Transform South Jersey
Community Foundation of South Jersey Invites Local Municipalities to Learn about New Grant Opportunity for Five South Jersey Communities.
Each of the selected communities will have access to up to $100,000 in funding from the Community Foundation of South Jersey.
The Community Foundation of South Jersey, a nonprofit organization that helps South Jersey residents harness the power of philanthropy to transform their communities and the issues they care about most, today announced a new grant opportunity; Transform South Jersey. This opportunity, which opens late September, is available to municipalities with a population of less than 50,000 residents from Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem counties.
Transform South Jersey is a collaboration between the Community Foundation of South Jersey, New Jersey Health Initiatives (the statewide grantmaking program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), the OceanFirst Foundation, the Orton Family Foundation and the Wells Fargo Regional Community Development Corporation. Using the Orton Family Foundation’s national model, Transform South Jersey will strengthen the social, cultural and economic vibrancy of five South Jersey communities by empowering residents to inform community development and shape the future based on what matters most to them.
All civic leaders, individuals and representatives of local government, community and economic development entities, civic groups and other nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in eligible counties are encouraged to apply, but must register and attend an in-person community workshop before doing so. Interested applicants can find details here:
Register
Atlantic County Workshop
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 17th, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Mays Landing, NJ
Click here for full details & to register.
Burlington County Workshop
Date & Time: Friday, September 20th, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Westhampton, NJ
Click here for full details & to register.
Camden County Workshop
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 17th, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Camden, NJ
Click here for full details & to register.
Cape May County Workshop
Date & Time: Friday, September 20th, 3:00 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: Cape May Court House, NJ
Click here for details & to register.
Cumberland County Workshop
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 18th, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Millville, NJ
Click here for full details & to register.
Gloucester County Workshop
Date & Time: Monday, September 16th, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Mullica Hill, NJ
Click here for full details & to register.
Ocean County Workshop
Date & Time: Thursday, September 19th, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Toms River, NJ
Click here for full details & to register.
Salem County Workshop
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 18th, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Salem, NJ
Click here for full details & to register.
The Community Heart & Soul model is a catalyst for positive change in small cities and towns. By actively seeking the collective wisdom of all residents, including those whose voices are often missing, this initiative brings people together to build stronger, healthier and more economically vibrant communities.
“Community Heart & Soul reconnects people with what they love most about their town and translates those personal and emotional connections into a blueprint that serves as the foundation for future community decisions,” said Andy Fraizer, executive director of the Community Foundation of South Jersey.
Each of the selected communities will have access to up to $100,000 in funding from the Community Foundation of South Jersey to support a full-scale Heart & Soul project; receive exclusive training, technical assistance and coaching; and get support in establishing and building their own locally controlled community endowed fund to be responsive to the priorities developed through their project.
To learn more about this opportunity, eligibility requirements and how to sign up for a required local Community Heart & Soul workshop, visit transformsouthjersey.org in the coming days for additional information.
About the Partners
Community Foundation of South Jersey
The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) envisions an eight-county region thriving where all neighbors aspire, succeed, participate, and give. The vision is realized as CFSJ inspires generosity, manages and deploys permanent charitable assets, and exercises collaborative leadership to create a more equitable region. CFSJ works with South Jersey philanthropists, local nonprofits, and neighbors to build capital, contribute assets, and create permanent endowments for impact in perpetuity. By aligning donor interests and using the investment earnings on each of its endowed funds, CFSJ makes grants and builds leadership within the community to create thriving, equitable, and livable communities for all. Currently, CFSJ manages assets of $22 million in donor-advised funds. Along with its fund-holders, CFSJ has issued more than $9 million in nonprofit grants and scholarships. Learn more about CFSJ at CommunityFoundationSJ.org.
New Jersey Health Initiatives
New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI) is the statewide grantmaking program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Established in 1987 in honor of the New Jersey philanthropic legacy of RWJF’s founder, Robert Wood Johnson, NJHI supports innovations and drives conversations to build healthier communities through grantmaking across the State of New Jersey. To meet the many health needs of our state’s diverse populations, regions and communities, the NJHI national program encourages collaboration across sectors to foster deep relationships committed to long-term change affording all New Jerseyans the opportunity to live the healthiest life possible. Learn more about NJHI at njhi.org.
OceanFirst Foundation
Since its founding in 1902, OceanFirst Bank has built a solid reputation and legacy as a good neighbor and responsible corporate citizen. The Bank’s strong commitment to helping families, organizations, schools and communities throughout central and southern New Jersey meet their financial needs has spanned several generations reaching new heights in 1996 with the creation of OceanFirst Foundation. Made possible by a one-time endowment of $13.4 million approved by OceanFirst Bank depositors, OceanFirst Foundation provides grants to organizations that meet community needs within the OceanFirst Bank footprint. Through the Foundation, hundreds of local charities and schools have received more than $39 million in grants to enrich lives in areas such as Housing, Youth Development and Education, Improving the Quality of Life, Health and Wellness, and the Arts. Learn more about the OceanFirst Foundation at oceanfirstfdn.org.
Orton Family Foundation
The Orton Family Foundation’s mission is to empower people to shape the future of their communities by improving local decision-making, creating a shared sense of belonging, and ultimately strengthening the social, cultural and economic vibrancy of each place. The foundation is focused on building stronger, healthier and more economically vibrant small cities and towns across America.
Founded in Vermont in 1995, the foundation devoted more than a decade to working with small towns to create Community Heart & Soul® a model that helps build trust and empowers residents to shape the future of their communities. Community Heart & Soul projects are underway across the country creating positive change that is resident-driven and recognizes the value in the unique character of each place and the deep emotional connection of the people who live there. To learn more about the Orton Family Foundation and its Community Heart & Soul model, visit orton.org.
Wells Fargo Regional Community Development Corporation
The Wells Fargo Regional Community Development Corporation (CDC) makes investments to nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses for select ventures that are designed to promote community and economic development opportunities to improve the quality of life for children and families living in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The work of the Wells Fargo Regional CDC is closely aligned to the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation which invests resources in comprehensive, neighborhood-based economic and community development initiatives within the same geographic area. For more information, please visit WellsFargo.com/about/regional-foundation.