Search Through Grants for After School Programs 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.

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.

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

Charitable Investments

CSX is proud to support people and organizations that in turn honor those who serve our communities. We offer monetary and in-kind resources to nonprofit organizations advocating for the betterment of our nation’s military members or community first responders, and have additional resources available to support other community efforts.

In Kind Donations

Intermodal Transportation Services

Intermodal transportation services provide applicable organizations with intermodal equipment and rail service throughout the CSX rail network, and afford these organizations an opportunity to reduce or eliminate their transportation spending.

Ideally, intermodal moves work best when freight is moving 500 miles or more. However, the in-kind moves program requires only that freight have an origin and destination within a combined 250 miles’ distance to a CSX intermodal facility.

CSX’s door-to-door product is an ideal solution for the in-kind moves program, as our trained team will pick up your freight at its origin and transport it to a terminal to be placed on an intermodal train. Then, we will pick up your freight at the destination terminal and deliver it directly to its endpoint. The door-to-door network provides service across the Eastern United States with its large nationwide network and trucking capability.

CSX will also work with you to determine the type of equipment that is an ideal fit to transport your freight. CSX has a large fleet of rail-owned containers, as well as an expansive network of channel partners that can provide equipment to fit your needs.

Railroad Equipment and Materials

CSX occasionally donates materials, supplies and used railroad equipment based on availability. The online in-kind application can be used to request the donation of railroad-related items, including retired rail cars when available. Please note that rail, rail ties and spikes are not available for donation or purchase. Applicants will be contacted if the requested item becomes available within 90 days of their online submittal. At that time, arrangements will be made to transfer possession of the requested item. All applicants will be asked to re-submit their application at a later date if the requested item does not become available within the 90-day period.

About Us

Mission

The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation commits its support primarily to the Armenian community, both in Armenia and in the United States, and in New Jersey, with a focus on Monmouth and Ocean Counties, through existing non-profit programs and institutions that have a long-standing history in and provide value and impact to these regions of the world. In addition, where gaps exist in fulfilling its mission in these areas, the Foundation may take on initiating or running its own programs. Through grants, scholarships, and program-related investments, our primary areas of focus include education, healthcare, arts/culture, volunteerism, ecotourism, youth development, entrepreneurship, and promotion of Western values such as transparency.

Guiding Principles

• To increase quality access to healthcare and to update the infrastructure of vocational institutions in Monmouth and Ocean Counties of New Jersey. 
• To invest in furthering the education and practical work experience of the best and brightest next generation of forward-looking students who can envision and articulate their role in Armenia’s further development. 
• To the greatest extent possible, initiatives that include solutions that address priorities with a built-in multiplier effect such as new employment opportunities or increased income revenue for the local economy, are what excite us most. 
• To engage more deeply and strategically with innovative citizens who seek to improve the livelihood of their local community through innovative projects that can be further replicated for the greater good.  
• To foster creativity that helps bring innovative solutions to long-standing community-related challenges. 
• To increase personal ties and the level of engagement between the Diaspora and Armenia via common shared experiences means the likelihood of a shared common vision, collaboration, and action taken is heightened, all necessary contributors to Armenia reaching its potential.    
• To support all levels of the repatriation process for Armenia’s long-term economic development.  

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. 

Policies

The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation which makes grants primarily for three specific purposes. With few exceptions, grants are limited to organizations within Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties as well as the City of Camden, New Jersey.

Mission

Ensuring basic human needs, supplementing higher education scholarships, supporting maritime education/maritime heritage preservation, and enabling basic medical research in the areas of heart disease, cancer and AIDS.

Vision

Helping organizations and individuals achieve their goals, 

Basic Needs

The Trust awards grants to nonprofits that provide direct assistance to those in our community who are in need of food, clothing or shelter. We prioritize requests that benefit disadvantaged and vulnerable children and older adults who reside within the five county Greater Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties) or the City of Camden, NJ. The Trust monitors basic needs trends in the region to help us reassess and adjust our grantmaking.

W. W. Smith funds efforts to provide food, clothing, or shelter assistance for children and older adults in the five-county Greater Philadelphia area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia counties) or the City of Camden, NJ.

Funding Duration & Award Size

• Grants are awarded for a one (1) year term.
• Organizations that receive three (3) consecutive years of funding must then wait two (2) years before being eligible to reapply. We make this determination based on the calendar year of your notice of award.
• The minimum award is $5,000.
• There is no maximum award limit. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $40,000. Higher-dollar awards are possible for certain projects. Please contact the Grant Administrator when planning your grant request amount.

Leo Niessen lived in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In 1993, his foundation was funded from a testamentary bequest. He was a charitable man who also made substantial philanthropic gifts to Holy Redeemer Hospital during his lifetime. He had a special affinity for Red Cloud Indian School of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. To this day, the Co-Trustees of his foundation continue to support this school, as well as the Holy Redeemer Hospital and The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. All grants are made in memory of Leo Niessen and his family.MissionTo provide grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations supporting charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.Program areas

• Arts, culture and humanities
• Education
• Environment/animals
• Health 
• Human services 
• Public/society benefit 
• Religion

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.

Awareness. Education. Prevention.  These are three key tenets of Bayer Fund’s investments in health and wellness.  With a focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease, we provide resources to organizations dedicated to educating and/or providing services to patients, caregivers and at-risk populations.

Health & Wellness Grants

Programs that Bayer Fund will support include those that focus on patients and their families needing assistance with issues to managing cardiovascular disease and cancer. This includes education, disease awareness, and supportive services for these diseases. In areas related to cardiovascular disease, priority (though not exclusivity) will be given to charitable organizations that focus on programs and support for the African American community due to the high incidence rate of disease in this population.

Giving in this category will focus on support services such as education, disease awareness, and general access to care (e.g., housing for families traveling for cancer or heart care).

All funding requests and budgets must be for program activities and expenses that start after funding decisions are made. All programs must be completed within one year of the start date, except in limited situations where longer term programs have been agreed upon. Grant award amounts vary, depending on the size of the community, the type of programming, and the reach of the organization.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

About School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN).

Utilizing a unique framework of funding systems offered by the Department of Health and Human Services, managed care organizations, health insurers, and private donors, SBHSN promotes a system of care model (Coaching Model℠) offering a mix of evidenced-based intervention, prevention, and care coordination services to children in grades K-12. The Coaching Model aims to expand quality mental healthcare access on public school campuses and improve children's social, emotional, behavioral, family, and wellness outcomes.

School-Based Mental Health Implementation Grant

In response to the growing number of students who need mental health counseling, the School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN) is accepting applications from Local Education Agencies (LEA), Public and Private Universities, State and local Colleges, Charter School Management Companies, Public Schools, Charter Schools, and Non-Profit Organizations (501c3) to implement and expand mental health program services on local school campuses. Grantees will receive direct funding and reimbursement to support the following activities: 

• Expanding access to School-Based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Coordinating mental healthcare services with school administration and staff. 
• Delivering mental healthcare services and coordinating academic-support activities to students with a history of attendance, behavior, and poor academic performance.

FUNDING

5-Years, renewable based on meeting performance goals 5-year award ceiling is $5,500,000.

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. 

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.

The American Water Charitable Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) private foundation, supported by the shareholders of American Water. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees, composed of officers and leaders of American Water or its subsidiaries, review Foundation programs, guidelines, and distribution of funds.

Applications will be accepted in the following states served by American Water, in addition to its Military Service locations: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Water and Environment Grant Program will be awarded to help fund innovative, community-based projects that:

• improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies
• promote water conservation
• improve equitable access to water-based recreation in underserved communities 

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.

Edna G. Kynett Memorial Foundation Grant

Harold H. Kynett created The Edna G. Kynett Memorial Foundation, Inc.in memory of his wife, Edna, in 1954 to improve cardiovascular health in the Delaware Valley. The Foundation funds community health, professional education, and research programs focused on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Areas of Funding

The Foundation currently accepts proposals in any of three broad areas: community health, professional education, and research. The Board encourages proposals designed to improve the cardiac health and wellness of populations that have a higher-than-average risk of heart disease and are generally underserved by our current health system. Innovative approaches that may offer a significant return on investment and a focus on prevention are also priorities, as are those that can demonstrate efficacy and sustainability.

Community Health

Community health programs should focus on cardiac health and well-being along the life spectrum, particularly in underserved, high risk communities. The proposal should address evaluation of the program’s outcomes.

For programs focusing on children, the Foundation seeks to foster heart-healthy habits lasting a a lifetime and is particularly interested in programs that incorporate one or more of the following approaches, including, but not limited to, those:

• Engaging both parents/primary caregivers and children (i.e., a two-generational approach.)
• Maximizing impact across the child’s life, by reaching children and families in more than one setting, such as home, early childhood programs, schools, health care providers, etc. Projects might include community health workers serving as “connectors” between the various settings.
• Targeting physical activity, healthy eating, or environmental changes that increase access to healthier foods and/or to safe, outdoor physical activities.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of using social media (texting, e-mailing, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) among parents, teachers, health care providers, and community health workers to improve cardiovascular health.

For programs focusing on adults, the Foundation is particularly interested in approaches that likewise promote heart-healthy habits, provide education about cardiovascular health, and augment compliance with medical care, including, but not limited to, those:

• Linked to clinical settings to support medical education and compliance
• Providing community screening for, education about, and interventions addressing cardiovascular risk factors
• Addressing individual compliance with prescribed medical care
• Increasing physical activity and heart healthy eating

Professional Education

In the area of professional education, Kynett limits its funding to continuing professional education programs that take place in the Philadelphia region and that target physicians and other health care providers who work with underserved populations. The Board will give additional weight to proposals that emphasize outreach to health professionals and teams who practice in high risk, underserved communities; or that develop innovative curricula for health professionals who practice in those communities.

Research

Proposed research should address cardiovascular health and wellness, particularly prevention and risk factors as they relate to women, children, minorities, and the economically disadvantaged, and the delivery of healthcare services in underserved communities. The Foundation looks for proposals that apply rigorous research methods to develop and measure the efficacy of community-based programs and interventions.

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.

Mission

The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF) was established in 2003 with the intent of supporting not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools and other 501(c )(3) organizations that provide valuable services to the communities served by Provident Bank. The Provident Bank Foundation is committed to strengthening and sustaining its relationship with communities in the bank's marketplace.

Community Grant: Overview and Purpose

The primary purpose of a Community Grant is to increase access to funding and strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations. These grants provide important support for needed services to diverse communities.

PBF funding directly supports efforts to enhance the quality of life in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities served by Provident Bank through three Funding Priority Areas: Community Enrichment, Education, and Health, Youth & Families.

Community Grant Funding Priority Areas

PBF funds applicants who are prepared to address a need aligned to PBF’s Funding Priority Areas. Community Grant applicants must measure their program’s impact in a manner appropriate to the selected Funding Priority Area.

Community Enrichment: Programs that drive economic development, contribute to a more wellrounded community experience, serve those with special needs, and provide increased access to information and culture.

Education: Innovative programming that expands access to, and improves the quality of, well-rounded educational experiences through strong academic support and curriculum development.

Health, Youth & Families Programs that ensure people of all ages and means have the ability to live healthier, more fulfilling lives, including access to quality healthcare, nutrition and wellness, and mentorship opportunities.

Program Guidelines

A Community Grant will provide funding from $1,000 up to and including $5,000.

The primary purpose of a Community Grant is to increase access to funding and strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations. Organizations seeking a Community Grant must address one of PBF’s Funding Priority Areas and applicants must demonstrate impact in the Bank’s marketplace. These grants provide important support for needed services to diverse communities.

PBF seeks programs that will make a meaningful impact on the communities that Provident Bank serves. Programs that detail reliable methods for measuring change over time will have a competitive advantage, as will programs that feature a regular and sustained presence in the lives of program participants.

Other Policies

PBF only accepts one request per organization per calendar year at any level. This includes sponsorship and/or event requests.

• An organization whose request is not funded last year may apply in this year, but not before.
• PBF may choose not to fund a request, to fund a request at a lesser amount, to fund only certain aspects of a request, and/or to attach stipulations to a grant.

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

Our Mission

Land O'Lakes, Inc. and the Land O'Lakes Foundation are dedicated to serving the rural and urban communities where our cooperative has members owners, employees, and facilities. Support is focused on organizations dedicated to Hunger Relief, Advancing Education, and Community Vitality.

Region Grants Program

The Region Grants Program is specifically for Land O’Lakes dairy communities in the East and West Regions of our member footprint. The purpose is to improve the vibrancy of the regions where our member-owners are located.

Funds are awarded through two grant rounds: Hunger Relief and Community Vitality.

Funding

• $125,000 total is awarded to both the East and West regions per grant round.
• Total annual program investment is $500,000.
• Organizations may apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.
  • Generally, between 10-20 grantees are funded per grant round.
  • Average grant award is between $5,000 to $10,000.
• Funds are for local programs or projects supporting Land O’Lakes member-owner rural communities and their populations.

Region Grants Open Grant Round: Hunger Relief

Organizations committed to fighting food insecurity and increasing food accessibility:

• Food banks
• Food shelves/pantries
• Prepared meals and meal delivery services
• School meal programs
• Community gardens and local food systems

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.

For more than 20 years, The Baltimore Life Companies have viewed community involvement as our responsibility, not only through financial support of local organizations, but through our employees’ commitment to volunteerism. To further demonstrate our belief in good corporate citizenship, Baltimore Life has established a community grants program to help nonprofit organizations enhance the quality of life in communities—Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and the surrounding communities—where our employees live and work.

Grants of up to $500 will be awarded to multiple organizations. Our grants program is a continuation of Baltimore Life’s long-standing tradition of giving back to our communities.

STEM + Families Science Festival, sponsored by Bayer Fund

This program is for elementary schools. Forty (40) local PTAs will be selected, and each will be awarded $1,500 in funding. Science Festivals empower PTAs with resources to host hands-on, fun STEM experiences that bring students and families together and help families experience and explore activities in STEM. To be considered, PTAs must hold their programs in-person.

Our Mission

Land O'Lakes, Inc. and the Land O'Lakes Foundation are dedicated to serving the rural and urban communities where our cooperative has members owners, employees, and facilities. Support is focused on organizations dedicated to Hunger Relief, Advancing Education, and Community Vitality.

Region Grants Program

The Region Grants Program is specifically for Land O’Lakes dairy communities in the East and West Regions of our member footprint. The purpose is to improve the vibrancy of the regions where our member-owners are located.

Funds are awarded through two grant rounds: Hunger Relief and Community Vitality.

Funding

• $125,000 total is awarded to both the East and West regions per grant round.
• Total annual program investment is $500,000.
• Organizations may apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.
  • Generally, between 10-20 grantees are funded per grant round.
  • Average grant award is between $5,000 to $10,000.
• Funds are for local programs or projects supporting Land O’Lakes member-owner rural communities and their populations.

Region Grants Open Grant Round: Community Vitality

Organizations committed to strengthening community resources and opportunities, especially in rural areas:

• 4-H, FFA, and ag education programs
• Schools and educational institutions
• City improvement projects
• Fire/Ambulance departments
• Local United Way chapters
• Economic development programs

Honda Corporate Funding

Honda’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vision is to help people fulfill their life’s potential. We do this by supporting the communities where we live and work through financial contributions and the volunteer efforts of Honda associates.

Honda offers funding opportunities for programmatic support and community event sponsorships.

Programmatic Support

Honda and the Honda USA Foundation provide funding to nonprofit organizations and schools to support programs that align with our pillar award categories.

Year-over-year certain pillar award categories may not always be open for funding, are subject to change, and in some cases, Honda may extend invitation-only opportunities to select community partners.

Education Pillar Award:

As Honda strives to cultivate a future-ready workforce, we are seeking to support hands-on programs that provide manufacturing industry-relevant workforce pipeline initiatives focused on design, software/data analytics and artificial intelligence/machine learning/automation.

Our overarching goal is to inspire the next generation, fostering a resilient and innovative workforce that will drive our future success and contribute to economic prosperity within our communities where we live and work.

Only programs that strengthen the manufacturing workforce pipeline by preparing individuals for current operations and future innovations will be considered.

Honda USA Foundation Funding

The Honda USA Foundation gives back to the communities where our associates live and work through programmatic grant opportunities.

Programmatic Support

Honda and the Honda USA Foundation provide funding to nonprofit organizations and schools to support programs that align with our pillar award categories.

Year-over-year certain pillar award categories may not always be open for funding and are subject to change. Full details of the pillar award categories will be made available each fall when the program application opens.

Mobility Pillar Award:

The Honda USA Foundation envisions a world where each person is empowered to dream and fulfill their own life’s potential. We are seeking to fund programs that remove barriers and expand access and opportunities for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that the joy and freedom of mobility can be experienced by all.

Applications for education, awareness, and infrastructure programs may include:

• Therapeutic or adaptive programs
• Comprehensive care programs
• Mobility modifications, accommodations, and assistive technology

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.