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The William Penn Foundation has recently awarded 15 Great Learning grants totaling more than $2.8 million. Their Great Learning program grantmaking focuses on increasing the number of children from Philadelphia’s low-income communities who experience academic success.They have also recently awarded 10 Watershed Protection grants totaling nearly $6 million supporting efforts to secure healthy rivers and streams in the Delaware River watershed, and awarded 26 Creative Communities grants, totaling over $9.7 million in support of programs and initiatives that ensure people across Greater Philadelphia benefit from inclusive, diverse, and high-quality arts, culture, and public space experiences.
Let’s look back on 2024 and ahead to 2025. Our guest speaker will share an insight on philanthropic trends and what might be on the horizon as the New Year progresses. We would like to have a candid discussion about how we envision we might shift gears and perhaps see programs sunset or create new ones, share budget impacts or maybe creative responses to address the needs of those served by the nonprofits we support. We hope you will join us for our journey.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Elizabeth A. Barnette is a Managing Director and Senior Philanthropic Strategist with the National Consulting and Advisory Practice at Bank of America Private Bank. In this role, Elizabeth provides customized consulting to endowment and foundation clients’ boards of directors and senior leaders in areas including mission advancement, leadership development, nonprofit governance, and board dynamics. Elizabeth has over 25 years of experience working with nonprofits. Prior to joining the National Consulting and Advisory Practice, Elizabeth was a National Fiduciary Philanthropic Manager at Bank of America Private Bank, managing a team of philanthropic professionals who provided planned giving, administrative, and fiduciary oversight services to more than 500 nonprofit clients including colleges and universities, churches and other religious organizations, community foundations, hospital systems, and arts and culture organizations. Elizabeth has specialized expertise in planned giving, sub fund accounting, donor advised fund administration, and board governance.
Since 2006, CNJG has hosted a series of highly successful gatherings entitled Conversations with the Cabinet. These programs provide representatives of New jersey’s philanthropic community with the opportunity to learn first-hand the priorities, activities and goals of various departments of the current Governor’s administration. At each gathering, attendees discussed initiatives of mutual interest to government and the philanthropic community and opportunities for partnership to support the goals and missions of each. Most recently CNJG met with Commissioner Suárez of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in June 2024.
Already, 2025 has been a year unlike any other. The changes in federal policy are coming at a pace we’ve not experienced before. Not even a month in, the new administration immediately issued several significant Executive Orders (EOs), creating uncertainty across the social sector. From attempts to freeze Congressionally approved funding, to efforts banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and questionable tactics to slash the federal workforce; funders and nonprofit partners are gravely concerned about how the fabric of our democracy and the systems of constitutionally mandated checks and balances are fraying right before our eyes. To help you cut through the noise, the National Council of Nonprofits is tracking and continuously updating its analysis of the impact of these EOs on nonprofit organizations in real time.
This is the time to shore up relationships with colleagues and nonprofit partners. I’m grateful that in New Jersey, we have a strong partnership with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. Advocacy and policy are at the heart of the Center’s mission. They have been at the forefront of keeping us informed about the Office of Mangement and Budget's (OMB) freezing of federal grants and loans. I encourage you to:
- Sign up for the Center’s email list for up-to-date, reliable information.
- Ask your grantees and nonprofit partners to complete the annual NJ Trends and Outlook survey, launched today. This year, the survey is also collecting stories about how executive actions are impacting nonprofit organizations.
On behalf of philanthropy-supporting organizations, United Philanthropy Forum is also mobilizing to serve as a key source for accurate, reliable information with their newly created resource page, “Executive Actions Impacting the Philanthropic & Nonprofit Sectors."
Funders across the country are asking what they can do immediately. As I noted above, leveraging your partnerships and strengthening your relationships is key. Echoing sage recommendations from the Council on Foundations and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, here are other strategies for your consideration:
- Reach out to your grantees and nonprofit partners – don’t wait for them to reach out to you. They need to hear from you and know that you are championing their often-thankless work.
- Offer flexible funding and move funding quickly. Allow your grantees to repurpose their current grant funding to meet the needs of their organization and those they serve. Giving nonprofits every resource and tool they need to be nimble is critical.
- Share your funding opportunities with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits to post on their revamped funding page.
- Get comfortable introducing your grantees to new partners, other grantees, and potential funders. This is how we build strong, resilient communities of practice and service.
We’re embarking upon untested times. As we celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History in March, it is important to remember that meaningful change starts and ends with partnership, collaboration, and advocacy. Philanthropy has a critical role to play in this equation.
To help you better understand the federal policy landscape, we’re hosting an eight-part Funder Briefing Series: Making Sense of Federal Policy: Understanding What it Means for
New Jersey, beginning in March. This series will provide an overview of key issues that directly impact philanthropy, and more broadly, the charitable sector. The first session, on March 13 at 4:00 pm., will focus on immigration.
In addition, we will be launching a web page with information and resources to help inform your decision-making, as well as reintroducing our policy infused e-newsletter, CNJG ...for the field. Covering both big 'P' and little 'p' policy issues, the first edition will land in your inbox later this month, providing key updates and relevant articles.
I want to end with some exciting news — Craig Weinrich has been
promoted to Senior Director, Member Experience. Craig has been with CNJG for 11 years, and his leadership and dedication have been invaluable to our community. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion!
And channeling Craig – a quick reminder: it’s time to renew your CNJG membership. Please reach out to him if you have questions.
We look forward to engaging with you in the months ahead. Philanthropy has an important role during these tenuous times. Let’s use our collective power for good.
In solidarity,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
In light of the many recent executive orders and policy shifts, and the impact they’re having on our nonprofit community, the Grunin Foundation is organizing a virtual Monmouth-Ocean Roundtable of Funders (MORF) call. This will be an informal space to discuss what we’re hearing from our partners on the ground, share information about emergency funding foundations may be setting up, and highlight some potential state-wide initiatives in the works. It’s crucial that we all stay in touch, share insights, and continue supporting our partners in Monmouth & Ocean counties (and beyond). We hope you can join us!
CNJG’s Finance and Investment Affinity Group exists to keep foundation executives informed as they manage the investment of their corpus. Growth of foundation assets and the active exchange of sound investment strategies is the focus of each program.
Join us for a breakfast presentation and Q&A where we will discuss J.P. Morgan’s views across traditional and alternative asset classes for the year ahead. Michael Pages and Chris Baldi will lead the discussion.
Michael Pages is a Senior Banker and Executive Director at J.P. Morgan. He works alongside a team of professionals who share responsibility for advising endowments, foundations and select family offices across the US on a variety of matters including asset allocation, portfolio construction, capital and liquidity strategies and execution. He has deep expertise in the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) model and is Team Lead.
Chris Baldi is a Vice President and Investment Specialist at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. He is responsible for advising ultra-high net worth families and senior executives on a variety of matters including asset allocation, portfolio construction, capital and liquidity strategies and execution.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers (includes full breakfast)
Thank you to JP Morgan for hosting and providing breakfast for this program.
Please join us for our first Newark Funder Affinity Group Meeting of 2025. We will use this time to receive an update from La Casa de Don Pedro and partners on funding and the plan for their resource center, discuss the new federal policy and grant environment, and update each other on priorities in order to identify areas of possible collaboration for 2025 and beyond.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
The Westfield Foundation proudly announces its 2025 Q1 grants, awarding over $120,000 to local organizations that exemplify our commitment to accessibility, equity and strategic partnerships. As we celebrate 50 years of service, we remain dedicated to fostering positive change and strengthening our community through impactful collaborations.
"For five decades, The Westfield Foundation has worked hand-in-hand with local organizations to remove barriers and create opportunities for all," said Katie Darcy, executivedDirector of The Westfield Foundation. "This quarter’s grantees reflect our deep commitment to equity and accessibility, ensuring that individuals of all ages and backgrounds have the resources they need to thrive. We are especially proud to see past grantees collaborating, reinforcing the power of partnership in driving meaningful change."
As a Community Impact Co-op, you will be a critical member of the Community Affairs team that drives and supports community engagement in Campbell’s office and manufacturing locations across North America through employee giving programs, volunteerism, grantmaking, and community partnerships. You will gain valuable experience in corporate philanthropy and employee engagement, working with a team passionate about community impact and company culture.
How can funders reduce the burden on grantees when requesting demographic data? What information are funders collecting from their nonprofit partners, and what information is needed to make informed decisions and build trusting relationships?
Funders are increasingly requesting demographic data from nonprofits to better understand the types of organizations and leaders that they are—and are not—supporting. Due to the lack of comprehensive and public demographic data available, nonprofits experience a heavy burden to provide the information in a variety of ways and formats.
Join this webinar to learn how to reduce the administrative work for grantees throughout the due diligence and grantmaking processes and beyond. We’ll explore tools that can help streamline the process of collecting, evaluating, and sharing information for mutual benefit.
Cost: This event is free for CNJG Members who are family foundations.
Other types of foundations are ineligible to join this webinar.
This program is a CNJG membership benefit for family foundation members, including staff and trustees, in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
Community Investment Strategies, Inc. (CIS), a women-owned leader in affordable housing, has announced a strategic partnership with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing in Elizabeth.
The first phase of this collaboration will support the renovation of Portside II, a 169-unit affordable housing community for low-income families. Originally completed in 2006 as part of the HOPE VI redevelopment, Portside II has been recognized for its contributions to the city’s revitalization.
CIS, founded by President and CEO Christiana Foglio, is dedicated to ensuring long-term housing stability through innovative funding strategies, policy advocacy, and community engagement. The Dodge Foundation’s predevelopment financial support will help maintain affordability, enhance accessibility, and improve living conditions for residents.
“This partnership enables us to expand our reach and secure critical funding early in the process,” said Foglio. “Our investment in Portside II will preserve safe, sustainable, and affordable housing for generations to come.”
oday New Jersey Community Capital, a leading national community development financial institution, committed $50,000 to nonprofits chosen by mayors and a county leader who are deeply committed to furthering formative economic impact efforts in their respective communities. Each leader will have $10,000 to award to a local nonprofit doing groundbreaking work. NJCC awards the grants at the close of Black History Month annually to mark the commemoration's focus on creating economic equity for divested populations.
This year, NJCC's grants will go to nonprofits chosen by the mayors of Dallas, Texas, New York City, New York and Newark and New Brunswick, New Jersey, and the economic opportunity director of Los Angeles County. Supporting nonprofits in urban communities throughout the nation is in keeping with NJCC's goal to foster sustainable economic development and wealth creation in overlooked communities from coast to coast.
"These grants achieve several of our objectives," NJCC President and CEO Bernel Hall said. "First, it champions the principles behind Black History Month and underscores NJCC's dedication to creating social and economic parity. By contributing to initiatives important to the leaders of these municipalities, we are supporting their efforts to create thriving, equitable communities.
"Our second objective is to support projects that can benefit from our unique, expansive initiatives. We've been extremely effective because our programs are both entrepreneurial and augmentative," explained Hall. This is especially relevant today given our nation's dire need for more affordable housing, small business expansion and high-quality school systems."
Empowering the Future: Harnessing AI and Data for Philanthropic Social Impact
Date: Tuesday, June 18
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center
Arthur Laurents Theater
11 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Directions and Parking
On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers held the Spring Colloquium – A Conversation on the Social Sector at the New Brunswick Performing Arts center. This year, we explored the impact of AI and data on philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Our panel discussion will brought together multiple perspectives to explore how AI can enhance problem-solving without losing human connections, how it affects equity, and how philanthropy has engaged with AI for funding initiatives.
The Technology Association of Grantmakers’ new Executive Director, Jean Westrick, moderated our esteemed panel that included Don Chen, President, Surdna Foundation; Rachel Kimber, Full Circle Solutions; and Dave Cole, State pf New Jersey’s Chief Innovation Officer.
After the panel, Jean Westrick, TAG, facilitated an afternoon session on an AI Framework for Philanthropy. Additionally, the Community Resource Exchange presented an afternoon session on an AI Guide for Nonprofits facilitated by their CEO, Tiloma Jayasinghe, CEO and Jared Carroll, Senior Consultant.
CNJG’s spring colloquium brought together New Jersey grantmakers and nonprofits to connect with each other, Increase their knowledge, learn best practices, find opportunities for collaboration, and to be introduced to new ideas.
Conference Photos
CNJG encourages its membership to participate in the Council on Foundations’ annual salary survey to help shape the future of philanthropic compensation.
The Council on Foundations’ 2025 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Survey is now open. The deadline to complete the GSB is Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Since 1980, the GSB has provided the philanthropic sector with the most comprehensive data on staff composition and compensation in the United States. Grantmakers rely on the findings from this annual survey to plan budgets, benchmark personnel policies and practices, determine salary levels for new and existing staff, and more. Those who complete the survey will receive a free copy of the report (a $598 value), early access to the report’s data tables, and access to create custom benchmark reports.
CoF’s full survey will be published in fall 2025. More information and the survey may be found on the Council on Foundations' website.
Any and every philanthropic organization is invited to participate. Membership is not required with either the Council on Foundations or Council of New Jersey Grantmakers to participate in the survey. For more information, including a list of FAQs, visit the Council on Foundations' website or email the Council on Foundations communications team.
CNJG incorporates the data from this annual survey into our triennial Philanthropy Benefits & Salary Summary Report, most recently published in 2023. CNJG plans to update our report in 2026 again using the data from the Council on Foundations’ survey.
CNJG encourages our members and all philanthropic organizations in New Jersey to complete the CoF survey each year, as this benchmarking data is frequently asked for by our members. The more foundations and other philanthropic organizations that complete the survey, the better and more statistically relevant data we will all have.
For additional information or questions, please contact Craig Weinrich at CNJG.
CNJG joined over 350 delegates from across the country for Foundations on the Hill on February 23-26. The event included a policy conference followed by meetings on Capitol Hill. Our delegation was a nice mix of newcomers to FOTH and those with years of experience.
Joining me this year were Board Chair Craig Drinkard; Sharnita Johnson, Victoria Foundation; Board Secretary Kortney Swanson Davis, Forman Acton Foundation; Board members, Jeremy Grunin, Grunin Foundation, and Lucy Vandenberg, Schumann Fund for New Jersey; Bill Engel, The Union Foundation; Carrie Bersak and Jessica Nugent, The Burke Foundation; Sharif Braxton, EQUIP NJ; Naeema Campbell, The Fund for New Jersey; Alma Garcia and Hellen Zamora-Bustos, Equity Ahora (formerly New Jersey Health Initiatives); Jessica Johansen and Shelley Skinner, The Tepper Foundation; Sharese York, Smith Family Foundation; Nelida Valentin, Princeton Area Community Foundation; and Renee Woodside, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.
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.
Speaking with one voice, we urged our legislators to sign on to the bipartisan Charitable Act (H.R.801/S.317). Congressman Kean co-signed the bill on March 3, 2025. We also took the opportunity to share with our Congressional delegation how changes in federal policy and various executive actions are impacting nonprofits and the communities we collectively serve.
In advance of FOTH, the Center surveyed NJ nonprofits for the New Jersey Nonprofits Trends and Outlook 2025 Report – just released this morning! As part of their survey, they also asked for on-the-ground stories of impact in the face of federal funding freezes and actions from the executive branch. Here’s a sampling of what they heard and what we shared at FOTH:
“As of 2/12/25 our agency had not received over $1.5 million owed on federal contracts for work performed in December and January, and on 2/11/25 we furloughed 46 employees … There are currently 1,000 children in NJ who need services in the database for unaccompanied minors where our program staff are assigned cases…If staff are furloughed or laid off these children will not receive services.”
“It was terrifying--a payroll week. We were afraid that we would not be able to pay contractors for work they had already done. Our refugee assistance programs, which had just expanded, lost funding. We were afraid that we would not be reimbursed for $100,000 in disbursements … we had to let go 2 brand new staff members.”
“[Organization] receives federal funding administered by the state and counties (Aging funds and Ryan White funds). If we lose those funds, we will not be able to serve seniors in Ocean and Union County or people living with HIV in 8 counties in NJ.”
“Our federal grants comprise of about $900,000 in total. These funds are our main lifeline for our mental health counseling and sexual violence programming. Especially those who are already marginalized, underserved and/or at risk are more vulnerable to the funding uncertainties than any other groups…”
FOTH is always an opportunity for us to discuss issues of interest to philanthropy, advocate for policy and legislation that strengthen the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors and build relationships with legislators.
This year, we also had a moral obligation to ring the alarm and make sure our representatives understood how communities are being impacted by a wave of reckless and destructive policy decisions.
Earlier this morning, the Center presented their webinar, "The State of NJ’s Nonprofit Sector", providing a high-level review of the related report. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents reported that at least some of their funding comes from federal grants or contracts which account for more than 4,500 jobs. These findings tell us that people’s lives and livelihoods are at stake.
The webinar provided a concise list of what funders can do during these especially challenging times:
- Check in with nonprofit partners.
- Provide flexible funding.
- Simplify applications and reporting processes.
- Connect nonprofits to information/guidance (Start here with Resources to Navigate Uncertainty).
- Fund advocacy.
- If possible, please increase your payout.
These recommendations align with Doing Good Better and so much of what we’re hearing from CNJG members and the broader philanthropic sector.
As foundation leaders dedicated to our New Jersey communities, please consider the full range of strategies your organizations can employ during these truly unprecedented times. Manager of Communications Shakirat Odunsi will collect stories from you, our members, about how you are changing/adapting your grantmaking and work in the face of the dramatic policy shifts that are happening in the executive branch. I also encourage you to share those stories directly with your CNJG colleagues via the listservs.
My colleague Linda ended the webinar with, “We are not alone. We can do this together!” And I’ll add - in fact, we must do this together.
In solidarity,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Part I: Supporting the social and emotional health of our communities
Join us as we begin a discussion on the trip back from COVID-19, and how we help to re-engage our teachers, students, and families after a two-year disruption. The first meeting will continue our exploration of the social and emotional toll of the pandemic and associated school closings, and ways that we might collaborate as a funder group on seeding solutions.
Panelists:
Jill Summers-Phillips, Principal at John F. Kennedy School
Positive Gunter - Parent
Yolanda Greene, Training Manager, Abbott Leadership Institute
Panel Facilitators:
Elizabeth Warner, President, SEL4NJ
Lauren Meehan, Facilitator – Director, Arts Ed Newark
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $50 for Non Member Grantmakers.
Webinar Video
The Bunbury Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $3.8 million in grants to more than four dozen local nonprofits, marking the final phase of its $17 million Sunset Awards.
As part of its sunsetting process, the Fund has distributed a total of $17,139,000 across 74 grants to 55 organizations, concluding its 75-year philanthropic legacy that began with The Bunbury Company. The Fund transitioned to a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation in 2015, and its sunset grants mark the culmination of a decade of impactful giving.
“The Bunbury Fund Advisors hope these sunset grants will amplify what has always been at the heart of our grantmaking—enhancing effectiveness and fostering innovation for the greater good,” said Jamie Kyte Sapoch, Lead Advisor to the Fund.
Over the past decade, the Bunbury Fund has awarded more than $24 million to nearly 100 regional nonprofits. The final round of grants includes unrestricted support for organizations and competitive capacity-building funding aimed at strengthening nonprofits’ operations and strategic growth.
Any and all staff and/or trustees from new CNJG members and any new staff and trustees of veteran CNJG members are invited to this Zoom meeting to meet fellow new members, hear about each other’s funding strategies, and learn about the programs and services CNJG offers. This is a great chance to meet fellow funders in a casual, yet professional setting, and build your network within the CNJG network.
There is no cost to attend for CNJG members.
If you have any questions about who can or should attend, please contact Craig Weinrich, Director of Member Services at 609-414-7110 x802.
Join funder colleagues to learn about two newly created funds to help address the challenging environment many nonprofits are experiencing today. United Way organizations in New Jersey have a long history of strengthening local communities by providing direct support and fostering collaboration across sectors. In response to the evolving needs of nonprofits and the communities they serve, six United Ways have partnered to establish the New Jersey Sustainability and Resiliency Fund. Learn about how the this newly created fund can help nonprofits recover, adapt, and thrive in the face of ongoing challenges. Equip NJ is also working to establish a fund to assist nonprofits focused on policy and systems change. To set the stage for this introduction, we’ll hear from our colleagues at the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits about how the upheaval of critical supports and systems nationally are posing grave threats to New Jersey’s nonprofit organizations and the people and communities they serve.
Cost: Free for CNJG Members; $75 for Non Member Grantmakers
This program is only open to staff and trustees from grantmaking organizations.
Webinar Video
TD Bank announced four grant recipients of the 2024 TD Ready Challenge, an annual initiative that supports nonprofit organizations develop effective programs and solutions for communities within the bank's footprint.
Each year, the TD Ready Challenge solicits eligible organizations to submit applications that offer solutions to a different problem statement, with this year's focus being on innovative solutions to support underserved small business owners. Today's grant recipients will each receive $1 million through the TD Ready Challenge to advance initiatives designed to help disrupt barriers for underserved entrepreneurs while supporting the larger needs of the small business community.