Best Foundation Grants for Nonprofits in New Jersey

The Emergency/Medical Workers Behavioral Health Fund aims to support emergency workers facing trauma and anxiety due to their roles. Established by the HealthWell Foundation, it provides financial assistance for treatment-related costs, including copayments for prescription drugs, counseling, and transportation. In 2024, the Foundation awarded over $1.2 billion to underinsured patients, ensuring no one is denied essential healthcare due to financial barriers. This initiative helps address the critical mental health needs of those who serve on the front lines.

The Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance, funded by the Agricultural Marketing Service, aim to support eligible organizations in enhancing cold storage capabilities within the food supply chain. This initiative focuses on providing essential nutrition assistance to low-income individuals through subawards to food banks and nonprofit organizations. By investing in cold storage equipment, the program seeks to improve the management and distribution of food resources, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive adequate support.

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.

Rural Health Transformation Program: Improving Chronic Disease Outcomes in Rural New Jersey

The Division of Health Promotion, through its Community Health and Wellness Unit (CHWU), announces the availability of funding awarded to the State under the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Grant Program. This funding opportunity is designed to support innovative and sustainable strategies that improve chronic disease outcomes, increase access to quality healthcare services, address health disparities, and strengthen healthcare systems in rural communities.

The grant seeks to advance community-driven solutions that promote health equity, improve health outcomes, and enhance care coordination across rural health systems.

Purpose and Goals

The purpose of the Rural Health Transformation Grant is to support projects that transform rural healthcare delivery by addressing systemic challenges and community-identified needs. Grant goals include, but are not limited to:

• Improving access to healthcare services in rural and underserved areas
• Strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure and workforce capacity
• Enhancing care coordination and integration of services
• Addressing SDOH impacting rural populations
• Promoting preventive care, wellness, and chronic disease management

Proposed Grant Activities

• Activity 5.2a: NJ Rural Southern Physical Activity and Nutrition Program (NJ R-SPAN)
• Activity 5.2b: Umbrella Hub Organization
• Activity 5.3b: Enhancing Rural Cancer-Focused Healthcare (ERCH)
• Activity 5.3c: Rural Pharmacy Medication Management Therapy Program
• Activity 5.3d: Rural Health Screening and Education
• Activity 5.4b: Safe Communities: Youth Violence Prevention in Rural Communities

Activity 5.3b: Enhancing Rural Cancer-Focused Healthcare (ERCH)

Program Goals: The Enhancing Rural Cancer Healthcare program aims to implement sustainable policy, systems, and environmental change approaches across the rural areas of 8 Regional Chronic Disease Coalitions to reduce the burden of cancer and other chronic and reproductive diseases. There will also be a focus on supporting/providing cancer survivorship care to residents of rural areas. Residents of the rural areas served by this project will receive culturally specific cancer education, outreach, referrals to appropriate screening services, and survivorship care services. These project efforts may reduce cancer incidence and mortality in rural New Jersey.

• Objective 1.1: Reduce cancer mortality and morbidity in New Jersey rural communities.
• Objective 1.2: Establish PSE change strategies to improve the health and well-being of New Jersey rural communities with relation to cancer primary prevention, early detection, and survivorship.
• Objective 1.3: Increased education, outreach, and screening within rural communities related to various cancer, chronic, and reproductive diseases.

The Medical and Graduate Student Preceptorship provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in rheumatology through either clinical or research experiences lasting 4 to 8 weeks. Participants will observe practices in a shadowing role, gaining invaluable insights without direct patient management. The program supports students with financial awards of $2,000 or $4,000, depending on the duration of their preceptorship, and includes additional funds for travel expenses to attend professional conferences.

The Paul L. Busch Award, provided by the Water Research Foundation, honors individuals for innovative research in water quality. This prestigious award supports promising researchers with a $100,000 grant to advance their work. The selection process is inclusive, with no restrictions based on race, gender, or nationality, and encourages applications from diverse candidates. Recipients are expected to collaborate with U.S.-based organizations, fostering practical applications of their research in the water environment.

The W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award, administered by the AEESP Foundation, recognizes outstanding graduate students in environmental engineering and science whose research enhances wastewater management knowledge. This prestigious annual award offers a $1,500 honorarium and a plaque for winners, along with a $500 travel stipend for attending the AAEES awards ceremony. Eligible candidates include both Master’s and Ph.D. students who demonstrate exemplary academic performance and innovative research contributions.

About Legacy Foundation

Legacy Foundation is the community foundation for Lake County, Indiana. We connect people, knowledge, and funding to build an equitable, accessible, and inclusive Lake County, now and for generations to come.

Legacy Foundation is supported by a broad base of individuals, families, and businesses connected by the desire to improve Lake County, Indiana. With a growing portfolio of over 300 funds and approximately $80 million in assets, Legacy Foundation is a trusted source for philanthropic giving in the region.

For over 30 years, Legacy Foundation has been empowering people, providing strategic leadership, and impactful philanthropic support to create an equitable Lake County where all people thrive.

Mission Statement

Transforming Lake County by providing strategic leadership and impactful philanthropic support to ensure equitable opportunity for all communities that we serve.

Vision Statement

Create an equitable Lake County where all people thrive.

Highland Orchestra Scholarship

Use the chart below to see which scholarships are the best fit for you! You must complete the Legacy Universal Application to apply.

Scholarship eligibility requires students to attend an accredited 2 or 4 year public or private institution of higher learning. All scholarships are for full-time students, unless otherwise noted. Renewable awards are for 4 years of undergraduate study and cannot be used for post graduate coursework; all awards are paid directly to the school or may be used for book reimbursement.

About Us

The Recycling Partnership is a team of experts, practitioners, and thought leaders who are deeply invested in protecting our natural resources, creating more sustainable communities, and delivering on our mission of building a better recycling system. We work alongside communities, companies, and policymakers to enact meaningful change across the entire recycling industry.

We firmly believe that if you want to recycle, you should be able to recycle. A robust and accessible recycling system is how we achieve this goal. A better system will deliver the true economic and environmental benefits that our people, our communities, and our entire recycling industry deserve.

This is our mission. This is our purpose. This is who we are. 

Grants for Processors/Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF)

Designed to help equipment manufacturers and MRFs boost throughput and increase capacity. 

The Sustainable Forests and Communities Grant aims to foster environmentally and economically sustainable forest communities in the U.S., particularly where the Weyerhaeuser Family has interests. It prioritizes projects enhancing the environment, economy, and community through sustainable practices. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities operating in forested areas, focusing on integrated approaches that value forest ecosystem services. This initiative encourages local job creation, sustainable economic activities, and innovative partnerships to achieve sustainability goals.

The Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation Grant seeks to support innovative healthcare programs addressing critical needs in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and nearby communities. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations with a focus on healthcare, particularly in areas like psychiatry, renal services, and pediatric care. The foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrate sustainability and collaboration among agencies to enhance community health outcomes while avoiding funding for political, religious, or purely operational costs.

The J.R. Simplot Company Foundation Grant supports U.S. non-profit organizations focused on art, education, youth, community, and global food and agriculture. Established in 1929, the foundation is committed to enhancing community welfare through creative cultural endeavors, educational initiatives, health services, and youth programs. Applications are reviewed quarterly, ensuring a timely response to organizations dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities.

The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse Against Individuals with Disabilities and Deaf People Program aims to empower states, local and Tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations to provide crucial training and resources. This initiative focuses on addressing domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and caregiver abuse against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals, enhancing direct services and support for these vulnerable populations.

The Down Syndrome – Aim High Scholarship, offered by The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, empowers students pursuing careers in special education or therapy for individuals with Down Syndrome. This scholarship supports dedicated individuals committed to improving the lives of others through education and professional development. Since 1968, the foundation has focused on enhancing community well-being, making this scholarship a vital resource for aspiring professionals in the field.

The ANR Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship offers financial support to researchers focusing on arthritis and related autoimmune diseases. This initiative aims to cultivate future leaders in the field by providing fellowships that foster innovative research and exceptional training opportunities. Open to various research areas, including osteoarthritis and lupus, the fellowship seeks to empower physicians to advance their work and make impactful contributions to understanding these conditions.

The US Dept. of Health & Human Services, through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, is set to announce a funding opportunity focused on HIV research for pediatric and maternal populations. This initiative aims to foster innovative clinical trials addressing critical research areas in HIV, inviting collaborations from experts in various fields. Applications are not currently solicited, but potential applicants are encouraged to prepare for this opportunity.

The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation Grant supports the Armenian community in Armenia and the U.S., focusing on Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. The Foundation prioritizes education, healthcare, arts, and youth development through grants to registered non-profits. Proposals should demonstrate sustainability and community impact, with favorable consideration given to projects that engage local stakeholders and foster collaboration. Applications are accepted year-round, with a maximum funding limit of $10,000 for operational expenses.

The HEAL Initiative aims to identify new druggable targets for pain within the understudied proteome. This funding opportunity invites applications for pilot projects that generate preliminary data and tools for exploring these targets. The initiative seeks to enhance research on understudied proteins related to pain management, providing essential funding for biochemical and biological work. This NOFO is part of the NIH's broader effort to develop novel medications that address various aspects of opioid addiction and its consequences.

Morris Animal Foundation invites Established Investigators to submit pre-proposals for research focused on reptile and amphibian health. This initiative emphasizes the importance of animal health and welfare while facilitating impactful conservation efforts. Proposals must demonstrate clear animal health needs, collaborative strategies, and potential benefits to wildlife populations. Funding for these projects is anticipated to average around $100,000 over a maximum duration of 36 months, fostering innovative solutions for pressing health challenges in these species.

The Morris Animal Foundation invites research pre-proposals for the Wildlife Health (Reptile and Amphibian) - First Award, aimed at enhancing the health and welfare of amphibians and reptiles. This initiative focuses on impactful research, particularly in chytrid disease. Eligible applicants include early career researchers with appropriate qualifications and a clear understanding of animal health challenges. Projects should demonstrate collaboration with relevant stakeholders and provide direct benefits to wildlife populations, emphasizing conservation through an animal health perspective.

The Morris Animal Foundation is offering Pilot Study Awards focused on reptile and amphibian health and welfare, particularly for chytrid research. These awards aim to fund innovative, proof-of-concept studies that demonstrate a clear understanding of animal health issues and collaboration with stakeholders. Proposals must have a direct impact on wildlife populations and adhere to strict health study policies. The maximum funding is $20,000 for a duration of 12 months, ensuring significant contributions to wildlife health advancements.

The FY26 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) Therapeutic/Diagnostic Research Award aims to foster innovative therapeutic and diagnostic research for Lyme disease and other tick-borne conditions. This award supports early-stage drug discovery and evaluation studies, as well as novel diagnostic methods that can be seamlessly implemented in clinical environments, ultimately enhancing patient care and quality of life.

The Yocha Dehe Community Fund, established by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in 2000, supports initiatives that strengthen communities throughout Yolo County and beyond. With nearly $40 million in grants, the Fund prioritizes projects in health, education, Native arts, and environmental protection. The Tribe's commitment involves active participation in the grant process, ensuring impactful partnerships with various organizations. New applicants must register on the grant portal and submit a letter of inquiry to be considered for funding.

Young Health Programme

The Young Health Programme (YHP) is a global disease prevention initiative, aiming to provide education for young people to feel empowered to make informed choices about their health and catalyse a global, youth-led advocacy movement.

The programme operates in over 40 countries and partners with more than 60 non-profit organisations, including UNICEF and Plan International. The YHP combines community programmes, research, advocacy, and the development of young leaders, with a focus on underserved communities.

Since its launch in 2010, the YHP has directly reached over 23 million young people, trained over 1 million, and engaged more than 23,000 AstraZeneca employees, who have volunteered their time with more than 140,000 hours.

The YHP aims to prevent the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease, by addressing five main risk factors: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and air pollution. Additionally, the programme tackles climate-health impacts to build healthier communities, recognising, as projected in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, that children born after 2010 will be the first generation to enter adulthood in a world where the average temperature will reach 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and are expected to experience a +2°C rise within their lifetime.1

AstraZeneca Young Health Programme Impact Fellowship 2026

AstraZeneca is looking for passionate, driven young leaders to join their 2026 Young Health Programme (YHP) Impact Fellowship. The Fellowship supports young advocates to create actionable change to: 

• Advance health equity – with a focus on acting early to prevent non-communicable diseases among young people, or supporting young people living with rare diseases.
• Take action on climate and nature – advocating for the mitigation of the harmful effects of climate change on the health and well-being of young people.
• Build health systems resilience – contributing to stronger health systems that prioritise earlier intervention to meet today’s needs and mitigate tomorrow’s disease burden.

Benefits

The selected Fellows will gain access to networks, funding and development opportunities, enabling them to drive a global health movement led by and for young people:

A fully-funded scholarship to attend the 2026 One Young World Summit in Cape Town, South Africa (3–6 November 2026) as well as access to the One Young World Ambassador Network and the Young Health Programme (YHP) Alumni group of other young changemakers working to improve youth health.

Structured learning and development offerings to enable them to scale their impact, including both self-directed and live learning. This includes access to the One Young World Academy, an award-winning mini-MBA programme, mentorship from AstraZeneca colleagues and professional training.

Each selected Fellow will receive a grant of either USD $10,000 or USD $50,000 (if selected as the Lead2030 winner** for Sustainable Development Goal 3, for which applicants will be automatically considered) from AstraZeneca, through their non-profit organisation. Fellows are expected to use the grant to implement a project focused on either (1) advancing health equity (2) taking action on climate and nature (3) building health systems resilience.

The WWT Foundation Grant aims to empower organizations aligned with the foundation's values, focusing on community service, employee engagement, and business impact. Key areas of support include career readiness, STEM education, human services, and health and wellness. Eligible organizations must be located in the U.S. and registered as 501(c)(3). Applications are accepted year-round, allowing for flexible engagement and support for impactful community initiatives.

The John Lenard Civil Engineering Scholarship, established in 2008 by John Lenard, P.E., F.ASCE, supports undergraduate students pursuing civil engineering with a focus on water supply or environmental engineering. The scholarship aims to assist deserving students in covering tuition expenses. Awarded annually, it is limited to two recipients who demonstrate commitment to their field. The American Society of Civil Engineers, founded in 1852, oversees this scholarship, fostering excellence in civil engineering education.

BioMarin offers funding through its donation program focused on improving healthcare and patient advocacy, particularly for rare diseases. Organizations eligible for support include hospitals, accredited providers, and patient advocacy groups. BioMarin prioritizes innovative therapeutic solutions for rare genetic conditions. The company is dedicated to enhancing patient care and education, and it reviews funding requests year-round, although specific deadlines apply for year-end funding. This initiative reflects BioMarin's commitment to addressing unmet medical needs.

The Dawn Foods Foundation Corporate Grants program is dedicated to enhancing community well-being through strategic investments in key areas like hunger prevention, education, community vibrancy, and volunteerism. With a strong commitment to improving lives, the foundation supports initiatives that promote health, literacy, and creative arts, while also encouraging team members to engage in volunteer efforts. Though applications for 2025 are closed, opportunities will reopen in 2026.