year’s Virtual 2020 Annual Meeting & Holiday Gathering we explored how we can reimagine philanthropy by harnessing the full power of data for social impact.

The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support: Signature Sponsors – Novartis and PSEG; Sustaining Sponsors – Prudential and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; Collaborating Sponsor – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and Performance Sponsor – The Provident Bank Foundation.

The Future of Work and the Role of Philanthropy

Dates: Wednesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 20
Time: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

One of the most valuable learning and networking events for the social sector in the state, CNJG’s 2021 Virtual Spring Conference considered the role of philanthropy in shaping how, where, and why we work.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted and propelled the future of work in ways we couldn’t have imagined. But even before the pandemic - the automation of jobs, the gig economy, the ongoing need for reskilling and retraining, changing demographics, green careers, lack of job security and more – has been setting the stage for novel ways of working. The Spring Conference explored this new, accelerated work paradigm, it’s profound impact on New Jersey’s industries, workers and communities, and the implications for grantmakers and their nonprofit partners.

This timely and important event brought together national and local thought leaders, experts and stakeholders to share what the social sector can do to ensure a better future for New Jersey’s workforce. Attendees engaged in candid, visionary conversations around equitable labor standards and professional practices, the changing, post-pandemic workplace, strategies to fill gaps in skills, education, and opportunity, the effects of new federal job policies on workers, and much more.

Thank you for joining the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers for an exploration about what lies ahead as we prepare for and address pressing and unprecedented changes in the world of work.

Only people who registered for the Conference will be able to access WHOVA. For assistance or additional information, please contact Anna D’Elia, Manager of Programs and Learning.

One year from now the 2020 Census will be in full swing. This nationwide, constitutionally-mandated count, conducted once every ten years, is our opportunity to ensure that New Jersey residents are accurately counted to secure the resources needed to support our communities. Nationally, more than $800 billion in federal funding as well as fair, proportional voting representation are at stake. In New Jersey, allocations from 16 federal programs including Medicaid, education grants, and even highway planning and construction are allotted based on the census count. This totaled over $17 billion in 2015.
 
But the 2020 Census is facing unprecedented challenges, including years of underfunding, a climate of fear, the challenges of the first “high tech” census, and the potential addition of an untested citizenship question. That means we will all have to work together to overcome these challenges and help achieve a fair and accurate census to ensure that the hardest-to-count communities—like people of color, low-income folks, LGBTQ people, immigrant communities, rural communities, and young children—aren’t missed. Based on the latest census estimates, approximately 22% of New Jersey’s population lives in hard-to-count areas. 
 
CNJG joins the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation’s Funders Census Initiative, United Philanthropy Forum and philanthropy-serving organizations around the country in asking our members to commit to supporting and encouraging a fair and accurate census.

The Census is one of our nation’s most important and consequential civic obligations. Getting it right and counting everyone ensures people and communities can thrive.  

Please feel free to reach out to me or Deputy Director Theresa Jacks for information about the Council’s work on behalf of a full, fair and accurate 2020 Census.
 
Sincerely,

Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

This session will unpack New Jersey’s just-enacted Fiscal Year 2026 state budget—totaling $58.1 billion—with a $6.3 billion surplus. We’ll explore key spending priorities, looming threats from federal funding cuts, and the implications for the transition to the next governor.

Peter Chen, Esq. (he/him), Senior Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective, serves as tax and budget lead, coordinating analysis of state and local fiscal policy. Peter has worked on child and family policy advocacy in New Jersey since 2014. Most recently, he spearheaded New Jersey’s creation of a state-level Child Tax Credit. Peter’s work has included coordination of the statewide nonprofit Census complete count campaign, advocacy to strengthen state and local laws to protect children from lead exposure, and reducing chronic absenteeism from school.  Previously Peter served as Policy Counsel for Advocates for Children of New Jersey. Peter received his JD from Yale Law School and his Bachelors of Arts from Indiana University-Bloomington.

Tina M. Zappile is the Director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University where she is also Associate Professor of Political Science. She earned her Ph.D. in International Relations and M.A. in International Trade and Finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her M.A. in Political Science and B.A. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her research interests include international organizations (IOs), international law, international trade and finance, the North-South divide, global economic development policy, and the role of developing countries in IOs and the global economy. She teaches classes in international law and organization, global politics of economic development, introduction to international relations, and international political economy.

Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.

Webinar Video