The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, a nonprofit organization based in Trenton, announced Monday it has named Maria Vizcarrondo its new president.
“Maria has been a trailblazer throughout her career,” William V. Engel, board chair, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, said. “We turn to her to help the state’s diverse and dedicated philanthropies to be even more effective in their quest to make this a better place.”
The council, it said, has more than 130 members who philanthropically support adequate health care, quality education, a cleaner environment, community development, historical preservation, disaster response and relief, research, recreation, culture, and more.
“I am very excited about joining the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers as its CEO and working with dynamic individuals — many of whom I have known and respected throughout my nonprofit career,” Vizcarrondo said. “Most importantly, I look forward to forging partnerships that will advance the council’s social impact as a sector leader in New Jersey communities, the region and nation.”
Vizcarrondo, who has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, most recently served as director of community development and external relations for the Cabrini University in Philadelphia. Before that, she was the inaugural executive director of the school’s Nerney Leadership Institute, launched in 2013.
In 2006, she was tapped to head Newark’s Health and Human Services Department by Cory Booker when he was first elected Mayor of Newark. Before that, she was CEO and president of United Way of Essex and West Hudson. In 1993, She was elected Essex County surrogate and served four years of a five year term before joining United Way.
She was also a founding member of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.
