Message from CNJG Board Chair

Dear CNJG Community,

I am writing to let you know that last week Council of New Jersey Grantmakers’ President and CEO Nina Stack, notified the Council’s Board of Trustees that she will be stepping down in June to become the Executive Director of The Champlin Foundation, the largest private foundation in the state of Rhode Island.  

This is certainly bittersweet news.  While we will miss her tremendous leadership, enthusiasm, and good spirit she has brought to our state’s philanthropic community these past thirteen years, anyone who knows Nina knows that Rhode Island is also near and dear to her heart.

Yesterday, I convened a meeting of our Executive Committee, which includes Bill Engel/Hyde & Watson Foundation, Annmarie Puleio/Fred C. Rummel Foundation, Cynthia Evans/Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Bill Leavens/Leavens Family Foundation to consider how the Council will address this transition phase and search process. 

In addition, the full Board of Trustees will be meeting later this month to build on these initial conversations.  We are developing a thorough, thoughtful, and deliberate transition plan and search process. I will be back in touch with all of you, the members of CNJG and colleagues, in the coming weeks to share those details.

The good news is that under Nina’s extraordinary leadership over these many years, the Council is in an excellent position. Our finances are very strong, our membership continues to grow, our members are more engaged, our programming is exceptional, our partnerships are robust, our staff is talented, and our influence with policymakers, business leaders, and others across the state deepens.

In the meantime, Nina will remain on staff until June 1. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Spring Colloquium – Breaking Through in the New Media Paradigm – on May 24.  

Please join us for what will be Nina’s last program as President and CEO of the Council, I encourage you to register as soon as possible. Seating is limited, and I have no doubt it will sell out very soon. 

Sincerely,

Jonathan Pearson
Chair, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

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