Best Middlesex County Grants for Nonprofits in New Jersey

The SMART FY26 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program aims to enhance sex offender registration and notification practices across jurisdictions in the U.S. By supporting the implementation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), this grant facilitates the establishment of comprehensive sex offender registries, ensuring that states, territories, and federally recognized tribes comply with federal standards. This initiative also promotes interjurisdictional information exchange and helps maintain public safety.

The NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Human Trafficking funding opportunity aims to support comprehensive research and evaluation projects. It focuses on preventing human trafficking, assessing the impact of federal policies, and enhancing services for victims. This initiative, led by the National Institute of Justice in partnership with the Office for Victims of Crime, seeks to generate insights that can inform better responses to human trafficking in the U.S.

Ignite Your Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Lead the future of innovation at your higher education institution with the Ecosystem Futures Fellowship. This fellowship is an evolution of our Course & Program Grants that focuses on scalable science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystem solutions through the lens of environmental and social sustainability and inclusive innovation. This program offers professional development, immersive learning experiences, and a supportive community of leaders. It enhances the role of faculty and higher education leaders as ecosystem builders in partnership with industry and government.

VentureWell Ecosystem Futures Fellowship

The Ecosystem Futures Fellowship is a one-year program that aims to strengthen campus innovation and entrepreneurship. This fellowship enhances both in-class and out-of-class student engagement and institutional culture by growing ecosystem networks. Teams of two will receive $30,000 in funding—a $10,000 award and $5,000 in travel stipends for each fellow—and 12 months of immersive programming and communities of practice.

The Ecosystem Futures Fellowship is a one-year experience that supports higher education leaders in advancing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystem growth centered on environmental and social sustainability and inclusive innovation.

What types of projects are eligible?

Projects should focus on STEM I&E ecosystem expansion, addressing significant social, health, or environmental challenges. Your STEM I&E ecosystem growth goals might align well with the fellowship if they are similar to one of the following:

• Building out a degree pathway that incorporates I&E into STEM disciplines
• Creating or revising courses that focus on STEM I&E through a social and environmental sustainability lens—these should be courses that make connections to I&E beyond the course in order to provide more robust I&E opportunities to a diverse population of students (community-engaged learning, internships, industry partnerships, etc.)
• Connecting existing courses to campus and off-campus extracurricular and co-curricular activities
• Designing new extracurricular and co-curricular I&E activities that connect to community partners
• Working with government, industry, or other community collaborators to expand STEM I&E activities on and off campus for students and other campus collaborators
• Working with administration on campus to change policies or systems that hinder STEM I&E activities on campus (promotion and tenure requirements, tech transfer opportunities, IP policies, etc.)
• Breaking down silos on campus in order to grow connections between disciplines and learning opportunities beyond the classroom
• Strengthening research translation and innovation development opportunities that work to solve the world’s most difficult problems

What support is provided besides funding?

• Mentorship from experienced industry experts.
• Access to a resource library and a collaborative network of STEM educators and students.
• Participation in on-campus immersive experiences, communities of practice, and VentureWell’s annual conferences.

History of AHTF

In the beginning, AHTF’s founders recognized that hand therapy was needed and worked; however, research to support that belief was limited.

The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) was founded in 1977. By the 1980’s hand therapy was growing fast and clinical knowledge of hand care lead to remarkable improvements in the treatment of diseased and injured hands. With improvements, however, came the increased need to further substantiate hand therapy practice.

Tri-Alliance Grant Honoring ASHT Founders

Purpose

To fund impactful research in all levels of experimental quantitative research, including systematic reviews, as well as qualitative research. The AHTF has the responsibility of verifying the appropriateness of the proposed research.

Types of Studies

Grant proposals are accepted for research within any domain of hand therapy. Randomized or experimental study designs, including quantitative, mixed methods, or qualitative designs that aim to advance the clinical practice of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. Ideally, applications should target categories of research identified as part of the current AHTF research priorities.

History of AHTF

In the beginning, AHTF’s founders recognized that hand therapy was needed and worked; however, research to support that belief was limited.

The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) was founded in 1977. By the 1980’s hand therapy was growing fast and clinical knowledge of hand care lead to remarkable improvements in the treatment of diseased and injured hands. With improvements, however, came the increased need to further substantiate hand therapy practice.

Burkhalter New Investigator Grant for Clinical Research in Hand & Upper Limb Rehabilitation

Purpose

In 1993, the AHTF established a grant in honor of Dr. William Burkhalter (1928-1992), a long-time advocate and promoter of hand therapy. The purpose of the award is to support scientific clinical research in the field of hand and upper limb rehabilitation.

Types of Studies

Experimental, non-experimental, pilot studies, quasi-experimental, measurement, or qualitative studies designed to advance the clinical practice of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation in categories identified by the AHTF research priorities will be considered.

History of AHTF

In the beginning, AHTF’s founders recognized that hand therapy was needed and worked; however, research to support that belief was limited.

The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) was founded in 1977. By the 1980’s hand therapy was growing fast and clinical knowledge of hand care lead to remarkable improvements in the treatment of diseased and injured hands. With improvements, however, came the increased need to further substantiate hand therapy practice.

Judy Bell-Krotoski "Grab the Evidence" Grant

Purpose

In 2003, AHTF awarded the first “Grab the Future” Grant. This name was changed in 2005, in response to the growing need to fund basic research science and evidence-based studies in hand and upper limb rehabilitation.

The purpose of the award as designed is to serve as a catalyst for a skilled researcher and/or research team to develop their role as principal investigators and to provide seed money for procurement of larger external funding. 

Types of Studies

Experimental studies, pilot studies, or systematic reviews/meta-analyses which support the evidence of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation in the diagnostic categories identified by the AHTF research priorities or by the specific donor’s research priorities will be considered.

The OVC FY 2026 Specialized Human Trafficking Assistance program provides critical funding to enhance the capacity of multidisciplinary anti-trafficking task forces and legal service providers. This initiative aims to strengthen the Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) through specialized training, ensuring effective identification and support for victims of human trafficking. By focusing on victim-centered investigations and successful prosecution of traffickers, this funding opportunity aligns with the U.S. Department of Justice’s mission to protect citizens and combat violent crime.

The National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) invites applications to digitize historically significant newspapers published between 1690 and 1963 across the U.S. This initiative by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress aims to create a comprehensive online database accessible to the public. Successful applicants will convert approximately 100,000 pages into digital format over two years, following specific technical guidelines. This program enhances access to vital historical resources for research and education.

The Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act (SIPPRA) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury aims to enhance social service effectiveness through innovative funding strategies. Established in 2018, SIPPRA encourages state and local governments to apply for awards that redirect funds from ineffective programs to those that yield measurable outcomes. By promoting public-private partnerships and performance-based funding, SIPPRA seeks to address critical social issues and improve the lives of families and individuals in need.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is launching a funding opportunity for the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD). This program aims to foster multidisciplinary research on FASD, addressing critical needs such as early identification, intervention development, and mechanisms of alcohol exposure effects. By supporting integrated projects within the CIFASD consortium, the initiative seeks to enhance understanding and reduce the impact of FASD through coordinated research efforts.

The Community Development Block Grant Program for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages aims to foster the development of viable communities by providing funding for housing, living environments, and economic opportunities, primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income individuals. The program is competitive, offering both single-purpose and imminent threat grants to address urgent public health and safety issues, ensuring that tribes can improve their community welfare effectively.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching the Centers for Research on Neglected Infectious Diseases (CReNIDs) to enhance research on neglected infectious diseases (NIDs). This initiative aims to tackle substantial health challenges posed by communicable viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, especially in endemic regions. By fostering multidisciplinary research and sustainable local capacities, the program seeks to improve health outcomes and mitigate the spread of these diseases, ultimately safeguarding public health in the U.S. and globally.

About AOTF

Established in 1965, AOTF is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. We serve as the premier resource for occupational therapy research and scholarship, working alongside researchers, educators, practitioners, community partners, and students to build evidence-based practice that improves lives.

As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to advancing occupational therapy science, we bridge the critical gap between innovative research and real-world practice. Our work ensures that occupational therapy interventions are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence, ultimately improving outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

Community Engaged Research Grant (NBCOT®)

Background

It is imperative that occupational therapy research is grounded in the priorities and lived experiences of the individuals it aims to serve, particularly for historically marginalized or underrepresented communities.

Community-engaged research is a collaborative approach that establishes equitable and meaningful partnerships between researchers, community members, service providers, and other stakeholders throughout all phases of the research process. It centers on addressing community-identified priorities and co-creation of research that produces mutually beneficial outcomes.

By ensuring that research is culturally relevant, contextually appropriate, and responsive to community priorities, this approach enhances its impact while improving health, participation, and quality of life.

Program Mission

The Community Engaged Research Grant program supports studies that apply rigorous qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies to address research priorities and service or knowledge gaps identified in partnership with communities.

AOTF emphasizes the importance of equitable partnerships in which power, decision-making, and responsibility are shared between researchers, practitioners, community-based organizations, people with lived experience, and other relevant partners.

By fostering these inclusive practices, AOTF aims to ensure that occupational therapy scholarship remains scientifically rigorous, equitable, and responsive to the real-world needs of diverse communities.

Funding Priorities

All proposed projects must: 

• Be led by a community-academic partnership.
• Identify at least one community member as a Co-Investigator.
• Demonstrate meaningful and equitable engagement of community partners.
• Include a plan to compensate community partners.
• Address potential barriers to engagement
• Clearly align with the scope of occupational therapy practice.
• Focus on original research.

About AOTF

Established in 1965, AOTF is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. We serve as the premier resource for occupational therapy research and scholarship, working alongside researchers, educators, practitioners, community partners, and students to build evidence-based practice that improves lives.

As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to advancing occupational therapy science, we bridge the critical gap between innovative research and real-world practice. Our work ensures that occupational therapy interventions are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence, ultimately improving outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

AOTF President’s Award

The President’s Award honors and recognizes Pi Theta Epsilon chapters that organize and implement outstanding scholarly activities. This award celebrates chapters whose events increase knowledge, develop professional skills, and help advance the occupational therapy profession.

Review Process: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with an annual review beginning January 31. The national PTE Executive Board evaluates all submissions.

Multiple Awards: When appropriate, a second award may be considered to distinguish outstanding individual and interchapter accomplishments.

About AOTF

Established in 1965, AOTF is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization. We serve as the premier resource for occupational therapy research and scholarship, working alongside researchers, educators, practitioners, community partners, and students to build evidence-based practice that improves lives.

As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to advancing occupational therapy science, we bridge the critical gap between innovative research and real-world practice. Our work ensures that occupational therapy interventions are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence, ultimately improving outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

PTE Grant for Excellence in Interchapter Collaboration

The PTE Grant for Excellence in Interchapter Collaboration honors and recognizes Pi Theta Epsilon chapters that excel in creating meaningful partnerships with other chapters. This award celebrates collaborative efforts that support PTE’s mission and expand the impact of scholarly activities across multiple institutions.

This grant recognizes interchapter collaborations that:

• Support and advance the Pi Theta Epsilon mission
• Increase knowledge in occupational therapy
• Develop professional skills among members
• Contribute to the advancement of the OT profession
• Foster connections between chapters and institutions

Collaboration Definition: Activities organized and implemented by two or more Pi Theta Epsilon chapters working together toward a common scholarly goal.

Examples of Qualifying Collaborations:

• Joint events or conferences
• Collaborative workshops
• Co-authored educational or scholarly papers
• Virtual symposiums
• Multi-chapter research initiatives
• Regional or national networking events

The BJA FY 2026 Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Program offers vital funding to support legal assistance for tribal members and justice systems in rural areas of the U.S. This initiative aims to enhance legal services where they are scarce, providing training and technical assistance for tribal courts and justice operations. Key focuses include veterans' legal aid, addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and implementing the Violence Against Women Act.

The BJA FY 2026 Justice Reinvestment Initiative aims to enhance state and local operations to effectively reduce crime and recidivism. This funding opportunity encourages state, local, and tribal governments to optimize resource allocation within the justice system, targeting urgent challenges through data-driven project proposals. By addressing areas such as law enforcement, prosecution, and probation, applicants can focus on strategies that maximize public safety and reduce the inefficient use of funds.

The Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot aims to empower American scientists and engineers in the super intelligence (SI) revolution by inviting applications from U.S. higher education institutions. This initiative focuses on developing innovative doctoral training programs integrating SI with other scientific disciplines. Participants will gain valuable research experience through collaborations with DOE National Laboratories and industry, preparing them as the next generation of skilled Ph.D. scientists and engineers to tackle pressing national science and technology challenges.

The Heliophysics Low-Cost Access to Space (H-LCAS) program, under NASA, aims to foster innovative technologies and instruments for flight investigations utilizing sounding rockets, high-altitude balloons, and CubeSats. By advancing Heliophysics science, H-LCAS provides critical pathways for technology maturation and suborbital demonstrations. Proposals should align with the National Research Council's Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space Physics, emphasizing societal applications and supporting human exploration initiatives.

The OJJDP FY 2026 Emergency Planning for Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities program aims to enhance emergency preparedness in juvenile justice facilities across the country. This funding opportunity supports the development and implementation of comprehensive emergency plans that prioritize the safety of youth and staff, ensure effective communication with families, and maintain operational continuity during crises. By empowering facilities to improve their response and recovery capabilities, the program seeks to mitigate risks associated with emergencies, whether natural or man-made.

The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research offers the Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarships for doctoral candidates, providing up to $15,000 annually. This scholarship supports students who have completed their coursework and exams, aiming to foster impactful research careers in physical therapy. Applicants may receive a total of $30,000 during their candidacy phase, with a maximum of $45,000 throughout their doctoral program. This initiative prioritizes academic excellence and alignment with APTA research priorities.

The USGS is providing a funding opportunity through the Cooperative Agreement for a CESU partner to conduct essential research on North American amphibian populations. This initiative aims to quantify current trends and assess management interventions. Collaborative efforts with USGS partners will focus on model development, distribution methods, and decision tools for endangered amphibians, ensuring effective conservation strategies are implemented on DOI lands.

This cooperative agreement aims to address the challenge of invasive plant control under rising temperatures in the Northeast. It will synthesize practitioner knowledge and scientific research to enhance treatment strategies for invasive species, aligning with federal priorities on environmental resilience and scientific leadership. The project will support resource managers by developing actionable data and tools to effectively mitigate invasive species threats, thereby safeguarding native ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) aims to enhance its mission through the Implementation and Evaluation of Databases to Examine AIDS Consortium. This initiative merges clinical, genomic, and epidemiologic data to foster evidence-based research and implementation science. By leveraging advanced data science and AI technologies, the consortium addresses HIV morbidity and mortality, improving prevention and treatment strategies. This work aligns with the U.S. Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, ensuring impactful contributions to public health.

Stop School Violence SAFE NJ

The Stop School Violence (SSV)- SAFE NJ program is the first-of-its-kind trauma-informed, human and healing-centered approach anonymous reporting system (ARS) and school safety program for students, staff, families, and communities. SSV meets the needs of families by providing access and linkages to basic, crisis, and mental health resources while ensuring the privacy and dignity all people deserve. SAFE NJ has the full capabilities, safeguards, and escalation procedures of an ARS, while keeping incidents managed locally, and reducing the lift on exhausted school personnel. The SAFE NJ app teaches students about the importance of asking for help as a life skill. Everyone in the community (students, staff, families) is encouraged to ask for help for themselves and others involved in the school community at the earliest point possible. 

The OJP FY 2026 Integrity in American Elections Grant Program aims to enhance election integrity across the United States. This initiative, supported by the US Department of Justice, focuses on empowering state and local prosecutors to effectively prevent and prosecute voter fraud and maintain the integrity of voter rolls. By safeguarding elections against illegal voting and registration practices, this program is vital for upholding public confidence in democratic processes and ensuring that every American's vote counts.

The Fiscal Year 2027 Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program allocates $250 million to enhance public safety through advanced UAS Detection, Identifying, Monitoring, Tracking, and Mitigation technologies. This funding focuses on supporting law enforcement agencies in safeguarding critical infrastructure and public events, particularly the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles, designated as a National Special Security Event. The program aims to build national detection capacity and ensure effective interagency coordination.