News

Turning Illiquid Assets into Charitable Giving

We often say that giving involves more than just dollars.  Time, talent, and other resources help maximize the impact of one’s giving.  Well it turns out there is also wide variety in the “dollars” one may give, in this case to donor advised funds.…

Impact 100 Readies $133K Grant

April 8, 2013 Last year we told you about Impact 100 Garden State, a newly-formed organization being incubated at the Community Foundation of New Jersey.  Click here for that article. The group’s goal is relatively simple.  One hundred New Jersey women each donate $1,000 to the fund and then vote for one nonprofit organization to receive a $100,000 grant. …

Hurricane Sandy’s Impact on the Environment

April 1, 2013 We’ve seen the devastating impact Hurricane Sandy has had on countless New Jerseyans, their homes, and their communities.  But just what impact did the storm have on our state’s natural environment?  What wildlife was impacted the most?  And what is the likelihood that different habitat will return? …

How to Get a 7th Grader to Write… in the Summer

April 1, 2013 Seventh grade. Essays. Summer school.  Any middle school kid might consider these to be various forms of short-term punishment. But for over 500 New Jersey middle school students, essays are no longer the stuff of ruined weekends and vengeful English teachers.…

Redefining & Ranking Health in NJ

March 27, 2013 Your county’s health status is now a matter of public record. A national study by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks health by county, and the scores are in. For the fourth consecutive year, the healthiest county in New Jersey is Hunterdon County, followed by Morris, Somerset, Bergen and Middlesex counties.…

Too Rich, Too Soon?

March 25, 2013 The lottery, an inheritance, or a brilliant business idea – coming into great wealth quickly can happen at a moment’s notice.  In some cases, it starts with elation; in all cases, it ends with the need for responsible planning.…

Hurricane Sandy Grants: What Recipients Are Saying

March 21, 2013 In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, CFNJ moved quickly to create the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, which is dedicated to the short-term, critical needs of communities.  Since then, we’ve identified those organizations in need and made targeted grants meant to begin the process of recovery.…

Preserving a Legacy Through Education

March 18, 2013 Creating a family foundation has long been a popular and effective way for families to give back to the communities in which they live.  For Joseph and Elsie Beck, who for several decades lived down the road from Seton Hall University in South Orange, it was a natural extension of their support for the university and its students. …