Staff

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO

 Contact Theresa E. Jacks / (609) 414-7110 x805

TJacksheadshot.jpg

As President and CEO, and previously Deputy Director and Manager of Advancement & Special Initiatives at the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, Theresa has been instrumental in strengthening CNJG's leadership work, leading policy and advocacy efforts, building relationships with partners, developing and increasing funding to support operations and special projects, providing learning opportunities, and enhancing capacity and management processes. She has a deep knowledge of best practices in grantmaking.

Prior to joining the Council, Theresa served as Executive Director of the Whitesbog Preservation Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring a 19th century historic village. Leading the operations of both the Trust and the ongoing restoration of the historic village included working closely with the Board of Trustees, effectively guiding board and committee initiatives, developing and coordinating educational and recreational programs, fundraising, member relations, ensuring long-term strategic and day-to-day management and administration of the organization, and building partnerships with the community.

Prior to launching a career in the nonprofit sector, Theresa worked in New Jersey state government for nearly twenty years in varying levels of management and leadership.

Theresa graduated from Central Michigan University with a Master of Science in Administration, and Rowan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She graduated summa cum laude from both.

Kevin Callaghan, Newark Philanthropic Liaison

 Contact Kevin Callaghan / (609) 414-7110 x804

The Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison is an innovative collaboration between the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the City of Newark. Kevin began serving as the Newark Philanthropic Liaison on September 1, 2016.

In the role of Newark Philanthropic Liaison, a cabinet-level position, Kevin works directly with the Mayor and his senior cabinet to leverage private and government assets to support the Administration’s agenda in areas such as public safety, summer youth employment, workforce development, economic development, health and wellness, education and literacy, arts and culture, and neighborhood and place-based initiatives. The Office of the Newark Philanthropic Liaison also convenes and connects Newark and regional funding partners, Newark community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders by providing thought leadership, facilitating content and affinity groups, and raising awareness about critical issues facing the city.

Immediately prior to serving as the Newark Philanthropic Liaison, Callaghan was a Project Lead on the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program where he worked to implement system and program enhancements to one of the Mayor’s signature programs. Before this short-term appointment, he served for nearly five years as the Program Officer at the Foundation for Newark’s Future (FNF), the local arm of national philanthropic funding donated to the City of Newark to improve education opportunities for youth. Prior to joining the Foundation for Newark’s Future, Kevin worked for the federal government as a Special Assistant at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in Washington D.C. and was a classroom teacher of middle school Social Studies in Philadelphia.

Callaghan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and History from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City and a Master’s Degree in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Born and raised in New Jersey, Kevin is a proud resident of Newark.

Shakirat Odunsi, Manager of Communications

 Contact Shakirat Odunsi / (609) 414-7110 x806

Shakirat Odunsi joined the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in February 2024 as the Manager of Communications. With over 20 years of B2B and B2C marketing experience, Shakirat will lead all aspects of the organization's digital communications strategy. She will promote the CNJG brand, its events, programs, and campaigns through innovative digital platforms and interactive communications. Shakirat will oversee CNJG's online presence, manage its website and social media channels, and lead the marketing efforts for CNJG's diverse services and offerings.

Shakirat has a wealth of experience in the marketing and communications field, having worked on successful client-based projects in the past. She has collaborated with major brands, further enriching her marketing and strategic planning expertise. Shakirat's exposure to diverse industries and high-profile collaborations has honed her ability to navigate complex marketing landscapes and foster partnerships that drive success. She is excited to use her extensive background in marketing and communications to make a meaningful impact in the philanthropic sector. Shakirat has a track record of creative campaign execution and team leadership. She is deeply committed to volunteerism and is eager to apply her skills to promoting social good and community development.

Shakirat holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Dana Schwartz, Office Manager

 Contact Dana Schwartz / (609) 414-7110 x801

Dana Schwartz joined the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in 2022. As office manager, her role is assisting the CEO with day-to-day operations, and attending to the needs of the CNJG Team, members, nonprofit partners, and others. She will also assist with program coordination and logistics, including for Signature events.

A lifelong reader and writer, Dana always knew she’d be an English major, and for several years after graduating college worked in the book publishing industry in Manhattan. Not long after receiving her Master’s in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Dana spent the next decade at home raising her two children, and reading to them as often as they’d allow.

Since moving to New Hope, Pennsylvania in 2014, she has worked in education both as a volunteer and professional. First as a Girl Scout leader, and more recently as an instructional assistant in a multiple disabilities classroom. She is currently fulfilling her second term as School Board Director for her local district, New Hope-Solebury. She is excited to be working in the nonprofit sector in New Jersey, the state where she was born and raised.

Chanika Svetvilas, Manager of Programs and Learning

 Contact Chanika Svetvilas / (609) 414-7110 x803

Chanika Svetvilas    ( [Chu-nē-kgha Swet-vē-las]  (she/her/hers) joined the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers in 2023. As Manager of Programs and Learning, she organizes and manages programming for membership including signature events, affinity group gatherings, and educational programs that provide professional skill-building, issue-based knowledge development, as well as opportunities for networking.

Prior to CNJG, Chanika worked in the nonprofit sector as a program coordinator for community based organizations as well as larger institutions and in higher education. She served as the Conference Manager for the International Sculpture Center, Program Coordinator for for the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University, and Grants Assistant for the Arts for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Additionally, she has served as a grant panelist for several art councils including the New York State Council on the Arts. She was the co-founder of ThaiLinks, a collective dedicated to issues affecting Thai communities and co-founder of the Thai Takes film festival, its signature program presented in New York City.

Chanika is a practicing artist and curator. She holds a BS in Studio Art from Skidmore College, and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. Chanika currently resides in Princeton Junction, NJ.

Craig Weinrich, Director of Member Services

 Contact Craig Weinrich / (609) 414-7110 x802

Craig Weinrich serves as the Director of Member Services at CNJG, where he helps to recruit, retain, and engage members. Additionally, he serves as the Salesforce database administrator, organizes most communications, wrote and designed the recent Salary and Benefits Report, and along with our webmaster, maintains the website.

Craig discovered the nonprofit sector through an intense desire to avoid working in the dining hall during his sophomore year at Dickinson College. Interning with the Eaken Piano Trio, artists-in-residence at Dickinson, introduced him to the many meaningful positions in the music industry that are not performance-oriented. From there, he served as Development Directors for the Delaware Symphony (promoted from Development Assistant) and Springfield (MA) Symphony Orchestras, where he could even be found clad in the costume of their newly-created penguin mascot! Craig then moved to the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, a membership association of nonprofits in the New York City area, serving as their Membership, Outreach and IT Director for nine years. While at NPCC, he earned a nonprofit management certificate from Baruch College through the United Way Nonprofit Leadership Institute. Prior to joining CNJG, Craig served as the Membership Director for the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations. At each organization, Craig has served as the “accidental techie.”

Craig is happy to back in New Jersey for his third tenure. He grew up in Madison, lived in Bloomfield while working at NPCC, and now resides in Hamilton. He serving for a second time on Council at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Ringoes; graduated from Lead NJ in 2015 (go Green!); and in July, 2018, married Kacy O’Brien. In 2022, he was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Council on Volunteerism and Community Service.

ADJUNCT STAFF

Mary Trimbach, Webmaster

 Contact Mary Trimbach

Mary Trimbach joined CNJG as their Webmaster & Communications consultant in 2012, bringing 35 years of experience in the technology field to the position. In addition to managing the website and proving support to their communications work, Mary serves as liaison for CNJG to the Forum’s Knowledge Management Group.

Prior to joining CNJG, Mary worked in multiple sectors including non-profit, business and education providing her with a broad base of organizational knowledge. Her experience in the technology field ranges from programming, p.c. repair and support, and network management to her real love of system implementation and user training. In her career she has led in the start-up and support of several state and nationwide technology groups.

Mary holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Aquinas College. A Michigan native, Mary and her husband recently had the opportunity to spend 2 years living their dream and taking telecommuting to a new level, working from their motorhome as they traveled the United States. Now settled back down in Michigan to be near their daughters, sons-in-law and three grandsons, they continue their travels as often as they can sneak away!