The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (NNJCF) IMPROVES COMMUNITY LIFE THROUGH WORK IN ARTS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, PHILANTHROPY AND PUBLIC HEALTH. OUR PARTNERS ARE BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES BY COLLABORATING, ANSWERING THE QUESTION, "WHAT CAN WE ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER THAT WE CANNOT ALONE?"
- Income
- $579,962
- Spending
- $527,176
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $118,730, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $276,528 spent. THE ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT - BY FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS AMONG MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, LOCAL LEADERS, AND THE PUBLIC, NNJCF ACTIVELY PROMOTES COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE COMMUNITY LIFE AND ADDRESS ISSUES IN THREE FOCUS AREAS: CREATIVE COMMUNITIES, GREEN AND HEALTHY PLACES, BELONGING AND OPPORTUNITY. NNJCF ADDRESSES ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES SUCH AS FLOODING, CLIMATE RESILIENCY,AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. THROUGH ITS ARTSBERGEN INITIATIVE, NNJCF SUPPORTS LOCAL ARTISTS THROUGH PROGRAMMING AND ADVOCACY, PROMOTES CREATIVE PLACEMAKING AND PRODUCES COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PUBLIC ART. NNJCF WORKS TO ELEVATE VOICES OF UNDER REPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
- $70,328 spent. DONOR SERVICES - THE NNJCF OFFERS A DONOR SERVICE PROGRAM WHICH HELPS DONORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH FLEXIBLE OPTIONS THAT HELP MEET CHARITABLE GIVING GOALS. OPTIONS INCLUDE: DONORS CAN ESTABLISH FUNDS AND DIRECT THE FOUNDATION TO MAKE GIFTS IN HIS/HER NAME, CONTRIBUTE TO A PARTICULAR FIELD OF INTEREST,SUPPORT A SPECIFIC AGENCY OR CAUSE, MAKE CHARITABLE GIVING A PART OF ESTATE PLANNING, OR LEAVE A LIVING LEGACY. NNJCF OFFERS FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS TO STRENGTHEN THE IMPACT OF ITS MISSION AND FOSTER NEW INITIATIVES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Community Foundation of New Jersey (Morristown, NJ), EIN 22-2281783. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.