Grants for Youth Programs in New Jersey

Investors Foundation Grant

Invigorating Our Communities

We created the Investors Foundation to help make a sustained, positive difference where our customers and employees live and work—reflecting our mission to do right by our customers and neighbors. Together with the Bank, the Foundation builds and leverages purposeful relationships with not-for-profit organizations, local businesses, public servants and other pillars of the community to foster welcome change.

Key Characteristics

• Civic-Minded Initiatives: Foundation efforts focus on the arts, education, health and human services, youth programs, affordable housing and more. Since inception in 2005, the Investors Foundation has given more than $40 million to thousands of worthy community organizations in New Jersey, New York City and Long Island.
• Aligning with the UN SDGs: The Foundation is aligning its efforts closely with those of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; climate; quality education; and, economic growth.

About The Memorial Trust

In 1975, two years after his death, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust was established in New York. The four original trustees were a member of the Snow family, a lawyer, a publishing associate and a corporate trustee, the Irving Trust Company, now BNY Mellow N.A.. The current Trustees continue this legacy being well aware of the donor and his beliefs, values and ideals. The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas. They meet once a year, usually in June.

The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust

The Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas (prioritized below and visually depicted here) while responding to the ever-changing needs of various segments of the population, especially to the needs of youth and people who are disadvantaged economically, emotionally, or physically.

Dating back to the inception of the Trust in 1973, the primary and overarching grant making priority has been and continues to be programs that focus on education.

• Education: Targets funds to organizations that provide educational opportunities or academic assistance to individuals who demonstrate an intellectual aptitude and a financial need. Examples include scholarships, fellowships, academic tutoring or counseling, literacy, and journalism.

Secondarily, the Trust considers proposals within the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Initiatives, and Youth Programs. The Board’s objective is to extend the primary educational focus by providing funding support within these additional program areas.

• Community Initiatives: Provides funding for programs or services that directly improve the quality of life within the geographic focus areas that we serve. Examples include support for libraries, food pantries and shelters, and neighborhood revitalization. Generally, the Trust does not seek proposals for health care initiatives or animal welfare programs.
• Arts and Culture: Offers grants that promote arts education and appreciation, particularly for young adults, via the development of educational curriculum and professional instruction including visiting artists and performance support for targeted populations.
• Youth Initiatives: Offers grants that provide character education or enrichment opportunities via mentoring or after-school programming

As a third priority, the Trust does consider proposals in the areas of Disabilities and Universal Access, Environmental, and Historic Preservation. As these are not core focus areas, funding is often limited. Priority will be given to proposals with an educational focus.

• Disabilities and Universal Access: Offers grants to organizations in complying with ADA requirements within their facilities (e.g. elevator, handrails, automatic doors, and ramps) or offering services targeted for individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
• Environmental: Provides funds for organizations that strive to protect strategic parcels of land and bodies of water as well as programs that educate the general public on key environmental issues such as conservation and water management.
• Historic Preservation: Provides funding for organizations that preserve historical artifacts (e.g. sites, structures, objects) and accounts (e.g. events), and educate the greater community on their significance. Examples include museums, historical societies and educational programming.

What is an AgEnhancement Grant?

Each year, Northeast agricultural credit associations and CoBank award grants to help organizations promote awareness and strengthen agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products in the six New England states, New York and New Jersey. Since its inception in 1996, the Farm Credit AgEnhancement Program has awarded more than 2 million dollars in grants to organizations across the Northeast.

Program Goals

We support programs intended to assist all-size farms, promote diversity and create opportunities for new entrants into agriculture. Applicants that clearly demonstrate how a program, project, activity or event will have a long-term positive effect on the agriculture, forest products or the commercial fishing industries in the eight-state Northeast region are encouraged to seek funding. Statewide and regional projects are also eligible.

Program areas in which financial support may be provided include but are not limited to:

• Leadership Development Programs that develop leadership skills among young farmers and youth. This has included grants to the Future Farmers of America, 4-H, the Holstein Association’s Young Dairy Leaders Institute, Lead New York, the New Jersey Leadership Program, Beef Expo and the Cornell Dairy Fellows Program.
• Economic Viability and Enhancement Projects to promote economic development have included those by the New York Farmers Market Federation, New Hampshire Farm Link, Maine Association of Conservation Districts, the New York AgriDevelopment Corporation and the Center of Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Programs to Promote Northeast Agriculture and Recognize Accomplishments of Ag Leaders Grants to create greater awareness and develop markets for Northeast farm products have included projects of New England Green Pastures, New York Apple Association, the New England Departments of Agriculture – US Food Export Showcase and Long Island Farm Bureau.
• Build a Better Understanding of Agriculture, Forestry and Commercial Fishing Agriculture in the Classroom programs of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, along with Ocean Adventure (commercial fishing) and Witter Museum at the New York State Fair have been awarded grants to create a greater awareness and understanding of agriculture in the Northeast.
• Economic Analysis to Foster Agriculture Economic studies, including a special report on the need for the Northeast Dairy Compact, a research effort with the State Departments of Agriculture to develop a cost of production crop insurance program, and a special survey of farm worker wages, benefits and performance standards have received grants.

Diversity and Inclusion

Farm Credit AgEnhancement welcomes submission of proposals from all parts of our society. We encourage proposals from organizations that promote or facilitate minority involvement in agriculture and agriculture related businesses. To facilitate our diversity objective, Farm Credit AgEnhancement will accept and consider one-county proposals that would otherwise not be eligible.

Connelly Foundation Grant

Inspired by our Catholic heritage, the mission of the Connelly Foundation is to create access for those in need and opportunity for those with vision.

Since its founding in 1955, the Connelly Foundation has been a responsive and proactive grantmaking organization awarding grants to nonprofits in the Philadelphia area that demonstrate outstanding performance in meeting community needs.

Focus Areas

To achieve its mission to create access for those in need and opportunity for those with vision, the Connelly Foundation provides grants toward costs associated with programs, direct services, general operations, and capital projects to nonprofit organizations and institutions working in the following fields:

Education: Promoting Access to and Excellence in PreK-12 Catholic Education 

The Connelly Foundation is committed to helping Philadelphia-area Catholic schools thrive. The Foundation’s grantmaking and signature education initiatives prioritize: 

• Programs that support or improve the academic quality of local Catholic schools 
• Investments in talent that attract, develop, and retain high-quality teachers and leaders in schools and systems 
• Efforts for strategic improvement around enrollment growth and financial sustainability 
• Strategies to increase access to a high-quality Catholic education.

Human Services: Essential Needs and a Path to Stability

The Connelly Foundation’s Human Services grantmaking reflects the compassion of our Founders, John and Josephine Connelly, and their respect for human dignity. Inspired by our Catholic heritage, we seek to alleviate urgent, basic needs through access to food, emergency shelter, clothing, and critical home repair. We strive to create pathways to stability and independence through investments in youth and workforce development.

• Our Human Services Funding Priorities:
  • Basic Needs: Alleviating urgent needs through access to food, emergency shelter, clothing, and critical home repair
  • Investing in Youth: Supporting evidence-based or outcome-focused youth out-of-school time programs
  • Workforce development: Creating pathways to sustainable employment and stability through foundational skill building, entrepreneurship, and workforce development programs

Culture & Civic Life: Rewarding Destinations that Inspire 

In a region where civic and cultural opportunities abound, the primary focus of our "investment" in the arts is to support access and the development and delivery of educational programs.

Grants are awarded to organizations that strive to engage a broad audience and bridge cultural boundaries.  

The Foundation seeks to identify and support sites and projects that provide a deep appreciation of Philadelphia's rich heritage. 

Criteria 

• The degree to which the proposal directly addresses and furthers the Connelly Foundation’s objectives and goals .
• The significance of the problem or need addressed by the proposed program .
• The overall quality of the proposal and whether the organization has made a convincing case that funding to the organization will facilitate more effective and efficient service delivery to constituents
• The history and stability of the organization with regard to board, management, and financial support
• The organization’s track record, prior accomplishments and unique role in providing service to its specific constituencies
• The reasonableness of the prepared budget

About Us

The Achelis and Bodman Foundation was formally established on November 25, 2015, from the merger of The Achelis Foundation (established in 1940) and The Bodman Foundation (established in 1945).

Program Areas

In keeping with the broad purposes in its charter documents, the Foundation has chosen to spread its grants over six program areas. Most grants are made in New York City, reflecting its dynamic not-for-profit sector, large and persistent needs, and the staff's and Trustees' "local knowledge." The Foundation also makes grants in northern New Jersey in recognition of the Bodman family's ties to that state, with an emphasis on Newark and Monmouth County. Over 90% of grants fall into one of the following categories:

Arts and Culture

Cultural institutions are among New York City’s most valued resources. They attract visitors from around the world and are one reason why so many people choose to live here. They are also major employers and vital to the City’s economy. The arts were important to Miss Achelis and Mr. and Mrs. Bodman, and so the Foundation has continued to support this area, generally through operating grants to the City’s prominent cultural institutions. The Foundation is most likely to support organizations that promote and sustain traditional concepts of artistic excellence. 

Education

The failure of inner-city public education is a national tragedy with enormous consequences for the children in these schools and for society as a whole. The Foundation has long believed that accountability and competition can contribute to the improvement of urban public schools. Therefore, the Foundation has funded charter schools, voucher programs, scholarships to parochial schools, and research that examines the impact of competition and other factors on K-12 educational performance. The Foundation also has an interest in helping young people and adults to realize their dreams of a college education. Finally, the Foundation seeks to promote intellectual excellence and balance at American colleges and universities.

Employment

Chronic unemployment or underemployment is a harsh and demoralizing burden. The welfare reforms of the mid-1990s increased the need for effective job training and placement programs. Such programs are especially critical for ex-offenders, chronic substance abusers, those with low educational attainments, and those suffering from mental or physical disabilities. The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting programs that emphasize the private sector and entrepreneurship.

Health

It is difficult for small grantmakers to make a significant impact in a field as large and complex as healthcare. Therefore, the focus of the Foundation's grants has been on the health needs of poor children, the disabled, and other disadvantaged populations, as well as on basic biomedical research, where a small grant at a pivotal time in a scientist's research can have a disproportionate impact. The Foundation has also supported the work of policy experts evaluating reforms that would improve the healthcare system and make it more accessible and efficient.

Public Policy

Funding in this category covers a broad range of issues including: K-12 education (listed under ), healthcare, families and marriage, crime prevention, prisoner reentry, philanthropy, the environment, welfare reform, and faith and religion. In all areas, the Foundation's grantmaking is guided by a belief in the merits of economic and political liberty, free enterprise, and personal responsibility.

Youth and Families

The disparate needs of New York City's disadvantaged youth and families are served by hundreds, even thousands, of charitable institutions, ranging from established settlement houses to small neighborhood organizations to local houses of worship. The Foundation supports programs that boost academic achievement, provide positive recreational and educational activities for disadvantaged young people, promote good character and values, preserve families, and encourage responsible parenting. In addition, the Foundation has a special interest in programs that prevent criminal behavior, discourage pre-marital sexual activity among teens, and assist vulnerable populations, such as disconnected youth, children who have been in foster care or suffered abuse, the disabled, and the homebound elderly. The Foundation is particularly interested in funding smaller, neighborhood-based organizations that choose to rely on private support rather than government grants or contracts.

Hayden Foundation Grant

The Charles Hayden Foundation makes contributions only to institutions that serve youth and young adults from the City of Boston and metropolitan New York, with an emphasis on high school through post-secondary success. Priority is given to applicants from New York City and the city of Boston. Metropolitan New York is defined as New York City, and, in New Jersey, solely in the city of Newark. Grants are also made to institutions that support youth activities outside these areas when a substantial majority of the youth served comes from within the Foundation’s defined geographic catchment areas.

The Foundation's Grantmaking Guidelines

Our Mission Statement details our grantmaking criteria and should be read in conjunction with these Guidelines. We concentrate support on youth development and education programs that present:

• evidence of significant program impact on young people and
• plans for making measurable progress toward well-defined goals in a specific time frame.
  • The Foundation’s long-term goal is for young people to obtain quality education and rewarding careers. Funding is prioritized for organizations that support youth to gain new knowledge and access to academic and career choices. Potential grantees must show evidence that young people in their programs grow in confidence and ability to make informed choices to pursue academic and professional opportunities that build fulfilling careers.

Long-term Impact

The Foundation works to ensure that youth obtain quality education and rewarding careers.

Attributes that the Foundation Seeks in Funded Programs

For youth development programs:

• Relationships between youth and youth agency staff that are caring, consistent, and continue throughout the course of the youth’s long-term development.
• Engaging, enriching and safe activities during the non-school hours.
• Activities and counseling that help youth prepare for post-secondary education.

For school programs (including (1) charter schools, (2) public district schools, and (3) independent and parochial schools that charge a maximum of $12,000/year for tuition):

• Schools must have been in operation for the following amount of time:
• Grades 6-8: until the entering 6th grade cohort has completed the 8th grade and there is 8th grade state test data and high school placement data.
• Grades 9-12: until there is at a minimum one year of graduation and college matriculation data.
• High expectations for student's mental development, reflected in a challenging course of study that emphasizes reading, writing, mathematics and other core skill and content areas.
• Active engagement of parents in their children's education at home and in schools.
• Collaboration with other organizations and programs that can contribute to student's learning.
• Activities and counseling that help youth prepare for post-secondary education.
• Track record of increased student academic achievement.

Outcomes

• Youth have knowledge of, and access to, academic and career choices.
• Youth have the confidence and ability to make their own choices through self determination, critical thinking skills and persistence.

TAAFF Grant Program

The Astle-Alpaugh Family Foundation (TAAFF)*, is a private grant-making organization with a mission to improve the lives of individuals and families.

Our priorities are derived from involvement in the local community of Central New Jersey.

We believe that the strength of a society can be measured by how it cares for its most vulnerable citizens – we seek to provide stability and hope for the elderly and for at-risk children and youth, as well as persons suffering from illness, hunger, poverty, abuse, and chemical dependency. 

We strive to foster community involvement in education – we fund diverse educational programs. 

We place a strong priority on the improvement of our local community – we support  museums, community centers, and historic preservation.

EFCF Grant Program

The purpose of the Ellis Family Charitable Foundation (EFCF) shall be to make qualifying gifts, grants, and contributions to religious, charitable, educational, scientific, literary, historical and youth organizations. . . including but not limited to, post-secondary educational institutions for scholarships and other education purposes, and to community chests, trusts, or foundations, which are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service or otherwise qualified as either 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt entities and as 509(a) public charities or 4942 (j)(3) private operating foundations, or described as governmental units under 170(c)(1) of the Code; and perform all other acts and things not prohibited to a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey relating to nonprofit corporations, which are necessary, desirable, or appropriate to facilitate the accomplishment of the foregoing purposes. 

At least ninety (90%) percent of the benefits to be disbursed by the foundation will be for the benefit of recipient organizations or entities that support the welfare of residents or workers who are employed in Burlington County, New Jersey.

Frances L. & Edwin L. Cummings Memorial Fund Grant

The primary interest of the Frances L. & Edwin L. Cummings Memorial Fund is to support organizations operating in New York City and Northeastern New Jersey [view map] that provide programs and services in the areas of social welfare, education and health. The Fund has a special interest in youth programs located in these regions.

We are, however, unable to provide funding for programs within the cultural arts category.

We invite you to browse our site to determine if the work of your organization falls within our areas of interest, and, if so, to learn more about how to apply for a grant.

Areas of Interest

The Cummings Fund’s main interest is in the piloting or expansion of new, innovative programs of organizations primarily based in New York City and its more urbanized surrounding areas in Northeastern New Jersey (i.e., Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union Counties) [view map]. Exceptions to the geographic restriction are granted only when a Co-Trustee or Advisory Board Member has personal knowledge of an organization outside of this region. 

The Co-Trustees generally endeavor to creatively fill existing community needs in areas particularly under-funded at present. The Cummings Fund has a particular interest in programs serving young people.

The Fund provides support for:

• New program development
• Staffing for new programs and program expansion
• Capacity building (technical/management assistance)
• Consulting services (e.g., to assist the Board’s development of a strategic plan)

The major fields of interest are:

• Social Welfare, especially programs addressing issues including child welfare, youth development, juvenile delinquency, housing/homelessness, and employment/job training.
• Education, especially efforts to reform the public education system or programs that serve public school children from disadvantaged backgrounds including but not limited to in-school and afterschool STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and literacy initiatives, staff/teacher training and development, college guidance and success, and counseling services.
• Health Care, especially institutions and programs that connect economically and socially disadvantaged populations to health care and mental health services.

On a less frequent basis, the Fund also provides funding for:

• Medical Research, which has been pre-screened, ranked and given high priority by an objective, national scientific advisory committee.

Montclair Fund for Women Grant

The Montclair Fund for Women supports programs that use innovative approaches to achieve educational success and social justice with a special emphasis on women and girls of color in Montclair and North Essex.

Priorities

The Montclair Fund for Women will prioritize grant applications that show a primary focus on the following populations, methods and thematic areas:Direct service work;

• Direct service work
• Women and girls
• Education and/or social justice
• Change through community

While maintaining our focus on support for organizations providing direct service to women and girls, with a special emphasis on women and girls of color, in the education and/or social justice arenas, MFW will prioritize grants that focus on the building of community as a methodology for change.

Montclair Fund for Women funds social justice projects created to:

• Expose and challenge systemic racism through teaching tolerance; combat racist/bigoted laws, policies and private business practices.
• Expose and challenge economic inequality through research, community organizing, public education campaigns, community forums, publications to expose private, non-profit and government sector policies, laws and practices that result in economic inequality for specific/arbitrarily targeted segments of the population, for the private profit of another.
• Challenge political policies, laws, court rulings and practices through community education designed to expose, illuminate, educate and inform individuals and groups regarding those policies and laws.

Montclair Fund for Women supports programs that enrich learning and maximize opportunities for economically disadvantaged students to access high quality education. We fund programs that:

• Make education a two-way street between parent(s) and child that strengthens family ties and the love of learning, which is the foundation for success.
• Utilize research-based curriculum to prepare children for social and academic development that maximizes their chance for achieving their life goals through integrated technology, cooperative learning modules and differentiated instruction, creative use of “toys”, media, etc.
• Engage children and teens in programs that include technology, public speaking, the arts, literature, math and science and civic responsibility/leadership skills.
• Document/demonstrate an increase students’ ability to embrace, enjoy and succeed at lifelong learning both in and out of school.
• Engage elementary to college-aged youths in well-planned, rigorous and enjoyable activities designed to enrich/enhance their personal social development, civic engagement, academic achievement and pursuit of career and other life goals.

Community

The Montclair Fund for Women’s Board of Trustees have been exploring ways to increase the impact of the Fund’s support. It was clear that any change in the Fund’s direction needed to be grounded in the mission of the historic Montclair/North Essex YWCA, as well as the experience of the women who participated in its life; for about 75 years, the YWCA was “a place to become” one’s self through a welcoming community. This legacy gave rise to the idea of individual change and growth through a supportive, welcoming community, as well as the strengthening of that community through individual change and growth. 

Community can be geographic, social, biological, and thematic. When people come together around common interests and joint action, cohesion and both group and individual identities develop. Social ties form, and there is the possibility for change to be created both on behalf of the community, and for individuals within the community. These communities can be long-, medium- or short-term in duration.

• Change in and through communities comes from the following actions/characteristics:
• Collective wisdom: a sharing of ideas that can be greater than the sum of the parts.
• Pushing individual limits: high-performing athletes train with one another to push each other, and themselves, to do the best they can. In communities, pushing limits can be cognitive and emotional as well as physical.
• Support and belief: People who don’t feel a sense of self-efficacy can gain confidence and develop skills through feedback from others.
• New ideas: This is both exposure to new ideas and the ability, as in ‘collective wisdom’, to come up with original approaches to problems.
• Borrowed motivation: When energy flags or a setback happens, having people to pick up the slack or to bring new energy can provide the needed thrust to keep going.
• Accountability: For a community to be successful, people must be accountable to one another. They have to do what they say they are going to do, or the goals will not be accomplished.
• A sense of place and belonging: Access to a safe space, whether geographic or social/intellectual/emotional, can allow for people to let down their guard enough to engage in activities that are outside of their comfort zone.

In 2025, Montclair Fund for Women will consider multi-year grant applications. Successful applicants can expect a three-year commitment from Montclair Fund for Women.

Schumann Fund for New Jersey Grant

Program Priorities

The Schumann Fund for New Jersey is a tax-exempt, private foundation, incorporated as a corporation not for pecuniary profit under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

Schumann Fund program priorities fall into three categories:

• Affordable homes & healthy communities: Foster affordable homes, economic mobility, and healthy, resilient communities for children and families.
• Early childhood & education: Support low-income children and families of color to thrive through opportunities in early childhood development and youth education.
• Child welfare & youth justice: Advance reforms in systems affecting children and youth, such as the child welfare, juvenile justice, and immigration systems, to support racial equity and youth justice.

We support organizations engaged in a range of complementary strategies, including:

• Organized and engaged communities
• Effective programs that center low-income children and families of color
• Equitable public policy

The Wawa Foundation provides financial grants on a local, regional and national level ensuring that our commitment extends from the local communities Wawa serves. Only registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations operating in Wawa’s areas are eligible to apply. Organizations must fall into The Wawa Foundation’s three key areas of focus: Health, Hunger and Everyday Heroes. To learn more, review our Criteria for Success.

Wawa Foundation Financial Grants

Our submission windows for grants over $2,500 will be the months of January, April, July and October. Qualified organizations can submit grant requests and Letters of Inquiry during those timeframes. Requests will be reviewed and organizations will receive a response before the next grant submission window opens.

Areas of Focus

Health

The Wawa Foundation will provide funding to organizations committed to saving and improving lives in the communities Wawa serves. Specifically, The Wawa Foundation will support organizations dedicated to Championing Life-saving Research & Care for People in Need by:

• Providing grants to hospitals with a focus on pediatric institutions
• Funding research
• Supporting care and comfort Initiatives

Hunger

The Wawa Foundation will play a leading role in hunger relief in the communities Wawa serves. To achieve this, we will support programs that enable us to Lead Hunger Relief Efforts by:

• Providing food donations to local pantries daily through Wawa Share
• Improving access to food through financial grants
• Enabling Feeding America Food Banks to reach more communities through annual in-store campaigns

Heroes

The Wawa Foundation is committed to Supporting the Heroes Making a Difference Every Day by:

• Showing appreciation and care to our military, veterans, first responders and other heroes in our local communities
• Enhancing the education and mentoring of at-risk youth in grades K-12.
• Supporting heroes through crisis response, blood drives, and volunteering

Community Employment Grants

Empowering Career Growth for People with Disabilities

The Foundation’s Community Employment Grants provide critical funding to organizations that support, train, and place individuals with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment. Since people with disabilities often face higher unemployment rates, lower wages, and increased poverty, meaningful employment offers a path toward greater independence, financial stability, and self-confidence. With proper support and training, individuals can secure sustainable employment and improve their long-term economic outlook.

Target Increasing Job Opportunities and Career Advancement

The Foundation seeks proposals from tax-exempt organizations that service New Jersey counties with some of the lowest employment rates for people with disabilities. These counties are: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren. Grants support an array of programs including transition-to-work for youth and adults, employment-related transportation solutions, vocational training, workplace readiness, strategies to support recruitment, hiring, placement, and retention, and strategies to move individuals from 14c employment to competitive, integrated employment settings. Other related programs may be funded at the discretion of our Trustees.

Funding

Community Employment Grants are awarded for one year. Funding ranges from $25,000 - $40,000. Organizations may apply for indirect cost expenses up to 8 percent in their project budgets. There is no matching grant requirement.

Northfield Bank Foundation

The Northfield Bank Foundation was founded on November 7, 2007 and is headquartered at 1731 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314.

The role of the foundation is to support not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools or other organizations operating in the communities in which Northfield Bank does business - specifically Staten Island, Brooklyn and Central New Jersey.

Grant Focus

The Foundation focuses its efforts on projects to support education, health and human services, youth programs, and other types of community organizations or civic-minded projects that improve the quality of life around us. 

Summer will be here before you know and we’ll be partnering with some of the very best nonprofits in our footprint to provide $75,000 in Summer Camp Scholarships. If your nonprofit is a camp provider, this program is for you! We’re especially interested in camps that offer safe and nurturing activities like arts education, science, leadership development, and civic engagement.

Past recipients of Summer Camp Grants have offered all kinds of interesting, safe and engaging activities to kids, including theater, science, and leadership development. Organizations selected to receive Summer Camp Grants must agree to use funds awarded to provide camp scholarships of up to $250 per child to cover the cost of a camp experience.

About

The Presser Foundation was established in 1939 under the Deeds of Trust and Will of the late Theodore Presser. It is one of the few private foundations in the United States dedicated solely to music education and music philanthropy. It is our hope that every institution, organization and individual funded by The Presser Foundation will read about the inspiring biography of Theodore Presser and the rich history of The Foundation.

Advancement of Music Program

Introduction & Purpose

The Committee for the Advancement of Music considers requests for grants typically between $2,500 and $50,000 annually for general operating support of music organizations working in a broad range of traditions, genres, and styles. The Trustees of The Presser Foundation established the Advancement of Music grantmaking area to provide flexible funding to music-focused organizations. The Presser Foundation does not support theater, commercial music theater, dance, or other non-music productions.

Proposals will be judged on:

• the strengths and accomplishments of the applicant organization;
• the value of the organization’s program to the community;
• the history and stability of the organization; and
• the contribution of the organization to the overall music community. 

About the Presser Foundation

The Presser Foundation was formally established in 1939 under various deeds of trust of the late Theodore Presser. In the charter of incorporation, The Foundation’s purposes are set forth to promote primarily the cause of musical education and musical philanthropy as follows: to provide scholarships for promising students; to increase the value of music education by erecting suitable buildings; and to administer aid to worthy teachers of music in distress.

While The Foundation’s priorities have evolved over time, it has provided much needed funding to further the cause of music for over 75 years. It has been said that Theodore Presser wanted to give back to music what he had made from it. When he died in 1925, he left no children. He had been widowed twice, and the bulk of his fortune was left to The Foundation.

The small staff and Board of Trustees continue to oversee the work of The Foundation. The Foundation is fortunate to have had a founder who clearly stated the purpose which he desired to achieve. The Board of Trustees includes prominent local and national leaders in music. All Trustees share a passion for music and all are committed to carrying out the intentions of the benefactor.

Special Projects Grants

Introduction & Purpose

The Trustees of The Presser Foundation created the Special Projects Committee in 1998 to consider requests for grants for innovative and special projects in music. The Grant Guidelines were re-established in 2019 in order to clarify the nature of what is truly special versus normal operations or programming of grantee organizations. Grants are typically between $5,000 and $30,000 annually (grant contribution not to exceed 50% of Special Project’s budget). Special Project grants will be given to music organizations for:

The Trustees look to fund innovative ideas that advance the love of music in new ways and/or to new communities. Multi-year requests will be considered and should be submitted for projects that are greater than a year in duration. 

Background

Since our founding, Greenspring has aspired to give back by making meaningful financial and relational investments in our local communities. To further our stewardship efforts and commitment to charitable giving, we created the concept of the Greenspring Grant Program in 2012 to support the mission of local non-profits.

Now in its tenth year, this effort is completely employee-run and, each year allows a new team of individuals the rewarding (but very difficult!) task of selecting and awarding monies to worthy organizations. This year we are awarding a total of $100,000 in grant monies to organizations dedicated to economic and workforce development. At its sole discretion, Greenspring awards grants ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 based on the funding requested and the needs addressed.

Grant Focus

Organizations must be focused on or have programs that address Workforce and Economic Development. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• job/skills education and training
• job creation
• entrepreneurship
• developing and maintaining career pathways
• growing internships and career opportunities
• increasing financial literacy

William G. Rohrer Foundation

The William G. Rohrer Foundation provides support to organizations in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey. The Foundation's mission is "To improve the quality of life for the people of Southern New Jersey by supporting organizations that deal with education, youth, and health related issues".

Our Committee supports projects and programs that:

• Support year-round programming.
• Provide direct services to individuals and reflect the core social mission of the organization.Address a need in the community for which there is a demonstrated demand.
• Have broad impact or benefit underserved populations.
• Have measurable outcomes, a plan for documenting results, and long-term sustainability.
• Have diversified income streams and demonstrate effective financial accountability.
• Involve collaboration with other organizations.
• Complement rather than duplicate the work of other non-profit organizations.
• Are submitted from organizations that have 3 years of operation in full service to others.
  • Also, the program or project for which you are applying needs to have at least one (1) complete year with a report showing the measurable impact available prior to applying

Goldman Sachs Community Development Grants Program

At Goldman Sachs, we believe that strong communities are the foundation of a prosperous society. Through our Community Development Grants Program, we provide funding for non-profits that are making a difference in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities.

Eligible not-for-profit organizations are invited to apply for funding from the Goldman Sachs Bank USA Community Development Grants Program. The grants program seeks to support community development programs that serve low- and moderate- income individuals or communities and address key community needs such as:

• Affordable housing
• Community services such as education, including financial education for youth and consumers
• Small business development
• Neighborhood revitalization

The Equity Builders Initiative will provide organizations with 3-year unrestricted grants. Organizations must focus on affordable housing, small business development, neighborhood revitalization, and/or community services.

In addition to the new Equity Builders Initiative, we are also continuing our practice of offering 1-year program-related grants. This year we are focusing on homeownership for LMI households. Select organizations will receive a one-time grant up to $200,000.

The Equity Builders Initiative

Multi-year Unrestricted Grants

Through more than 50 meetings with nonprofit partners in 2023, we heard an urgent need for trust-based, multi-year, general operating grants.

As a result, we are introducing our new Equity Builders Initiative, which will award more than $1 million in unrestricted funding over three years to each selected organization.

Eligible organizations must serve New York City, Hudson and Essex Counties in New Jersey, or Salt Lake City, UT.

The Change Makers Initiative

LMI Homeownership Focused Grant

In addition to the new Equity Builders Initiative, we are also continuing our practice of offering 1-year program-related grants. This year we are focusing on homeownership for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households.

Select organizations will receive a one-time grant up to $200,000 towards their homeownership initiative.

Eligible organizations must serve New York City, Hudson and Essex Counties in New Jersey, or Salt Lake City, UT.

Apply for the Exelon Foundation Green Lab Grant

The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago is proud to partner with the Exelon Foundation in championing science learning for high school students and in encouraging new thinking about our environment.

We are inviting out-of-school time (OST) providers to develop a “STEM lab of the future” aimed at tackling solutions to the environmental crisis, with a minds-on approach and hands-on science skills. Recipients of the Exelon Foundation Green Lab Grant will be provided with funding to create or modernize new or existing spaces with interactive activities grounded in science, technology, math and/or engineering.

Our Goals

• Provide high school-aged youth from traditionally under-resourced areas with access to labs with new/updated equipment.
• Encourage a deeper understanding of how technology can be leveraged to promote environmental sustainability.
• Provide opportunities to promote youth problem-solving and creativity using new technologies.
• Foster career exposure and opportunities for students in each of the Exelon Foundation’s service areas.

The Environment: Your Focus. Our Future

Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and other environmental issues are destabilizing and challenging the life-giving systems of planet Earth. The environmental crisis multiplies the threats to humanity, amplifying and worsening existing social vulnerabilities and injustices.

At the same time, the urgency of these environmental issues creates a remarkable opportunity to develop new technologies that move us toward solutions. Our sustainable future will also require inventors, technicians and scientists with the know-how to build, use and service this technology. Success in these careers will begin with the skills developed today.

With this in mind, your Green Lab should develop STEM skills with a focus on environmental sustainability and technology, along with strategies and careers in these fields. Your Green Lab can study a specific topic, such as Energy, Water + Food, Waste, and Wild Spaces. You can also explore a combination of topics, including these or other themes related to our planet’s environmental systems.

Your proposed program must also reflect themes of environmental equity and justice, such as racial and ethnic equity, economic equity, and/or the inclusion of indigenous people’s practices.

Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program Grant

It is the intent of the 21st CCLC Program to provide opportunities for communities to establish or expand activities in community learning centers that:

• increase academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet the challenging State academic standards
• offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as youth development activities, service learning, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, arts, music, physical fitness and wellness programs, technology education programs, financial literacy programs, environmental literacy programs, mathematics, science, career and technical programs, internship or apprenticeship programs, and other ties to an in-demand industry sector or occupation for high school students that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and
• offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has established a five-year grant program. This competitive grant program is open to open to all New Jersey non-profit organizations, local education agencies (LEAs), which include charter schools, educational service commissions, jointure commissions, and special services school districts; nonpublic schools; community-based organizations; city or county government agencies; faith-based organizations; institutions of higher education; for-profit agencies; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; or consortiums of two or more such agencies, organizations, or entities. However, eligibility is limited to those entities that will serve students in grades three through 12 who primarily attend schools implementing comprehensive or targeted support and improvement activities under section ESSA 1111(d) or other schools determined by the LEA to be in need of intervention and support. Based on the availability of FY24 federal Title IV, Part B Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) funds, this first year of this five-year grant program will begin September 1, 2023 and will end on August 31, 2024. 

About Cigna

Our Mission

To improve the health and vitality of those we serve.

Our Vision

A better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community.

Youth Mental Health Grant

The Cigna Group Foundation is committing $9 million over three years to improve the mental health of youth (ages five to 18) as it relates to post-pandemic stress and distress. This commitment includes support for their parents, caregivers, and youth service professionals like educators and therapists.

We seek to collaborate with and support nonprofits that leverage evidence-informed programs and services to serve local youth experiencing the most need.

During the first year of our three-year commitment, we will focus on investing in solutions that address mental health concerns early, and strategically offer programming, intervention, and access to care in schools and related settings in underserved communities. We look forward to partnering with nonprofit organizations that align to at least one of these grant program goals:

• Increase reach of programming that fosters social-emotional skills and well-being.
• Increase the number of parents, caregivers, and youth service professionals who feel equipped to support.
• Increase pathways to mental health intervention and access to care.

Grant Range and Term

• $100,000 – $150,000
• One-year term

CHPRD Mission and Goals

The mission of the New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research, and Development is to improve the quality of life and empower the state's Hispanic community using CHPRD’s new model of community development.

Its goals are:

• Increase public and private resources invested wisely in the growth, development, and long term stability of high-quality Hispanic Community-Based Organizations.
• Develop public/private partnerships that enrich and promote the office’s programs and initiatives in support of Hispanics across the state.
• Provide the necessary tools and assistance in creating training and employment opportunities for Hispanics.
• Facilitate the professional and leadership development of Hispanics.

Funding Categories

• Hispanic Entrepreneurship
• Citizenship and Integration
• Workforce Development
• Youth Workforce Investment In-School and Out-of-School Program
• Community Service
• Health and Wellness

Applicants may seek funding from up to three (3) programs.

New agencies applying for CHPRD funding are limited to one (1) funding program, and are defined as organizations that have neither applied for nor received funding from the CHPRD within the past 5 years.

Health and Wellness Programs

This category is formulated to aid families in crisis, enhancing social and psychological functioning to maximize family well-being.

• Mental Health Services
• Family Violence Prevention and Services Program Grant

Goals

• Strengthen and address the health and resilience of individuals or families grappling with domestic violence, trauma, and mental health challenges.
• Stabilize crises, impart new problem-solving skills to families, and disrupt the cycle of family dysfunction.
• Provide tangible support for parents, including basic needs assistance and access to services such as physical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and domestic violence services.
• Teach parental resilience, encompassing stress coping and problem-solving strategies.
• Connect families with community outreach services to facilitate access to additional resources.

About the Foundation

Marlee-Jo Jacobson was a successful businesswoman who held a seat on the commodities exchange. She believed that people from all walks of life should have the opportunity for academic education, as well as cultural education.

Marlee-Jo loved kids and especially wanted to help disadvantaged children find the right opportunities. She believed that these children have unique value that can provide society with enormous benefits. It was her wish that literature, music, arts and crafts, gardening and other positive aspects of daily living be taught in addition to academics.

Conscious Kids Grant

Conscious Kids awards grants to organizations to provide support services to children and families struggling in underserved communities, including but not limited to those experiencing homeless, living in or aging out of foster care, needing access to tuition assistance, tutoring and internships, or other basic services to improve their daily lives. Their goal is that the individuals who benefit from these grants will recognize these benefits and will be inspired to serve their community or society at large.

Mission

To support at-risk children and young adults, with a primary goal of providing educational support and a secondary goal of providing general support and life enhancement.

Funding

• Average grant size: $10,000 to $20,000
• Average number of grants per year: 5
• Average total giving per year: $100,000

Our Mission

We empower nonprofits to think bigger, solve more problems, and make life better in the neighborhoods served by OceanFirst Bank.

Funding Priorities

Advancing Economic Stability and Mobility

The Foundation supports organizations that meet the needs of families and individuals with workforce readiness programs (job training, skills building, apprentice programs, career counseling), literacy and ESL education, financial literacy programs, employment initiatives, and small business technical assistance and access to capital.

Supporting Housing Solutions

OceanFirst Foundation supports organizations that help to create and sustain safe and affordable housing, meet the housing needs of special populations, and supports emergency shelters. The Foundation also supports community-led neighborhood revitalization, housing counseling, homebuyer education, and services that prevent homelessness and increase self-sufficiency.

Empowering the Next Generation

We support organizations that help foster conditions for youth of all ages to thrive and reach their full potential including mentoring, summer camp scholarships, before and after school programs, counseling, youth leadership and career development, program/activity scholarships to support inclusion, healthy behaviors, and leadership development, school based financial literacy education, civic engagement, arts and cultural programs, educator recognition, and much more.

Improving Health and Wellness

The Foundation addresses the health and well-being of individuals and local communities by supporting organizations that care for our neighbors. The Foundation is especially interested in supporting nonprofits that focus on access to care, especially for vulnerable populations and the underserved, mental health services, food security, the healing power of the arts, and the social determinants of health and well-being.

Investing in Higher Education

The Foundation provides scholarship support to nine partner Community Colleges and Universities in New Jersey to help students pursue their dream of higher education.

Funding

Two year grant cycle for General Operating Support. Awards set at $15,000 ($7,500/2 years).

Our Mission

The Provident Bank Foundation invests in marginalized communities within Provident Bank's branch network by collaborating with nonprofit organizations that align with the values we care about. Together, we empower individuals on their paths to economic self-sufficiency by addressing the multifaceted issues that perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

Empowerment Grant

The Empowerment Grant program provides two years of flexible funding support for programs, projects, or initiatives that are based within our geographic footprint and that align with at least one of PBF’s newly revised funding priorities and the corresponding areas of interest. Funding requests must demonstrate community enhancement and meaningful impact over the grant term.

Funding Priorities and Areas of Interest

Our vision is to build strong and healthy communities where everyone can live a fulfilling and prosperous life. Organizations applying for an Empowerment Grant must measure their program’s impact in a manner that aligns with at least one of our newly revised funding priorities and one of the specific areas of interest.

• Education
  • Quality education and vocational training to build the skills needed to participate fully in the economy.
  • Areas of Interest:
    • Community colleges
    • Vocational programs
    • Special education services
• Human Services
  • Social safety nets to support vulnerable populations in times of greatest need.
  • Areas of Interest
    • Housing assistance
    • Food security
    • Healthcare access for un-/underinsured individuals
    • Youth mental health services
• Workforce Development
  • Career opportunities and skills development to support pathways to economic self-sufficiency.
  • Areas of Interest:
    • Job training
    • Employment supports
    • Reentry programs

Funding

Empowerment Grants will be awarded in the range of $5,000-$10,000 per year for two years for organizations with operating budgets between $50,000-$1 million per year, and in the range of $10,000-$25,000 per year for two years for organizations with operating budgets between $1 million-$15 million per year.