History
CFNJ starts small…and local
In the 1970s, there was a surge in community foundations opening across the nation and our founders took notice. This movement inspired them to establish a foundation in our first office in Orange and address specific challenges at the local level.
When the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) was first formed in 1979, it was known as the Greater Essex Community Foundation and supported by some of our state’s most prominent business leaders. CFNJ was established with $100,000 to fund important community initiatives, along with the mission to collaborate with other foundations and nonprofit organizations. It quickly became apparent to our founders, however, that many issues affecting local communities extended beyond those areas that they had initially focused on, and in 1983, we changed both our name and scope to include the entire state in our mission.
Success comes swiftly and continues into the present
In its first two years, the Community Foundation awarded $37,000 in grants to communities in the Essex County area. More than 45 years later, we’ve collaborated with our partners to support charities and causes throughout the state with $100 million worth of awards in 2024. Those awards addressed food insecurity, funded scholarships, supported mental health initiatives, and more. Philanthropy becomes a more dynamic practice each year, and CFNJ’s unique expertise positions us to guide and support our fundholders while responding to the emerging needs of New Jersey’s communities.
Funding change across New Jersey and beyond
The founders saw a need for philanthropic funding that could address issues at the local, county, regional, and statewide levels, and by the early 1990’s, CFNJ had established a reputation as a prominent leader and partner. Our existing philanthropic infrastructure helps us lead in our role as an agent for change, rather than simply responding to a crisis.
Simply put, we can do both: We can quickly step in during a nationwide crisis, but also evolve to meet emerging and future needs in our communities. Done well, there’s no limit to the ways that philanthropy can help improve lives.