Morris County chamber to hold 16th Annual Not for Profit Conference April 28

2022 Not For Profit Excellence Awards Honorees Announced

Florham Park N.J. – April 6, 2022 – It has been a tough stretch for Morris County’s nonprofits as COVID-19 forced staff layoffs, curtailment of services and a slowdown in funding. But this hardy community persevered and is prepared to re-emerge from the pandemic even stronger.
 
That will be the theme at the upcoming 16 Annual Not for Profit Conference being hosted by the Morris County Chamber of Commerce Thursday, April 28, at the Hilton Parsippany. The title of this year’s conference is “Reconnecting and Rebuilding: Lessons Learned.”

In its “Trends and Outlook” report for 2021, the Center for Nonprofits reported that in the first year of COVID New Jersey nonprofits experienced an increased demand for services (48 percent) that outpaced their rise in funding (33 percent) and expected demand and expenses to outpace funding again in 2021. More than a quarter furloughed staff at the onset of the pandemic and half of those were slow to bring back workers.
 
The report also identified financial uncertainty as the top challenge facing the state’s nonprofits individually and foundation/corporate funding as the most pressing issue facing their sector going forward. The report also discussed the negative consequences of prolonged underfunding.
 
“Despite these challenges, Morris County’s nonprofits innovated and adapted to fulfill their missions and serve those in need during the pandemic,” said Meghan Hunscher, chamber president. “Now they are pivoting to emerge from this crisis even stronger. Toward that end, we have lined up a program for this conference that will lay out the roadmap for that re-emergence.”
 
Jonathan R. Pearson, director of corporate social responsibility for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and executive director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, will be the keynote speaker. Pearson is responsible for developing partnerships with nonprofits and community-based organizations that closely align with Horizon’s business and community interests. He collaborates with organizations and provider partners to co-invest in programs that address emerging health issues, from social determinants of health, opioid misuse, oral health, obesity and diabetes prevention. 
 
A panel discussion featuring Carmine Deo, executive director at Community Hope; Kiran Gaudioso, CEO of United Way of Northern NJ; and Phil Salerno, president and chief development officer at Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation, and moderated by Paul Muir, executive director of The Red Mill Museum Village, will focus on the challenges nonprofits confronted during the pandemic and how they are applying the lessons learned to hiring and retaining employees, volunteer engagement, engaging with funders and donors and furthering their mission going forward. 
 
In addition, the 2022 Not For Profit Excellence Awards will be presented to six seven innovative programs and exemplary leaders for their meaningful impact of their clients and the community. The award winners are:
 

• Vision Loss Alliance of NJ – ARISE Speaker Series
  Innovative Program – not-for-profit organization revenue less than $1 million
• Family Promise, Homeless Solutions, Morris Habitat – Promising Solutions
  
• Family Promise, Homeless Solutions, Community Hope – Women Veteran’s Housing Program

           Innovative Program – not-for-profit organizations revenue more than $1 million

• Celebrate the Children – CTC Outreach Program
  Innovative Program – not-for-profit organization revenue more than $1 million
• Paul Muir, Executive Director – Red Mill Museum Village
  Exemplary Leader – not-for-profit organization revenue less than $1 million
• George Zeitler, Executive Director – Cheshire Home
  Exemplary Leader – not-for-profit organization revenue more than 1 mil:
• Marc Adee, CEO – Crum and Forster
  Exemplary Private Sector Leader dedicated to supporting the not-for-profit community
    
  

“Each year this conference provides extremely helpful insight for the county’s nonprofit community,” Hunscher said. “This year’s event will be of interest to a broad audience, including nonprofit staff and executive directors, board members, trustees, volunteers, funders and doners, as well as suppliers and service providers who support the nonprofit community.” 
For more information or to register, visit https://web.morrischamber.org/events/16th-Annual-Not-for-Profit-Conference-9047/details.
 
About the Morris County Chamber of Commerce 
The Morris County Chamber of Commerce has more than 700 member organizations that range from entrepreneurs and small businesses to large corporations and Fortune 500 companies. The chamber’s mission is to collaboratively advance the interests of its members to champion a thriving business and community environment. The chamber’s many events, meetings and seminars provide a platform for its members to connect, collaborate, learn and succeed. The chamber is dedicated to the advancement of Morris County's businesses and community by providing services, information and advocacy to support the success of its member organizations. They are headquartered in Florham Park.
 
Chamber Contact:                                                       Media Contact:
Colette Moran                                                              Christopher Reardon
Morris County Chamber of Commerce                    Reardon Communications Group
Tel: 973.210.6083                                                        Tel: 908.229.4674
colette@morrischamber.org                                      chris@reardoncommunications.com