Articles

A Look Back, Part 4: Jumpstarting Great Ideas

For the Community Foundation of New Jersey, going from a simple idea to a multi-million dollar force for good has not been without its mix of successes, challenges, and lessons learned. In fact, the wealth of knowledge that the Foundation’s staff picked up over the years made it a natural repository for best practices in philanthropic giving, community organizing, and nonprofit management in the state.…

A Look Back, Part 3: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

One of the signature programs of this era was the Neighborhood Leadership Initiative (NLI), which was founded in 1992 while Christine Todd Whitman, the future governor, served as president of the Foundation’s board. According to the Foundation’s 1993 Annual Report, NLI “epitomizes our belief that true, positive change can only come from the grassroots up, not the top down.”…

A Look Back, Part 2: New Leadership in the Community

During Sheila Williamson’s tenure as executive director, from 1979 to 1993, the Foundation codified its mission, expanded its reach, and embraced its role as a community leader. Perhaps most importantly, the Community Foundation went from an idea to a reality, and one that was actively working to improve the community.…

A Look Back, Part 1: The Community Comes Together

Just what is a community foundation? Is it an effort to build local philanthropy? Is it a unifying force for diverse communities? Do community foundations confront community challenges by driving solutions through their own grantmaking? Or do they drive change in accordance with their donors’ or fundholders’ unique wishes?…

Lend a Hand: Refugee Crisis in Europe

September 23, 2015 Civil war and the rise of ISIS are taking their toll on Syria and Iraq, with thousands of refugees making their way through Turkey, Central Europe, and now Scandinavia. The number of child refugees now exceeds those during World War II, with the situation expected to get worse before it gets better.…

Community Foundation Celebrates 35 Years

September 18, 2015 The Community Foundation of New Jersey last night celebrated its 35th anniversary with a salute to the fundholders and stand-out philanthropists who have immeasurably made the Garden State a better place. CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES >> Nearly 200 fundholders, partners, and nonprofit organizations joined the celebration at CFNJ’s Morristown headquarters.…

Community Foundation Honors Four “Young Changemakers”

September 11, 2015 The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) today announced that it will honor four of New Jersey’s “Young Changemakers.” CFNJ will present each Young Chamgemaker with a $2,500 prize at its 35th Anniversary celebration on September 17, 2015 in Morristown.…

CFNJ Honors Dominique Lee as “Young Changemaker

September 11, 2015 The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) today announced that it will honor Dominique Lee of Newark as one of the state’s four Young Changemakers. Lee is the founder and executive director of Building Responsible Intelligent Creative Kids (BRICK), a school management nonprofit that is restarting two of the most challenged elementary schools in Newark’s South Ward.…

CFNJ Honors Aakash Shah as “Young Changemaker”

September 10, 2015 The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) today announced that it will honor Aakash Shah of Cliffside Park as one of the state’s four Young Changemakers. Shah is the founder and director of Be Jersey Strong, a new organization that is training and mobilizing over 1,000 college students to serve as community health workers and have more than 100,000 in-person, one-on-one conversations with the uninsured about their healthcare options.…