New Jersey Education Association
The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is a 501(c)(5) labor organization based in Trenton, New Jersey, established in 1853. As a member-led, justice-centered labor union, NJEA represents public educators and advocates for their rights, dignity, and working conditions. The organization serves as the central organization for a network of 730 affiliated organizations throughout the state.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$270.6M
+8.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.3M
-2.9% YoY
Grant Count
17
-10.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$662K
+8.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The New Jersey Education Association is dedicated to advocating for and protecting the rights, benefits, and interests of its members, while promoting a high-quality, equitable system of public education for all students.
Purpose: NJEA champions the rights, dignity, and working/learning conditions of public educators through three core pillars:
- Labor Rights: Advancing economic security and dignity, ensuring professional respect, and championing academic freedom
- Membership: Recruiting and retaining members, organizing member-to-member engagement, and leveraging collective power
- Solidarity & Justice: Cultivating diverse and inclusive leadership structures and advancing educational equity
Vision: NJEA envisions a New Jersey where public educators are respected, supported, and equipped to thrive, and where every student has access to an excellent, inclusive, and safe education.
Grantmaking
NJEA operates the **Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education**, which has awarded more than $2.6 million in grants for innovative educational projects over more than three decades. The foundation supports initiatives that promote excellence in education through creative approaches by public school employees.
Average Grant
amounts range from $6,500 to $9,000,000
Ready to take the next step with New Jersey Education Association?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NJEA's grantmaking focuses primarily on New Jersey and the District of Columbia, with emphasis on supporting public school employees and educational initiatives throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024 (ending August 2024):
- Total Revenue: $160,598,801
- Total Expenses: $142,074,362
- Net Income: $18,524,439
- Total Assets: $271,000,000 (approximately)
- Total Liabilities: $33,300,000
Fiscal Year 2023 (ending August 2023):
- Total Revenue: $155,155,057
- Total Expenses: $139,068,562
- Total Assets: $250,419,848
Staffing: 574-585 employees as of 2023
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Program service revenue: 90.6%
- Contributions and grants: 3.5%
- Investment income: 5.6%
- Other revenue sources: 0.3%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $270,562,783 | $250,419,848 | $244,564,992 |
| Revenue | $160,598,801 | $155,155,057 | $162,747,424 |
| Expenses | $142,074,362 | $139,068,562 | $137,105,479 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $9,511,174 | $9,396,735 | $17,479,320 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
106 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT M LAMORTE | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| FRANCISCO C BARQUIN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| BRENDA BRATHWAITE | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| ESTHER A FLETCHER | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,954 |
| LAURIE T GIBSON-PARKER | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| TAMMI J LEE | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,118 |
| COLLEEN C GILMARTIN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| CHRISTINE SAMPSON-CLARK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,353 |
| MARIE K BATTIST-ROCK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | — |
| RICHARD F D'AVANZO | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,272 |
| MICHAEL E FRANK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,696 |
| TAMARA Y BEATTY | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,248 |
| THERESA L FULLER | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| TEMIKA LANGSTON-MYERS | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| RONALD F GRECO | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| JENNFIER HERRICK | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| RYAN GRIFFIN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| CARLA MANCUSO | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,353 |
| TARSHA LAWSON | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,549 |
| MARCO A MARTINEZ | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,658 |
| DAWN A NICHOL-MANNING | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $5,408 |
| SUSAN MCBRIDE | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| PETER J MORAN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| BARBARA B RHEAULT | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| SUSAN R VALA | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,040 |
| LISA M SIMONE | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,070 |
| MELISSA TOMLINSON | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,235 |
| JOAN M WRIGHT | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,353 |
| ASHANTI T RANKIN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,194 |
| STACY A YANKO | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| BIANCA M NICOLESCU | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | — |
| LOIS YUKNA | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,991 |
| KERRI LEE FARRELL | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,658 |
| AMY L SALINGER | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $4,658 |
| STEVEN KOUMOULIS | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $5,933 |
| LAURIE A O'BRIEN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,989 |
| MARK RICHARDS | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | $3,758 |
| MATTHEW R YURO | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE | 2 | — |
| SEAN M SPILLER | PRESIDENT | 40 | $382,148 |
| STEVE BEATTY | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $288,443 |
| PETAL T ROBERTSON | SECRETARY-TREASURER | 40 | $283,175 |
| KEVIN KELLEHER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $434,198 |
| DENISE GRAFF POLICASTRO | DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $373,642 |
| MATTHEW DIRADO | HR MANAGER | 40 | $296,637 |
| KRISTEN SHERMAN | ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE MAN | 40 | $253,960 |
| JOHN COTTONE | DIRECTOR, IT & OPERATIONS | 40 | $302,302 |
| STEVEN BAKER | DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $317,379 |
| THOMAS HARDY | REGIONAL DIRECTOR, UNISERV | 40 | $318,942 |
| KAREN KRYVEN | COMPTROLLER | 40 | $322,238 |
| PATRICK MANAHAN | REGIONAL DIRECTOR, UNISERV | 40 | $290,971 |
| MARIE BLISTAN | PAST PRESIDENT | — | $121,195 |
| STEVE SWETSKY | FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | — | $747,383 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
NJEA continues to award grants through the Hipp Foundation, with recent grant cycles awarding over $97,000 and $68,000 in new grants to support innovative educational projects by public school employees. The foundation maintains an active application process for educators seeking to bring creative educational initiatives to life.
Previous Recipients & Projects - Sustainable Jersey SchoolsRelated Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Laborers Intl Union of 472 Hcl
NEWARK, NJ
Assets
$61.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$179K
The Community Chest of Englewood
ENGLEWOOD, NJ
Assets
$491K
Grants
5
Total Given
$38K
Margaret a Darrin Charitable Trust
FLORHAM PARK, NJ
Assets
$111.3M
Grants
61
Total Given
$6.9M
Anplr Religious Education Inc
PASSAIC, NJ
Assets
$19K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
New Digital Trade Coalition Ndtc
NORTH BERGEN, NJ
Assets
$300
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Stephen J Machuta Scholarship Trust
PENNINGTON, NJ
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
1
Total Given
$70K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with New Jersey Education Association on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities