The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium (NJCIC) is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Montclair, New Jersey. Established in 2018, it is a first-of-its-kind initiative created by the State of New Jersey to support and revitalize local news and information across the state. The organization reimagines how public funding can address news deserts and misinformation while supporting more informed communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.1M
+2.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+2.0% YoY
Grant Count
44
+22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$79K
-16.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Consortium provides financial resources to support and grow trustworthy, community-based news and information sources throughout New Jersey.
Vision: A future in which every person in New Jersey has access to thriving, representative local news and information that enhances their lives and communities.
Core Values: The organization believes everyone deserves trustworthy, representative sources of news and information; that trusted, accurate, and representative news is critical to a multi-racial democracy; that collaboration, transparency, and sustained funding build thriving news outlets; and that equity, accessibility, and justice are essential to effective grantmaking.
Grant Focus Areas:
- Improve the quantity and quality of civic information in New Jersey communities
- Give residents enhanced access to useful government data and public information through innovative applications, platforms, and technologies
- Train students, professionals, and community members in community storytelling, journalism, and media production
- Nurture better civic engagement and dialogue inside and between New Jersey communities
- Better meet the information needs of low-income communities and racial and ethnic communities underserved by the media
- Invest in research and practices that help media outlets become more closely connected to their audiences and more sustainable
- Support nonprofit newsrooms, community-based media organizations, investigative outlets, and journalism training programs
Grantmaking
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Consortium funds projects throughout New Jersey, with investment reaching over 90% of New Jersey counties. The organization launched an interactive grantee map to visualize the geographic diversity and statewide reach of its grantmaking.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,087,351
- Total Revenues: $4,759,622
- Total Expenses: $4,628,026
- Total Giving: $3,502,755
Staffing: 3 employees
Cumulative Impact: Over $12 million invested in civic information across New Jersey to date.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,087,351 | $5,929,518 | $4,657,221 |
| Revenue | $4,759,622 | $4,888,782 | $6,243,420 |
| Expenses | $4,628,026 | $4,090,853 | $2,116,428 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $160,236 | $4,120 | $1,886 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from New Jersey Civic Information Consortium
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lisa Sahulka: Executive Director
- Chris Daggett: Board Chair and Interim Executive Director (as of March 2025)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER J DAGGETT | CHAIR/INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $120,105 |
| THERISE EDWARDS | VICE CHAIRPERSON | 1.5 | — |
| JOHN RD CELOCK | SECRETARY | 1.5 | — |
| MOLLY DE AGUIAR | TREASURER | 1.5 | — |
| KEVIN BELFIELD | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CARL HAUSMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| DENA MOTTOLA JABORSKA | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| AUDREY KELLY | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MARIA LOPEZ-NUNEZ | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| KIM PEARSON | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MARISOL MENDEZ PERON | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CHARLES W POWERS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL RISPOLI | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| KEVIN J ROONEY | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MATTHEW WEBER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| ROBIN WILSON-GLOVER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Consortium has demonstrated significant growth and impact in recent years:
**December 2025:** Surpassed $12 million in total statewide investment with announcement of $1,274,046 in new grants. Launched an interactive grantee map to showcase the geographic reach of funding.
**2025:** Continued robust grantmaking with multiple funding rounds supporting local news organizations and journalism training programs across the state.
**Public Media Ecosystem Report:** Released a comprehensive report on New Jersey's public media ecosystem, welcoming feedback to shape the future of public media in the state.
New Jersey Civic Information Consortium secures $3M in public fundingThe organization has established itself as a leader in using public funding to support local journalism and civic information infrastructure, with particular emphasis on serving underserved communities and addressing information gaps across New Jersey.
New Jersey Civic Information Consortium Awards $1,096,050 in Renewal GrantsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with New Jersey Civic Information Consortium on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities