Best Grants for Mentoring Programs in New Jersey

New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting children, education, or health and human services can seek program funding that may include youth mentoring from the Costco Foundation. Focused on evidence-based, community-supported initiatives, this grant supports monetary requests only and prioritizes programs demonstrating measurable outcomes and strong collaboration in communities where Costco operates.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting youth health, education, development, or welfare in New Jersey can seek funding for direct-service programs, including mentoring, enrichment, and early childhood development. The Dan Paul Foundation offers grants up to US $15,000 for initiatives such as child advocacy, homelessness and poverty services, refugee enrichment, environmental education, and related youth-focused efforts.

Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations using technology for education, crisis response, or economic empowerment programs in New Jersey can access funding through Cisco Systems Foundation, with awards up to US $100,000. Eligible programs must primarily serve economically underserved communities and may include tech-enabled tutoring, mentoring, skills training, or workforce readiness initiatives.

State Farm's Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants aim to enhance community safety, development, and education. Focused on long-term impact, they support initiatives in auto and home safety, disaster preparedness, affordable housing, and educational programs. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. However, funding is not available for individuals, religious programs, or organizations outside the U.S. By addressing critical community needs, these grants foster safer and more resilient neighborhoods.

Nonprofit cultural institutions in New Jersey offering impactful arts or science programming for broad U.S. audiences can seek more than US $100,000 for program, capital, or limited general support. William Randolph Hearst Foundation prioritizes arts education, artist development, and STEAM-focused science programs that engage young people and demonstrate measurable, sustainable results.

The Hearst Foundation's Social Service Grant focuses on tackling chronic poverty by funding direct-service organizations that implement effective solutions for economic independence and family strengthening. With a mission to support diverse nonprofits in the U.S., the Foundation allocates approximately 15% of its total funding to social services, prioritizing scalable programs that serve significant populations. The minimum grant size is $100,000, and special consideration is given to organizations addressing affordable housing, domestic violence, and youth development.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) entity, aims to enhance healthcare access and education for all. With grant opportunities focusing on food programs, healthcare services for underserved populations, and STEM initiatives, it seeks to support community health and well-being. Organizations eligible for funding must be U.S.-based and hold tax-exempt status. Requests are reviewed biannually, in March and September, to foster impactful community projects.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation provides grants to organizations focused on improving the lives of children in urban poverty in the U.S., India, and South Africa. They prioritize projects in education, health, and family economic stability. Grants typically do not exceed 25% of a project's budget or 10% of an organization's annual expenses. The foundation seeks to partner with organizations already making an impact, ensuring funding supports impactful social enterprises.

Nonprofit organizations providing health, education, or humanitarian services can apply for funding from the Semnani Family Foundation, which supports marginalized communities worldwide, including the U.S. Grants can assist programs in areas like healthcare access, disaster relief, child welfare, and social services, and New Jersey mentoring initiatives that intersect with these priorities may be eligible.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofits running charitable, educational, scientific, or health programs can access funding through the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust for work carried out in the U.S. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under federal law and, when applicable, California law, and demonstrate broad, meaningful impact on the communities they serve.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofits running community, education, or basic needs programs can access funding through Bank of America Foundation’s sponsorship program. Grants support efforts like workforce development, mentoring-related education, housing and shelters, hunger relief, arts and culture, environmental projects, and diversity and inclusion initiatives, which may benefit mentoring programs serving local residents.

Nonprofit organizations running tutoring, mentoring, or community programs in New Jersey can seek US $1,000 - US $20,000 to support youth, education, cultural, health, environmental, or social service initiatives. Grants from Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation help U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations where modest awards can make a significant impact.

The Spark Good: Strengthening Community Local Grants program by the Wal-Mart Foundation empowers local organizations through grants ranging from $250 to $5000. This initiative aims to enhance community welfare by supporting diverse projects, including animal shelters and educational programs. Eligible organizations must have a verified Spark Good account, ensuring funds are allocated effectively to meet local needs and foster community development. Together, we can create lasting impacts through small yet significant actions.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations addressing basic needs, community vitality, or volunteer-driven causes can apply for funding from Ameriprise Financial; programs must serve clients in the U.S., including New Jersey. Focus areas include hunger relief, shelter and supportive housing, adult self-sufficiency, community development, and cultural enrichment, with priority for sites engaging Ameriprise employee or advisor volunteers.

Postdoctoral researchers in autism-related biomedical or behavioral science can seek three-year research funding in New Jersey to support their transition to independent faculty roles. Focused on autism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and health disparities, the State of New Jersey Department of Health program may benefit mentoring-oriented research and training initiatives.

501(c)(3) nonprofits working on health, hunger, or everyday heroes initiatives in New Jersey and other Wawa market areas can apply for Wawa Foundation financial grants of more than US $2,500. With a mission to strengthen communities, Wawa Foundation provides funding for hospitals, hunger relief, first responders, veterans, and K–12 youth mentoring programs.

The Dr. Scholl Foundation offers grants annually to IRS 501(c)(3) organizations, primarily focusing on U.S. applicants. The foundation supports projects in education, social services, healthcare, civic and cultural initiatives, and environmental efforts. While the grant cycle runs from October 1 to March 1, it encourages innovative solutions to global challenges. Only one application per organization is accepted each year, and funding is limited to one year. Unqualified organizations, including political entities, are ineligible.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) organizations running education, tutoring, or mentoring programs for youth and economically or otherwise disadvantaged people can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $20,000. Focused on education, John Ben Snow Memorial Trust also considers related youth initiatives and community programs, with preference for new or expanded efforts and short-term support.

The J.W. Couch Foundation Grant focuses on supporting Wildlife Conservation nonprofit organizations that align with their mission of community betterment and environmental protection. The foundation seeks partnerships with organizations that promote animal wellbeing, early childhood education, teacher support, and outdoor activities. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)3 nonprofits or for-profit entities aligned with their charitable programs. This grant emphasizes collaboration and community engagement to create lasting impacts.

Organizations running youth mentoring and violence-prevention programs in rural New Jersey can apply for funding to deliver education, skill-building, and supportive relationships for at-risk youth. Grants from New Jersey Department of Health support evidence-informed mentoring, family engagement, and community collaboration efforts, with awards of US $710,000 for Activity 5.4b: Safe Communities projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public schools, and libraries seeking support for environmental or human services work in New Jersey can apply for unrestricted grants from the Lawrence Foundation. Focused on environment and community services, it offers US $5,000 - US $10,000 for operating or program costs; mentoring programs may be eligible if aligned.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving youth, families, and vulnerable communities can seek funding for education, mentoring, poverty relief, and related services from the Robinson Foundation. Grants from Robinson Foundation help New Jersey tutoring and mentoring programs, as well as other Southern-region states, address hardships through single-year, high-impact projects rather than capital needs.

Fall 2026 Early Childhood Education Funding Cycle

Overall Early Childhood Education Program Blueprint

The Stranahan Foundation’s Early Childhood Education grant program supports efforts to improve access to high-quality early care and education for young children (birth to five), especially those from low-income families. We do this by investing in strategies that strengthen, support, and retain a high-quality, thriving early educator workforce.

The Foundation has a history of supporting professional development (PD) and learning systems through its Provider strategy (). We believe strong professional development systems are essential for building a skilled early childhood workforce and creating positive learning environments for young children.

The Fall 2026 funding cycle is available for organizations that align with this Provider strategy.

Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity will provide up to $750,000 to support early childhood education providers in strengthening existing professional development (PD) systems. Funding is intended to improve a specific area of an established PD system—not to build a brand-new system from scratch or put the foundational elements in place.

What kind of improvements can funding support?

Organizations should focus their projects on strengthening their professional development systems. The Stranahan Foundation defines a strong professional development system as one that includes:

• Connect learning opportunities that build on one another over time.
• Use adult learning best practices.
• Align staff learning to educator competencies, credentials, career growth, or compensation.
• Provide learning experiences that are individualized, scaffolded, and responsive to educators’ needs, experience, and goals.
• Have dedicated leadership and organizational capacity to support ongoing implementation.

• Gather regular feedback from staff and families.
• Use standardized assessment and evaluation tools to understand what is working and where improvements are needed.
• Make ongoing improvements based on what is learned.
• Support reflective practice, peer learning, and collaborative inquiry among educators.

• Offer both individual and group learning opportunities, such as training, professional learning communities, coaching, and mentoring.
• Provide learning opportunities on an ongoing basis rather than in a one-and-done situation.
• Connect internal and external learning opportunities to make the best use of available resources.
• Support classroom implementation through observation, modeling, feedback, and continuous improvement cycles.

• Provide learning experiences that are practical, relevant, and easy to apply in daily work.
• Include fundamental topics such as family engagement, effective instruction, developmentally appropriate practice, and classroom management.
• Align with established standards, research, and effective practices in the early childhood field.
• Equip educators to support all learners, including multilingual learners, children with disabilities, and children impacted by trauma or adverse experiences.

Non-sectarian 501(c)(3) organizations or qualifying foreign nonprofits helping disadvantaged people become self-reliant can apply for Gupta Family Foundation’s US $5,000 - US $250,000 grants. Funding supports poverty alleviation, disability services, humanitarian aid, and human services in countries including the U.S.; New Jersey mentoring programs that fit this mission may be eligible.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering mentoring, tutoring, or related community programs can be nominated for Altra Foundation’s Best Life Community Awards, with grants from US $2,500 - US $10,000. Eligible organizations must impact Mercer County and work in areas like education, youth services, health, human services, or community strengthening.

With a mission to support broad charitable work, the Dudley T Dougherty Foundation provides New Jersey nonprofit organizations with funding for community services, environmental conservation, and peacebuilding initiatives. 501(c)(3) groups that incorporate tutoring, mentoring, or related youth support within these focus areas may be eligible to apply.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public schools, and eligible local government entities in New Jersey communities served by Georgia-Pacific facilities can seek funding for education, entrepreneurship, community enrichment, and environmental initiatives. Georgia-Pacific Foundation supports projects within 30 miles of a GP manufacturing community, which may include youth tutoring and mentoring components.