NNLRF Expands Investment to Support Newark Nonprofits

The Newark Nonprofit Leadership Resilience Fund (NNLRF) has expanded its investment to $405,000 in its first year, marking a significant step in supporting the city's nonprofit sector. This fund, which began in late 2023, was officially established in March 2025 with the aim of bolstering nonprofit leadership and organizational resilience in Newark.

In March 2026, BoardSource facilitated six listening sessions with 46 Newark nonprofit leaders, including 28 executive directors and CEOs and 18 board members. These sessions were crucial in identifying priorities and shaping the fund’s first major investment. The conversations highlighted board governance as an initial priority and underscored the need for sustained support beyond one-time training.

Building on these insights, NNLRF launched a $285,000 Board Transformation Community of Practice with 12 Newark nonprofit organizations. This initiative combines BoardSource governance training, consulting, and cohort learning through the Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective, as well as board development through Leadership Newark. Additionally, the fund provided an additional $120,000 in a catalytic implementation grant pool to support these organizations.

According to the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s (CEP) State of Nonprofits 2026: What Funders Need to Know, 66 percent of nonprofit CEOs expressed concerns about their organization’s financial stability. To address these concerns, NNLRF is launching a three-part capacity-strengthening series called Resilience in Practice. The first intensive, Financial Resilience, will take place on Friday, November 13, 2026, and will be delivered in partnership with BDO. The half-day, in-person session is planned for approximately 75-100 nonprofit participants, with a registration fee of $25 per participant.

The series will continue with People and Organizational Resilience on March 19, 2027, and Strategic Resilience and Adaptability on June 4, 2027. These events are designed to provide comprehensive support to nonprofit leaders, ensuring they are equipped to navigate the challenges of an uncertain environment.

The fund is supported by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Prudential Foundation, Schumann Fund for New Jersey, The Henry S. & Agnes M. Truzack Foundation, and Victoria Foundation.

This expansion of the Newark Nonprofit Leadership Resilience Fund underscores its commitment to fostering a resilient and sustainable nonprofit ecosystem in Newark, addressing the pressing concerns of nonprofit leaders and ensuring their organizations can thrive in the face of uncertainty.