Community Foundation

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy recently spoke with CFNJ President Hans Dekker and Chris Daggett, president and CEO of The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.  Here’s a snippet of their conversation.  For the full interview, click here.

CDP: Of all the things that happened to you and your organization in the five and a half months since Sandy hit, what surprised you most?

Hans: I continue to be surprised by the diversity and complexity of the needs that our communities face. Every day I hear of some impact that I had not considered. Not only are there are lots of gaps that need to be filled, they also seem to evolve rapidly. Crafting an effective response in that environment is challenging.

The Selection Committee of The Jonathan Maslow Scholarship today announced the recipient of its 2013 scholarship award. 

The recipient is a graduating senior at Red Bank Regional High School with a penchant for creative writing. 

Read the full article by clicking here.

With questions about any of the scholarship programs managed by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, contact Faith Krueger at 973-267-5533.

Our friends at America’s Grow-a-Row, a really fantastic organization you can check out here, are having a benefit concert in Chatham on May 5th.  If you ask us, it sounds like a lot of fun.  Here are the details from America’s Grow-a-Row:

Don’t miss the Music for Food Concert to benefit America’s Grow-a-Row presented by Lyrica Chamber Music.  Join us for world class music as the Enso String Quartet performs Ravel, Britten, and Mozart with chamber music legend Samuel Rhodes.  The Ensos are one of the most exciting young quartets today, with a Grammy nomination already under their belt and a whirlwind performance schedule every season. Samuel Rhodes is one of the great elder statesmen of the music world - this year he steps down after 44 years playing in the internationally known Juilliard String Quartet.  America’s Grow-a-Row is honored to be the recipient of every dollar from ticket sales and audience donations.

The concert is on Sunday, May 5th at 3 pm at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, 240 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, NJ 07928.  Tickets are $25 General Admission, $20 Seniors, Free admission Students/Children. The phone number for tickets is 973-309-1668.

Glamour Magazine earlier this month released its 2013 list of “Top Ten College Women.” On the list was none other than Noorjahan Akbar, a recipient of a scholarship through the Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund. 

Click here for the full article.

And click here for CFNJ’s story on the Afghan Girls Fund.

Last year we told you about Impact 100 Garden State, a newly-formed organization being incubated at the Community Foundation of New Jersey. 

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.  Repeat once per year and, in a relatively brief amount of time, make a significant impact in targeted communities.

Well it turns out, the group’s inaugural grant will actually by $133,000 - thanks in no small part to the organizing efforts of its six founders.

With the funds in place, the organization now seeks letters of intent from nonprofit organizations based in Morris, Passaic, Somerset, or Sussex counties with an emphasis on arts and culture, education, environment, family, or health and wellness.

According to the Daily Record:

The process begins with a Letter of Intent, which may be filed with Impact 100 Garden State between Tuesday and May 10. An information session will be held 9:30 a.m. April 23 at the Community Foundation of New Jersey; registration through the Impact 100 Garden State website is required.

To learn more about Impact 100 Garden State, please contact CFNJ.

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.  Empowering local volunteers and nonprofit organizations is always gratifying, but this time we wanted to share the enthusiastic responses of several grant recipients:

HOBOKEN EMS: Dan Loeb, Treasurer

“This is such great news!  I literally jumped off my couch when I read this!  I can’t wait to tell everyone!  We will call the dealer and tell him to hold the ambulance for us first thing tomorrow!  […]  When the ambulance is delivered you must come down and see it!”

MOONACHIE FIRST AID AND RESCUE SQUAD: Frank Smith, Captain

“…that is the best news I have had all week!!! Thank you and your people for this. As I said before God Bless all of you, our squad is lucky to have such caring individuals out there. Your help will insure our existence in the community. Thank you, thank you, thank you, again!!!!”

LITTLE FERRY HOSE CO. #1: Lorenzo Migale, President

“First I would like to extend our deepest gratitude on behalf of the members of Little Ferry Hose Co. #1 for this donation. Community Foundation of New Jersey [has] brightened our days and hopes. There are not enough thank you’s in the world to express our appreciation. I am all smiles right now as the rest of the Hose Company will be when I deliver the great news.”

MONMOUTH BEACH FIRST AID SQUAD: David Gallagher, Treasurer

“On behalf of both the First Aid and Fire Company we cannot thank you and your organization enough.  Community Foundation of NJ has literally thrown us a life line. I don’t know what we would have done without this help.”

MONMOUTH BEACH FIRE COMPANY: Charles King, President

“I just want to express my sincerest thanks on receipt of the grants. I grew up in town and have been thru Hurricane Donna(`60),the Ash Wednesday storm(`62), Halloween Flood from the Perfect storm(91),and the 100yr storm?(92) and have never seen such devastation and destruction as this. In the `92 storm we only had 6-8” in the firehouse so this was quite a surprise.  We are resilient and will rebuild. Thanks to you and the foundation we will use those funds to get the department back up and running and restore the spirits of the membership.”

The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) today announced the launch of its new online donor engagement platform, featuring an “Issues that Inspire” series and a close look at emerging philanthropic trends and opportunities in the state.

Click the below graphic to reach out new website:

The platform’s homepage features nine graphical boxes, each dedicated to a specific element of CFNJ’s work.  The top three boxes include news, donor videos, and instructions on how to open a fund.  The next six boxes feature stories on emerging issues and donor impacts in the areas of health, the environment, social issues, education, communities, and family issues.  By clicking on any of these stories, interested readers may learn more about CFNJ’s work or analysis in the given issue area. 

“The new platform is a resource for our donors and any New Jerseyan who wants to learn about the issues impacting our communities and ways to get involved or make a difference,” said Hans Dekker, President of CFNJ.  “We’re able to share best practices and talk about the impact our donors are currently having, while also shining a light on innovative solutions to overlooked problems.”

The launch coincides with the debut of Donor Central 3.0, through which CFNJ donors may login to their funds, review accounts, identify funding opportunities, and make grants.

OceanFirst Foundation has established a scholarship to honor the legacy and many contributions of local architect, Carl Feltz, Jr., AIA.  Administered by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, the scholarship is available to matriculated college students from Monmouth or Ocean Counties who are enrolled full time in an accredited architectural program at a School of Architecture within the United States.  Student must have successfully completed a minimum of one full year of study towards his/her professional degree (either a Bachelor of Architecture or Master of Architecture).  This merit based scholarship award is $2,000.  Financial need will, however, be taken into consideration during the review process.

Carl Feltz, Jr., a former Trustee of OceanFirst Foundation, was instrumental in the design of commercial structures such as airports, resorts, churches, hospitals, professional office buildings, as well as homes and condominiums in the local area.  Civic minded in nature, Mr., Feltz served as a member and Chairman of the Point Pleasant Borough Planning Board, member and Past President of the Point Pleasant Rotary Club, Chairman of the Point Pleasant Tourism Council and a member of the American Institute of Architects.

Any student wishing to obtain an application may do so at www.cfnj.org.  For further information or with questions, please contact Faith Krueger at 973-267-5533.

Our friends over at the Knight Foundation say that, “if the news and information environment is in trouble, so is civic life.  Foundations can only help improve education, public safety, the environment or anything else if people understand and are engaged in the issues.” 

It’s why they work to support programs that expand journalism and promote dialogue on critical issues.  

Just recently they took a close look at our role in helping launch NJ Spotlight, an online news site that examines state policy.  With the motto, “Where Issues Matter,” NJ Spotlight has, well, shined a spotlight on otherwise overlooked debates and policy-making in Trenton. 

Click here to read the Knight Foundation’s case study on our work with NJ Spotlight.

And check back tomorrow when we dive a little deeper into the report!