AFP-NJ and NJGPA (Grant Professionals Association) are proud to bring together leading funders from across the State of New Jersey to discuss evolving funding interests and guidelines and trends in philanthropic giving.
Get an insider’s look at the funding landscape in NJ and hear firsthand from decision-makers during this panel discussion.
Networking lunch to follow.
Meet the Funders Panelists:
Erik Estrada is the Community Manager at the Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ). Erik is responsible for the execution of CFSJ’s signature community leadership initiative, Transform South Jersey, which aims to strengthen the social, cultural and economic vibrancy of South Jersey communities by activating residents to shape the future of their towns based on what matters most to them.
Prior to joining CFSJ, Erik served in a variety of roles with multiple national program offices of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Most recently, he helped launch Forward Promise, a national program office established to promote the health and wellbeing of boys and young men of color. Based out of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Erik helped develop and implement the program’s grantmaking and technical assistance strategies. Before that, he managed research and evaluation initiatives of RWJF’s statewide grantmaking program, New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI). In addition to studying the feasibility and impact of NJHI’s field building efforts, he worked closely with their youth-focused and capacity building programs as well.
Erik’s introduction to both philanthropy and New Jersey came by way of National Urban Fellows, a rigorous leadership development and graduate degree program in which he earned a Master of Public Administration from Bernard M. Baruch College in New York, while completing a nine-month fellowship with RWJF. He also holds a Master of Science in Public Affairs – Community Development from Rutgers University at Camden and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. He now resides in Westville, New Jersey with his wife Tonia, and their twin cavapoos Enastasia & Alejandro.
Emily Hernandez is the Grants Manager with the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation. She comes to the Foundation after working several years in the nonprofit sector, specifically in writing grants for organizations that work on youth development and overall wellbeing. Most recently, she worked at the Manager, Corporate and Foundation Relations with Eluna and helped engage current stakeholders and expand relationships with new corporate and foundation donors to help develop programming. She has her MA in Publishing from Rosemont College and BA in Literature from Stockton University.
Justin Kiczek serves as Executive Director of the F. M. Kirby Foundation, based in Morristown, N.J. As such, he oversees the 92-year-old family foundation’s grantmaking to programs in the arts and humanities, human services, environment, health, education, and public policy. Justin worked previously at the Turrell Fund in Montclair, N.J. , first as a Program Consultant for 15 years and subsequently as Vice President of Programs, where he helped support the foundation’s efforts to improve early childhood outcomes in New Jersey and Vermont. He also has experience as an English teacher and lecturer in secondary and higher education institutions, including seven years at the all-scholarship Regis High School. He holds a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross and an M.A. from Hunter College. As a lifelong participant in non-profit work, Justin serves on the Board of Trustees of Advocates for Children of New Jersey and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. He also volunteers regularly with the Interfaith Food Pantry, Student / Partner Alliance, and his local PTA. He lives in Morristown with his wife and their four daughters.
Edward LaPorte, is the Executive Director of the NJ Office of Faith Based Initiatives in the Department of State. Mr. LaPorte is a dedicated bilingual professional; he has vast experience in designing, developing, promoting and launching approaches that address the needs of communities that are socially and economically disenfranchised. His experience in community development, training and technical assistance, program design and evaluation and impact assessment were enhanced while working for: Catholic Charities, Puerto Rican Organization for the Community and Educational Development – PROCEED, PRAB, and Union County Board of Social Services.
Mr. LaPorte lives in New Brunswick, New Jersey, along with his family, where he was raised and educated. His mother was born In Cuba and his Father in Puerto Rico. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his Masters in Public Administration from Kean University.
Samantha Plotino is the Executive Director at Provident Bank Foundation. She is a respected leader and visionary in philanthropy and nonprofit funding. Samantha’s pragmatic spirit and creativity, combined with her passion to serve others, makes her an invaluable partner and colleague in the nonprofit sector.
Dr. Darcella Patterson Sessomes is a well-known leader in social justice, community
engagement, social work, education, policy, and civil rights advocacy. In September 2004, she joined the New Jersey Department of Corrections as the Assistant Director for the Office of Transitional Services (OTS).
In May 2007, she was promoted to Director, and Assistant Commissioner in April 2014. In Oct 2022, she was promoted to the esteemed rank of the newly created position of Chief of Programs and Reintegration Services. In this role, she is responsible for the overall correctional operations of social services, education, chaplaincy, residential community reintegration programs (RCRP), NJLEAD, PACE, gender and culturally responsive trauma care, victim services, and volunteer services. She is also the deployment commander for the Critical Incident and Stress Management Team (CISM).
Dr. Sessomes is an adjunct and guest lecturer at several universities, a writer, and a nationally sought-after speaker. She travels extensively for international mission service and serves as a Pastoral Associate.
Dr. Sessomes holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University, New Brunswick campus. She earned her Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. In 2021 she earned her Master of Divinity at Princeton Theology Seminary. She also holds active credentials as a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Moderated By:
Susan Merrill O’Connor is the Director of Membership & Communications and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits. Susan has been with the Center since 2014, where she works to increase the Center’s visibility, promotes the valuable programs and new developments the Center provides its members, and the overall nonprofit community. She’s responsible for the organization’s marketing plan that includes affirming the Center’s mission and reputation as an advocate for New Jersey’s 501(c)(3) community, public strategies, e-newsletters, social media, participation at numerous events, and other outreach.
Susan builds partnerships, including sponsorship for the Center’s annual NJ Nonprofits Conference that grows every year. She also works closely with the Center’s development committee in researching new funding opportunities and with the Center’s CEO in preparing grant applications.