(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, one of New Jersey’s biggest philanthropic givers, invites you to unleash your inner philanthropist this holiday season by supporting local charitable organizations. The Dodge Foundation, which recently announced the featured nonprofits in this year’s Jersey Give Back Guide, will kick off the #JerseyGives Challenge on #GivingTuesday, the global day of giving observed on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Dodge and its partner the Victoria Foundation will donate up to $1,000 in bonus funds to organizations that get 50 supporters and $5,000 in gifts through the Guide by Dec. 31.
Using the Jersey Give Back Guide’s online “Generosity Generator,” you can choose from four categories — Community, Arts, Environment and Newark — to learn more about nonprofits that share your passion, and in just a few quick clicks, make a direct donation.
“Giving back feels good,” said Chris Daggett, President & CEO of the Dodge Foundation. “At Dodge, our job is to support nonprofits devoted to making our communities better places for all of us to live. We understand it can be difficult knowing where to start, which is why we partnered with the Victoria Foundation to offer one-stop shopping for finding and giving back to organizations in which you can feel good about investing your generosity.”
The Dodge and Victoria foundations selected organizations that excel in collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. All have excellent reputations for their work and reflect the programmatic and geographic diversity of the nonprofit sector in New Jersey.
“This time of year is all about giving, and that includes giving back in your own community,” said Irene Cooper-Basch, Executive Officer of the Victoria Foundation. “Nonprofits enrich our lives in so many ways, so it’s important to say ‘thank you’ at this time of year when they need our support the most. We are pleased to support this opportunity for families, businesses, community groups and others to come together in a show of collective generosity.”
More than $100,000 has been raised for New Jersey nonprofits through the Jersey Give Back Guide since it launched in 2013 to spread generosity throughout the Garden State and experiment with ways philanthropy can lend support beyond the grant check. You can learn about and support previously featured organizations on the Guide’s Archive page.
This year, the Jersey Give Back Guide aims to raise $100,000 in charitable gifts for the organizations. All are invited to share their reason for giving via social media by tweeting @JerseyGiveGuide or tagging #JerseyGives.
#GivingTuesday— observed this year on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 — is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and also after the shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.
About the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation was established in 1974 through the foresight and generosity of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, daughter of William and Almira Rockefeller. For more than 40 years, Dodge has supported leadership, collaboration and innovation, with a focus on addressing the issues most pressing to New Jersey. Dodge also offers a comprehensive technical assistance program geared towards strengthening the capacity of New Jersey’s nonprofit community. For more information about the Dodge Foundation, please visit their website.
About the Victoria Foundation
Victoria Foundation is a private grantmaking institution involved in charitable giving to programs that impact the cycle of poverty in Newark. Within Newark, funded projects address K-12 education reform, neighborhood revitalization, and strengthening youth and families. For more information about the Victoria Foundation, please visit their website.
Learn more about the Jersey Give Back Guide and the featured organizations at JerseyGiveBackGuide.org.
