New Jersey Council For The Humanities
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) is a public charity based in Camden, New Jersey. Founded in 1972, it supports public humanities work that brings history, literature, philosophy, and other humanities subjects to broad audiences through grants, programs, services, and convenings.
New Jersey Council For The Humanities at a glance
In short: New Jersey Council For The Humanities gave $202K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in New Jersey. 63% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $201,716
- -51.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -44.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,607
- -11.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,860
- Total assets
- $2,034,658
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (10 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to New Jersey Council For The Humanities
- Contact
Mailing address: 336 Friends Street, Camden, NJ 08102
Phone: (609) 695-5318
Website: https://njhumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from New Jersey Council For The Humanities
Who New Jersey Council For The Humanities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Newark History Society ($15K). Together the top 10 received $148K.
Grant Size Distribution
187 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 187 grants of 187 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NJCH’s grantmaking is focused on New Jersey. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is New Jersey Council For The Humanities open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 16 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $202K (2025) to $996K (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $202K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Newark History Society Newark, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| Ritual4Return Inc Lambertville, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| Willingboro Community Development Corporation (WCD Willingboro, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| 120 East State A NJ Nonprofit Corporation Trenton, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| coLAB Arts Inc New Brunswick, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| Passaic County Department of Cultural & Historic A Wayne, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| Preservation New Jersey West Trenton, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| Stockton University Galloway, NJ | General Program | $15,000 |
| Asbury Park Music Project Inc Asbury Park, NJ | General Program | $14,720 |
| Piscataway Public Library Piscatway, NJ | General Program | $13,750 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,034,658 | $1,443,838 | $1,379,131 | $201,716 | 16 | $23,011 |
| 2024 | $1,986,356 | $1,802,274 | $1,897,710 | $413,337 | 29 | $45,173 |
| 2023 | $2,236,729 | $1,629,918 | $1,858,345 | $478,751 | 36 | $26,499 |
| 2022 | $2,590,463 | $1,792,531 | $1,765,464 | $664,837 | 42 | $30,658 |
| 2021 | $2,675,580 | $2,357,693 | $2,017,831 | $995,829 | 64 | $14,520 |
| 2020 | $2,209,996 | $2,147,194 | $1,792,001 | $834,798 | 60 | $14,667 |
| 2019 | $1,729,557 | $1,139,606 | $1,149,464 | $246,883 | 15 | $14,396 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NJCH’s mission is to “explore, cultivate, and champion the public humanities in order to strengthen New Jersey’s diverse community.” It describes public humanities as making humanities subjects accessible beyond the classroom and encouraging audiences to reflect on human histories, cultures, values, and beliefs.
Its grant guidelines describe two streams: Incubation Grants for planning and developing public humanities projects, and Action Grants for implementing or continuing them. Past eligible project types included exhibitions, discussion programs, oral history projects, interpretive tours, and other public-facing work. The guidelines identified New Jersey-based nonprofits and government entities as eligible applicants, including libraries, museums, historical societies, academic institutions, religious groups, and community organizations. Organizations whose primary missions are in the arts or social services could apply when the funding would support public humanities work.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. coLAB Arts, which received $15,000, says its mission is to engage artists, social advocates, and communities to create transformative new work. Montclair Film Festival, which received $10,000, says it connects global filmmakers with audiences through films and year-round programs. CavanKerry Press, which received $7,000, describes itself as a nonprofit literary press working to expand access to poetry and other fine literature.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NJCH reported 16 grants totaling $201,716. Awards ranged from $6,325 to $15,000, with a median of $14,860. The largest listed awards included $15,000 each to Newark History Society, Ritual4Return Inc., Willingboro Community Development Corporation, 120 East State A NJ Nonprofit Corporation, coLAB Arts, Passaic County Department of Cultural & Historic A, Preservation New Jersey, and Stockton University.
The funder’s website describes its grants as supporting public humanities projects and says recent grant rounds funded about 30% of proposals received. Its guidelines listed grant amounts of $3,000–$15,000 and project periods of up to 12 months. The website states that the grants program is currently paused pending future funding, so those guidelines should not be taken as an open application opportunity.
The guidelines required an eligible New Jersey nonprofit or government entity to lead the application; applications with fiscal sponsors were not allowed. Applicants needed federal or state tax-exemption and at least one year of verifiable public operation. Applicants with an open NJCH award were ineligible to apply for a new award until the final report was approved and the award closed. The guidelines described a letter-of-inquiry stage, draft review, and full application. The 2024–2025 deadlines listed in those guidelines are past.
The organization’s 2024 filing narrative says grants were awarded through competitive proposal review, required an approved budget, and were paid in full after approval. Recipients were required to submit final reports covering expenditures, cost share, accomplishments, and evaluations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Carin Berkowitz, PhD, executive director; Howard Marchitello, PhD, governance chair; Michael Klein, JD, PhD, treasurer through October 2025; Gregory Waters, PhD, board chair through October 2025; Denise Coulter, EdD, secretary; and Laura Hertzog, JD, treasurer. The filing also lists Carol Murphy, Jacqueline Colgan, Jonathan Mercantini, PhD, and Lacey Cotter as trustees.
New Jersey Council For The Humanities is led by Carin Berkowitz PhD, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 28 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carin Berkowitz PhD
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$22K (2019) → $153K (2025)
Howard Marchitello PhD
Governance Chair
Trustee → Governance Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Waters PhD
Board Chair
Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Colgan
Trustee
Member at Large → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Murphy
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lourdes Tango
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Hontz JD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sadaf Jaffer PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Siegler
Trustee
Trustee → Member at Large, 2022
Member at Large → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Iacono PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Audrey Truschke PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Mercantini PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynne Toye
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rayman Solomon PhD JD
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theresa Jacks
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alyson Wess
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cole Crittenden
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Blake PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Marino
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sierra Ausa
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracey Mang
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Fichtner
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christie Henry
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evan Collier
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lacey Cotter
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Klein JD PhD
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Hertzog JD
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
DENISE COULTER EdD
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Lacey Cotter Rzeszowski (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Christopher Fisher PhD (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Michael Perice (2021–2023) — Trustee · Filing note: From March 2021
- Former: Alexis Pedrick (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Bhavini Doshi JD (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Dan Fatton (2019–2021) — Chair
- Former: Jennifer J. Sancton (2019–2021) — Governance Chair
- Former: Michael Roberston PhD (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Greg Waters PhD (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Rosa Farias (2021) — Trustee · Filing note: From March 2021
- Former: Joyce Hendricks (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mei-Mei Tuan MBA (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Nathalia Bermudez (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Ruth B. Mandel PhD (2019–2020) — Chair
- Former: George Wheatle Williams (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Kiki Jamieson PhD (2019) — Chair
- Former: Marilouise Venditti MD (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $153K, to Carin Berkowitz PHD (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about New Jersey Council For The Humanities
How much does New Jersey Council For The Humanities give each year?
New Jersey Council For The Humanities gave $202K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $413K across 29 grants.
What is New Jersey Council For The Humanities's typical grant size?
New Jersey Council For The Humanities's median grant in 2025 was $14,860, and its average grant was $12,607, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from New Jersey Council For The Humanities that year got $12K on average.
Where does New Jersey Council For The Humanities give grants?
New Jersey Council For The Humanities gives mostly in New Jersey: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does New Jersey Council For The Humanities give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of New Jersey Council For The Humanities's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are New Jersey Council For The Humanities's largest grantees?
New Jersey Council For The Humanities's largest 2025 grantees include Newark History Society ($15,000), Ritual4Return Inc ($15,000) and Willingboro Community Development Corporation (WCD ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is New Jersey Council For The Humanities?
New Jersey Council For The Humanities reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What does New Jersey Council For The Humanities fund?
NJCH’s mission is to “explore, cultivate, and champion the public humanities in order to strengthen New Jersey’s diverse community.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from New Jersey Council For The Humanities?
New Jersey Council For The Humanities has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check njhumanities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is New Jersey Council For The Humanities's EIN?
New Jersey Council For The Humanities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2520859. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work New Jersey Council For The Humanities funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in New Jersey Council For The Humanities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). New Jersey Council For The Humanities funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/new-jersey-council-for-the-humanities-morg_579f73ca56494c11aaadf107d5dfb3ab
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222520859_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{New Jersey Council For The Humanities funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/new-jersey-council-for-the-humanities-morg_579f73ca56494c11aaadf107d5dfb3ab},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 New Jersey Council For The Humanities'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.
New Jersey Council For The Humanities down — hundreds of funders to go?