The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year
Sustained economic challenges (e.g., continued high inflation) over the past year affected our organization in a number of ways, including a decrease in membership participation (new member registrations and membership renewals, loss of our farm and retail/wholesale food donor partnerships that had supported the NJAS Farmers Against Hunger program serving the food insecure in NJ, and a decrease in individual cash donations to the organization.
We recognized that the NJAS had become stagnant in its implementation of three signature programs over more than two decades. When serious economic challenges hit all sectors post-COVID, it became apparent that the NJAS need to rethink its signature programs, reinvigorate its membership program, build digital visibility and recognition, explore new and compelling programs, and expand collaboration with other agricultural organizations and businesses.
This change began under the leadership of a new NJAS Board of Trustees president in October 2022 and was advanced significantly by the hiring of a new, dynamic executive director, Newell Thompson, in March 2023. Newell's marketing experience and current work with farmers give NJAS a leader who provides a fresh perspective and ideas to grow NJ Agriculture Society's voice and value at this critical time.
Newell also completed an assignment with The Arena Group - a digital platform delivering email, SEO, CMS, Social Media, and a host of digital solutions for marketers. Prior to that, his career included leadership roles at National Geographic, TIME, Fortune, Conde Nast, and Gannett. And, while at Time Inc, Newell was Vice President of the Content Marketing & Strategies group producing content deliverables and storytelling for brands via print, video, digital, experiential, and audio.
Since Newell's start in March 2022, the NJAS agricultural education program has been re-envisioned, and two new, exciting initiatives have begun and have already attracted positive attention.