South Jersey Cultural Alliance and Volunteer Center of South Jersey Forge Five-Year Partnership to Expand Cultural Access and Volunteerism
Galloway, NJ — July 16, 2025 — South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA) and the Volunteer Center of South Jersey (VCSJ), a program of Jersey Cares, are proud to announce a formal partnership. This agreement establishes a mutually beneficial collaboration aimed at providing the community volunteer, board, and internship opportunities to support local arts, culture, and history organizations in South Jersey.
This partnership is rooted in a shared vision to build stronger, more connected communities through the intersection of cultural participation and volunteerism. By combining SJCA’s robust arts & culture network with VCSJ’s volunteer mobilization infrastructure, the organizations aim to facilitate increased engagement across diverse populations, including underrepresented and rural communities.
As two mission-driven nonprofits, SJCA and VCSJ are united by a shared vision: to foster giving back and deepening community bonds through volunteering for local arts and cultural organizations across South Jersey.
As part of the partnership, members of SJCA and VCSJ will receive reciprocal membership benefits. VCSJ customers are eligible for 20% off SJCA memberships (up to $200), while SJCA members will receive a 20% discount on annual fee ($100) to access the GetConnected volunteer platform, currently home to over 8,000 registered volunteers in South Jersey. Both organizations will actively promote the partnership—and related programs and events—via social media and newsletters to deepen community connections and engagement.
SJCA Members interested in volunteer engagement and capacity-building tools can learn more and sign up at https://sjvolunteers.galaxydigital.com/agency/signup/ or contact Michele Francesconi at michele@sjvolunteers.org
VCSJ Members who want to explore cultural membership and regional arts programs can get 20% off an SJCA membership by visiting www.sjca.net/membership or contacting Shoanne Seijas at sseijas@sjca.net.
Commitment to Community
“We are thrilled to partner with the South Jersey Cultural Alliance to bring our capacity-building programs, tools, and resources to their incredible network of arts and culture organizations,” said Michele Francesconi, VP Capacity Building Training & Strategic Initiatives at Jersey Cares. “Nonprofits in the creative sector play a vital role in the life of our communities, and we’re proud to support their missions by equipping them with practical strategies for volunteer engagement, board development, and organizational sustainability. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to strengthening South Jersey’s cultural landscape through connection, service, and capacity.”
“The Volunteer Center offers so much more than just volunteer matching. They’re helping organizations grow with board training, intern placement, and real tools that build lasting capacity,” said Julie Hain, Executive Director of South Jersey Cultural Alliance. “We’re not just recommending them, we’re members too, and we are excited to use these programs to strengthen our work as well. This partnership makes perfect sense for SJCA because it supports the kind of sustainable, community-based impact we strive for. Plus, the 20% reciprocal membership discount is a great bonus—because let’s be honest, every nonprofit is keeping an eye on the bottom line.”
About South Jersey Cultural Alliance
South Jersey Cultural Alliance connects, empowers, and advocates for artists, communities, and organizations to promote engagement and investment in arts and history in our region. We envision an inclusive and vibrant South Jersey, where arts and history play a key role in everyone's life, boosting the region's economy, cultural identity, and overall well-being. Learn more: www.sjca.net/about/who-is-sjca/
About Jersey Cares
Jersey Cares is a leading nonprofit organization with a legacy of empowering citizens and fostering stronger communities throughout New Jersey. By working with local nonprofits and schools, Jersey Cares connects volunteers with meaningful service opportunities that address community-identified needs. For more information, visit www.jerseycares.org.
About the Volunteer Center of South Jersey (VCSJ)
VCSJ now a Program at Jersey Cares, is a volunteer action center serving eight counties in South Jersey. VCSJ empowers New Jersey nonprofits through capacity-building education, best practices, and resources in effective volunteer engagement. Learn more at www.sjvolunteers.org.
Are you an SJCA member organization interested in engaging volunteers? Learn more about VCSJ and sign up: contact Michele Francesconi at michele@sjvolunteers.org or go directly to https://sjvolunteers.org/join-our-network/
Media Contact
Shoanne Seijas
Membership & Programs Manager
South Jersey Cultural Alliance
sseijas@sjca.net
