CFNJ History

The Community Foundation’s recent history has been just as rich and success-filled as its founding, thanks to the strong involvement of fundholders and the deepening of relationships with the state’s key nonprofits and other drivers of change. “The progress we have made just in the last ten years would make our founders proud,” explained Tom Uhlman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.…

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the Community Foundation’s important role in the state’s recovery, the Foundation’s position as a leader on tough issues has become increasingly clear. While the Board’s Leadership Committee has long sought out interventions on complex, often overlooked issues, this work gained added significance.…

Hurricane Sandy Relief & Recovery When a disaster strikes, the work of a community foundation takes on added importance.  And in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Community Foundation took on an important leadership role in harnessing the good will of thousands of New Jerseyans seeking to help their friends and neighbors recover.…

Hans Dekker joined CFNJ as the new president in 2003. During his tenure, the Community Foundation has continued to expand its number of fundholders, its asset base, and its programmatic areas. It has also tripled its assets (from approximately $90 million to well over $300 million), despite an occasionally challenging market.…

As part of its forward-looking programming, CFNJ continually seeks the input of its board members, fundholders, and fellow community members to gauge what issues are most important and what problems need addressing. In the weeks and months after September 11, 2001, the issue at the forefront for nearly all Americans was coping with and responding to that day’s tragic attacks.…

Like all community foundations, CFNJ maintains its commitment and loyalty to its individual fundholders, many of whom seek to make an important difference in the community, but need a trusted partner to help realize their philanthropic goals. In 1996, the Alkemade Fund was established at CFNJ under the estate of George and Yvonne Alkemade.…

While major corporations have supported much of CFNJ’s programming, so too have national foundations that seek to address community issues on a wide scale. Given CFNJ’s strength in community programming in New Jersey, it has been a natural partner to numerous national foundations seeking to make a difference in the state.…

For philanthropy to be truly effective on a wide scale, it requires more than just the work of nonprofits, foundations, individuals, or corporations – but, in fact, all of these entities working together. CFNJ has long placed a priority on helping businesses and foundations collaborate while encouraging new generations of committed philanthropists.…

By the early 1990’s, CFNJ had a long record of effecting significant positive change in communities across New Jersey. As a leader in nonprofit development and programming, the Foundation came to be viewed as an agent for change, rather than simply a responder to need.…