Site Search
- resource provided by the Forum Network Knowledgebase.
Search Tip: Search with " " to find exact matches.
CNJG is pleased to partner with the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OCIG) within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce on this series to help the funding community know about the federal government’s investment into broadband access, and how communities, residents and organizations can take advantage of these funding opportunities.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity are hosting a series of public virtual roundtable meetings, which will take place once per month from February through July 2023. Join us to learn more about Internet for all, Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) and the Digital Equity Grant funding planning in New Jersey.
These meetings are intended to create open communication and collaboration on BEAD and DE projects. This first meeting is an introduction to these programs, explains the coordination between NTIA and the NJ Office of Broadband Connectivity, and outlines upcoming important upcoming dates.
Resources
Webinar Recording
BEAD Info Sheet
Digital Equity Act Info Sheet
Ways to Get Involved – Local Governments
Ways to Get Involved – Tribal Entities
Ways to Get Involved – Community Based Organizations
Ways to Get Involved – Communities of Color
Ways to Get Involved – Industry
More than a decade ago, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Philanthropy New York spearheaded a project to develop common application and report forms to help streamline the grant application process and ease the often time-consuming grant preparation process.
This application is a four-page form, which includes directions for use, a sample cover sheet, and the common grant proposal guidelines.
The separate Common Report Form follows closely the format of the New York/New Jersey Area Common Application Form.
Information for Grantmakers:
One of the core values at the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project (with whom CNJG partnered on a trust-based grantmaking learning series in the summer of 2021 – read about Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) encourages funders to streamline their requirements for paperwork from nonprofits. Accepting the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Report Form is one way. Another is to accept reports from nonprofits that they submitted to a different funder.
Recent articles from Vu Le at NonprofitAF.com (We need to have a serious talk about character limits on grant applications and Trust-based grantmaking: What it is and why it’s critical to our sector), Joan Garry in the Chronicle of Philanthropy (A Plea from Community Nonprofits for Investment Equity and less Bureaucracy), and the research project by the Technology Association of Grantmakers (Grant Applications Share 39% Similarity According to New Research by TAG) in the summer of 2021 have re-focused attention on the concept of a common grant application.
CNJG encourages our members to review the application and report form, and consider accepting these forms (or using these questions on your online application / report form) from your current or potential grantees.
CNJG surveyed our members in August 2021 asking if they accepted the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application and report form. CNJG members can download that report (link forthcoming).
Information for Grantseekers:
Before sending this (or any) application to any funder, be sure to check their specific funding guidelines and application requirements. Some funders require preliminary, additional, or supplementary information. Some funders only accept their own application form. CNJG members are under no obligation to accept either the common grant application or common grant report form.
Additional notes when using the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application Form:
- Please check with each individual funder if they accept only their own form, the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application form, or some other form.
- Funding area guidelines still apply. Research each organization’s funding areas to be sure your proposal fits within their guidelines before submitting your application.
- Any funder that has agreed to accept the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application may request additional information at any stage in their application process.
- Every funder has different deadlines and timetables. Refer to each organization's funding and/or reporting guidelines.
- Do not submit the NY/NJ Area Common Grant Application or report form to the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. Submit your application directly to the organization from which you are requesting support.
- Questions should be directed to the organization from which you are requesting support.
We are pleased to share links to organizations and other resources that assist nonprofit with development, volunteer recruitment, and other key aspects of their work.
New Jersey Center for Nonprofits
The New Jersey Center for Nonprofits is the only umbrella organization for all New Jersey 501(c)(3)s. Since 1982, the Center has provided advocacy, resources, training and information to strengthen non-profits and help them thrive. The Center offers an active list of funding opportunities for NJ-based nonprofits. CNJG is partnering with the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits by sending any and all funding opportunities from our members and other funders to add to this page. Our goal is to make this page one of the first places New Jersey non-profits visit to find funding opportunities.
NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: Charities Registration Section
The CR & I Section administers and enforces the provisions of the Charitable Registration & Investigation Act (CRI Act) which regulates the fund raising activities of most charitable organizations and all professional fund raisers, fund raising counsels, commercial co-ventures and solicitors conducting business within the State of New Jersey.
Foundation Directory Online
The Foundation Center, now Candid.org, has launched Foundation Directory Online, a website you can use to search the basic profiles and IRS Forms 990-PF of nearly 90,000 grantmakers, giving them access to contact information, fields of interest, financial data, and program priorities. Registration is required. They offer a free version that gives basic information, or one can subscribe for a fee to access more detailed information.
Those seeking funds can also access a paid version of the Foundation Directory Online through Candid’s Funding Information Network access locations. There are several in New Jersey and in neighboring states.
Also from the Foundation Center, Foundation Funding for U.S. Democracy, a new nonpartisan resource that provides data about foundations and their democracy-related grantmaking in a structured, contextualized, and visual format. The project documents foundation support across several key areas: campaign and election processes, governing institutions and processes, information and media, and public engagement and voting.
Pro Bono Partnership
Pro Bono Partnership provides business and transactional legal services to nonprofit organizations serving the disadvantaged or enhancing the quality of life in neighborhoods in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Association of Fundraising Professionals, New Jersey Chapter
The Association of Fundraising Professionals fosters the professional development of fundraising professionals and promotes ethical standards in the fundraising profession. The New Jersey Chapter is an individual member association that advances philanthropy through education, training, and advocacy across the state, basing its programs and services on research, experience and the highest code of ethical principles and standards of professional practice.
Association of Fundraising Professionals, Southern Jersey Chapter
The Association of Fundraising Professionals NJ, Southern Chapter serves Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem counties in the southern-most region of the state.
Grant Professionals Association
The Grant Professionals Association helps grant professionals seek to continually improve their professional knowledge and skills in grant research, proposal development, and post-award grant management. They provide a consultant directory to find assistance with preparing grant applications and proposals.
NJ Chapter of Grants Professional Association
The statewide chapter of the Grants Professional Association..
Resources
The Philanthropic Infrastructure landscape
The Council on Foundations put together this list of philanthropy-supporting organizations (PSOs) that engage philanthropy, share resources, increase trust in philanthropy, and improve our local communities.
Exploring the Social Sector Infrastructure
The Urban Institute created this microsite that details the infrastructure organizations that support the social sector.
Common Grant Application and Report Form
More than a decade ago, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and Philanthropy New York spearheaded a project to develop common application and report forms to help streamline the grant application process and ease the often time-consuming grant preparation process.
The Common Grant Application is a four-page form, which includes directions for use, a sample cover sheet, and the common grant proposal guidelines. The separate Common Report Form is accepted by many funders and helps to streamline the grant-app/report process. Please check with funders to see if they accept this documentation before sending.
If you know of other resources that you feel would be valuable to feature in this area, contact Theresa Jacks.
Nonprofits can and should play an active role during elections, particularly by educating and activating voters. However, with important local, state and federal elections coming up this fall, nonprofits should take the time to remind their staff about appropriate activity during a political campaign or at any other time. This overview developed by Donors Forum provides important tips and examples of activities that are permissible for nonprofits during an election cycle.
This resource guide includes various virtual volunteer opportunities, additional resources, and best practices for corporate volunteer programs during the coronavirus pandemic.
This resource will be updated, as CNJG and corporate members collect new information and opportunities to share with colleagues.
Nonprofit Finance Fund's Annual Survey chronicles the challenges facing the nonprofit sector and calls out some of the targeted investments we can start to agree on as a society to salvage the investment we have collectively made in our social infrastructure. We believe that a coordinated intervention now will not only better prepare us for inevitable future economic crises; it can lead to a happier, healthier community for us all.
Directors & Officers liability insurance provides financial protection for a foundation and its directors, officers, employees, and volunteers in the event of a lawsuit. CNJG offers its members the D&O liability insurance program provided through Aon Association Services, underwritten by The Hartford and endorsed by the United Philanthropy Forum. A discount is available to foundations with current membership with CNJG.
Fiduciary Liability and other coverage is also available to members at a discounted rate. Coverage is available in all states. Brokers can access the Forum’s D&O program through Aon Association Services.
Learn more using the documents below, on the Aon website or by contacting Jason Tharpe, program administrator at Aon Affinity, at 202-429-8561. To obtain the discount, foundations should let Aon know they are a member of CNJG, a member of the United Philanthropy Forum.
This PowerPoint presentation developed by Southeastern Council of Foundations provides an excellent overview to the pros and cons of different philanthropic structures for Corporate entities, including Corporate Foundations, Corporate Giving Programs, and working through Community Foundations.
This advocacy and civic engagement toolkit is designed for private foundations that want to educate and encourage their grantees about getting involved in civic and policy activities to increase organizational capacity and impact. While its primary focus is on the grantmaking activity of foundations, the toolkit also addresses rules and guidance for policy involvement by foundation officials acting on behalf of their foundations.
A CNJG member queried our listserves for sample questions (not included in the grant application) you might ask grantees or potential grantees during site visits. CNJG compiled these responses, and other documents members use.
This advocacy and civic engagement toolkit is designed for community and public foundations that want to educate and encourage their grantees about getting involved in civic and policy activities to increase organizational capacity and impact. While its primary focus is on the grantmaking activity of these foundations, the toolkit also addresses rules and guidance for policy involvement by foundation officials acting on behalf of their foundations.
Sample disaster preparedness and recovery plans for foundations.
This weekly funder briefing webinar series welcomed New Jersey-based grantmakers along with national funders and provided an opportunity for grantmakers to hear from a wide range of nonprofit experts. This series started on March 13, 2025, less than a month after the first executive order was issued and continued through April 24, 2025. The written summaries of each recording are listed below.
Philanthropic organizations of all shapes and sizes are well positioned to support Communities for a Lifetime (CfaL). This issue brief explores four roles for philanthropy in advancing CfaL work.
President Obama's Hurricane Sandy Task Force released this rebuilding strategy to serve as a model for communities across the nation facing greater risks from extreme weather and to continue helping the Sandy-affected region rebuild. The Rebuilding Strategy contains 69 policy recommendations, many of which have already been adopted, that will help homeowners stay in and repair their homes, strengthen small businesses and revitalize local economies and ensure entire communities are better able to withstand and recover from future storms.
This tool for unstaffed foundations includes an accountability self-assessment and a legal checklist. It is divided into nine topic sections, each of which is divided into three levels, which can help foundations tailor the tool to meet their specific interests and needs. Also included are an Excel spreadsheet to help tabulate responses, an extensive accountability resource list, and a glossary of key words and concepts used in the tool.