Community Foundation of New Jersey

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OVERVIEW: This funder supports a wide range of nonprofits throughout New Jersey. Interest include children and youth, seniors, health, education, and arts and culture.

FUNDING AREAS: Children and youth, seniors, health, education, arts and culture

IP TAKE: CFNJ doesn’t make it particularly easy for grantseekers to apply for funding, typically soliciting applications from local groups it is interested in supporting. To get your foot in the door, get to know your regional affiliate.

PROFILE: The Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) was established in 1979 and is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey. This is the community foundation for the state, distributing more than $30 million each year through over 1,100 legacy funds and donor-advised funds. It holds over $400 million in charitable assets.

CFNJ's leadership committee grants accept letters of inquiry about new leadership initiatives. Location-specific grants are made through legacy funds connected to Mercer County, Monmouth County, Morris County, and South Jersey. CFNJ also has local affiliates to address hyper-local needs in Mercer County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Newark, and South Jersey.

Nonprofit sustainability is a high priority of this funder, so the staff assists nonprofits with streamlining their endowment and with planned giving administration. You can view a list of current funds held at CFNJ by type and county on the foundation website. The bulk of the foundation’s assets are awarded through donor-advised funds, for which unsolicited applications are not generally accepted. CFNJ does, however, award discretionary grants to groups that receive invitations from the foundation and that offer programs within CFNJ’s areas of interest.

Since the start of 2018, CFNJ has partnered with Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems to support healthcare and basic needs in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. Grant applications must be sent directly to the Johnson & Johnson Somerset County Companies HealthCare and Basic Needs Fund.

Grantees in Mercer County include the Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County, Meals on Wheels of Trenton/Ewing, and Rescue Mission of Trenton. Grants in Monmouth County have gone to CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties, Impact 100 Jersey Coast, and Monmouth Day Care Center. And Morris County grants have gone to Healthy Eyes Alliance, Morris Arts, and the Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children. CFNJ has also provided disaster relief support. Current financial data can be viewed here.

General inquiries can be sent to info@cfnj.org or (973) 267-5533. The funder’s mailing address is P.O. Box 338, Morristown, New Jersey 07963. Hans Dekker serves as the foundation president, and there are a few program officers on staff. Keep up with foundation news here.

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