NJC: A Passion for Justice in 2012

All of us at the NJC wish you a very happy 2012!

The new year is always a busy time for the NJC Development staff. In addition to wrapping up the 2011 campaign, we have been very busy planning our fundraising strategy for 2012. We know this year will bring both old and new challenges to raising money for NJC’s mission of education - innovation - advancing justice, but we are approaching this year with a renewed sense of commitment and a Passion for Justice that only a new year can bring.

We know that budget cuts for the justice system will continue to impact our efforts, but we are also looking forward to raising funds for some exciting initiatives in 2012:

• Scholarships: Funding for judges to attend our courses remains a top priority for 2012, as there is little hope that government funding for judicial education will be restored to pre-crisis levels this year. Because of this, we anticipate that applications for scholarships will continue to increase and our need for scholarship funding will remain strong.

• 50th Anniversary: The NJC is busy planning our 50th Anniversary Commemoration events for 2013. To celebrate this milestone, the NJC is planning a series of three symposia at locations across the country, culminating with a symposia and a special event at the NJC campus in Reno. To raise funds for these events, we have assembled a national 50th Anniversary Committee and will begin to organize local committees in the cities where the symposia will be held in early 2012.

• Pillars of Justice: NJC’s Pillars of Justice Fund raises funds from corporations, law firms, and other interested entities to address the most pressing educational needs of the judiciary. The funds help NJC respond to these needs in a timely manner, so that judges can keep informed about the latest issues and trends that will affect their courtrooms.

As prospects for non-profit fundraising are predicted to remain flat in 2012, and we will again call on the NJC community for help in reaching our goals. You can help by:

• Talking about the NJC to friends and colleagues: Help us spread the word about the quality judicial education provided by the NJC.

• Referring foundations and corporations to the NJC: We are always looking for new partners that are interested in helping us fulfill our mission.

• Including us in your will: Leave a legacy to the NJC through our planned giving program in 2012.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make 2011 a successful year at the NJC! We look forward to repeating this success in 2012!

For more information or to donate to the NJC, contact Gretchen Alt Sawyer, NJC Director of Development at (775) 327-8257 or at alt@judges.org.