Photo: NJSFWC Executive Leadership Team (from left): Susan Chambers, Barbara McCloskey, Shirley Holly, and Chris Sienkielewski (photo courtesy of NJSFWC)

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs (NJFSWC) has been named the “Outstanding Community Organization” by the New Jersey chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP NJ) at their 2022 Excellence in Philanthropy Awards. Since 1981, AFP NJ’s Excellence in Philanthropy Awards have recognized the achievements of some of the most notable citizens and organizations in the state who have dedicated their efforts toward making New Jersey a better place. 

Other honorees include Jill Gwydir-Govel, Director of Development at Lunch Break (Outstanding Professional Fundraiser); Mindy A. Cohen, Vice President of Women@NJPAC and Board Member at NJPAC and NJ Symphony (Outstanding Philanthropist); Samantha Mitchell-Hope, Senior Manager - Mission Advancement at Food Bank of South Jersey (Outstanding Young Fundraiser); and CompoSecure (Outstanding New Jersey Corporation).

The awards luncheon takes place Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 12:15pm - 2:15pm at the Bridgewater Marriott in Bridgewater Township, NJ. Individual awards luncheon tickets are $95. The luncheon will be presented as part of AFP NJ’s all-day 42nd Annual Conference on Philanthropy. Tickets and sponsorship packages are available at bit.ly/3zwiks8.

NJSFWC President Shirley Holly announced the special recognition to a gathering of 193 clubwomen at NJSFWC’s annual State Fall Conference on October 24, 2022, at the Battleground Country Club in Manalapan, NJ.

“We are thrilled and honored to have our work recognized by AFP NJ, and to be counted among such an esteemed group of fundraisers, organizers, and philanthropists. NJSFWC’s continued success as we enter our 128^th year is a testament to the power of women to enact positive change in our communities,” said NJSFWC President Shirley Holly.

The NJSFWC State Fall Conference also featured presentations and displays from the Community Service Program Chairmen, along with Advocates for Children, Communications, and Day of Service Chairmen. The morning session also included a presentation from the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, which is the focus of NJSFWC’s Special State Project for the 2022-2024 administration. The afternoon featured keynote speaker Julia Orlando, Director of the Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center in Hackensack, NJ, who spoke about her work ending chronic homelessness and the importance of collaboration among community and philanthropic organizations.

The New Jersey State Federations of Women’s Clubs (NJSFWC), a volunteer community service organization, was founded in 1894 and is headquartered on the Douglass College campus in New Brunswick, NJ. The NJSFWC founded the New Jersey College for Women, now known as Douglass College (Rutgers), in 1918. In 2020, the organization, with a membership of over 6200, reported almost 16,963 community service projects involving over 320,119 volunteer hours and $2.3 million in cash and in- kind donations. The NJSFWC is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), which is headquartered in Washington, DC, and is the largest and oldest women’s volunteer community service organization in the world.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), which represents more than 31,000 members in 240 chapters throughout the world, advances philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs. AFP fosters the professional development of fundraising professionals and promotes ethical standards in the fundraising profession. 

The New Jersey Chapter of AFP (AFP NJ), one of the largest chapters, is an individual member association that advances philanthropy through education, training, and advocacy across the state. We base our programs and services on research, experience and the highest code of ethical principles and standards of professional practice. AFP New Jersey, an association of professionals throughout NJ and the NY Metro area, advances philanthropy by enabling people and organizations to practice ethical and effective fundraising. The core activities through which AFP NJ fulfills this mission include education, training, mentoring, and advocacy.