About the Grunin Foundation

Mission

The Grunin Foundation provides holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building, to organizations who have a shared vision of an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore.

Vision

We envision an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore.

Values

Creativity & Joy

  • Staff are aligned, happy, and supported
  • Fun and care are intentional and integral components of time together
  • Work is inspired by strengths and assets of the community
  • Staying open to new ideas and perspectives on how to do the work
  • Exposure to new experiences and people
  • Sharing of stories, learnings, and accomplishments of people, organizations, and community

Collaboration & Belonging

  • Regularly asking community and partners for input, guidance, and feedback
  • Listening actively and openly to others, especially those who are most impacted by the challenge
  • Using input from community to shift and change the work
  • Creating shared goals and working collectively to solve problems
  • Being inclusive and accessible in working with community and partners
  • Communicating expectations for relationships and partnerships
  • Eliminating barriers and creating pathways that allow more people the ability to be in community together

Vulnerability & Growth

  • Being upfront about challenges and needs
  • Leading with curiosity
  • Approaching growth as an ongoing process
  • Willingness to admit when we do not know something or make mistakes
  • Focusing work on human beings and not just outcomes
  • Continuing to learn and grow

Authenticity & Transparency

  • Showing up to the work as a partner and not as an influencer
  • Aligning words with actions
  • Leading with humility in how we approach the work and talk about community
  • Speaking constructive truth
  • Being honest about the work

Justice

  • Making advocacy a core part of the work
  • Centering equitable outcomes
  • Getting to know the community and understanding their challenges and joys
  • Approaching the work with the belief that our collective liberation is woven together

2024-2026 Strategic Plan

In late 2022, we realized not only that our funding and EDIB strategies were operating separately, but also that we needed to be more connected to community to truly fund equitably. We believe it is essential to our mission to find meaningful ways to integrate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in everything we do. We have pledged to co-learn and work with our partners, colleagues, and communities to help break down barriers, uplift marginalized voices, celebrate diversity, and champion a more just and equitable society. To achieve this, we took a step back and engaged experienced consultants from the Novalia Collective to guide us through our strategic planning process.

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