South Jersey's cultural institutions are poised for growth. But where do they find the dollars to expand their seasons and upgrade their programs?

Foundations in Philadelphia and Newark routinely slam shut their doors when an arts leader from South Jersey knocks. And when they do get through and win funding, the region's arts leaders can count on a smaller grant than their counterparts in North Jersey.

"South Jersey is caught in a no-man's land," says Eileen Myers, director of development for the Haddonfield Symphony. "We lack the sources of foundation money you find across the river in Philadelphia or in North Jersey."

The draft of a funding study sponsored by the South Jersey Cultural Alliance shows 90 percent of all foundation dollars targeted for New Jersey end up in North Jersey. The study reveals that 99 North Jersey groups received $10.4 million in foundation support during fiscal 1998. In contrast, 29 South Jersey groups received $1.2 million.

"The northern half of New Jersey is more contribution-lucky than the southern half," explains Neil J. Burmeister, president of the Johnson Company, which oversees the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust.

Luck involves geography, adds Burmeister. "Corporations and foundations tend to support the arts in their living sphere."

In addition to funding medical research, education and the environment, the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust supports arts groups, primarily in New Brunswick and Princeton.

The trust provides grants to the Opera Festival of New Jersey and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as well as to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Like many foundations in Philadelphia and North Jersey, the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust gives no grants to arts groups in South Jersey.

The problem of arts funding will be the focus of Friday's South Jersey Summit on Arts Funding, sponsored by the Courier-Post. It will be held at the Ritz Theatre in Oaklyn.

Aware of the problem, some foundations are making an attempt to address the region's dire funding needs. The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, based in Morris County, has provided grants to the Haddonfield Symphony, Wheaton Village and several other South Jersey arts groups.

The Dodge Foundation has assets of $336 million and this year will award $3.8 million in grants for the environment, education, the arts and animal welfare, with a special focus on Morris County.

"We are becoming aware of the special needs of South Jersey arts groups," notes Lisa Garrison, program officer for the Dodge Foundation. "We are making an effort to make sure South Jersey is in the funding loop."

Garrison says the Dodge Foundation is interested in developing the arts infrastructure in South Jersey.

In recent years, the Dodge Foundation has funded the South Jersey Cultural Alliance and the Arts and Business Partnership of Southern New Jersey. The foundation has also made an effort to include South Jersey in its service programs.

The foundation recently sponsored a workshop aimed at at helping nonprofit groups strengthen their infrastructures. The workshops were held at the South Jersey Performing Arts Center on Camden's Waterfront and the Appel Farm Arts and Music Center in Elmer, Salem County, as well as at four sites in North Jersey.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is also concerned about the lack of foundation support for cultural groups in South Jersey.

Executive director Barbara F. Russo facilitated a recent meeting between board members of the SJCA and Barbara Rambo, executive director of the Trenton-based Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, a membership association for grantmakers involved in philanthropy. Only three of the council's 100 members are based in South Jersey.

"We had a lively conversation on how we might foster funding in South Jersey," explains Rambo. "The needs of the South must be addressed."

Rambo is trying to take an inventory of the small family foundations in South Jersey. "A long-term solution to the problem is for South Jersey to create a community foundation," she says.

Rambo points to the Princeton Area Community Fund, a nonprofit organization created a decade ago in Mercer County. Like more than 500 community foundations in the United States, the PACF pools the area's charitable resources from individuals, corporations and private foundations and makes grants to local people and organizations.

Executive director Nancy Kieling says the community fund has assets of more than $20 million. In addition to its permanent endowment, the fund also receives annual gifts and grants from area philanthropists and foundations.

Last year, PACF awarded $330,500 in grants throughout greater Mercer County.

"A community fund allows areas like South Jersey to pool their money and strengthen their philanthropy," explains Rambo. "They also have the power to leverage more dollars. I think this could be viable for South Jersey."

Kieling says there are 500 community funds in the United States, one-third based in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. New Jersey has just four, all based in North Jersey - in Summit, Westfield and Morristown, in addition to Princeton.

"As a state we are way behind other states," notes Kieling. "New Jersey lags far behind. There's a lot of wealth in this state but I suspect a lot of it is going to Philadelphia and New York."

Kieling says community funds make sense for regions lacking large foundations or corporations with trusts. A community fund becomes a magnet for philanthropical donations.

Kieling and Burmeister encourage South Jersey cultural leaders to start a community fund to meet the region's s s philanthropical needs.

"The key is finding a lead donor people will put their trust in," adds Burmeister. "Be prepared for a multi-year battle. It takes time to establish credibility and build up a fund."