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We’ve all heard the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Partnerships and collaborations are how we don’t go it alone.
Just last week, one of our partners via United Philanthropy Forum, (our philanthropy-serving organizations network), Northern California Grantmakers offered an online briefing for funders throughout the nation to understand how the latest round of wildfires are impacting communities in the state, and what philanthropy can do. Good partners work together to galvanize support on issues of importance.
Partially because of our partnership as a member of the Forum, we are able to engage Phil Buchanan, President of The Center for Effective Philanthropy to give the keynote at the upcoming CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon. The CNJG staff heard Phil speak at the Forum's Annual Conference in July, and were inspired by his words. Good partners create opportunities to learn and grow.
Our partnership with the Center for Non-Profits is an exceptional example of two organizations working different sides of the same street to improve the whole community. A considerable portion of the partnership’s work over the years has been focused on addressing systemic issues prevalent in the social sector. We’ve tackled the overhead myth, government contracting, the true costs of providing programs and services, and more.
The upcoming Annual Meeting Pre-Meeting Workshop will continue this legacy of partnership and addressing systemic issues. President of the Center, Linda Czipo, and Tim Delaney, President of the National Council of Nonprofits will help us consider how to overcome power dynamics between funders and nonprofits, and how funders can create trusting and transparent relationships with grantees. We’ll also explore strategies to incorporate full cost funding – a key systemic issue that once solved - strengthens the effectiveness of grantmakers and grantees' work. Good partners stand shoulder to shoulder doing the hard work to make meaningful change.
When I asked google how to describe a good partnership – it came back with words like supportive, open, respectful, effective, genuine… And while these adjectives are spot-on requirements for a good partnership, we should also note that partnerships are hard and require constant care and attention. And so we are constantly vigilant to nurture, maintain and grow our partnerships. The value of working in partnership with others has long been a powerful strategy in the social sector. Nonprofit organizations understand that partnerships can be highly effective given the right mix of trust, communication, and an understanding of the unique strengths each partner brings to the table. Our partnerships clearly reflect this important mix.
Another type of partnership is the one between our member sponsors and our Signature events. Thank you to our sponsors of the Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon: Signature Sponsor – Novartis, Sustaining Sponsor – The Prudential Foundation, Speaker Sponsor – New Jersey Health Initiatives, Gift Sponsor – The Princeton Area Community Foundation, Program Sponsor – Novo Nordisk, Pre-Meeting Workshop Sponsor – Sixers Youth Foundation and Devils Care Foundation, Performance Sponsor – The Provident Bank Foundation, Contributing Sponsor – Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Supporting Sponsor – The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, with additional support provided by NJM Insurance Group. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our sponsors. We could not do this work without you. Good partners support one another.
The Council’s work relies on partnerships with a vast number of other organizations and entities. Among them: You and other CNJG members, colleague philanthropy-serving organizations, nonprofit associations, national affinity groups, government leaders, corporate stakeholders, communities throughout our state, and so many more either known or yet to be engaged.
We’re thrilled that we can showcase concrete examples of our partnerships up front and center at the CNJG Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon. I hope you’ll join us – register here!
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Words to live by.
In partnership,
Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
In their 2017 book The New Localism, Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak make the case that we're at the beginning of a new era: one in which cities and counties must take the lead on new strategies to address pressing social and economic challenges.
But if they hope to be successful, city leaders cannot take on this burden alone: they need to unleash the collective power of their communities. The good news is that a growing number of cities are finding that supporting communities in small ways — for instance, with microgrants — can deliver outsized impact.
Consider the case of the Denver Foundation, which has kept its Strengthening Neighborhoods initiative going for nearly two decades. The initiative provides grants ranging from $100 to $5,000 to fund community-driven solutions that take advantage of the skills and resources already present in a community. Similarly, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's Spark Grants program relies on a grassroots leadership model to bring diverse groups together to strengthen local neighborhoods.
The power of small grants to drive change has not been lost on city leaders, many of whom are embracing the potential of micro-philanthropy — and pairing it with a citizen-led ecosystem that supports the effective implementation of those grants. In Newark, we've taken these lessons to heart and are eager to share some of what we've learned about how small grants can help lay a foundation for improved social and economic mobility.
CNJG is partnering with the Center for Non-Profits to have non-profits complete a rapid-response survey to scan the needs from the non-profit sector during this pandemic. Linda Czipo, President of the Center for Nonprofits, will then join us on a video call for CNJG members on Friday, March 20 to share the results of the survey.
After her presentation, we offer the time and space for funders to share what you are doing differently, and strategies to address the community's needs.
For more resources and articles on COVID-19, visit our Coronavirus Response page.
Cost: Free for Member and NonMember Grantmakers
Please note, this webinar is for funders only.
Thank you to the Center for Non-Profits for their continued partnership in this effort.
Webinar Video
On this webinar, Mayor Baraka presented an update from the City, non-profit leaders, shared what they are seeing on the ground, and funding colleagues discussed the philanthropic response in Newark.
Speakers:
Mayor Ras J. Baraka
Vicky Hernandez, Executive Director, Ironbound Community Corporation
Amina Bey, Executive Director, Newark Emergency Services for Families
Irene Cooper-Basch, Executive Officer, Victoria Foundation
Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Newark
Webinar Video
Hear Executive Director Keith Adams speak on how New Jersey VOAD members are responding to the current crisis during our first COVID-19 Funder Briefing.
New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is a coalition of organizations dedicated to developing and sustaining community resiliency in the face of disasters. In his presentation, Keith will share how NJ VOAD is working with their members, nonprofits, and state partners to coordinate efforts and help to avoid duplicative services. He will also share some of the long-term needs and where there may be gaps in services. NJ VOAD’s dedication to helping communities throughout the entire disaster cycle will provide insight into the continuous and comprehensive efforts that will be essential for improving outcomes for New Jerseyans, especially for our most vulnerable populations.
Following Keith Adam's presentation, CNJG will provide an update on our own work assisting with COVID-19 response and relief efforts.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Nonmember Grantmakers.
This program is open to Grantmakers only.
Webinar Video
CNJG is helping track philanthropy’s response to the coronavirus pandemic by continuing our “Get on the Map” Campaign partnership with Candid who has launched a new coronavirus map in response to funders requests.
It is critical to be transparent and share this information with other funders to help inform your philanthropy in the coming weeks and months. The information gathered will be publicly available and updated daily at candid.org/coronavirus. Knowing where money is going and how, and having the latest information from organizations, facilitates thoughtful collaboration and decision-making in times of crisis.
You can see a list of grants meant to benefit New Jersey, or
A link to highlight grantmaking by funders in New Jersey.
You can also use different filters to, for example, see grantmaking by funders in Bergen County.
They are also working on making their response funds page filterable by geographic area served. A list of the current New Jersey response funds is available here.
As you can see from any of these “live” maps, the information they have collected is not complete, and this is where we need YOUR help!
Please visit our Share Your Giving Data webpage for information about how to share your data.
If you have any questions on how to submit your data, about the map, or how to include your response fund, please contact Craig Weinrich, CNJG’s Director of Member Services. Thank you in advance for your assistance in getting a more complete picture of New Jersey’s philanthropic response to COVID-19.
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.
On this webinar, funders were briefed on how the CARES Act can help nonprofit organizations during COVID-19, heard an update on testing and public health needs from the city, and were informed on the response and greatest needs in Newark hospitals.
Speakers:
Brandon McKoy, President, New Jersey Policy Perspective
Dr. Shereef Elnahol, President and CEO, University Hospital
Dr. Mark Wade, Director, City of Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness
Webinar Video
On this webinar, attendees received an update on funds and interventions in the City of Newark. We then took a deep dive into the issue of food insecurity and heard about the current public health response and needs from Dr. Denise Rodgers.
Speakers:
Kevin Callaghan, Newark Philanthropic Liaison, CNJG
Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Newark
Carlos Rodrigues, President and CEO, Community Food Bank of NJ
Richard Uniacke, Executive Director, Bridges Outreach
Dr. Denise Rodgers, Chair, Newark Homeless Commission and Chair of Believe in a Health Newark
Webinar Video
The Office of the Governor has taken extraordinary steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and protect the health and well-being of New Jerseyans. Among the Governor’s executive orders includes the creation of the State Coronavirus Task Force, closing schools and issuing a shelter-in-place directive. While these orders are paramount and designed to ensure the overall health of our state’s residents, they are impacting our communities. This includes the need for services such as emergency childcare, tax relief, extra SNAP benefits, additional resources for unemployed workers and small businesses, housing and rental assistance, and increased support for healthcare workers.
Join Deborah Cornavaca, Deputy Chief of Staff for Outreach to Governor Murphy, for an overview of how the administration is addressing a range of numerous and complex issues related to mitigation, protecting our state’s most vulnerable, and working with partners on-the-ground. This discussion will help us understand the range of unmet needs and other services that will be filled by nonprofits, identify possible opportunities for the philanthropic community to collaborate with state government, and how the overall social sector might better utilize resources and tools during these unprecedented times.
Learn how funders and grantees can help fill gaps, keep people informed as trusted community partners, and share insights on the most critical needs facing the state.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Nonmember Grantmakers
This program is open to Grantmakers only.
Webinar Video
CNJG is tracking philanthropy’s response to the coronavirus pandemic by elevating our “Get on the Map” Campaign partnership with Candid (formerly Foundation Center). Candid recently launched their new coronavirus map, as a part of their coronavirus webpage. Now, we need your help to share funding efforts related to the coronavirus pandemic, so your COVID-19 grants can get on this new map. The more data that they can gather to complete the map, the more useful this resource will be for your organization.
Learn how you can share your data with Candid in this webinar as Kati Neiheisel, EReporting Liaison will walk us through the why and how of sharing data, and how sharing grants data informs the sector, locally, regionally, and globally. It is critical to be transparent and share this information with philanthropy in the coming weeks and months. Tracking this data will help coordinate and inform all of NJ Grantmakers' efforts for COVID-19 response and relief.
After this demonstration, we will hear from Linda Czipo, President and CEO at the Center for Non-Profits for an update on the results of the 2nd Rapid Response Coronavirus Nonprofit Survey conducted from April 3 to April 7. Linda will share information on nonprofits most urgent needs to better inform your grantmaking during this crisis. For results from the first survey, visit here.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and NonMember Grantmakers
This program is only open to Grantmakers.
Webinar Video
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
On this webinar, we discussed major concerns and pressing needs of the undocumented community in Newark. We also heard updates from the Newark Board of Education and community support to date.
Speakers:
Vicky Hernandez, Executive Director, Ironbound Community Corporation
Sara Cullinane, Director, Make the Road New Jersey
Pastor Michael A. Ogunieye, African Clergy Alliance
David Scutari, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Kevin Callaghan, Newark Philanthropic Liaison, CNJG
Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Newark
Cost: Free for CNJG Members/ $35 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
Article: NJ’s Undocumented Immigrants and COVID-19: Free-Falling Through the Safety Net
Statement on the Pandemic and Responses to It
As the leaders of the major philanthropic and non-profit membership organizations in New Jersey, representing both the wide range of non-profit groups and the multi-faceted funders of those groups, we feel compelled to speak out against the hateful responses we and our members have witnessed in reaction to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Our country has seen countless examples of selfless sacrifice and good works over the past month, both on individual and institutional levels. We are proud that our members have been leaders in responding to the needs of our community.
But to our distress, some individuals have used the pandemic to put forward their bias and hatred toward their fellow citizens.
Times of crisis bring to the surface, on the part of some people, the need to scapegoat. Often, this takes the form of lashing out at particular groups, stirred up by inflamed rhetoric or more subtle code words or phrases, having no relationship to facts. In this time, there have been verbal and physical attacks against people of Asian and Pacific Islander background, as there were against Muslims after September 11 and against African-Americans and Latinos in countless other instances. This hatred and these attacks must stop.
The non-profit sector is the backbone of our communities, providing assistance and education to a wide range of people, in good times and especially challenging times. Many of these services are a lifeline to individuals of all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and statuses in life. Non-profit organizations are the vehicle through which people can work together to selflessly assist others. People around the world view the United States as being unique in the breadth and depth of its charitable and philanthropic work, engaging the talents of all individuals, regardless of their economic or social status.
We call upon all people of good conscience in their good work to be alert for these hateful words and actions and to speak out against them, both as individuals and as organizations. Our language and our actions do matter. Everyone, but especially people in positions of public trust or prominence, has the obligation to use our works and our lives to assist all in need and to honor the dignity and potential of all those we meet. We call on not only our own members, but all individuals who serve and volunteer in our sector to join us in this effort to speak out against racism and hatred and to exemplify all the best that we know our country is.
William V. Engel
CNJG Board Chair
Maria Vizcarrondo
CNJG CEO and President
Gina M. Plotino
Center for Non-Profits Board Chair
Linda Czipo
Center for Non-Profits CEO and President
We will hear from four organizations which have varying focuses and strategies, but share the same goal to help struggling New Jersey communities fight against the growing impact of the coronavirus. Join us for an overview of the purpose and progress of these COVID-19 funds and assistance programs.
We’ll hear about the ALICE Recovery Fund from CEO Kiran Gaudioso and Senior Vice President Theresa Leamy from the United Way of Northern New Jersey and the PHL COVID-19 Fund from Kate Houstoun, Managing Director for Capacity Building at the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. These funds support two different locals and populations reeling from coronavirus crisis. The ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) population is especially vulnerable to economic disruption and illness during this pandemic. The PHL COVID-19 Fund focuses on the 5 southern counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, and Cumberland.
We’ll also hear from Tim Sullivan, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, who will outline how they are working with philanthropy and nonprofits to develop funds and programs that support our communities during this difficult time. We’ll round out the webinar with a presentation from Wayne Meyer, President of New Jersey Community Capital, who will discuss the Garden State Relief Fund, and its focus on providing low interest loans to nonprofits and small business which have been disproportionately affected by this crisis.
Register now to keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 funds and programs helping to address critical needs and provide equitable relief throughout New Jersey.
Cost: Free for CNJG Member and NonMember Grantmakers.
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
On this webinar, the conversation focused on the local news landscape with guests from Chalkbeat Newark, WBGO, and the Dodge Foundation. Additionally, attendees heard a quick briefing on Newark’s efforts to encourage social distancing from Director of Public Safety Anthony Ambrose.
Speakers:
Anthony Ambrose, Director of Public Safety, City of Newark
Patrick Wall, Senior Reporter, Chalkbeat Newark
Megan Van Dyk, Informed Communities Program Officer, Dodge Foundation
Brit Harley, News Voices Fellow, WBGO
Kevin Callaghan, Newark Philanthropic Liaison, CNJG
Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Newark
Cost: Free for CNJG Members/ $35 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
African Americans make up just 14% of New Jersey’s population, but they account for 21.3% of COVID-19 deaths, according to state fatality figures. This disparity is due to a number of factors which existed long before the coronavirus pandemic hit our state and our country. Discrimination in our health systems directly contributes to disproportionate rates of chronic disease and barriers to accessing health care for Black individuals. This web briefing will explore how philanthropy and our partners can help turn the tide and begin to address these complicated issues head on. Going back to normal is not good enough. The philanthropic community is in a unique position to bring these kinds of conversations to the forefront of our work.
Hear Dr. Denise Rodgers, Vice Chancellor of Interprofessional Programs at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, discuss the social determinants underlaying long-standing racial health disparities, and how New Jersey can address health inequity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’ll also be joined by Bob Atkins, Director of the New Jersey Health Initiatives of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who will share his perspective on how funders can help support better outcomes for Black individuals and communities during this pandemic. To end our session, he will facilitate a conversation for grantmakers to share how their organizations are addressing racial inequity amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Join us to explore how philanthropy can help reduce the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities in New Jersey.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and NonMember Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
On this webinar, we heard from McKinsey on the disproportionate impact of cOVID-19 on communities of color, as well as longer-term implications and solutions. Representatives from McKinsey discussed their report entitled “COVID-19: Investing in Black Lives and Livelihoods,” which is attached at the bottom of this webpage.
Speakers:
JP Julien, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company, Philadelphia
Aria Florant, Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company, Washington DC
Duwain Pinder, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company, NYC
Cost: Free for CNJG Members/ $35 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
As New Jersey enters its 9th week of sheltering in place and the close of businesses deemed non-essential, we have already seen the impact of policy decisions and the immense and growing need in our communities. The sheer number of people stricken with COVID-19, heartbreak of families and loved ones as they respond, widespread unemployment, difficulty accessing services, a lack of resources for immigrant and undocumented populations, financial uncertainty of nonprofits and small businesses, and a steep decline in physical and mental health, are some of the devastating challenges facing our country and state at this time.
Named to Gov. Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council, Brandon McKoy, President of New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) will present an overview of federal and state policy implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis, with a special focus on how these policies impact nonprofits, vulnerable communities, and the state budget. A new NJPP report cautions, “Without proper funding, state government cannot fully serve the needs of the public, especially during a time of crisis when the demand for services is at an all-time high.” Brandon will share challenges in implementing these policies, policy recommendations to strengthen New Jersey’s response and recovery to the pandemic, and proposed systems change beyond resilience.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members and Nonmember Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
On this webinar, speakers focused on mental health during this difficult time. Our speakers included Steve Margeotes from Main Street Counseling, Sonia Rodrigues-Marto from Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, and Ron Chaluisan from the Newark Trust for Education on their social-emotional learning work in schools. We were then be joined by Aisha Glover of the Newark Alliance who is working with the City of Newark, Partners in Health, and the MCJ Amelior Foundation to help to coordinate the city's contact tracing initiative.
Speakers
Steve Margeotes, Executive Director, Main Street Counseling
Sonia Rodrigues-Marto, Program Director, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care
Ron Chaluisan, Executive Director Newark Trust for Education
Aisha Glover, President & CEO, Newark Alliance
Cost: Free for CNJG Members/ $35 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video
On this webinar, the conversation focused on the future of education. Panelists discussed challenges and adaptations, contingency planning, and what this moment can teach us about how best to educate kids moving forward.
Speakers:
Father Edwin Leahy, Headmaster, St. Benedict’s
Mary Ann Reilly, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Newark Public Schools
Ben Cope, Chief External Officer, KIPP NJ
Cost: Free for CNJG Members/ $35 for Non Member Grantmakers
Webinar Video