Princeton Area Community Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Princeton Area Community Foundation supports Central New Jersey in the areas of children and adolescents in poverty, women and girls, education, environment, and community.

FUNDING AREAS: Children and adolescents in poverty, women and girls, education, environment, community

IP TAKE: There are quite a few different grant opportunities at this community foundation, so make sure to attend a grant information session in-person when one is offered.

PROFILE: Established in 1991, the Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF) is a community foundation based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. This funder supports organizations that benefit the residents of Central Jersey and awards local grants. Grantmaking areas of interest include children and adolescents in poverty, women and girls, education, environment, and community.

The foundation features several competitive grants programs available for local nonprofits. The All Kids Thrive program supports strengthening the education pipeline from age zero to 25. The funder also supports this demographic with its Children and Adolescents Living in Poverty program. PACF has a Fund for Women and Girls that supports groups that improves the lives of females in the region. Meanwhile, the Bunbury Fund mostly supports local nonprofits that impact the educational, social, and environmental needs of Mercer County. In addition to grants, PACF also awards college education scholarships and other special awards. In recent years, about three-quarters of PACF grants are part of its strategic focus areas, while only about a quarter of grants can be categorized as responsive grantmaking.

Grant award amounts vary by program but often range from $10,000 to $300,000. Grantmaking prioritizes Mercer County, New Jersey. Other geographic areas of interest include Southern Middlesex County, Southern Somerset County, Southern Hunterdon County, Northern Burlington County, and Eastern Bucks County of Pennsylvania. This funder provides program support and unrestricted organizational support. Grants are for one-year terms.

The foundation accepts unsolicited grant requests two times per year for its spring and fall grant cycles. Grantseekers can reach out to the staff with general questions at 609-219-1800 or info@pacf.org. Direct Greater Mercer grant questions to VP of Grants and Programs Michelle Cash at mcash@pacf.org.

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