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Salem Health And Wellness Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.8M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $813,389 (2023 charitable disbursements)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (Foundation notes it can fund "only a fraction" of requests)
  • Decision Time: Up to 2 months
  • Grant Range: $3,000 (mini-grants) to $100,000+ (public health grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Salem County, New Jersey

Contact Details

Website: https://salemwellnessfoundation.org/

Phone: 856-299-4460

Email: info@salemwellnessfoundation.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 295, Pennsville, NJ 08070

Physical Address: 91-A South Virginia Avenue (Route 130), Carneys Point, NJ 08069

Online Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=salemwellnessfoundation

Overview

The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation was founded in 2002 when Community Health Systems acquired Memorial Hospital of Salem County, with proceeds from that transaction establishing the foundation's endowment. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded over $59 million in grants, contributions, and scholarships to more than 60 organizations serving Salem County, New Jersey. With total assets of $37.6 million as of 2023, the foundation focuses exclusively on promoting the health and wellness of Salem County's approximately 65,000 residents. The foundation's strategic approach emphasizes the Social Determinants of Health and protective factors, using a strengths-based rather than deficit-based framework. In 2019, the foundation made its largest commitment ever—$29 million in grants and loans to support the acquisition and renovation of Memorial Hospital of Salem County, representing a 170% increase over all grants awarded in the foundation's first 15 years. Recent initiatives include the Salem Smart Start for Parents and Children program and a Public Health Fellowship, both launched to address Salem County's persistently low health outcomes for children and families.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Mini-Grant Program: Up to $3,000 Small-scale programming or short-term projects (6 months or less) that promote health and wellness of Salem County residents. Open application process through online portal.

Matching Gift Program: Up to $3,000 Annual program to help organizations build their donor base. General operating funds can be used as a match for other grant awards from government or philanthropic sources. Application cycle typically announced annually.

Public Health Grants: $20,000 - $100,000+ Larger system improvement and transformation projects based on Social Determinants of Health. These grants address physical, psychological, and social well-being and safety. For the vast majority of these grants, the foundation approaches organizations directly by invitation. Occasionally offers open calls for targeted projects.

Event Sponsorship: Up to $1,000 Available to eligible nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations for events held in Salem County. Organizations limited to one sponsorship per calendar year. Must impact health and wellness issues related to Salem County.

Salem Smart Start for Parents and Children: Variable amounts Initiative to improve health, safety, and well-being outcomes for young parents and their children, addressing Salem County's low Kids Count rankings. Involves planning and implementation grants.

Salem Public Health Fellowship: Details not publicly specified Fellowship program reviewed in 2024 annual report; contact foundation for specific details.

Priority Areas

The foundation's funding decisions are informed by the Social Determinants of Health, which include:

  • Economic stability
  • Education access and quality
  • Health care access and quality
  • Neighborhood and built environment
  • Social and community context

The foundation also emphasizes Five Protective Factors and seeks projects that:

  • Enhance, improve, and transform the health, safety, and well-being of Salem County residents
  • Are responsive to community needs and strengths
  • Address health disparities in Salem County
  • Promote collaborative partnerships among community-based and faith-based organizations
  • Have measurable impact on improved health or wellness outcomes
  • Support vulnerable populations including senior citizens, disabled residents, parents, and young children

Recent funded projects include:

  • Meals on Wheels home-delivered meals ($100,000)
  • Salem Community College Foundation nursing scholarships ($138,000)
  • Salem County EMS Academy ($41,482)
  • Food Bank of South Jersey Healthy Living Initiative
  • Habitat for Humanity Handyman Revitalization Program
  • Bancroft Health & Wellness Center
  • Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative ($25,000 planning grant)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly listed on the foundation's website, key restrictions include:

  • Organizations or programs not serving Salem County, New Jersey residents
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations (except for eligible sponsorships)
  • Projects without clear health and wellness connections
  • Multiple sponsorships in the same calendar year to the same organization
  • Paper applications (online submission only)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Ann Marie Healy Heardman – Chair
  • Kathleen Lockbaum – Treasurer
  • Daniel Delaney – Secretary
  • Samantha Audia
  • Katelyn Dilks
  • Steve Hindman
  • Jeanette Jackson
  • Ina Jetter
  • Brittany Smith
  • Peggy White

Staff:

  • Paul DiLorenzo – Executive Director (since October 2022)
  • Emily Hernandez – Grants Manager

Leadership Philosophy:

Paul DiLorenzo replaced Brenda Goins, who served as Executive Director for 15 years. The foundation values "the ability of private philanthropy to serve a unique and ongoing role in our society and diligently attends to preserving and enhancing its financial corpus for future needs," demonstrating its commitment to perpetuity and long-term sustainability.

The board welcomed several new members in 2023, including Daniel Delaney (Attorney with the Law Office of Joseph Kelly), Jeanette Jackson, Kathleen Lockbaum, and Peggy White, reflecting the foundation's commitment to diverse community representation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online through the foundation's grant management system at: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=salemwellnessfoundation

Paper submissions are no longer processed.

Before Applying:

  1. Review General Eligibility Requirements on the foundation's website
  2. If uncertain about fit, call the foundation at 856-299-4460
  3. For returning applicants: Do not create a new organizational profile—use existing credentials or contact the foundation for password recovery

Public Health Grants: For larger grants, the foundation typically approaches organizations directly by invitation. Occasionally, open calls for proposals are issued for targeted projects. Organizations interested in public health grants should build relationships with foundation staff.

Application Reviews: The review process involves:

  1. Initial review by foundation staff
  2. Assessment by the Grantmaking Committee
  3. Final review and approval by the full Board of Trustees

Decision Timeline

The complete review process typically takes up to two months from submission to decision. The foundation emphasizes providing timely responses but notes that all proposals must go through the full review process.

Notification: Applicants are notified of decisions through the online grant management system and may receive follow-up communications from foundation staff.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publish specific success rate statistics. However, they explicitly state on their website: "the Foundation is able to fund only a fraction of the requests that are reviewed." They emphasize that rejection "doesn't mean the program isn't good. Most often it is simply a factor of many more worthy requests than we are able to support."

Context: With approximately $470,000 in annual grants awarded in 2024 (excluding the exceptional $29 million hospital commitment), competition for funding is significant.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not explicitly state restrictions on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations with ongoing relationships with the foundation are encouraged to maintain communication with staff and may reapply for future grant cycles.

For the Matching Gift Program, the foundation accepts applications annually, suggesting organizations can apply each year.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

The foundation provides a comprehensive "Guide to Submitting a Winning Application" with the following recommendations:

1. Master the Guidelines "Read the Request for Proposal (RFP) or General Guidelines (GG)" thoroughly, highlighting relevant sections and taking detailed notes before writing.

2. Assess Organizational Fit "Know if your organization will be the right fit—knowing your strengths and limitations going in makes it more likely that you will go for projects that are appropriate and thus get funded." Call the foundation if uncertain about project eligibility.

3. Follow All Instructions Complete required sections thoroughly, particularly evaluation plans and community partnership descriptions. "It is imperative that you are thorough in completing these sections."

4. Write Clearly "Don't use acronyms, and if you must use them, spell them out when first used." Make the proposal "clear and as easy to read as possible," following the same structure as the guidelines.

5. Provide Substantive Content "If you say you have particular skills and experience, back it up with specifics and give details to support your claim." Avoid unsupported assertions.

6. Demonstrate Realism "The foundation is looking for realism—goals must be realistic, and don't be afraid to share your challenges, as foundations invest in risky projects as long as the assumptions make sense."

7. Consider Strategic Partnerships "Funders like to see collaborative partnerships especially with other community-based or faith-based organizations if the partnerships bring added value to the project." Smaller organizations should partner with experienced groups to fill expertise gaps; larger organizations should seek partners extending their reach.

8. Get External Review "Have someone outside your organization review the completed proposal against the RFP/GG guidelines before submission for a fresh perspective."

Examples of Funded Projects

Recent successful grants demonstrate the foundation's priorities:

  • Meals on Wheels ($100,000): Addressing wait lists for home-delivered meals to seniors and disabled residents
  • Salem Community College Foundation ($138,000): Nursing scholarships to address healthcare workforce needs
  • Salem County EMS Academy ($41,482): Training emergency medical personnel
  • Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative ($25,000): Planning grant for Salem Smart Start initiative addressing maternal and child health
  • YMCA of Salem County ($21,700): Health and wellness programming

These projects share common elements: clear community need, measurable outcomes, addressing Social Determinants of Health, and serving vulnerable populations.

Language and Terminology

The foundation consistently uses:

  • "Health and wellness" rather than just "health"
  • "Social Determinants of Health" as a guiding framework
  • "Protective factors" and "strengths-based" approaches
  • "Community needs and strengths" (not deficits)
  • "System improvement and transformation"
  • "Greatest possible impact"

Successful applicants should frame proposals using this language and demonstrating understanding of these frameworks.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: All programs must serve Salem County, New Jersey residents. The foundation will not consider projects outside this geographic area.

  • Small grants are accessible; large grants often require invitation: The mini-grant and matching gift programs (up to $3,000) are open application processes, while larger public health grants ($20,000+) are typically by invitation. Build relationships with foundation staff if seeking larger grants.

  • Use the Social Determinants of Health framework: Structure proposals around one or more of the five domains (economic stability, education, healthcare access, neighborhood/environment, social/community context). This is the foundation's primary decision-making lens.

  • Emphasize partnerships and collaboration: The foundation strongly values projects involving multiple organizations, particularly community-based and faith-based partnerships. Demonstrate how collaboration adds value beyond what your organization could achieve alone.

  • Be realistic and transparent: The foundation explicitly states they "invest in risky projects as long as the assumptions make sense." Don't oversell your capabilities—acknowledge challenges and demonstrate realistic planning.

  • Call before applying if uncertain: The foundation encourages potential applicants to contact them at 856-299-4460 to discuss fit before investing time in a full application. This demonstrates their accessibility and interest in appropriate matches.

  • Competition is intense: With the ability to fund "only a fraction" of requests and approximately $470,000 in annual general grantmaking, proposals must demonstrate exceptional impact and clear alignment with priorities. Rejection often reflects resource limitations rather than project quality.

References

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