Fund for New Jersey
The Fund for New Jersey is a private foundation based in Princeton, New Jersey. It supports organizations working to improve public policy decision-making on significant issues affecting New Jersey and the region, with an emphasis on long-term policy impact and addressing injustice and inequity.
Fund for New Jersey at a glance
In short: Fund for New Jersey gave $3.3M across 55 grants in 2024 (avg $60K), mostly in New Jersey. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,276,111
- -41.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 55
- -9.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $59,566
- -34.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $59,801,819
- +3.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (13 of 51, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fund for New Jersey
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Fund’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests. It sustains ongoing commitments to current grantees and says new awards are very limited. According to the 2024 filing, a program officer provides instructions on reapplying; applications from invited and renewing organizations are due as instructed by program staff. The Fund makes grants only to organizations with designated 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, does not support activities of individuals or capital projects, and rarely funds local activities or direct services unless they are designed to support systemic change, such as a demonstration project informing public policy.
- Review Cycle
- Applications from invited and renewing organizations are due as instructed by program staff.
- Deadline
- Applications from invited and renewing organizations are due as instructed by program staff.
- Contact
Application contact: Program Officer
Mailing address: One Palmer Square East - Suite 303, Princeton, NJ 08542
Phone: (609) 356-0421
Email: programofficer@fundfornj.org
Website: https://fundfornj.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fund for New Jersey funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Eastern Environmental Law Center ($175K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
331 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 144 grants of 331 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund’s stated work concerns New Jersey and the region. In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey, 7% to New York, 2% to Maryland, and 2% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Fund for New Jersey open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 51 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 147% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.3M (2024) to $5.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 55 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Environmental Law Center Newark, NJ | To provide high-quality legal assistance for clean energy, climate change, and environmental justice. | $175,000 |
| Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey Trenton, NJ | To advance policies that expand the affordability and accessibility of housing. | $125,000 |
| Neo- Philanthropy-NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice Newark, NJ | To educate, organize, and mobilize immigrant communities to advance fair and humane immigrant policies. | $125,000 |
| New Jersey Institute for Social Justice Newark, NJ | To advance racial and economic justice in new jerseys urban communities and to expand and protect democracy. | $125,000 |
| New Jersey Policy Perspective Trenton, NJ | To promote a more transparent state budget process that prioritizes the needs of New Jersey residents. | $125,000 |
| ACLU of NJ Foundation Newark, NJ | To reduce incarceration and to defend democracy, housing equity, workers' rights, and other policy initiatives. | $100,000 |
| American Friends Service Committee Newark, NJ | To educate, organize, and mobilize immigrant communities to advance fair and humane immigrant policies. | $100,000 |
| Education Law Center Newark, NJ | To advance well-funded, equitable public education in New Jersey | $100,000 |
| Fair Share Housing Center Cherry Hill, NJ | To defend New Jersey residents right to equitable and affordable housing. | $100,000 |
| Latino Action Network Foundation Freehold, NJ | To advance the rights, interests, and influence of new jerseys latino residents through grassroots organizing and policy advocacy | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Fund for New Jersey?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $59,801,819 | $2,393,857 | $3,935,324 | $3,276,111 | 55 | $4,305,279 | $1,953,219 | $2,922,637 |
| 2023 | $57,859,965 | $2,114,474 | $6,796,294 | $5,584,068 | 61 | $6,450,583 | $1,767,761 | $2,821,810 |
| 2022 | $57,790,093 | $4,811,812 | $5,638,697 | $3,356,375 | 62 | $5,004,345 | $2,838,822 | $2,917,010 |
| 2021 | $71,337,040 | $3,838,574 | $5,062,146 | $3,696,641 | 62 | $4,487,543 | $2,934,416 | $3,331,429 |
| 2020 | $64,582,151 | $3,243,619 | $4,835,146 | $3,652,567 | 91 | — | $2,267,048 | $2,674,749 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fund for New Jersey reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund’s stated mission is to improve the quality of public policy decision-making on significant issues affecting New Jersey. Its website identifies civil rights, education, the environment, and equity among its issue areas, and describes work to advance systemic, sustainable solutions.
The 2024 grants illustrate support for organizations working on environmental law, housing policy, immigrant justice, racial and economic justice, public education, and democracy. For example, Eastern Environmental Law Center describes its mission as providing legal assistance to nonprofits working on environmental problems in New Jersey and the tri-state region. New Jersey Policy Perspective describes itself as a nonpartisan think tank advancing economic, social, and racial justice through research, analysis, and strategic communications. Education Law Center describes its mission as advocacy to secure children’s legal rights to quality public education.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Fund reported 55 grants totaling $3,276,111. Grant amounts ranged from $1,111 to $175,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Among the largest awards were $175,000 to Eastern Environmental Law Center for legal assistance related to clean energy, climate change, and environmental justice; $125,000 to Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey for housing policy; and $125,000 each to the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and New Jersey Policy Perspective for policy and advocacy work. The ACLU of NJ Foundation, Education Law Center, Fair Share Housing Center, Latino Action Network Foundation, and League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund each received $100,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brandon McKoy as president; Richard W. Roper as chair; Feather Houstoun as vice chair; and Dr. John W. Cornwall as treasurer. Trustees listed on the filing are Dr. Henry A. Coleman, Jon Corzine, Michellene Davis, John Farmer, Anjum Gupta, and Sadaf Jaffer.
Fund for New Jersey is led by Brandon McKoy, President on the 2024 filing; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brandon McKoy
President
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$255K (2024)
Richard W. Roper
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Mansue
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry A. Coleman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Farmer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Corzine
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence S. Lustberg
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michellene Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard L. Wright
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Velez
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Van Buren
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Shalom
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anastasia Mann
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anjum Gupta
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sadaf Jaffer
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Feather Houstoun
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John W. Cornwall
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Beth K. Jamieson (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Edward Lloyd (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Grizel Ubarry (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Deborah T. Poritz (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: James Florio (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Lisa Garcia (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Brendan T. Byrne Jr. (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Candace M. Ashmun (2020) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $255K, to Brandon McKoy (President).
Frequently asked questions about Fund for New Jersey
How much does Fund for New Jersey give each year?
Fund for New Jersey gave $3.3M across 55 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.6M across 61 grants.
What is Fund for New Jersey's typical grant size?
Fund for New Jersey's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $59,566, across 55 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fund for New Jersey that year got $50K on average.
Where does Fund for New Jersey give grants?
Fund for New Jersey gives mostly in New Jersey: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Newark, NJ (15 grants), Trenton, NJ (9 grants), New Brunswick, NJ (7 grants) and Freehold, NJ (2 grants).
Does Fund for New Jersey give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 55 grants with a stated purpose on Fund for New Jersey's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Fund for New Jersey's largest grantees?
Fund for New Jersey's largest 2024 grantees include Eastern Environmental Law Center ($175,000), ACLU of NJ Foundation ($170,000 across 2 grants) and Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey ($125,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Fund for New Jersey?
Fund for New Jersey reported $59.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Fund for New Jersey fund?
The Fund’s stated mission is to improve the quality of public policy decision-making on significant issues affecting New Jersey. Its website identifies civil rights, education, the environment, and equity among its issue areas, and describes work to advance systemic, sustainable solutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fund for New Jersey?
The Fund’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fund for New Jersey's EIN?
Fund for New Jersey's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-1895028. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Fund for New Jersey accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fund for New Jersey funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fund-for-new-jersey-morg_530af4e3e29d4f17929703146ce4acc7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_221895028_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fund for New Jersey funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fund-for-new-jersey-morg_530af4e3e29d4f17929703146ce4acc7},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-09. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Fund for New Jersey's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Fund for New Jersey down — hundreds of funders to go?