The Fund for New Jersey

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,300,000
• Total Assets: $59,800,000
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $250,000
• Typical Grant: $75,000 - $125,000
• Geographic Focus: New Jersey statewide
• Multi-Year Grants: Yes (3-year commitments available)
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle
• EIN: 22-1895028

Contact Details

Address: One Palmer Square East, Suite 303, Princeton, NJ 08542

Website: www.fundfornj.org

Application Method: Letter of Inquiry (currently suspended for unsolicited applications - check website for updates)

Note: The Fund typically responds to inquiries quarterly. Currently, the Fund awards grants by invitation only.

Overview

The Fund for New Jersey was established in 1958 as the Florence Murray Wallace Fund and incorporated in 1969 as successor to that original trust. Founded by Charles F. Wallace, inventor of an automatic chlorinating device used by municipal utilities, and his wife Florence Murray Wallace, a teacher and Quaker raised with strong values of social responsibility, the Fund has evolved from community giving to supporting agencies of social change, policy analysis, and research. With total assets of approximately $59.8 million and annual grantmaking of $4.3 million, the Fund works to improve the quality of public policy decision-making on the most significant issues affecting the people of New Jersey and the region. The Fund's grantmaking advances systemic and sustainable solutions to public problems through the work of policy, advocacy, analysis, and organizing. In December 2024, the Fund published "Crossroads NJ 2025," a comprehensive policy report highlighting urgent priorities for New Jersey's future, and President Brandon McKoy was appointed to Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill's transition team, demonstrating the Fund's influential role in state policy circles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Fund for New Jersey offers flexible grant structures:

• Operating Grants: $75,000 - $125,000 (general support for organizations working on policy change)
• Program Grants: $40,000 - $100,000 (for specific policy initiatives)
• Multi-Year Grants: Typically 3-year commitments ranging from $65,000 - $125,000 per year
• Capacity Building: $50,000 (occasional grants for organizational strengthening)

Recent notable grants include:

• $250,000 to Latino Action Network Foundation (January 2025)
• $140,000 to New Jersey Domestic Workers Coalition (distributed among seven organizations)
• $125,000 multi-year operating grants for environmental justice and immigrant rights work
• $100,000 operating grants to Education Law Center and Salvation and Social Justice
• $75,000 operating grant to Lead-Free New Jersey

Priority Areas

The Fund focuses on policy-oriented work in these interconnected areas:

Democracy and Civic Engagement

• Voting rights protection and expansion
• Immigrant rights and inclusive democracy
• Youth civic engagement (including work to lower voting age)
• Census education and participation
• Criminal justice reform

Environmental Justice

• Climate change and clean energy policy
• Environmental justice in infrastructure and policies
• Lead poisoning prevention
• Diesel emission reduction
• Beach replenishment and coastal resilience

Education Equity

• Equitable school funding advocacy
• School integration and diversity
• Student rights protection
• Addressing systemic racism in education

Economic Justice

• Workers' rights and protections
• Domestic workers' rights
• Affordable housing policy
• Paid family and medical leave
• Tax structure reform benefiting low-income families

Health and Community Well-being

• Affordable health care access
• Lead-free communities
• Public health policy

Cross-Cutting Themes: The Fund emphasizes grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, legal assistance, coalition building, and research that informs policy change. All work must advance racial justice, equity, and systemic change.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals: No grants to individuals
• Capital Projects: Building construction, renovations, or equipment purchases
• Direct Services: Rarely funded unless designed to support systemic change (e.g., demonstration projects to inform public policy)
• Local Activities: Rarely funded unless they serve as models for broader policy change
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
• Out-of-state organizations (unless work directly benefits New Jersey)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

• John W. Cornwall - Chair
• Feather Houstoun - Vice Chair
• Christopher Van Buren - Treasurer
• Jon S. Corzine - Trustee (former NJ Governor 2006-2010 and U.S. Senator 2001-2006; on board since 2018)
• Michellene Davis - Trustee
• John J. Farmer, Jr. - Trustee
• Anjum Gupta - Trustee
• Dr. Sadaf Jaffer - Trustee
• Lawrence S. Lustberg - Trustee
• Dr. Anastasia R. Mann - Trustee
• Amy B. Mansue - Trustee
• Alexander Shalom - Trustee

Staff

• Brandon McKoy - President (compensation: $255,000)
• Naeema Campbell - Program Officer
• Alana Vega - Program Officer
• Beauty Okunbor - Program Associate, Leonard Lieberman Philanthropy Fellow
• Nancy DeLaura - Operations Manager

Leadership Insights

President Brandon McKoy brings extensive policy experience, having previously led New Jersey Policy Perspective. He emphasizes the importance of hearing "from the people who live here" rather than just "special interest and well-funded corporations." McKoy states the Fund is "focused on improving the quality of policy decision making" and works to "support organizations and individuals that are trying to accomplish that goal." He has emphasized equity in policy-making, noting "it's really important that for whatever policies are being discussed and whatever analysis is being done, to have officials have a keen eye and give careful consideration for the ultimate impact on underserved communities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: As of recent updates, the Fund awards grants by invitation only and has suspended consideration of unsolicited letters of inquiry. Organizations should check the Fund's website (www.fundfornj.org/application-guidelines) for the most current application status.

When Applications Are Open: Organizations not currently receiving funding may submit a letter of inquiry. Requirements include:

• 501(c)(3) Status Required: Only tax-exempt organizations eligible
• Policy Focus: Work must advance systemic policy solutions, not just direct services
• New Jersey Focus: Must benefit New Jersey residents and communities

Letter of Inquiry Process:

1. Submit a letter of inquiry describing your organization and proposed work
2. The Fund reviews inquiries on a quarterly basis
3. If invited, organization submits a full grant application
4. The Fund reserves the right to assign applications to a grant cycle at its discretion

Decision Timeline

• Initial Review: Quarterly review cycles
• Response Time: Organizations receive responses to letters of inquiry quarterly
• Full Application to Decision: Timeline varies based on grant cycle assignment
• Total Timeline: Approximately 3-6 months from letter of inquiry to funding decision (estimate based on quarterly cycles)

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that receive a declination letter may submit a new letter of inquiry 12 months after the declination date. This waiting period allows the organization time to strengthen its proposal or develop new initiatives that may align better with the Fund's priorities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Fund's stated priorities and recent grantmaking patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Policy Change Focus The Fund emphasizes "systemic and sustainable solutions to public problems through the work of policy, advocacy, analysis, and organizing." Direct service programs are rarely funded unless they serve as demonstration projects to inform policy. Successful applicants articulate specific policy goals and change strategies.

2. Alignment with Crossroads NJ Priorities The Fund's "Crossroads NJ 2025" report outlines urgent policy priorities including lead elimination, green job training, transportation funding stability, rent control and affordable housing trust fund growth, and criminal justice reform. Applications addressing these specific issues demonstrate awareness of the Fund's current strategic thinking.

3. Grassroots and Community-Centered Approach President McKoy emphasizes hearing "from the people who live here" and supporting organizations that center affected communities. Successful grantees demonstrate authentic community engagement and leadership from those most impacted by policy issues.

4. Racial Justice and Equity Analysis McKoy has stated the importance of "careful consideration for the ultimate impact on underserved communities." Applications should explicitly address how proposed work advances racial justice and benefits communities historically marginalized by policy.

5. Coalition Building and Collaboration Many recent grants support coalitions and collaborative efforts (e.g., New Jersey Domestic Workers Coalition with seven organizations, statewide immigrant justice coalitions). The Fund values organizations that work collaboratively to build power.

6. Strong Track Record in Policy Advocacy Recent grantees include established policy organizations like Education Law Center, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and Latino Action Network Foundation. The Fund seeks organizations with demonstrated capacity to influence policy through research, advocacy, legal strategies, and organizing.

7. Multi-Year Impact Potential The Fund makes 3-year commitments to organizations doing sustained policy work. Applications should articulate long-term change strategies, not just single-year projects.

8. Examples of Funded Work

• Vote16's work to catalyze youth civic engagement
• Caucus Educational Corporation's 2030 Census education
• Lead-Free New Jersey's coordinated coalition work
• Domestic Workers Coalition's education about civil protections
• Latino Action Network Foundation's grassroots organizing centering immigrant voices

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Policy change is paramount: The Fund rarely supports direct services. Your work must advance "systemic and sustainable solutions" through policy advocacy, legal strategies, research, or organizing that influences policy decisions.

2. Currently invitation-only: Check the website regularly for updates on when they reopen to unsolicited inquiries. When open, the quarterly review cycle means timing matters.

3. Think multi-year: The Fund makes 3-year commitments. Develop long-term policy change strategies rather than one-off projects.

4. Alignment with Crossroads NJ: Read the "Crossroads NJ 2025" report carefully. Projects addressing those specific priorities have natural alignment with the Fund's current strategic thinking.

5. Demonstrate community leadership: Show that affected communities are leading the work, not just being served. President McKoy emphasizes centering voices of those directly impacted.

6. Connect to racial justice: Explicitly articulate how your policy work advances racial equity and benefits communities historically marginalized by policy decisions.

7. Build coalitions: The Fund values collaborative approaches. If relevant, demonstrate partnerships and coalition-building strategies that amplify impact.

8. Be patient with rejections: The 12-month reapplication waiting period means declined applicants should use that time to strengthen organizational capacity, deepen community relationships, or refine policy strategies before reapplying.

References

• The Fund for New Jersey Official Website: www.fundfornj.org (Accessed February 2026)
• The Fund for New Jersey Application Guidelines: www.fundfornj.org/application-guidelines (Accessed February 2026)
• The Fund for New Jersey Leadership & Staff: fundfornj.org/about/leadership-staff (Accessed February 2026)
• The Fund for New Jersey Summary of Grants Awarded: www.fundfornj.org/grants-awarded (Accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Fund For New Jersey (EIN 22-1895028): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/221895028 (Accessed February 2026)
• The Fund for New Jersey About Page: www.fundfornj.org/about (Accessed February 2026)
• Crossroads NJ 2025 Reports: www.fundfornj.org/crossroadsnj (Accessed February 2026)
• PBS Think Tank with Steve Adubato interviews with Brandon McKoy (2024-2025)
• Inside Philanthropy - Fund for New Jersey: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-jersey-grants/the-fund-for-new-jersey (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ - Fund for New Jersey: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/fund-for-new-jersey,221895028/ (Accessed February 2026)
• New Jersey Monitor: "Advocates offer a plan for New Jersey's future" (December 2024)
• Council of New Jersey Grantmakers: "The Fund for New Jersey Awards $823,000 in Grants" (Accessed February 2026)