Northern N.J. Community Fund names Blanusa its executive director

Northern New Jersey Community Fund, a Hackensack-based nonprofit, has named a new executive director, it announced recently.

Mary Blanusa brings 20 years’ nonprofit and philanthropic leadership experience to her new role, the organization said in a news release.

“Ms. Blanusa brings to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation an extensive background in the nonprofit sector to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding foundation,” NNJCF President Michael Shannon said in a prepared statement. “Upon joining the foundation, she was confronted with the coronavirus pandemic and responded immediately to the community’s escalating needs by establishing our COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund.

“We look forward to her bringing this same resourcefulness and creative energy to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation’s post-COVID regional economic recovery and job creation initiatives.”

Most recently, Blanusa was vice president of government relations and partnerships with the Council for Economic Education, and also has executive experience with the Helmsley Charitable Trust, as well as spending time in education and the Peace Corps.

NNJCF is a 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on community life in the northern part of the state.