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Eastside High School in Paterson sits in the middle of a struggling neighborhood, in a city where 25% of the residents are living below the poverty line, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
Paterson’s poverty rate is more than twice the state average of 10%, which makes the school, built in 1926, a refuge — and now a resource.
On Thursday, Montclair State University president Jonathan Koppell came to Eastside with a $1 million grant and a vision: to make the school into a community hub, offering free meals, health care, and mental health counseling, not just to the 2,000 students, but to their families as well.
The initiative is called One Square Mile, and it is being seeded with a $1 million grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. The program was developed by Koppell during his tenure as Dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University, which worked with the Phoenix-area community of Maryvale to address poverty.
Kessler Foundation said Wednesday that in 2022 it approved approximately $1 million in grants to support initiatives that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace.
The majority of the funding was allocated into two categories: Signature Employment Grants and Community Employment Grants. The remaining funds were awarded to Foundation Directed Grants, Special Initiative Grants and Emergency Relief Grants.
“In our society, work often defines who we are, and how we are perceived by others,” Elaine Katz, senior vice president for grants and communications at Kessler Foundation, said. “Because participating in the workplace has many benefits, both tangible and intangible, Kessler Foundation focuses its grantmaking on expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and addresses employment outcomes through its rehabilitation research.”
Johnson & Johnson extends our sympathy and support to the thousands of people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
In the immediate aftermath of this disaster, we have been assisting the region by:
- Pledging $1 million for disaster relief efforts to support the following NGOs: International Medical Corps (IMC) and International Rescue Committee (IRC).
- Donating funds to Direct Relief for immediate support of the rescue efforts on the ground in Turkey.
- Donating thermal blankets and working to provide other items in urgent need, including hygiene products, surgical sutures, hemostats, wound closures, and other medical products.
- Establishing an employee giving campaign that is supported with matched gifts for global engagement.
- Supporting temporary accommodation, transportation and access to food and water to impacted employees and their immediate families.
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts held its first public meeting of 2023 on February 28, where nearly $2 million was awarded to 140 New Jersey artists through the Council’s Individual Artist Fellowship program.
The Fellowships are competitive awards to New Jersey artists in 12 rotating disciplines granted solely on independent peer panel assessment of work samples. The anonymous process is focused on artistic quality, and awards may be used to help artists produce new work and advance their careers. New Jersey artists applied for awards this year in the categories of choreography, crafts, music composition, photography, playwriting/screenwriting, poetry, and sculpture. This program is carried out in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts.
At the Council’s Annual Meeting last July, the Council voted to authorize an unprecedented investment of $2 million in the Individual Artist Fellowship program. Through that commitment of funding, this year’s Fellowship cohort is the largest one the Council has added to its distinguished list of Fellows in over 30 years. In order to further support the increased number of artists applying to the program, the Council developed a new level of awards in addition to the Fellowship Award. For the first time, the Council announced Finalist Awards. The Finalists Awards are given to those applicants who scored highly, but just below the cutoff to receive a Fellowship.
As we witness the initial impact of Hurricane Dorian, we are reminded that many of our communities are still targets for further devastation from this storm over the next few days.
While we recognize that many of us have survived recent hurricanes like Sandy and Maria, we also know that the struggle continues, and we need to do our best to help meet the needs of current victims caught in the wake of the storm.
In light of this situation, we are providing our membership with the latest information to help you determine how your organization might engage in response and recovery efforts.
Resources
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has created a Hurricane Dorian disaster profile, which provides updates on the storm as well as information on the areas of greatest need
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has also launched the CDP 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund to support communities that will be affected by Hurricane Dorian. This fund focuses on medium- and long-term recovery, with the understanding that individuals and communities will need the support of private philanthropy for months and years to come as they navigate the road to recovery.
- The Disaster Philanthropy Playbook is a comprehensive handbook outlining best practices and innovative approaches that the philanthropic community can adopt in addressing recovery after natural disasters. CNJG’s lessons learned in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy helped lead the creation of this Playbook.
- Locally in Florida, the Miami Foundation for a Greater Miami created a Hurricane Dorian resource page.
- The Jessie Ball duPont Fund resource Creating Order from Chaos: Roles for Philanthropy in Disaster Planning and Response provides a framework for steps that can be taken for philanthropy to respond to disasters.
- The New York Times has released an article sharing multiple ways to help Hurricane Dorian survivors in the Bahamas.
- Charity Navigator has created a list of high-rated organizations providing aid and relief for Hurricane Dorian for both short-term and long-term relief.
- Sadly, CNJG’s post Sandy work and the briefings hosted and compiled by CNJG still hold lessons for today. You can review the briefings from Series 1 and Series 2 in either audio or written format. The briefings provide timely, relevant information about how grantmakers can help in the aftermath of a major storm.
Finally, if you think it would be useful, we’ll convene an open-forum conference call for CNJG members to share how your organization might be thinking about your own response efforts. If you’re interested in connecting with your colleagues for this kind of discussion, please contact me, and we will set up a call.
Yours in solidarity,
Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Dear CNJG Community,
I am writing to let you know that last week Council of New Jersey Grantmakers’ President and CEO Nina Stack, notified the Council’s Board of Trustees that she will be stepping down in June to become the Executive Director of The Champlin Foundation, the largest private foundation in the state of Rhode Island.
This is certainly bittersweet news. While we will miss her tremendous leadership, enthusiasm, and good spirit she has brought to our state’s philanthropic community these past thirteen years, anyone who knows Nina knows that Rhode Island is also near and dear to her heart.
Yesterday, I convened a meeting of our Executive Committee, which includes Bill Engel/Hyde & Watson Foundation, Annmarie Puleio/Fred C. Rummel Foundation, Cynthia Evans/Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Bill Leavens/Leavens Family Foundation to consider how the Council will address this transition phase and search process.
In addition, the full Board of Trustees will be meeting later this month to build on these initial conversations. We are developing a thorough, thoughtful, and deliberate transition plan and search process. I will be back in touch with all of you, the members of CNJG and colleagues, in the coming weeks to share those details.
The good news is that under Nina’s extraordinary leadership over these many years, the Council is in an excellent position. Our finances are very strong, our membership continues to grow, our members are more engaged, our programming is exceptional, our partnerships are robust, our staff is talented, and our influence with policymakers, business leaders, and others across the state deepens.
In the meantime, Nina will remain on staff until June 1. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Spring Colloquium – Breaking Through in the New Media Paradigm – on May 24.
Please join us for what will be Nina’s last program as President and CEO of the Council, I encourage you to register as soon as possible. Seating is limited, and I have no doubt it will sell out very soon.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Pearson
Chair, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Related Articles
Providence Business Journal: Stack to head Champlin Foundation come June
The Mimi Washington Starrett Foundation announced over $550,000 in its inaugural grant cycle.
Kessler Foundation approved approximately $2 million in grants in 2021 to support initiatives that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. The Foundation allocated funding for three categories: Foundation-Directed Grants, Community Employment Grants, and Special Initiative Grants. Since 2005, the Foundation's Center for Grantmaking has awarded more than $50 million to nonprofit programs that expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities striving to work, adding diversity to American workplaces, and boosting productivity.
Kessler grantmaking has lead to improved job skills and paid employment for thousands of individuals with disabilities.
The Foundation's contributions have led to improved job skills and paid employment for thousands of individuals with disabilities, according to Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SLP, senior vice president for grants and communications at Kessler Foundation. "Our grants support inventive initiatives that open new pathways to increasing inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace," she added.
The barriers to everyone in America having a fair shot at living their healthiest life are too great to address through grantmaking alone.
For decades, we’ve worked to change systems and policies in order to make the healthy choice the easier choice, especially for those facing the greatest obstacles to good health. Another approach is to shift capital markets—and we can do that through impact investing. Impact investing can create both bottom-line financial returns for investors and improve health, well-being and equity through investments in the community finance system.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has reaffirmed its commitment to impact investing through a $200 million allocation for social investments and by appointing Kimberlee Cornett as director of impact investments to lead this strategy.
As part of the $200 million effort, RWJF has already completed several impact investments to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and to support the community development finance system.
CNJG joined 250 delegates from the across the country over 3 days last week for Foundations on the Hill. Joining me, the CNJG delegation included Jeremy Grunin, President, Grunin Foundation, Calvin Ledford Jr., President, and Maria Spina, Manager, PSEG Foundation, Marianna Schaffer, Vice President of Programs, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way Greater Newark, and Lucy Vandenberg, Executive Director, Schumann Fund for New Jersey. Lucy serves as the co-chair of the CNJG Leadership and Policy Committee. For the last few years, we’ve also been joined by Linda Czipo, President and CEO, New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. Linda’s voice elevates our conversations and helps ground them in the work nonprofits do every day.
While we were in Washington, the Charitable Act was introduced by Senators Lankford and Coons during a press conference on March 1. The bipartisan bill makes charitable giving available to nonitemizers. Throughout our meetings, we urged our legislators to support this proposal, and hope it will be introduced on the House side soon. Several United Philanthropy Forum staff and FOTH participants attended the announcement, including Calvin, Maria, and Catherine.
CNJG’s Strategic Plan positions the Council to move beyond “defense of the sector issues,” and this year, in addition to advocating for charitable giving, we also advocated for the Nonprofit SEAT Act. This proposed legislation, if done right, could be a game changer. The bill proposes to create the White House Office on Nonprofit Sector Partnership, an interagency council, and advisory board. It directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics to release quarterly economic data on the nonprofit sector in the same way as other industries. While on the Hill, we heard the bill is likely to be introduced in the next few weeks.
In addition to advocating for legislation that supports our work, and educating Congress about the social sector, FOTH also helps build relationships with our Congressional delegation. We were thrilled to meet directly with Representatives Watson Coleman, Kim, and Payne, and newly elected Congressman Kean. Relationship building and partnerships are key approaches highlighted in our strategic plan because they are integral to moving forward philanthropy’s impact.
On Thursday, 3/9 at 12:00 noon, we’ll jointly host with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, a webinar outlining the 2023 CDS program with the Office of Senator Menendez. The Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) program enables members of Congress to allocate existing funding for specific local projects by nonprofit organizations. Senator Menendez’ staff will outline the program, eligibility requirements, and application procedures. We hope you’ll join us, and encourage your grantees and nonprofit partners to attend. Register here.
It was quite an eventful 3 days – advocating for important policy, witnessing the introduction of the Charitable Act, strengthening and building relationships with our legislators, planning a webinar to inform the sector about funding opportunities, and engaging in activities that support our strategic plan.
Another important platform to strengthen and inform both the philanthropic and nonprofit sector in NJ is on May 23. The Conference for the Social Sector: Doing Good Better will explore how funders and nonprofits can address philanthropy’s power imbalances, rethink traditional grantmaking practices to better serve New Jersey communities, and position equity as a driving force. Register today!
Sincerely,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
The last few years have certainly been turbulent on many different fronts here in New Jersey, across the country, and around the globe. Life as we knew it has changed for us personally and professionally. Because of this, many of the conversations in philanthropy have changed as well. One thing that remains a constant is that funders in Monmouth and Ocean Counties continue striving to make impact with partners in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. But how do we come together as a philanthropic sector to create even more impact? This can be done in many different ways – knowledge sharing, partnerships, collective giving, shifting the way we do our work, and so much more.
In collaboration with the Grunin Foundation, CNJG invites you to join us for breakfast with an engaging discussion about what funders can to do together to create greater impact in Ocean and Monmouth communities.
Cost: This meeting is free and open to any funder that grants funds in Ocean and/or Monmouth County.
You do not need to be a CNJG member to register, however, if you do not have a website account with CNJG, you will need to create one in order to register. If you have any trouble with the registration process, please contact CNJG.
Please register before April 30.
CNJG thanks the Grunin Foundation for underwriting the costs of the meeting.
Back in person - we’re bringing together funders and nonprofits for a day of shared learning, exchange, and networking at the 2023 Conference for the Social Sector on May 23!
Our conferences have always elevated timely and important topics. And that tradition continues. The conference theme, Doing Good Better, is a direct result of what we’ve learned and experienced over the past few years.
We stand in extraordinary times. The pandemic showed the limitations of existing philanthropic structures. Grantmakers recognized that organized philanthropy must rethink traditional grantmaking practices and shift their routines. Doing Good Better - a partnership initiative with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits - is a big tent that includes trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking; rightsizing the power dynamics between funders and nonprofits; simplified grant applications and reporting; increasing GOS and multi-year grants; unburdening nonprofits so they can focus on their work; addressing the equity issues that exist throughout the sector; and recognizing nonprofit leaders and those closest to the problem as the experts in the room.
Our new strategic plan outlines the very same values emanating throughout the Doing Good Better ideals – shared power and leadership, equity, trusting cross-sector relationships, and learning and dialogue.
The Conference features a range of notable thought leaders and experts for a day of connection, not-to-be-missed discussion, and side-by-side learning with foundation and nonprofit colleagues. Our opening plenary, How Philanthropy Can Do Good Better, will hear from leading New Jersey foundation CEOs about how they’ve shifted their funding practices to better support nonprofit partners. Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project will outline the underlying values of a trust-based approach during the luncheon keynote. Breakout sessions will highlight participatory grantmaking, equitable capacity building, tools to address nonprofit burnout, and more.
As we look forward to our time together, I also encourage you to review the many thought-provoking articles and useful websites available on the Conference Resource tab. This information extends your own opportunities to learn and build your knowledge.
We’re grateful to our sponsors for supporting the conference. Thank you to PSEG for serving as our Signature Sponsor for several years. Thank you to Connector Sponsors, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Sixers Youth Foundation, and Colleague Sponsors Citi, Grunin Foundation, Panasonic Foundation, and Valley National Bank. Thank you also to NJM Insurance Group for your donation in support of the event.
It’s been a long 4 years since we’ve been together in person for the CNJG spring conference. I’m looking forward to seeing you. Register today!
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Private and public foundations can play an important role in advocacy by engaging in advocacy themselves and funding their grantees to advocate on their issues. After this workshop with Bolder Advocacy, your foundation will have a clear understanding of the kinds of advocacy activities you can safely engage in and best practices for grantmaking to give your grantees the most flexibility under the law for their advocacy efforts. Not sure how to make the case for funding advocacy? Uncertain whether you can fund grantees that lobby? Wondering whether your public or private foundation can speak out on a particular issue? This training answers these questions and more! The workshop is designed for foundation staff and trustees.
Participants will learn:
- Why public and private foundation should support advocacy;
- An overview of activities that constitute advocacy and public policy work;
- Various advocacy roles for foundations;
- The tax code’s definitions of lobbying;
- Activities that are exceptions to the definitions of lobbying, including those which private foundations can engage in;
- Rules for private and public foundation grants to nonprofits that lobby, including general support, specific project, and multi-year grants; and
- Grant agreement language that permits support for policy work.
This will be a virtual session; connection details will be provided upon registration.
This program is for members of the following philanthropy-serving organizations: Maryland Philanthropy Network, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, Florida Philanthropic Network, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, Philanthropy Wisconsin, NY Funders Alliance, and North Carolina Grantmakers.
From February 26-28, 2023, members of the NLC’s Mayoral Network on Community Safety and Violence Prevention, city representatives and resource guests were welcomed by Mayor Ras J. Baraka in Newark, New Jersey. Attendees saw firsthand the strides made by Mayor Baraka, Office of Violence Prevention & Trauma Recovery Director Lakeesha Eure, and the rest of the Newark team. Alongside community partners, the city team members are advancing new safety strategies alongside longstanding ones. This collaborative, people-centered approach to addressing violence and promoting safety led to 60-year lows in homicides for the city.
The philanthropic community in Newark is an instrumental part of the city’s transformation of its public safety ecosystem over the past nine years. Several local foundations supported the development and implementation of a new public health centered strategy from its infancy by providing the resources for two public safety retreats, multiple community-based violence prevention and interruption organizations, new data tools and collaboratives, and trauma training for community and police.
Lisa Block, Senior Program Officer with the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, shared her thoughts on the work in this article for Grantmakers in Health.
Today the Regional Foundation announced $4,750,000 in Implementation Grants to seven organizations throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. 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 grants we announced today are an exciting next step in the journey of the Regional Foundation,” stated Kevin Dow, Executive Director of the foundation. “These community investments will further the success of organizations leading resident engaged, neighborhood revitalization efforts with stable funding for at least five years. Three of the grants represent new implementation investments while four of the seven sustain long standing partnerships.”
In April, we celebrate Global Volunteer Month, and for corporate volunteer programs this represents a wonderful opportunity to engage your employees through volunteerism. Over the past three years, there has been a whirlwind of change around these volunteer programs, moving away from in-person to virtual volunteer events, and a rethinking by many companies about how these programs now work with remote employees.
Join your fellow corporate CNJG members for an online discussion (via Zoom) about your volunteer programs; how they’ve changed, and how they continue to evolve as we emerge from the pandemic. We will hear from Rowena Madden from the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism on a state-level view of volunteerism, and then we will have a dedicated time to hear from your corporate peers from across the state on their programs, and a time for you to share what your company is doing. We encourage every attendee to participate in this discussion. You may wish to share your answers to these questions or others that come up in the conversation:
- Does your corporate giving align with volunteerism efforts?
- How are volunteers/volunteer programs part of your grantmaking?
- Does your company observe “Global Volunteer Month”?
- How are you leveraging skills-based volunteerism?
- How do you recognize your volunteers?
- Do you measure and track volunteerism? If so, what program do you use? For what purposes?
- Does your company support ways for employees to serve on nonprofit boards?
- Are your volunteer programs expanding this year?
- What system(s) do you use to track volunteers?
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Helpful Websites for Corporate Volunteer Programs
BoardSource
Points of Light Foundation
Taproot Foundation
YouGIveGoods
and also “Amazon.com drives”
The New Jersey Bankers Association will be donating $5,000, through its charitable foundation, to the American Bankers Association’s Disaster Relief Program to help aid relief efforts in Mississippi after a series of deadly tornados swept through the region in late March.
All funds will be directed to the Heart of the Delta Foundation, which is supporting rural communities in the Delta region, and the CREATE Foundation, which is aiding relief efforts in Northeast Mississippi.
John Mangini, treasurer and secretary of the New Jersey Bankers Charitable Foundation, said the group always is eager to lend a hand when it can.
“The banking community extends beyond state borders, and, during difficult times, like what we’re seeing in Mississippi, the role banks play in their communities becomes paramount,” he said. “We hope this donation can help ensure people affected by this disaster can get access to the assistance and services they need.”
Schools are uniquely positioned to support student wellbeing and promote a positive learning environment, but often lack the resources to do so. The Foundation for Educational Administration (FEA) is giving schools the tools needed to help students succeed through two initiatives: Transforming Early Childhood Leadership Institute and the Healing Centered Engagement program.
As New Jersey continues to expand full-day preschool, principals and school leaders face the challenge of creating a high-quality experience for early learners. The Transforming Early Childhood Leadership Institute supports this endeavor by training and coaching leaders from schools offering PreK-3 instruction. Through the Institute, participating schools send leadership teams of principals, teacher leaders, and central office staff to learn best practices on strengthening early childhood education and creating a strong learning foundation. The Institute is supported by The Nicholson Foundation (now sunsetted) and The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation.
Launched in response to unprecedented levels of youth mental health concerns, the Healing Centered Engagement program offers interactive trainings and tailored coaching to school staff on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma informed practices, healing centered engagement, and Youth Mental Health First Aid. The model takes a whole-school approach – reaching community partners, teachers, administrators, school staff, and families across regions and grade-levels. Since the program’s launch, FEA has trained over 3,400 New Jersey school staff and partners. The Burke Foundation supports the project with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Princeton Area Community Foundation, and the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (now sunsetted).
Join our speakers from the NJ Office of Resilience, NJ Department of Education, and the Foundation for Educational Administration to:
- Understand the importance of alignment in early childhood education
- Learn the role of positive childhood experiences in promoting student wellbeing
- Find out more about the Healing Centered Engagement program and Transforming Early Childhood Leadership Institute
- Discuss opportunities to get involved in this work and support the initiatives in your community
Speakers:
Mary M. Reece, Ed.D; Director of Special Projects, NJ Principals & Supervisors Association/Foundation for Educational Administration
Rebecca Bryan, DNP; Executive Director of the Office of Resilience, NJ Department of Children and Families
Dottie Specht, M.S. Ed, Director, K-3 Office of Education/Division of Early Childhood Services, NJ Department of Education
Monica Carmichael, Director of Early Childhood, Trenton (TECLI)
Samantha Lott-Velez, Assistant Superintendent, Newark (TECLI)
Dr. Bobbi Downs, Director of CST, Burlington County Special Services School District (HCE)
Thomas Barclay, retired Assistant Superintendent and current consultant (TECLI & HCE)
Webinar Video
Articles
Rethinking Our Approach to Youth Mental Healthcare
The Surgeon General’s New Mission: Adolescent Mental Health
8-Year-Olds in Despair: The Mental Health Crisis Is Getting Younger
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, through its philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, issued $390,000 in grants to 15 non-profit organization throughout New Jersey, for the first round of grants in 2023.
The Montclair Foundation (TMF) has awarded $75,000 in grant funding to organizations that support and enhance the quality of life and vibrancy of Montclair and its environs. Funds raised during the December Board of Trustee Challenge Match increased grant support by 50% for this Spring grant cycle. This was made possible by the generous support of community contributions and committed TMF Trustees.
“Twenty-eight nonprofits applied this spring. Through the strategic evaluation and due diligence of our grants committee, fourteen local nonprofits were awarded larger grants, said Peggy Murphy-Deehan, Trustee and Grants Committee Chair. These grants will provide greater impact and ensure that our community has access to the resources they need.”