CFNJ History

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.…

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.”…

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.…

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?…