Community Foundation of New Jersey

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $105 million (2024)
Total Assets: $993 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Varies by fund
Grant Range: $700 - $100,000+ (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: New Jersey statewide
Grants Awarded: 8,500 grants (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 35 Knox Hill Road, Morristown, NJ 07963
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 338, Morristown, NJ 07963-0338
Phone: 973-267-5533 or 800-659-5533
Website: cfnj.org
Email: info@cfnj.org

Grant Program Contacts:

Aaron Turner, Chief Philanthropic Officer: aturner@cfnj.org
Madeline Rivera, Program Officer: mrivera@cfnj.org
Nalune Francois, Program Officer: nfrancois@cfnj.org
Lydia Gracey, Program Coordinator: lgracey@cfnj.org

Overview

The Community Foundation of New Jersey was founded in 1979 as the Greater Essex Community Foundation, inspired by the Cleveland Foundation model of pooling community resources to effect positive change. With nearly $1 billion in assets and more than 1,160 funds, CFNJ has grown into one of New Jersey's largest philanthropic organizations. In 2024, fundholders recommended $105 million in grants—a $35 million increase from 2023—distributing approximately 8,500 grants to nonprofits across New Jersey and beyond. The foundation describes itself as "an alliance of families, businesses and foundations that work together to create lasting differences in people's lives and communities." Recent priorities include food security (over $20 million awarded), workforce development, social justice, health equity, and education. CFNJ operates primarily through donor-advised funds while also managing discretionary grant programs and scholarship funds totaling over $19 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The majority of CFNJ's grantmaking flows through donor-advised funds, which generally do not accept unsolicited applications. However, CFNJ administers numerous discretionary grant programs with specific focus areas:

Active Grant Programs (with known amounts):

Impact100 Essex Impact Grant: $100,000 primary award (annual); smaller awards for finalists
Quinn's Corner Jumpstart Grants: $5,000 (one-time grants for domestic violence organizations with pet housing)
Field Trip New Jersey Grants: $700-$1,500 per trip (educational field trips for underserved students)
Book Seminar Legacy Fund: $3,000 per grant (for Columbia Book Seminar alumni)

Other Available Grant Programs:

St. Clare's Healthcare Delivery Grant (Morris County health access)
Church in Radburn Christian Values Grant (Bergen/Passaic counties)
Dixon Community Theatre Support Grant (small NJ theaters)
Fund for a Just and Equitable Morris County (justice and equity initiatives)
Svetlana Stalin Welcome to New Jersey Grant (immigrant services)
St. Clare's Cancer Support Services Grant (Sussex/Morris counties)
A. Van Deusen Young Artist and Musicians Grant (statewide)
Essex County Empowering Communities Grant (Oranges/Irvington priority)
Mercer County Community Grant
Monmouth County Community Grant
Rose Anthony Howard and Elizabeth V. Brinley Next Generation Grant (youth services)
St. Clare's Children's Behavioral Health Fund (Sussex/Morris)
Passaic County Children's Support Grant (homeless/abused children)
Panasonic Challenge Fund Grant (Newark STEAM education)
Sheila Williamson Memorial Health Grant (health equity)
George & Yvonne Alkemade Vision Health Grant (blind services)
George A. Ohl, Jr. Health-Care Services Grant (healthcare expansion)
St. Clare's Nursing Education Grant (Morris/Sussex nursing education)
Empower New Jersey Grant (economic empowerment)

Application Methods: Mixed - some funds accept rolling applications, others have fixed deadlines. Most require access codes obtained from the grant opportunities page.

Priority Areas

CFNJ's grantmaking focuses on equity and underserved communities. Recent funding priorities include:

Food Security: Over $20 million awarded in recent years, with capacity-building grants for food banks and pantries
Children and Youth: Programs serving young people, including education, behavioral health, and youth services
Health and Healthcare: Healthcare access, cancer support, nursing education, vision health, and health equity
Education: Scholarships ($1.5 million to 283 students in 2024), STEAM education, field trips for underserved students
Arts and Culture: Theatre support, young artists and musicians programs
Social Justice and Equity: Justice and equity initiatives, particularly in Morris and Essex counties
Economic Empowerment: Workforce development and economic opportunity programs
Seniors: Programs supporting older adults
Animal Welfare: Companion animal support, particularly for domestic violence survivors with pets

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions vary by individual fund. General limitations:

Many funds do not accept unsolicited applications
Some programs have geographic restrictions (county-specific)
Quinn's Corner Jumpstart Grants cannot fund adoption costs or staff/administrative expenses

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Harry O'Mealia (Board Chair), CEO & President, 1919 Investment Counsel - Assumed chair role in recent years, succeeding Tamara L. Linde

Board Members:

Marc Adee, Chairman & CEO, Crum & Forster
Gerard Brew, Partner, McCarter & English
Hans Dekker, President, Community Foundation of New Jersey
Paul Di Maio, President & CEO, Delta Dental of New Jersey & Connecticut
Crystal West Edwards, Principal, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C.
Aiysha Johnson, CEO & Executive Director, New Jersey Society of CPAs
Christine LaCroix, Energy & Resources Partner, Audit & Assurance, Deloitte
Dawn M. Lauer, Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer, Everest Re Group, Ltd.
Kimberly Banks MacKay, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Gail Mandel, Managing Director, Focused Point Ventures
Michael Murphy, Managing Partner, Impact NJ
Elena Richards, Chief Culture & Inclusion Officer, KPMG LLP
Louis Vetere (Retired), Garden Savings Federal Credit Union
Kim Wentworth
Dennis Wilson (Retired), Delta Dental of New Jersey

Senior Staff

Hans Dekker, President
Aaron Turner, Chief Philanthropic Officer
Faith A. Krueger, Chief Operating Officer
Amanda Kwai Pun, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer
Shanay Bell, Director of Communications
Colleen Smith, Scholarship Program Officer

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Donor-Advised Funds (Majority of Assets): The bulk of CFNJ's assets are awarded through donor-advised funds, for which unsolicited applications are not generally accepted. CFNJ awards discretionary grants to groups that receive invitations from the foundation.

For Competitive Grant Programs (Limited Opportunities):

Visit the Grant Opportunities page at cfnj.org/grantopportunities
Review available funds - certain funds accept unsolicited applications; others require eligibility quizzes or fund-specific access codes
Create an account on the CFNJ grant portal: grantinterface.com
Enter the access code from the grant description
Complete the application in the portal
Submit by the stated deadline

Application Types:

Rolling basis: Some programs accept applications until funding is exhausted (e.g., Field Trip NJ, Quinn's Corner)
Fixed deadlines: Others have annual cycles (e.g., Impact100 Essex, Book Seminar Legacy Fund)
Invitation only: Discretionary grants and most donor-advised fund distributions

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary significantly by fund:

Impact100 Essex: Letter of Intent in December; full application in February; decision announced later in spring
Rolling programs: Decisions made as applications are received
Invitation-only grants: Timeline determined by fundholders

No standardized timeline is published for general discretionary grants.

Success Rates

CFNJ does not publicly disclose overall success rates. With $105 million distributed across 8,500 grants in 2024, the average grant size is approximately $12,350, though this varies widely by program.

For comparison, Impact100 Essex awards one $100,000 grant annually plus smaller finalist awards, suggesting a highly competitive process.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Given that most funds operate independently with their own guidelines, reapplication policies likely vary by specific fund. Applicants should check individual fund guidelines or contact program officers for clarification.

Application Success Factors

CFNJ's grantmaking approach emphasizes equity and serving underserved communities. According to Inside Philanthropy, "CFNJ's grantmaking approach focuses on its role as a civic and community leader in pushing for greater equity, with New Jersey grants helping underserved people and groups who are not being served in the community."

Recent Funding Examples That Demonstrate Priorities:

Food Security Fund: The Tepper Foundation led ten funders in contributing over $1.5 million for capacity-building grants to food banks and pantries, including deployment of Grant Navigator Consultants
Lindemann Legacy Fund: Approximately $70,000 in Jumpstart Grants to 14 organizations serving domestic violence survivors with pets, funding veterinary bills and pet security deposits
Impact100 Essex: Awarded $100,000 to Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF)
Corporate Philanthropy: RSI Foundation more than doubled funding for nonprofits serving Rahway and surrounding communities; Somerset Hills Community Health Foundation supported health initiatives in Morris and Somerset counties

Strategic Considerations:

Relationship-Driven Approach: CFNJ "typically solicits applications from local groups it is interested in supporting and other pre-selected organizations, preferring a proactive grantmaking approach." Building relationships with program officers is essential.
Geographic Specificity: Many funds target specific counties or municipalities. Ensure your organization matches the geographic focus.
Capacity Building: Recent initiatives like the Food Security Fund emphasize capacity building, not just program funding.
Collaboration and Partnership: CFNJ values partnerships, as demonstrated by collaborations with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation (Fund for a Just and Equitable Morris County, Seelaus Housing Equality Fund).
Hyper-Local Impact: Corporate philanthropy examples show preference for "hyper-local grantmaking for community-based projects."

Application Tips from Grant Portal:

Review eligibility carefully before applying
Collaborate with other educators/organizations when appropriate
Document financial need where specified
Provide required supporting documentation (contracts, proof of status)
Check websites for program-specific requirements
Apply early during rolling deadlines to maximize funding availability

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Most funding is NOT open to unsolicited applications: The majority of CFNJ's $105 million in annual grantmaking flows through donor-advised funds. Focus on the specific competitive grant programs listed on their website or seek an invitation for discretionary grants.
Monitor the grant opportunities page regularly: New funds and opportunities are added throughout the year. Specific programs open and close on different schedules. Visit cfnj.org/grantopportunities frequently.
Geographic fit is critical: Many funds target specific counties (Morris, Essex, Passaic, Bergen, Sussex, Mercer, Monmouth). Ensure your service area aligns with fund requirements.
Equity focus is paramount: CFNJ emphasizes serving underserved communities and advancing equity. Applications should clearly demonstrate how your work addresses inequities and reaches populations not being served.
Build relationships with program staff: Given CFNJ's proactive grantmaking approach, establishing connections with program officers (Aaron Turner, Madeline Rivera, Nalune Francois, Lydia Gracey) may lead to future funding opportunities or invitations to apply.
Capacity building matters: Recent initiatives emphasize organizational capacity, not just program delivery. Consider how your request strengthens long-term sustainability.
Partnership potential: CFNJ values collaboration with other funders and organizations. Highlight partnerships and collaborative approaches in applications.

References

All sources accessed December 18, 2025