Environmental Endowment for
The Environmental Endowment for New Jersey (EENJ) is a private foundation established in 1991 and incorporated in April 1991. Based in Mercerville, New Jersey, the organization was created to receive and administer settlement funds from Clean Water Act enforcement litigation. The endowment's unique origin stems from successful citizen suits filed under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, with the resulting legal settlements forming the foundation's principal endowment.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.7M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$277K
+5.5% YoY
Grant Count
18
+5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-0.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Environmental Endowment for reported a distributable amount of $275K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The EENJ distributes funds derived from settlements of lawsuits brought to enforce compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. The foundation's grants focus specifically on restoring or improving water quality in areas adversely impacted by pollution.
All grant proposals must be limited to environmental advocacy and action projects focused on improving and protecting water quality through explicit policy change goals at the local, state, and/or federal level that include community engagement and/or litigation. Projects must have a clear and direct linkage to the waters impacted by the violations underlying the Clean Water Act enforcement cases.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
for 2026 grant proposal submissions is December 15, 2025.
How to Apply
** Grant proposals must be submitted by email only. The deadline for 2026 grant proposal submissions is December 15, 2025.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The EENJ funds projects with direct benefit in or near the following areas:
- Tidally related New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex
- Hackensack Watershed
- Raritan Watershed
- Passaic Watershed
- Delaware River Basin
- Schuylkill Valley
Projects in the Atlantic Coastal Basin or the Wallkill Basin are not eligible.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,653,481
- Total Giving: $276,500
- Total Revenues: $125,708
- Total Expenses: $354,785
Historical Background: The foundation was initially established with a $900,000 settlement and subsequently received $4.9 million in settlements from five additional cases.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,653,481 | $5,476,514 | $5,545,511 |
| Revenue | $125,708 | $122,194 | $1,299,856 |
| Expenses | $354,785 | $340,681 | $424,884 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $301,329 | $286,342 | $349,088 |
| Net Investment Income | $110,490 | $75,200 | $1,191,117 |
| Distributable Amount | $274,670 | $260,137 | $291,631 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Environment Nj Research and Policy ($20,000), Delaware Riverkeeper Network ($20,000), Work Environment Council of Nj ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ENVIRONMENT NJ RESEARCH AND POLICY NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | PROTECTING WATERS | $20,000 |
| DELAWARE RIVERKEEPER NETWORK BRISTOL, PA | EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY | $20,000 |
| DAMASCUS CITIZENS FOR SUSTAINABILIT NARROWSBURG, NY | PROTECTING WATERS | $14,000 |
| WORK ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL OF NJ TRENTON, NJ | ADVOCATING TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT | $20,000 |
| EASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER NEWARK, NJ | HEALTHY WATERSHEDS/LEGAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| CLEAN WATER FUND LONG BRANCH, NJ | ADVOCATING TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT | $18,000 |
| FOOD & WATER WATCH NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | SUPPORT CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY | $18,000 |
| SIERRA CLUB NJ TRENTON, NJ | COALITION BUILDING AND ADVOCACY | $14,000 |
| CLEAN OCEAN ACTION LONG BRANCH, NJ | CLEAN-UP/REDUCE DEBRIS | $14,000 |
| NEWARK DOING INFRASTRUCTURE GREEN NEWARK, NJ | GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE | $16,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joan E. Burkholtz – Office Administrator
The foundation was established through the legal efforts led by Ed Lloyd, Esq., who filed four separate and successful citizen suits against four companies under the Clean Water Act representing non-profit advocacy organizations.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN KRAHAM | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ANJULI RAMOS-BUSOT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AMY GOLDSMITH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Environmental Endowment for New Jersey, Inc.
- PO Box 3160, Mercerville, NJ 08619
- Phone: (609) 584-1593
- Email: info@eenj.org
- Website: www.eenj.org
- EIN: 22-3107878
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Environmental Endowment for fund?
The EENJ distributes funds derived from settlements of lawsuits brought to enforce compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. The foundation's grants focus specifically on restoring or improving water quality in areas adversely impacted by pollution. All grant proposals must be limited to **environmental advocacy and action projects** focused on improving and protecting water quality through explicit policy change goals at the local, state, and/or federal level that include community engageme…
How do I apply for a grant from Environmental Endowment for?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $7,000 to $20,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $276,500. **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Delaware Riverkeeper Network: $20,000 (Education and Advocacy) • Eastern Environmental Law Center: $20,000 (Healthy Watersheds/Legal Support) • NYNJ Baykeeper: $18,000 (Advocacy and Litigation) **Application Process:** Grant proposals must be submitted by email only. The deadline for 2026 grant proposal submissions is …
Where does Environmental Endowment for make grants?
The EENJ funds projects with direct benefit in or near the following areas: • Tidally related New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex • Hackensack Watershed • Raritan Watershed • Passaic Watershed • Delaware River Basin • Schuylkill Valley Projects in the Atlantic Coastal Basin or the Wallkill Basin are not eligible.
What size grants does Environmental Endowment for award?
In 2024, Environmental Endowment for awarded 18 grants totaling $277K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Environmental Endowment for required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Environmental Endowment for reported a distributable amount of $275K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Environmental Endowment for's EIN?
Environmental Endowment for's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3107878. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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