Search Through Arts Grants for Nonprofits in New Jersey in the U.S.

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.

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 the Foundation

The Fidelity Foundation is a private, nonoperating foundation committed to building capacity in nonprofit organizations. Foundation grants are designed to encourage the highest standards of management and long-term self-reliance in nonprofit organizations. Taking an investment approach to grantmaking, we fund organizations where we feel we can add lasting, measurable value. We seek to support major initiatives that nonprofits undertake to reach new levels of achievement, and the Foundation’s founding operating principles still guide our decisions and grantmaking today.

Grantmaking Guidelines

As a private, independent, nonprofit entity, the Foundation awards grants only under the direction of its Trustees on the basis of our guidelines, project merits and availability of funds. We use a comprehensive approach to determine whether our collaboration and investment can add value and will measurably improve the applicant’s impact. Our selection criteria focus on the overall organization, the project being proposed and the project’s likelihood of success. Outlined below are the organizational requirements, sector priorities, and geographical boundaries that govern our funding.

Sector Focus

The Foundation supports non-profit organizations making high impact in the following sectors:

• Arts & Culture
• Conservation
• Education
• Health
• Social & Economic Mobility

Types of Projects

The Foundation seeks to work with organizations on strategic, transformative projects that have the potential to substantially increase the grantee's impact, efficiency, or long-term sustainability. These capacity-building projects fall into three areas:

Capital Investments

These are large-scale projects central to the overall health and sustainability of the applicant, such as new construction, renovations, expansions, and other initiatives that support the organization's strategic vision.

Planning Initiatives

This includes funding for project consultants to develop strategic, business, feasibility, technology, and other types of plans.

Technology Projects

These are high-impact technology initiatives that can substantially increase an organization's efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.

Projects may include the development of front and back-end office systems; performance measurement systems; online functionality; and financial accounting, inventory management, point-of-sale, and other business systems.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

PNC Foundation

Strengthening and enriching the lives of our neighbors in communities where we live and work.

Vision & Mission

For decades, we have provided resources to seed ideas, foster development initiatives and encourage leadership in nonprofit organizations where imagination and determination are at work enhancing people's lives everyday.

The PNC Foundation's priority is to form partnerships with community-based nonprofit organizations in order to enhance educational opportunities, with an emphasis on early childhood education, and to promote the growth of communities through economic development initiatives.

Foundation Grant

The PNC Foundation supports a variety of nonprofit organizations with a special emphasis on those that work to achieve sustainability and touch a diverse population, in particular, those that support early childhood education and/or economic development.

Education

The PNC Foundation supports educational programs for children and youth, particularly early childhood education initiatives that meet the criteria established through PNC Grow Up Great. Specifically, PNC Grow Up Great grants must:

• Support early education initiatives that benefit children from birth to age five; and
• Serve a majority of children (>50%) from low- to moderate-income families; and
• Adhere to all other standard PNC Foundation guidelines, as outlined on the PNC Foundation website, applicant eligibility quiz, as well as the Foundation policies and procedures; and
• Include one or a combination of the following:
  • direct services/programs for children in their classroom or community;
  • professional development/workforce development for early childhood educators;
  • family and/or community engagement in children’s early learning
• Additional considerations:
  • The grant focus should include math, science, reading, vocabulary development, the arts, financial education, or social/emotional development.
  • The grant recipient, or collaborative partner, should have early childhood education as an area of focus. If the organization’s focus is beyond birth to age five, the specific grant must be earmarked for birth to age five.
  • Incorporate opportunities for PNC volunteers in classroom or non-classroom-based activities.

Economic Development

Economic development organizations, including those which enhance the quality of life through neighborhood revitalization, cultural enrichment and human services are given support. Priority is given to community development initiatives that strategically promote the growth of low-and moderate-income communities and/or provide services to these communities.

• Affordable Housing
  • The PNC Foundation understands the critical need for affordable housing for low-and moderate-income individuals.
  • We are committed to providing support to nonprofit organizations that:
    • give counseling and services to help these individuals maintain their housing stock;
    • offer transitional housing units and programs; and/or
    • offer credit counseling assistance to individuals, helping them to prepare for homeownership.
• Community Development
  • Because small businesses are often critical components of community growth and help foster business development, the PNC Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that
    • offer technical assistance to, or loan programs for, small businesses located in low-and moderate-income areas or
    • support small businesses that employ low-and moderate-income individuals.
• Community Services
  • Support is given to social services organizations that benefit the health, education, quality of life or provide essential services for low-and moderate-income individuals and families.
  • The PNC Foundation supports job training programs and organizations that provide essential services for their families.
• Arts & Culture
  • Support is given for cultural enrichment programs benefitting the community.
• Revitalization & Stabilization of Low-and Moderate-Income Areas
  • The PNC Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that serve low-and moderate-income neighborhoods by improving living and working conditions.
  • Support is given to organizations that help stabilize communities, eliminate blight and attract and retain businesses and residents to the community.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Pi Chubb & Schumann Field Trip New Jersey Funds

These funds provide grants for trips to arts and cultural organizations, historical landmarks, nature preserves, science institutions and college tours — helping students in underserved communities to connect their classroom learning with real-life experiences.

It also prioritizes field trips in the state that give students the opportunity to travel outside of their districts. Schools may transport students for college tours in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New Jersey. They can also submit an application for multiple trips.

Schumann

Field Trip New Jersey helps school children in underserved communities across New Jersey connect classroom learning with real-life experiences by providing funding for school trips to arts and culture, historical landmarks, nature preserves, science institutions, and college campuses. Thanks to a generous grant from the Schumann Fund for New Jersey, Field Trip New Jersey funding will now also be available to all Essex County schools and other non-profit organizations serving Essex County that are current grantees of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.

Field Trip Grant Details

Total funding per field trip will not exceed $1,500 per academic year and must be used for field trip expenses only. An organization may submit an application for multiple trips as long as the request does not exceed $1,500 per academic year and the trips serve different teachers and students.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

New Jersey Cultural Trust

The Cultural Trust’s grant programs further the Trust’s mission of ensuring a stable and healthy nonprofit cultural industry in New Jersey by supporting projects that build organizations’ financial and institutional stability and capacity, and by funding important capital projects.

The Cultural Trust offers three different grant programs on a rotating basis, typically with one program offered each fiscal year:

• Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations
• Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for History/Humanities Organizations
• Capital Historic Preservation Grants for Arts, History, and Humanities Organizations

All Cultural Trust grants are one-year-long project-based grants. No match is required for any of the Cultural Trust’s grant programs.

Capital Historic Preservation Grants Program

The New Jersey Cultural Trust Capital Historic Preservation Grants Program is collaboratively administered by the New Jersey Historic Trust for and with the New Jersey Cultural Trust. The Cultural Trust Act (2000) created a Trust Fund, from which grants may be awarded to support capital projects, endowments and institutional and financial stabilization of qualified organizations. The Act directs the New Jersey Historic Trust to design and administer programs that recommend capital projects to the Cultural Trust.

All history, arts and humanities organizations with stewardship responsibility for historic resources that are listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, and qualified by the New Jersey Cultural Trust, are eligible to apply for capital historic preservation funding.

Properties for which funding is requested must, at the time of application, be

• Individually listed in the New Jersey and/or National Register of Historic Places; or
• contribute to the significance of a historic district listed in the New Jersey and/or National Register of Historic Places

All eligible properties must be listed on the NJ Register of Historic Places at the time of application in order for the application to be considered for funding in this grant round.

Home

The Mary Owen Borden Foundation was founded by Bertram H. Borden in June of 1934 to honor his recently departed wife. The Foundation began with five trustees: The Reverend William H. Owen, John C. Borden, Arthur B. Borden, Doris Borden, and William G. Gridley. Bertram Borden served as the Treasurer.

Much of the Foundation’s early giving was provided to charities in and around Rumson, New Jersey, including Victory Park, Rumson High School, and the Mary Owen Borden wing of the Monmouth Medical Center. In addition, the Foundation provided funds to support the John C. Borden auditorium at the Manhattan School of Music.

In recent decades, the Foundation has limited its new funding to New Jersey’s Mercer and Monmouth counties. The primary focus on current giving is to address the needs of disadvantaged youth and their families, and much of the Foundation’s grants go to nonprofit entities in Trenton, Asbury Park and Long Branch.

How and Why Giving Back to Communities is Important to O’Reilly

From O’Reilly Auto Parts’ inception, O’Reilly co-founder C.H. “Chub” O’Reilly instilled the culture of maintaining high standards for every endeavor, including the area of building civic pride. With Chub’s good example to guide them, all four of his children adopted a business and family philosophy of “giving back” to the community as the Company grew and prospered. Supporting a large number of charitable organizations in all communities in which we operate has long been a focal point for O’Reilly Auto Parts. In order to make an even greater impact, the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation was established in 2020.

O’Reilly Automotive Foundation, Inc.

Impact

The O’Reilly Automotive Foundation complements O’Reilly Auto Parts’ role as the Friendliest Parts Store in Town. The Foundation serves as an additional conduit to connect with, support, and strengthen the communities in which O’Reilly Auto Parts’ team members and customers live and work. The Foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of the O’Reilly family as dependable community partners, seeking to support critical services in times of need to build stronger communities.

Mission

The O’Reilly Automotive Foundation strives to have a lasting, positive impact in the communities where O’Reilly Auto Parts’ team members and customers live and work by supporting organizations and programs which address issues critical to improving the quality of life for underserved and underrepresented individuals and families. In particular, the Foundation will concentrate its giving in support of organizations and programs addressing economic stability and mobility, workforce development, health and social services, and disaster relief.

Economic Stability and Mobility

Advocating for and endowing programs which provide assistance with issues including hunger, homelessness, and poverty for the economic betterment of the communities in which we operate.

Workforce Development

Promoting programs which aid in workforce readiness, technical training, and literacy, including children’s literacy, to ensure the continuance of an educated society and a capable, innovative workforce.

Health and Social Services

Championing and prioritizing matters of health, including mental and behavioral health, access to basic needs such as medical and dental care for underprivileged communities, and providing funding for organizations focused on childhood development and children’s advocacy as well as care and support for victims of domestic violence.

Disaster Relief

Providing funding and visibility to organizations specializing in providing relief from natural disasters and state of emergency, including providing temporary shelter, food, water, and hygiene or sanitation products to those affected and aiding in cleanup efforts.

Application Requirements

We will consider three principal types of grants:

Project Support Grants support specific projects or programs aligned with our mission. These requests may include some funds earmarked for the overhead costs associated with running a project.

General Operating Support Grants provide limited general operating support for the core operations or organizations whose missions and activities are aligned with our mission. These grants will often help the grantee build organizational, programmatic, and fundraising capacity. Operating support is not intended to help organizations in fiscal crisis. Applicants must have a current strategic or business plan that clearly outlines the organization’s goals and presents a plan for achieving results. Operating support grants must not exceed 15% of an organization’s total agency budget.

Capital Support Grants provide limited support for capital campaigns to fund the acquisition and construction of facilities, existing property renovation, or the purchase of major equipment. The program has a comprehensive approach to funding capital initiatives, which also includes funding for increased program capacity. A feasibility study may be required for capital initiatives to be considered.

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.

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).

Background

Mid Atlantic Arts was established to promote and support multi-state arts programming in a region that includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is one of six regional arts organizations in the United States, and works in close partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and its member state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Mid Atlantic Arts distinguishes itself through its work in international cultural exchange, model programs in performing arts touring, its knowledge and presence in the jazz field, and its support of folk and traditional arts.

Mission

Mid Atlantic Arts nurtures and funds the creation and presentation of diverse artistic expression and connects people to meaningful arts experiences within our region and beyond.

Vision

Mid Atlantic Arts envisions a future in which artists and creators are actively engaged with diverse communities to energize the transformative power of the arts.

Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects Grant

Mid Atlantic Arts’ Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects grants fund projects that support the vitality of traditional arts and cultures in the mid-Atlantic region.

Folk and Traditional Arts Community Projects grants fund projects that support the vitality of traditional arts and cultures in the mid-Atlantic region. Non-profit organizations in DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, USVI, PR, or WV may apply for $1,000 to $5,000 grants. A 1:1 match is required.

Eligible project activities may include performances, public art collaborations, workshops/trainings, exhibitions, fieldwork/documentation, and creation of new traditional work. Mid Atlantic Arts encourages projects that cross state/territory borders, as well as projects that support or engage underserved or underrepresented artists, practitioners, traditions, or constituents.

Grant support range: $1,000 – $5,000

The Edna W. Andrade Fund -- a Donor Advised Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation -- is pleased to announce the availability of grants for local or national museums or nonprofit art organizations to benefit visual fine artists from Greater Philadelphia.

The fund was established through the estate of Edna Andrade. Edna Andrade was a leading Philadelphia teacher and artist who was associated with the Op Art movement of the 1960's.

Grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. 

The purpose of the fund is to benefit visual fine artists from the Greater Philadelphia area by providing funds for the following:

• For grants to local or national museums or other charitable organizations that request funding for the purchase or commission of works of art by specific artists from the Greater Philadelphia area
• For grants to local or national museums for the funding of one-person exhibitions of specific artists from the Greater Philadelphia area
  • The Greater Philadelphia area is defined as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties in New Jersey.
• For grants to nonprofit organizations as fiscal agents for individual artists or groups of artists from the Greater Philadelphia area who propose to start or are engaged in continuing educational, cultural, humanitarian or environmental projects.

Community Foundation of New Jersey

About Us

The Community Foundation of New Jersey creates and scales custom solutions for purpose-driven individuals, families, and businesses.

From creative projects that tackle critical societal or policy issues to scholarship funds, corporate philanthropy, legacy funds and donor advised funds, the Community Foundation manages nearly every kind of giving vehicle and tailors solutions to meet critical needs. The Community Foundation’s team of specialists understand the unique contours of communities and manage the scope of the Community Foundation’s investment and grantmaking capabilities with precision.

With more than $900 million in assets, the Community Foundation grants tens of millions of dollars each year through its more than 1,160 funds. In 2024, the Community Foundation granted more than $100 million to non-profits in New Jersey and beyond.

Panasonic Challenge Fund Grant

This grant funds advanced STEAM education programs that aim to improve educational outcomes for Newark students.

Target areas: 

• Engineering, math and arts programming including teacher professional development and training
• Social Emotional Learning
• Historically underserved populations
• Title I schools

Art Works

Founded in 2021 by Forman Arts Initiative and Philadelphia Foundation, Art Works is a joint $3 million grant program designed to support Philadelphia arts and cultural organizations and artists working in partnership with BIPOC and other underserved communities.

Art Works accepts applications from local cultural nonprofit (or fiscally sponsored) organizations with annual operating budgets between $250,000 and $5 million as well as individual artists with a commitment to incorporating community perspectives into their work.

• Four Philadelphia-based artists will be selected annually to receive two-year grants of $25,000 per year. Grants can be used freely by artists. Some artists may wish to use the grant to support the development of new work while others may use it to pay for living or studio expenses. Artists will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works’ programmatic goals.
• Four community-based organizations will be selected annually to receive two-year, unrestricted grants ranging from $75,000-$150,000.  Organizations will be chosen based on how closely their work aligns with Art Works‘ programmatic goals.

In addition to the awarded funds, all grantees will have access to experiential professional development workshops and pro bono professional consulting services designed to provide strategic and tactical support on a range of topics including legal, marketing, communications, budgeting and finance, among others.

Art Works also provides grantees the opportunity to host co-operative education students from Drexel University to support programs and operations.

These placements, administered by Drexel’s Lenfest Center for Cultural Partnerships, are designed to provide students with meaningful work experience in the arts and culture sector. 

Edith P. C. Taylor Charitable Trust

Grants are made to charitable organizations serving the homeless population in Morristown and Dover, New Jersey.

Program Areas

• Arts and Culture,
• Health and Medical Research,
• Human and Social Services

Best Life Community Awards

Nominate a nonprofit that you support with your time, talents, or money to receive a grant.

Funding

The winner will be awarded $10,000!

Welcoming both those organizations with little to no experience presenting jazz and seasoned jazz presenters seeking to strengthen programming, application occurs annually through an open, competitive process. Once selected, membership is ongoing upon meeting annual requirements.

JTN expands the presentation of jazz throughout the mid-Atlantic region while ensuring regional programming reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the current field of jazz. Members take part in professional development activities and work together to block-book a series of jazz tours each year.

Gupta Family Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, USA. Our mission is to support organizations that provide focused intervention in the lives of people who have been disadvantaged in some way to help them become self-reliant. We take a very broad view of “disadvantage” to include anything that holds a person back from realizing their potential, such as poverty, physical or mental disability, social alienation, etc. The foundation also supports relief agencies that serve people affected by emergencies such as natural disasters.

The foundation evaluates and awards annual and multi-year grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000 (USD). Our focus is on funding smaller organizations all around the world that are led by individuals with a deep personal commitment to their missions. 

Our selection criteria include:

• Mission alignment
• The organization is run by the founder or, if not, by a successor who embodies the original inspiration, passion and commitment of the founder.
• At least 90% of grant monies reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• The organization is non-sectarian, i.e.,
  • It does not, directly or indirectly, support or condone the proselytization of any religion,
  • It is not supported by or affiliated to a religious organization.

The Center for Cooperative Media, a grant-funded program within the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University was founded in 2012 in response to the downsizing of New Jersey news organizations and the changes in the ownership of regional public media. These shifts in the news and information landscape hurt the volume of local news available in a state that has historically had limited news coverage, due to its proximity to the major metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia. With 564 municipalities packed into a densely populated state, New Jersey was—and is—ripe for innovation in local journalism.

The mission of the Center for Cooperative Media is to grow and strengthen local journalism and support an informed society in New Jersey and beyond. The Center coordinates statewide and regional reporting, connecting more than 300 local news and information providers through its flagship project, the NJ News Commons. We offer innovative professional development seminars, with training sessions on topics such as data and investigative journalism, fact-checking, OPRA, podcasting, video production, digital sales, and business planning, among many others. We also offer one-on-one coaching. The Center’s research agenda is focused on issues impacting local journalism, especially collaboration and sustainability questions.

About Civic Science Media

At its core, civic science media is created when journalists and other storytellers work intentionally with diverse community members and scientists to collaboratively address issues of shared interest. Civic science media serves as an important bridge between scientists or scientific organizations and the people most impacted by scientific discovery, and promotes a dynamic conversation between scientists, media, and the public. The goal is both to inform and support active participation in solving or addressing community-identified concerns related to science, including climate change, public health, and artificial intelligence.

Civic Science Media Project Funding

The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University is delighted to announce a funding opportunity for civic science media projects, thanks to support from the Rita Allen Foundation. The awards aim to accelerate civic science media collaborations across the United States with funding and coaching.

This is the second open call for pilot awards in support of projects that can bridge the gap between scientists, media, and communities, with a focus on increasing public participation in science, expanding public deliberation about emerging science and creating opportunities for science to be informed by diverse communities.

• The award builds on a global research project conducted in 2020 and 2021 by the Center that studied how and why journalists and civil society organizations around the world collaborate to achieve and increase impact. Led by Dr. Sarah Stonbely and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the research showed that journalists have become more willing to partner with civil society organizations in order to achieve tangible impact on issues such as corruption, governance, climate and environment, and human rights.
• With new openness among journalists and media makers to partner with civil society and community organizations, rapid advances in scientific discovery and debate, and increased polarization across communities, there is an urgent need to create a culture of civic science — where all people feel a sense of belonging in, and benefit from, the practice of science so they can inform meaningfully deliberation about society's most pressing problems.
• Rita Allen Foundation recently published the industry’s first in-depth analysis of civic science media, in a report that highlights a broad range of civic science media initiatives from across the country. The landscape scan showcases a range of civic science media projects and insights from leaders in this emergent field; potential award applicants should familiarize themselves with the paper.

The Award

A total of 10 awards up to $15,000 each are available. This opportunity is not meant to fund long-term, multi-year partnerships, but rather short-term pilots that:

• Foster ongoing, multidirectional dialogue between media organizations, scientists, and local communities.
• Include direct community participation in the scientific and/or media-creation process, ensuring that local concerns and perspectives substantially influence the conversation.
• Enhance science literacy by making complex scientific topics more accessible and engaging.

In addition to funding, participants will receive hands-on coaching, including regular check-ins, peer-to-peer meetings, and tailored support to align goals, address challenges, and ensure robust and impactful community engagement.

Priority areas include artificial intelligence, climate science, and neuroscience, which align with the broader goals of the Rita Allen Foundation’s overall civic science program.

The awards are intended to cover the cost of the applicant’s and co-collaborator’s time, project materials, equipment, and associated production/editing costs to complete the project. Audience participation incentives are also encouraged; applicants should ensure they are not being extractive when it comes to involving members of the public.

Local Arts Program (LAP) Grant

The Local Arts Program (LAP) Grant enables the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) to support local arts development within each of New Jersey’s 21 counties through a competitive grant application process by awarding funds to officially designated county arts agencies (CAAs). The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission (SCC&HC) is the agency officially designated in Somerset County to apply for, receive, and administer this annual Local Arts Program Grant.

Though a small percentage of the annual total grant award supports local arts development through planned programming and other services provided by the Cultural & Heritage office, the greater percentage of the grant award (generally 75% ) is set aside for re-grants, through a formal application/independent peer review panel process to support eligible local arts organizations and other non-profit organizations within Somerset County that provide public art projects, programs, services and development to benefit diverse public audiences. Grant awards are competitive and seek to encourage artistic excellence at the local level.

Types of Grants Available

General Operating Support (GOS)

GOS is limited to non-profit organizations whose missions are exclusively devoted to the public presentation of the Arts. The organization must present a documented history of artistic excellence and outreach efforts within Somerset County. GOS funds provide support for the overall operations of these organizations for the calendar year, although there are specific uses for GOS funds that are considered ineligible, GOS funds may be used for most activities that support the organization’s Arts mission.

• Eligible Uses: To strengthen administrative capacity; to support on-going programs and/or to expand programs; to begin an innovative program/project. 
• Ineligible Uses: Capital improvements or construction costs; purchase of equipment; hospitality costs; reimbursement for deficits; out of state travel; fundraising; scholarships or awards, retroactive funding for work completed before submission of this application; projects primarily recreational, rehabilitative, or therapeutic in nature

Special Project Grant

Open to any organization that meets the eligibility requirements. A special project is a public Arts activity or event that occurs during the grant year with specific start and completion dates. The project may contain multiple events or activities, but these must be clearly related by discipline or theme. The planned activity or event MUST be presented in and benefit the general public of Somerset County. Examples of a special project include a concert, an exhibition, a festival, artist’s workshops, lectures and demonstrations.

• Eligible Uses: Eligible expenses include items such as artists’ fees, rentals, purchase of sheet music, printing and photocopying, in-state travel, postage, technical crew and other professional fees, promotion, project supplies, etc. related to the special project only. The hiring of New Jersey artists is encouraged and favored.
• Ineligible Uses: General administrative salaries; capital improvements; construction costs; renovations; purchase of permanent equipment; hospitality costs; previous program deficits; general operating expenses that are not related to the special project; fellowships/awards; student publications, activities which are normally the extra-curricular activities of public or private schools; projects in educational or religious institutions that do not seek a wide general public audience; scholarship funds; replacement of funds normally budgeted for the project or operation; reimbursement of deficits; retroactive funding for work completed before submission of this application; fundraising; projects primarily recreational, rehabilitative, or therapeutic in nature.

Creative Placemaking (CP)

Open to any organization that meets the eligibility requirements. Creative Placemaking is an evolving field of practice that intentionally leverages the power of the Arts, culture and creativity to serve a community's interest while driving a broader agenda for change, growth and transformation in a way that builds character and quality of place. Partners from public, private, nonprofit and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city or region around Arts and cultural activities or assets. Creative Placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business visibility and public safety, and brings diverse people together to build shared understanding of culture and community. Creative Placemaking grants encourage and require Somerset County non-profit organizations, both cultural and non-cultural and Somerset County based governmental agencies or commissions to create new collaborative partnerships to integrate the Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Theatre, Dance, Film/Video, Literary Arts) into public venues to broaden and diversify public exposure, access to and participation in the Arts.

New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund - Phase 10 – Grant Program

The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund provides financial support to stabilize and build resilience among New Jersey-based smaller nonprofit arts and culture organizations.  Funding is specifically for organizations whose primary mission is Arts, Arts Education, or History.

The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund (NJACRF) was established in 2020 to ensure the survival and strength of the state’s arts and culture nonprofit sector during and after the pandemic. The Fund was created as a public-private partnership, capitalizing on the resources and expertise available through the government, corporate, community, and private philanthropic sectors. Strategic alignment of these partners ensures a coordinated approach to sector support and ongoing dialogue with the field and stakeholders.

Arts and culture experiences build social cohesion, enhance cross-cultural understanding, and improve the quality of life in communities.  The Renewal Fund acknowledges that cultural access and experiences have been unequally distributed, especially in historically under-resourced communities.  The Renewal Fund seeks to address this inequity through its funding such that smaller community-connected organizations will be sustained, individual artists will receive support, and cultural experiences will be available to all.  The Renewal Fund also seeks to address the underrepresentation and incomplete storytelling that has marginalized the creative, historical, and intellectual contributions of some groups including Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other People of Color (BIPOC) in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund provides unrestricted grant support.

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 to consider grant requests that fall outside the Foundation’s core grantmaking programs. Grant amounts typically range from $5,000 to $25,000 annually for music organizations operating in a broad range of music traditions, genres, and styles. In 2024-25, 9% of The Presser Foundation’s distributed funds ($320,230/$3.73 million) went to Special Project grants. This fiscal year (2025-26), the Special Projects Committee will consider applications for:

• General Operating Support for newly established music organizations (up to 5 years in existence).
• Resilience Grants for small music organizations impacted by government funding or policy changes. These grant requests of up to $7,500 are for organizations with operating budgets under $150,000. Organizations seeking support for the following are encouraged to apply:
  • Artistic and/or organizational development (e.g. workforce programming) projects that have been impacted by government funding cuts;
  • Organizations seeking legal, financial, fundraising, or communications guidance to navigate government funding or policy changes;
  • Efforts to share costs and collaborate* with another nonprofit organization to maintain financial stability for the organization; and
  • Other efforts to maintain your organization’s core mission and/or financial viability in response to the changing arts funding landscape will be considered.
  • *Not intended for one-time creative collaborations.

New Jersey Cultural Trust

The Cultural Trust’s grant programs further the Trust’s mission of ensuring a stable and healthy nonprofit cultural industry in New Jersey by supporting projects that build organizations’ financial and institutional stability and capacity, and by funding important capital projects.

The Cultural Trust offers three different grant programs on a rotating basis, typically with one program offered each fiscal year:

• Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations
• Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for History/Humanities Organizations
• Capital Historic Preservation Grants for Arts, History, and Humanities Organizations

All Cultural Trust grants are one-year-long project-based grants. No match is required for any of the Cultural Trust’s grant programs.

Institutional/Financial Stabilization Grants for History/Humanities Organizations

The New Jersey Cultural Trust Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grant Program for History and Humanities Organizations is a funding program designed to assist groups in addressing financial and operational challenges that threaten their stability and to help build greater operational capacity to manage and advance their work and achieve their missions. The program is administered by the New Jersey Historical Commission and funded by the New Jersey Cultural Trust. All history and humanities organizations qualified by the New Jersey Cultural Trust are welcome to apply for this funding.

New Jersey Cultural Trust

The Cultural Trust’s grant programs further the Trust’s mission of ensuring a stable and healthy nonprofit cultural industry in New Jersey by supporting projects that build organizations’ financial and institutional stability and capacity, and by funding important capital projects.

The Cultural Trust offers three different grant programs on a rotating basis, typically with one program offered each fiscal year:

• Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations
• Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for History/Humanities Organizations
• Capital Historic Preservation Grants for Arts, History, and Humanities Organizations

All Cultural Trust grants are one-year-long project-based grants. No match is required for any of the Cultural Trust’s grant programs.

Institutional/Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations

Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations address the financial and institutional challenges that threaten nonprofit arts organizations’ stability and help them build greater operational capacity to manage and advance their work. Grants are available within the following categories:

• Establishing, replenishing or growing a working capital fund/cash reserve
• Debt/deficit reduction
• Strategic planning/assessment
• Technology upgrade
• Capital equipment purchase
• Professional development for staff/board
• New staff position

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts serves as the recommending agency for the IFS Arts program.