by the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the Center for Non-Profits

As the leaders of the major philanthropic and non-profit membership organizations in New Jersey, representing both the wide range of non-profit groups and the multi-faceted funders of those groups, we feel compelled to speak out against the hateful responses we and our members have witnessed in reaction to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Our country has seen countless examples of selfless sacrifice and good works over the past month, both on individual and institutional levels. We are proud that our members have been leaders in responding to the needs of our community.

But, to our distress, some individuals have used the pandemic to put forward their bias and hatred toward their fellow human beings. 

Times of crisis bring to the surface, on the part of some people, the need to scapegoat. Often, this takes the form of lashing out at particular groups, stirred up by inflamed rhetoric or more subtle code words or phrases, having no relationship to facts. In this time, there have been verbal and physical attacks against people of Asian and Pacific Islander background, as there were against Muslims after the September 11, 2001, attacks and against African-Americans and Latinos for years. This hatred and these attacks must stop.

The non-profit sector is the backbone of our communities, providing assistance and education to a wide range of people, in good times and especially challenging times. Many of these services are a lifeline to people of all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and statuses in life. Non-profit organizations are the vehicle through which people can work together to assist others. People around the world view the United States as being unique in the breadth and depth of its charitable and philanthropic work, engaging everyone’s talents, regardless of their economic situation or social status.

We call upon all people of good conscience, as they do their good work, to be alert for these hateful words and actions and to speak out against them, both as individuals and as organizations. Our language and our actions do matter. Everyone, and especially people in positions of public trust or prominence, has the obligation to use our works and our lives to help all in need and to honor the dignity and potential of all those we meet. We call on everyone who serves and volunteers in New Jersey’s philanthropic and non-profit sectors to join us in this effort to speak out against racism and hatred and to exemplify all the best that we know our country is. 

Council of New Jersey Grantmakers William V. Engel Board Chair Maria Vizcarrondo CEO and President

Center for Non-Profits Gina M. Plotino Board Chair Linda M. Czipo President & CEO

Council of New Jersey Grantmakers 111 West State Street Trenton NJ 08068 (609) 341-2022 www.cnjg.org

Center for Non-Profits 3635 Quakerbridge Road, Ste 35, Mercerville NJ  08619 (732) 227-0800 www.njnonprofits.org