About

History

The New Jersey State Museum Foundation (aka the Association for the Arts and the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum) was established in 1968 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) to support the State Museum’s collections, exhibitions, and educational programs through fundraising, advocacy, volunteerism, and promotion. In the early years, the Foundation served as the core docent and volunteer group for the State Museum.

Through the generous support of our members, donors, and partners, the New Jersey State Museum Foundation provides vital resources to the State Museum. Over the last five decades, the Foundation and its partners have made possible hundreds of exhibitions and thousands of acquisitions for the collection, and served countless numbers of adults and children through educational programs.

To date, the Foundation has provided millions in funding through grants and direct gifts. Because the State Museum is a center for scholarly study and its professional staff are known as experts in their respective fields, the Foundation also provides sponsorship for their research opportunities. Membership with the New Jersey State Museum Foundation ensures the State Museum will continue to serve as an invaluable resource for the residents of New Jersey and a leading destination for art, history, and science.

The New Jersey State Museum Foundation also operates the Museum Shop. All proceeds from the gift shop’s sales support the publications and collections of the Museum.

Mission

The mission of the New Jersey State Museum Foundation is to support the collections, exhibitions and programs of the New Jersey State Museum through advocacy, fundraising, promotion and volunteerism.

Vision

The vision of the New Jersey State Museum Foundation is to maintain a strong and dynamic organization with the necessary resources and capacity to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the Foundation and the Museum. The organization functions independently of the State and the Museum but works collaboratively to further the Museum’s mission.

Board of Trustees

Priscilla Hopkins-Smith

Foundation Director

Melissa Mantz

Membership and Development Coordinator

Charlie Lynch

Manager
Retail Operations, Museum Shop

Marika Dunn

Board Chair

Rebecca Rinaldi

Board Treasurer

David Reiner

Board Secretary

Jaycob Burns

Trustee

Shannon Dawkins

Trustee

Katelyn Dowd

Governance Committee Co-Lead

Keri Giannotti

Governance Committee Co-Lead

Marc Leibowitz

Financial Committee Lead

David Mazzuca

Trustee

Bobbi Rentko

Trustee

Naiobe Sharrock

Trustee

Maria Sorenson

Development and Advocacy Committee Lead

*Mrs. Phillip Allen

Karen Ali

*Dorothy Bartaris

*William Beitel

*John Belli

*Maude Belli

*Janet Bickal

H.LBoyer Royal

*Alice Caulkins

*Joseph Chorlton

Howard Cohn

*Mrs. Frank Cole

*Bettie Coleman

*Cyril Collins

Larry Conti

Gabrielle Deen

Marcia Dewey

*C. Douglas Dillon

Julie Dixon- Thomas

*Mrs. Eric Eweson

*Seymour Fingerhood MD

Christopher Forbes

Lynn Formidoni

*Franz Geierhaas

*Ann Gips

*Walter Gips

*Marjo Graff

Mary Guess - Flamer

*Llura Gund

*Ingrid Hammond

*Queenie Henon

*Ernest Hickok

Lawrence Hilton

Jacquie Johnson

*A. Richard Kemble

Hima Kher

George Korn

Sally Lane- Graff

*Abbot Low-Moffat

*Fleury Mackie

*Mrs. John Marin

*Mitzi Marks

*Susan Merians

*Sidney Merians

*Molly Merlino

*Joyce Moore

Libby Moore

Mary Anne Mountford

*Beverly Nester

*Sidney Nusbaum

Susan Palsir- Huber

*James Pardoe

*Teresa Pardoe

*Mrs. W Park Armstrong

*Janet Patten-Mills

*Barbara Peskin

Dorothy Plohn

Jaclyn Polin

Steven Richman

*Ferdinand Roebling

*Mary Roebling

*Carol Rosenthal

*Albert Rosenthal

Georgia Schley

Reeve Schley

*Marie Schoch

Leah Sloshberg

*Allison Stern

Barbara Stokes

*Hellie Stowell

Pam Switlik

Susan Vescera

*Mrs. Gurdon Wattles

*Mrs. John Watts

*Walter Wechsler

*Barbara Wescott

*Charles Wodehouse

Dolores Yazujian

* signifies that the honorary trustee is deceased

Timeline

1896

NJ State Museum is Born

The New Jersey State Legislature establishes the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton to collect and exhibit natural history, archaeology, and industrial specimens.

1968

The Foundation’s Beginning

The Foundation is founded as the “The Association For The Arts of The N.J. State Museum,”  originally a volunteer-driven group of local business and civic leaders serving as docents.

1973

Name Change

The organization’s name is changed to the “Friends of The New Jersey State Museum”, focusing on community based support.

1980s

Major Funding Helps Scale

The core volunteer force acquires funds to launch hundreds of exhibitions and thousands of collection acquisitions.

1984

NJ Museum Shop Opens

The Museum Shop commenced operations under the direction of The Friends.

1990s

New Programming for Children

 The Friends supports free programs for children and adults

2004

Executive Director Boosts Support

The Foundation established a more professional fundraising structure with the hiring of an Executive Director, significantly increasing financial support for the museum’s programming and exhibits.

2014

Official Name Change

The organization  officially changes its name to the New Jersey State Museum Foundation.

2018

Event Sponsorship Soars

The “Foundation@50” exhibit celebrates a half-century of service and the Foundation sponsorship of expert research opportunities.

2025

Gala

The Foundation hosts the 130th Anniversary of the Museum Gala

2026

New Events Bridge Partnerships

The Foundation hosts the 250th-anniversary reception for “The Power to Change,” a joint exhibit by the NJ Archives and the NJ State Museum