Search Through History Grants in New Jersey in the U.S.

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

Advancing Sustainable Communities

Since 2002, we’ve been empowering local communities with sustainability solutions. Through nonprofit partnerships and sustainability grants, we’ve delivered projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

Mission

"Choose wisely. It's a small planet." That's how it all started back in 1997, when a crew of like-minded folks in Vermont set out on a mission: to use the power of consumer choice and help change the way power is made. Over 20 years later, we’re proud to be a carbon-neutral company that continues to keep sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Join us as we help make the planet a cleaner, greener place to be.

Sustainability Grants

If you’re a U.S.-based nonprofit looking to make a positive environmental impact and you want access to a network of sustainability experts, it’s time to plant seeds of sustainability in your community.

Eligible Sustainability Initiatives

In addition to supporting rooftop solar installation projects, we've expanded our mission to support other sustainability initiatives that include but aren't limited to:

• Clean Transportation
• Education and Awareness
• Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy
• Resource Conservation
• Sustainable Agriculture

We’re open to new, creative ideas from nonprofit organizations interested in utilizing and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Selection Process - Impact Measurement

We measure environmental, social and financial impacts:

• Environmental impact calculations consider how the project is more impactful for the planet than the alternative.
• Examples: CO2 prevented (renewable versus traditional generation methods), miles not driven, gallons of water conserved, green space created, pounds of waste diverted.
• Social impact calculations assess how the project will elicit change in the community.
• Examples: results of an email or newsletter story about the project, number of students impacted through curriculum, attendee numbers on sustainability tours.
• Financial impact calculations assess how the project will save your organization money, and how those savings can further support your mission.
• Example: a solar array would save your organization $2,000 per year, resulting in 100 more meals distributed to the homeless or 30 more children receiving free tuition.

Award Amounts

Donation amounts depend on a number of factors, including evaluation of the environmental, social, and financial impact of the donation. Past donations have ranged from $50,000 to $400,000.

TAAFF Grant Program

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

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

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

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

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

Discover NJ History License Plate Fund

The Discover NJ History License Plate Fund provides small grants (up to $5,000) to develop and promote visitor ready sites as heritage tourism destinations.

The grant program is supported by income from sales and renewals of the Discover NJ History License plate, which was established in 1995 to support historic preservation activities in the State. The plates feature a Victorian-style row house image, from a painting by New Jersey artist Harry Devlin. These beautifully designed plates will remind others that history is always ready to be “discovered” in New Jersey.

Eligible Activities

• Visitor and visitor-readiness assessments
• Initiatives that help to develop and promote visitor-ready sites as heritage tourism destinations
• Creative, attractive, and professionally designed signage to promote linkages among sites and/or enhance wayfinding
• Interpretive planning to develop and enhance linkages between sites
• Websites that are professionally designed, mobile compatible, using the latest technologies
• Marketing plans and studies
• Development of performance evaluation measures
• Training and workshops, including speaker honoraria; and
• Other activities that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the statewide heritage tourism plan.

If an activity other than those listed above is proposed, please consult Trust staff to determine if it is an eligible activity.

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.

CHPRD Mission and Goals

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

Its goals are:

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

Funding Categories

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

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

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

Citizenship and Integration Program

The primary goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is to enhance the accessibility of high-quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents nationwide. It aims to offer opportunities for lawful permanent residents to acquire the knowledge and skills essential for seamless integration into the fabric of American society.

Program Goals

• Provide citizenship instruction to help permanent residents enhance their English language proficiency, increase knowledge of U.S. history and civics, and understand the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
• Offer naturalization application services to support permanent residents in the naturalization application and interview process.
• Ensure families have access to high-quality legal services, thereby avoiding immigration fraud and understanding their rights.
• Engage the community in the successful integration of newcomers, promoting welcoming, inclusive communities where residents of New Jersey share cultures and build stronger neighborhoods

Funding

The maximum amount that can be applied for is $80,000.

• Citizenship Instruction ($40,000)
• Naturalization Application ($40,000)

Our Mission

The Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation seeks to improve the communities of the Northern New Jersey area. Our mission is to promote and support healthcare with a special preference for patient care and Parkinson's Disease; local education programs; and programs that support disadvantaged populations such as shelters/housing, and services for women and children in need.

Patient Care and Parkinson's Disease

Making a difference for individuals and families affected by Parkinson's is important to us. We support treatment, care services, equipment and emotional support programs for organizations that help improve clinical and care options for people with Parkinson's and other healthcare conditions. 

Disadvantaged Populations

We want to make a difference in the lives of underserved individuals, families and communities. Whether supporting shelters, housing initiatives, or food justice programs, we look at opportunities where our small grants can make a meaningful impact.

Education Programs

Enabling children to learn is of great importance to us. We support unique programs that can impact a child's ability to learn.

Women and Children

We care deeply about families and women and children in need. Organizations that provide opportunities to help families improve their situations are critical to us. The needs are great and we want to support organizations that empower women and children in need.

Our History

Alfred N. Sanzari learned to be both driven and determined by watching his family struggle to make ends meet during the Great Depression. He was driven to be successful and determined to provide a better life for his children and grandchildren. His skill, hard work, and success not only accomplished his original goals but also made this Foundation possible. We are here to continue his legacy of generosity and providing help to those in need. 

Funding

Generally our grants range from $500 to $10,000

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.

New Jersey Historical Commission

The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency within the Department of State dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. All of its grant funding is provided by legislative appropriation.

The NJHC offers General Operating Support Grants, Project Grants, County History Partnership Grants and more to support a variety of programs and activities related to New Jersey history. It also offers prizes and free archival evaluation services through the Caucus Archival Projects Evaluation Service or CAPES.

Goals of the Grant Program

The goal of the grant program is to engage diverse audiences in the active exploration, enjoyment, interpretation, understanding, and preservation of New Jersey history. Grants are awarded to projects that achieve this objective. Successful proposals may do so through one or more of the following:

• Broadening, deepening, and diversifying the audiences for New Jersey history
• Strengthening existing New Jersey history organizations or programs
• Initiating new programming on New Jersey history
• Increasing accessibility of historical resources to diverse communities
• Increasing the body and quality of information on New Jersey history available to the public
• Preserving materials for the study of New Jersey history
• Promoting elements of New Jersey’s history that have often been underrepresented in the past.

Project Grants

Project grants must deliver high-quality, engaging New Jersey history to a diverse audience. The applicant must demonstrate that it practices professional standards specific to its discipline. Project grants are available to both individuals and organizations.

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Program

The New Jersey Historical Commission is very pleased to announce the availability of the Diversity, Equity Accessibility, and Inclusion Program Application and Guidelines. The Commission is committed to making New Jersey history more accessible by placing a priority on inclusion.

The Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Program will provide training and implementation grants to nonprofits with a New Jersey history mission.

Training Grant (NJ)

Training Grants grantees will have access to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion consultants and will receive unconscious bias training; an analysis of their current programs, structure, and policies and practices; and guidance on creating a Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion plan. The Commission is providing a list of vetted consultants from which applicants for Training Grants will select the professionals they would like to engage. The Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Training Grant funds will only be applied to the services provided by the NJHC-approved consultants. Grantees will sign contracts outlining that the funds they receive will be used for consulting expenses only. 

Funding

Applicants may apply for up to $20,000. Grants will be awarded to work closely with NJHC-approved consultants to provide bias training, assessment of institutional policies and programs, and guidance on creating a plan. 

New Jersey Historical Commission

The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency within the Department of State dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. All of its grant funding is provided by legislative appropriation.

The NJHC offers General Operating Support Grants, Project Grants, County History Partnership Grants and more to support a variety of programs and activities related to New Jersey history. It also offers prizes and free archival evaluation services through the Caucus Archival Projects Evaluation Service or CAPES.

Goal of the Grant Program

The goal of the grant program is to engage audiences and practitioners in the active exploration, enjoyment, interpretation, understanding, and preservation of New Jersey history.

Grants are awarded to organizations that achieve that objective. Successful proposals may do so through one or more of the following:

• Strengthening existing New Jersey history organizations or programs
• Promoting elements of New Jersey’s history that have often been underrepresented in the past.
• Broadening, deepening, and diversifying the audience for New Jersey history
• Initiating new programming on New Jersey history
• Increasing accessibility of historical resources to diverse communities
• Increasing the body and quality of information on New Jersey history available to the public
• Preserving materials for the study of New Jersey history

General Operating Support Grants

The NJHC’s General Operating Support (GOS) program was established in 2000 to provide critical support to organizations engaged in preserving, researching, and interpreting New Jersey history. Its primary goal is to encourage excellence and innovation, especially as it relates to the grant program goals identified above.

CARE Program

The Cultivating Access, Rights, & Equity (CARE) Grant Program seeks to increase New Jersey workers’ awareness of and equitable access to paid family and medical leave benefits (aka Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance), earned sick leave and other work rights, and unemployment insurance.

This grant program focuses on workers who are less likely to have access to paid leave, such as low wage workers, immigrants, refugees, veterans, and youth workers, and on reducing barriers related to race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, and gender identity that can impact workers’ knowledge of – and meaningful access to – the rights and benefits for which they are eligible.

This Fiscal Year, the CARE Grant Program has been expanded to include outreach and education on additional Wage and Hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, wage theft/wage payment, misclassification, and the Temporary Workers Bill of Rights.   

The CARE Grant Program seeks to establish collaborative relationships with trusted community based organizations throughout the state who demonstrate capacity, experience, and a history of success providing outreach, education, technical assistance and/or support.

Funding Amount

Award amounts will vary based on the quality of proposals, with average awards from a minimum of $50,000 up to $200,000. NJDOL will consider applications above the award range that provide strong capacity, experience, justification and collaborative partnerships. NJDOL will also consider applications below the award range when appropriate, however, such organizations are encouraged to apply as part of a collaborative.

Newark Learning Collaborative Program

I. Executive Summary

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) - Newark Learning Collaborative (NLC) Program seeks to fund an organization that will maintain a structured, cross-sector Learning Collaborative to address and implement evidence-based practices for cardiovascular disease prevention, detection, control, and management.

The project and budget period are 12 months (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). Up to $100,000 is available to be awarded to one awardee. 

RFA Purpose

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is looking for an organization to lead the Newark Learning Collaborative. The purpose of the Newark Learning Collaborative is to address the effects of unmet essential needs on cardiovascular disease outcomes, conduct appropriate trainings for Learning Collaborative and community members, create and enhance community-clinical links to reflect an interdisciplinary team that can respond to social services and support needs, and implement strategies to reduce barriers. The identified organization will collaborate with partners and existing coalitions in Newark consisting of organizations operating within the target communities including health systems, FQHC sites, local health departments, community and faith-based organizations, practitioners, and community members. 

The goals of the Newark Learning Collaborative are:

• Prioritizing populations and communities with the highest prevalence of CVD, with a focus on advancing health equity for individuals with hypertension and high cholesterol.
• Serving populations and communities affected disproportionately by cardiovascular disease, specifically hypertension, high cholesterol, or stroke, due to unfair opportunity structures and social determinants, such as limited access to care, inadequate or poor quality of care, or economic instability. 
• Achieving optimal health outcomes for priority populations through culturally informed program services that use focused strategies to advance universal health equity goals that are mindful of the social determinants.

Grantmaking Philosophy

The Community Foundation of New Jersey considers regularly how we as an organization and civic community leader can effect lasting change that leads to greater equity. To that end, our discretionary grantmaking is informed by many of the below criteria and grounded in the associated values.

Criteria

We seek to support initiatives that:

• Pilot a good idea and have a realistic path toward broader uptake
• Have an achievable public policy objective
• Promote a public systems fix that CFNJ and partners have the tools/standing to influence
• Reach a New Jersey community or group of people who are not being served or have historically been underserved.
• Leverage other private or public resources

Values

The work we support is:

• Community-driven, with input that comes from the community and take into account the expressed needs and plans of the community.
• Equity-informed, directly addressing racial, economic and/or social inequity in New Jersey.
• Diversely-led, drawing from a greater diversity of organizations that people of color, different ages and perspectives lead and/or serve, and that may or may not have proven track records but show promise in future work
• Broad-based, serving more than one community.
• Inclusive and Equitable

RSI Foundation Grant

Created from the merger between Columbia Bank and RSI Bank in 2022, the RSI Foundation’s purpose is to continue the tradition of community giving that was critical to RSI Bank.

RSI Foundation works together with Columbia Bank, Columbia Bank Foundation, community organizations and other charitable foundations to make a difference in the communities formerly served by RSI Bank.

Our philanthropic work is based in two areas of focus:

• Partnering with marginalized populations. We partner with groups helping those who may be unable to meet their basic needs due to physical, mental, economic, or social circumstances or constraints.
• Improving neighborhood quality of life. We support organizations, projects and initiatives that contribute to the health, happiness and well-being of people who live within the community.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

• Specific Community Need: The program/project addresses a specific need in the community and falls within the Foundation’s areas of focus.
• Measurable Impact: The program/project offers a clear, measurable impact or benefit to the community as a whole or a special segment of the population.
• Achievability: The program or project is achievable with the resources (staff/volunteer, financial, history of programs) of the organization.
• Realistic Expectations: The program or project has outlined a realistic goal, timeline, and reasonable budget.

Funding

Grant awards typically range between $2,500 – $25,000. Larger or smaller grant amounts may be considered by the Board but limited based on available funding.

MISSION

Dance/NYC's mission is to promote the knowledge, appreciation, practice, and performance of dance in the metropolitan New York City area. It embeds values of justice, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the organization.

Dance Advancement Fund

Made possible by the generous support of the Howard Gilman Foundation and Ford Foundation, Dance/NYC invited dance making organizations and groups based in the metropolitan NYC area with operating budgets of $25,000-$250,000 to submit applications for awards through the fourth iteration of the Dance Advancement Fund.

Selected dance-making organizations and groups received general operating support grants ranging from $6,000 to $40,000, awarded over a two-year period, including ongoing professional development from September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2026.

New Jersey Department of Health

The scope of work for the public health system is ever-expanding, and the Department is on the frontlines in leading the response to public health challenges. The Department has three primary branches – Public Health Services, Health Systems, and Integrated Health. All work collaboratively toward improving health by strengthening New Jersey’s health system.

Our Mission: Protect the public’s health, promote healthy communities, and continue to improve the quality of health care in New Jersey.

Shared Decision-Making Pilot Program NOFA

Purpose For Which The Grant Program Funds Shall Be Used

To implement shared decision-making (SDM) tools targeted to labor and delivery hospitals and to pregnant persons in New Jersey through the TeamBirth program. The goals of TeamBirth are to improve the patient's knowledge of best practice standards for maternity care; increase collaboration between the patient and health care provider; assist the patient in making informed decisions about maternity care; improve patient experience during maternity care; reduce adverse outcomes; promote health literacy. The grantee will use this funding to continue TeamBirth implementation and data collection with active sites and support start-up activities for TeamBirth in a new cohort of hospitals.

Grant Philosophy

The Korean American Community Foundation® (KACF) was founded in 2002 by a group of Korean American leaders in New York with a simple idea: philanthropy by and for the community. The goal was to address the chronic underinvestment in the Korean immigrant community by raising funds for programs serving under-resourced Korean American individuals and families, while also mobilizing community members to give and be part of a philanthropic movement.

Over the past 21 years, we have distributed $14 million in grants and supported nearly 400 projects helping low-income Korean and Asian American immigrants in the greater New York area. While we are continuing to fund in the greater New York area, we have recognized and heeded the call for funding support in other regions with large Korean American populations. To that end, we established a National Grants program to support projects that are aligned with our grantmaking goals: increasing the economic security of low-income Korean and Asian Americans. 

Community Grants (NY/NJ)

Community Grants are available to only organizations from New York and New Jersey. 

We are interested in projects that are looking to:

• provide services to address short- and long-term needs to achieve economic security (i.e. education, workforce development, public benefits counseling, affordable housing, healthcare, etc.)
• engage in community organizing and advocacy to address root causes of economic instability and poverty and/or advocate for systems change to ensure more resources are accessible to our community

We define economic security as having the resources to realize the full economic potential of individuals and families through educational attainment, meaningful employment, financial literacy, public benefits, access to affordable housing and home- ownership, and other pathways to immediate and long-term economic stability.

Funding

The maximum grant amount is $100,000. We provide general operating and program-specific support. An organization with a budget of $3 million or less may request general operating or program-specific support.

Community Grants are for a one-year period. Grantee partner organizations must re-apply each year up to a maximum of 3 consecutive years and then take a one-year mandatory “break”. Grantee partners are eligible to apply the following year. No organization will receive more than one Community Grant in any one grantmaking year. Community Grants are awarded once a year.

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.

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.

Independence Public Media Foundation

The Independence Public Media Foundation connects creators, industry experts, community organizations, and philanthropists to support community-driven media-making and storytelling. We’re committed to transforming the Greater Philadelphia region into a hub for community-owned media, redefining the role of community in philanthropy, and evolving to best meet the needs of the people we serve.

Community Voices Fund

About the Fund

Independence Public Media Foundation's (IPMF) Community Voices Fund supports creative, community-centered media and media-making across Greater Philadelphia..

Grant Awards

The Community Voices Fund will award one-year, non-renewable project grants at three different amounts:

• Level 1: $10,000
  • Typically geared toward new or smaller-scale projects, community engagement, or experimentation.
• Level 2: $20,000
  • Generally seeks to support larger-scale projects or collaborations that result in innovative media that builds stronger networks and collective power.
• Level 3: $30,000
  • Will support existing programs to expand, evolve, or deepen their work focused on movement building or new, larger-scale projects that result in innovative media that builds stronger networks and collective power.

Please consider what level of funding works best for your proposed project and the scale of the work. Proposals will only be considered for the level of funding you request, so be sure to make a strong case for that tier and your project's budget. Historically, the average Community Voices grant has been $20,000. 

About Our Local Arts Grants Program

In the spirit of our mission to build community through the arts, we offer Local Arts Grants to provide access to quality arts experiences in Morris County communities. Each year, the program supports more than 1,500 arts activities and programs that serve over 100,000 children and adults. 

This program is made possible by and is contingent on funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Local Arts Grant funding is available for Morris County organizations that provide the community with arts events that are artistically excellent, provide public benefit, and are accessible to the public. There are three types of grants available:

• General Operating Support (GOS) Grants for arts organizations.
• Special Project Support (SPS) Grants for other types of organizations that have significant arts programs.
• Mini Grants ($1,000) for art projects at new and emerging organizations. Organizations can apply for one Mini Grant per funding period. Mini Grants are intended as an introduction to the Local Arts Grant Program. A grant received in one year is no guarantee of subsequent funding. 

Applications are reviewed by an independent panel and funding awarded on a yearly basis.

New Jersey Historical Commission

The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency within the Department of State dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. All of its grant funding is provided by legislative appropriation.

The NJHC offers General Operating Support Grants, Project Grants, County History Partnership Grants and more to support a variety of programs and activities related to New Jersey history. It also offers prizes and free archival evaluation services through the Caucus Archival Projects Evaluation Service or CAPES.

Inclusive History Grants

Inclusive History Grants will fund the exploration of under-represented narratives in New Jersey history with a goal of expanding inclusive, community-centered interpretation and resources offered by historic sites and history organizations. Grants can be utilized in support of research and interpretative planning efforts that seek to tell a more diverse and complex story for a public audience.

The Inclusive History Grant Program was developed in alignment with Revolution NJ’s Strategic and Interpretive Frameworks. Grants will actively address the initiative’s goals to:

• Tell a diverse and inclusive story about America’s past that invites participation from all New Jerseyans.
• Encourage the growth of organizational capacity at New Jersey’s history organizations so that they are better able to attract, engage, and serve visitors, both during and after Revolution NJ.
• Demonstrate how understanding the complexity of our history helps us to respond to the present and prepare for the future.

About

"Enriching people's lives" is the global vision of Nissan and all its operating companies across the world. Nissan supports this vision by improving the quality of life in the communities where it operates.

Two impactful programs for our communities:

• Nissan Foundation
  • Since 1992, the Nissan Foundation has awarded millions of dollars to 150+ organizations promoting respect and understanding of America's rich cultural heritage.
• Nissan Neighbors
  • Nissan Neighbors provides charitable giving and employee volunteer support for initiatives in education, environmental sustainability, and humanitarian services.

Nissan Foundation

Nissan formed the Nissan Foundation in 1992 in response to the civil unrest that occurred near its then U.S. sales operations following the Rodney King trial verdict. Since its founding, the Nissan Foundation has annually awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to nonprofit organizations that support the Foundation’s mission.

The primary mission of the Nissan foundation is to award grants to nonprofit organizations whose programs explore and celebrate cultural diversity and heritage.

The NRA Foundation: New Jersey Grants

Grant funding provided by The NRA Foundation must meet all NRA Foundation requirements and be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials. Eligibility and funding amount are determined solely by the Foundation.

Grant requests must conform to, and foster the purposes in, The NRA Foundation’s mission statement, such as:

• Promote, advance, and encourage firearms, the shooting sports, and hunting safety.
• Educate individuals, including the youth of the United States, with respect to firearms, firearms history, participation in the shooting sports, hunting safety, and marksmanship, as well as with respect to other subjects that are of importance to the well-being of the general public.
• Conduct research in furtherance of improved firearms safety and marksmanship facilities and techniques.
• Support activities of the National Rifle Association of America, to the extent that such activities are in furtherance of charitable, educational, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code which includes activities that are charitable, educational, or foster National or International sports competition.

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.