Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation Inc. (Plangere Foundation Inc)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2,375,142 (2024)
Number of Awards: 36 grants (2024)
Average Grant Size: $65,976
Grant Range: Grants typically range from smaller amounts to multi-year commitments of $100,000-$300,000
Assets: $24.3 million
Geographic Focus: Asbury Park and Monmouth County, New Jersey area
Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Legal Name: Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation Inc. (Plangere Foundation Inc)
Address: Pennington, NJ
EIN: 65-0747053
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Grantmaking Foundation (established 1998)

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation was established in 1997 by Jules L. Plangere, Jr., former publisher and owner of the Asbury Park Press (1974-1997), and his wife Jane. Mr. Plangere, who passed away in 2016 at age 95, built his journalism career starting in 1947 and served as chairman and CEO until the family sold New Jersey Press Inc. to Gannett Co., Inc. in 1997, ending 118 years of local ownership. The foundation continues his philanthropic legacy with assets of $24.3 million and annual giving of approximately $2.4 million distributed across 36 grants in 2024. The foundation has provided approximately $17.7 million in charitable contributions since its inception. The foundation's trustees were specifically directed to work closely with charitable organizations that demonstrate effectiveness in addressing issues faced by youth in Asbury Park, though the foundation also supports broader health, education, and human services initiatives throughout Monmouth County and the Jersey Shore region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking without formal program categories. Grants are made on an invitation-only basis to preselected organizations.

Grant Characteristics:

Multi-year commitments: The foundation favors sustained funding relationships, with examples including three-year grants of $100,000-$300,000
Program-specific funding: Grants typically support specific programs rather than general operating support
Average grant size: $65,976 based on 2024 giving

Example Grant Amounts:

$300,000 over three years to Asbury Park Music Foundation (includes $100,000 annual grants for youth music education)
$240,000 over three years to Brookdale Community College Foundation for the Asbury Park College Promise program
$200,000 to Georgian Court University for nursing scholarships
$1,000,000 to American Cancer Society (2020) for research continuation during COVID-19 pandemic

Priority Areas

The foundation's primary mission focuses on supporting organizations that:

Youth development and education: Music education programs, college access initiatives, scholarships, K-12 education
Food security: Programs that feed hungry children and families
Housing and homelessness: Organizations that shelter people without homes and prevent homelessness
Senior services: Programs that deliver meals to elders
Healthcare and medical research: Support for the healthcare system, essential workers, and medical research (including cancer research)
Mental health and recovery: Support for people in recovery and addressing mental health issues
Emergency assistance: Financial assistance for individuals and families in crisis

Geographic Focus: Strong emphasis on Asbury Park and Monmouth County, New Jersey, reflecting the founder's connection to the community through the Asbury Park Press.

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation with invitation-only grantmaking, the foundation does not provide public information about funding exclusions. However, based on their stated mission and grant history, the foundation focuses exclusively on charitable organizations serving New Jersey communities, particularly the Asbury Park/Monmouth County area.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Alfred D. Colantoni, Chairman
Nicole A. Colantoni, Trustee
John C. Conover III, Trustee
Jules L. Plangere III, Trustee (son of founder)
Ernest Donald Lass, Trustee
Donna L. Hession, Secretary

Trustee Compensation: Trustees receive nominal compensation of $10,000 annually, as disclosed in the foundation's 990-PF filing, reflecting their commitment to the foundation's charitable mission.

Legacy and Leadership Philosophy

Ernest Donald Lass, one of the trustees, has stated that "The foundation trustees have provided grants for specific programs to the Boy & Girls Club of Monmouth County, Asbury Park High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, Asbury Park Music Foundation, Mercy Center, Salvation Army in Asbury Park and Interfaith Neighbors." This reflects the trustees' commitment to the founder's vision of supporting organizations demonstrating effectiveness in addressing youth and community needs in Asbury Park.

The foundation continues to honor Jules and Jane Plangere's directive to "work closely with charitable organizations that demonstrate effectiveness in addressing the issues faced by the youth of Asbury Park," while also maintaining flexibility to respond to broader community needs and emergency situations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Plangere Foundation does not have a public application process. According to the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filing, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

How Grants Are Made: The board of trustees identifies and selects grant recipients based on their knowledge of effective charitable organizations serving Asbury Park and Monmouth County communities. The foundation favors organizations with proven track records of effectiveness and often maintains long-term funding relationships through multi-year grant commitments.

Getting on Their Radar

This section includes only funder-specific information discovered through research:

Known Grantee Profile: Organizations that have received funding from the Plangere Foundation typically:

Serve youth and families in Asbury Park or Monmouth County, New Jersey
Have demonstrated program effectiveness and measurable outcomes
Operate in the foundation's priority areas (youth development, education, food security, housing, healthcare, mental health)
Often have connections to trustees or board members who work in the nonprofit sector in the region

Trustee Connections: Ernest Donald Lass, a foundation trustee, is also an Asbury Park High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, suggesting trustees maintain close ties to the Asbury Park community and may identify potential grantees through their community involvement.

Collaborative Funding: The foundation has participated in collaborative funding initiatives with other Monmouth County foundations (such as the Stone Foundation of New Jersey and the Jay & Linda Grunin Foundation for COVID-19 emergency relief), suggesting trustees are engaged with the regional philanthropic community.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish decision timelines. As an invitation-only funder, grant decisions are made at the discretion of the board of trustees based on their funding priorities and available resources.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. However, the foundation's multi-year grant commitments and history of sustained funding relationships suggest that organizations that receive initial funding may receive continued support if they demonstrate effectiveness.

Application Success Factors

Since the Plangere Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's grant history and stated mission, organizations that receive funding typically demonstrate:

Proven Effectiveness in Asbury Park/Monmouth County

Organizations receiving Plangere Foundation grants show measurable outcomes in serving their communities. For example:

Asbury Park Music Foundation: The foundation's $100,000 annual grants support programs serving "hundreds of under-served children in Asbury Park and Monmouth County" through music education at Hope Academy Charter School (grades K-8) and the Hip Hop Institute at Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth (3 nights per week)
Brookdale Community College Foundation: The $240,000 three-year grant supports the "Asbury Park College Promise" program, providing scholarships and support for Asbury Park students

Alignment with Founder's Vision

Organizations that address issues facing youth in Asbury Park appear to receive priority consideration, honoring Jules and Jane Plangere's founding directive. Programs focused on education, youth development, and creating pathways to opportunity align closely with the foundation's mission.

Multi-Year Program Sustainability

The foundation favors sustained funding relationships rather than one-time grants. Examples include:

Three-year grant commitments to the Asbury Park Music Foundation
Three-year support for the Asbury Park College Promise program
Ongoing relationships with organizations like Mercy Center, Salvation Army in Asbury Park, and Interfaith Neighbors

Responsiveness to Community Needs

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation demonstrated flexibility by partnering with other Monmouth County foundations to fund emergency financial assistance for families experiencing financial distress, providing grants up to $1,000 for housing costs, utilities, food, and medicines through Interfaith Neighbors.

Connection to Healthcare and Education

Given Jules Plangere's legacy support for institutions like Monmouth University (the Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Center for Communication and Instructional Technology was named in his honor) and the foundation's major grants to cancer research and nursing education, organizations in these sectors that serve the region may align well with trustee interests.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation is not accessible through traditional grant applications - it operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis with preselected organizations
Geographic focus is critical - virtually all funding goes to Asbury Park and Monmouth County, New Jersey organizations
Youth in Asbury Park are the primary beneficiaries - the foundation's founding mission centers on addressing issues faced by young people in this community
Multi-year relationships are valued - grants of $100,000-$300,000 over three years demonstrate the foundation's commitment to sustained partnerships
Demonstrated effectiveness is essential - trustees specifically seek organizations that prove their impact in addressing community needs
Education pathways receive significant support - college access programs, scholarships, K-12 education, and youth development are recurring themes
Trustees have deep community connections - the board includes individuals with ties to Asbury Park and the regional philanthropic community, making local reputation and relationships important
If your organization serves Monmouth County effectively, build visibility through collaborative work with known grantees, participation in regional nonprofit networks, and demonstrated impact in the foundation's priority areas - while direct solicitation is not accepted, building a strong community reputation may lead to trustees' awareness of your work

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Plangere Foundation Inc (EIN 65-0747053), IRS Form 990-PF filings, accessed January 12, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/650747053
Instrumentl Foundation Database - "Plangere Foundation Inc | Pennington, NJ | 990 Report," accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/jules-l-plangere-jr-fam-fdn-inc
Cause IQ - "Plangere Foundation | Pennington, NJ," nonprofit profile, accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/plangere-foundation,650747053/
Grantmakers.io - "Profile - Plangere Foundation Inc.," accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/650747053-plangere-foundation-inc/
American Cancer Society - "Jules L. Plangere, Jr. | Philanthropist Stories," accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/donate/philanthropy/meet-the-philanthropist/jules-plangere.html
Georgian Court University - "Plangere Family Foundation Gift Funds New Nursing Scholarships at Georgian Court," accessed January 12, 2026. https://georgian.edu/plangere-family-foundation-nursing-scholarships/
Asbury Park Music Foundation - "Jules L. Plangere, Jr. Family Foundation Extends Funding!," accessed January 12, 2026. https://asburyparkmusiclives.org/jules-l-plangere-jr-family-foundation-extends-funding
Brookdale Community College - "Support, Scholarships Offered to Asbury Students," accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.brookdalecc.edu/support-scholarships-offered-to-asbury-students/
Asbury Park High School Hall of Fame - "Jules L. Plangere Jr.," inductee profile, accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.aphshalloffame.com/inductee/JulesLPlangereJr
Wall, NJ Patch - "Jules Plangere Jr., Former Asbury Park Press Publisher, Monmouth University Backer, Dies At 95," September 20, 2016. https://patch.com/new-jersey/wall/jules-plangere-jr-former-asbury-park-press-publisher-dies-95
Interfaith Neighbors/Asbury Park Sun - "Interfaith Neighbors Launches COVID-19 Emergency Fund," April 2020. https://asburyparksun.com/interfaith-neighbors-launches-covid-19-emergency-fund/
The Coaster - "Interfaith Neighbors Launches Emergency Fund," April 6, 2020. https://thecoaster.net/2020/04/06/interfaith-neighbors-launches-emergency-fund/