New Jersey Education Association
The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), based in Trenton, New Jersey, is a public charity formed in 1853. It describes itself as a member-led, justice-centered labor union that champions public educators’ rights, dignity, and working and learning conditions, while promoting equitable public education for students.
New Jersey Education Association at a glance
In short: New Jersey Education Association gave $35.6M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $2.2M), mostly in New Jersey. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,596,809
- +216.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,224,801
- +235.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $55,000
- Total assets
- $285,451,318
- +5.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 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 Education Association
- Contact
Mailing address: 180 W State Street PO Box 1211, Trenton, NJ 08607-1211
Phone: (609) 599-4561
Website: https://njea.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who New Jersey Education Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Garden State Forward ($33.3M). Together the top 10 received $35.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 96 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NJEA’s website describes its statewide partnerships as supporting regional and statewide organizations in New Jersey. The 2025 grants listed include recipients in New Jersey and one recipient in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is New Jersey Education Association open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 16 grantees (13%) 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 $13K; repeat grants $2.5M. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $68K 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 $5.5M (2019) to $35.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $35.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Garden State Forward Trenton, NJ | Financial Support | $33,307,809 |
| NJ Center for Teaching and Learning Mahwah, NJ | Financial Support | $750,000 |
| Education Law Center Newark, NJ | Financial Support | $600,000 |
| Sustainable Jersey a NJ Nonprofit Corporation Lawrenceville, NJ | Financial Support | $250,000 |
| NJ Policy Perspective Inc Trenton, NJ | Financial Support | $210,000 |
| NJ Commission on Holocaust Education Trenton, NJ | Financial Support | $150,000 |
| William Paterson University of NJ Foundation Inc Wayne, NJ | Financial Support | $75,000 |
| Frederick L Hipp Foundation Trenton, NJ | Financial Support | $60,000 |
| NJ Hall of Fame Iselin, NJ | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Teen Arts New Jersey Matawan, NJ | Financial Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with New Jersey Education Association?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing identifies NJEA’s type as a public charity.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $285,451,318 | $178,693,763 | $171,326,339 | $35,596,809 | 16 | $15,940,072 |
| 2024 | $270,562,783 | $160,598,801 | $142,074,362 | $11,260,191 | 17 | $9,511,174 |
| 2023 | $250,419,848 | $155,155,057 | $139,068,562 | $11,590,587 | 19 | $9,396,735 |
| 2022 | $244,564,992 | $162,747,424 | $137,105,479 | $8,673,210 | 23 | $17,479,320 |
| 2021 | $222,977,230 | $153,107,939 | $132,365,362 | $14,081,350 | 21 | $8,673,816 |
| 2020 | $187,542,897 | $150,341,187 | $142,812,939 | $14,657,430 | 26 | $7,691,587 |
| 2019 | $179,145,054 | $149,947,159 | $116,177,014 | $5,452,934 | 26 | $8,996,163 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NJEA’s mission is to advocate for and protect members’ rights, benefits, and interests while promoting a high-quality, equitable system of public education for all students. Its stated vision includes respected and supported educators and excellent, inclusive, and safe education for every student. The organization identifies membership, labor rights, and solidarity and justice among its priorities.
Its grantmaking includes support for creative educational projects by public school employees through the Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education. NJEA says the foundation has awarded more than $2.7 million for innovative projects. Public Education Partnership grants support community involvement in public schools and cover topics such as school budgets, privatization, drug and alcohol issues, and teen-driver safety. NJEA’s statewide partnerships also provide support to organizations aligned with its mission.
Among 2025 grantees, the Education Law Center describes its mission as advocating to secure children’s legal rights to quality public education. Teen Arts New Jersey says it provides programming, support, access, and resources to empower students creatively. The Great Lakes Center for Education describes its work as supporting and disseminating education research and developing research-based resources for education-policy advocates.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NJEA reported 16 grants totaling $35,596,809. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $33,307,809, with a median of $55,000. The largest grant was $33,307,809 to Garden State Forward for financial support. Other notable grants included $750,000 to the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning, $600,000 to the Education Law Center, $250,000 to Sustainable Jersey, and $210,000 to NJ Policy Perspective, each listed for financial support.
For the Hipp Foundation, NJEA’s website provides grant-process information, directions, frequently asked questions, and application tips. The foundation describes its grant opportunities as being for New Jersey public school employees and invites applicants to apply. For PEP, FAST, and Read Across NJ grants and reimbursements, NJEA states that requests beginning with the 2025–26 school year must be submitted through Leader Connect. NJEA also invites organizations to submit brief proposals for statewide partnerships and says to allow up to four weeks for an initial reply.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following people on NJEA’s Executive Committee: Robert M. LaMorte, Madison F. Baca, Brenda Brathwaite, Esther A. Fletcher, Laurie T. Gibson-Parker, Tammi J. Lee, Colleen C. Gilmartin, Christine Sampson-Clark, Marie K. Battist-Rock, and Richard F. D’Avanzo.
New Jersey Education Association is led by Kevin Kelleher, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 44 of 52 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kevin Kelleher
Executive Director
Director, Research & Economic Services → Director, Research & Econo, 2020
Director, Research & Econo → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$279K (2019) → $448K (2025)
Sean M. Spiller
President
Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$246K (2019) → $396K (2025)
Steven Baker
Director & Communications
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$279K (2020) → $328K (2025)
Thomas Hardy
Regional Director & Uniserv
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$283K (2020) → $333K (2025)
Patrick Manahan
Regional Director & Uniserv
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$286K (2022) → $302K (2025)
John Cottone
Director, It & Operations
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$291K (2023) → $305K (2025)
Amy L. Salinger
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Ashanti T. Rankin
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Brenda Brathwaite
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $4K (2025)
Christine Sampson-Clark
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Karen Kryven
Comptroller
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$275K (2019) → $331K (2025)
Kerri Lee Farrell
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Laurie T. Gibson-Parker
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Matthew Dirado
Hr Manager
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$248K (2019) → $313K (2025)
Peter J. Moran
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Richard F. D'avanzo
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Robert M. Lamorte
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Ronald F. Greco
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Steve Beatty
Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$241K (2019) → $302K (2025)
Susan McBride
Executive Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$3K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Susan R. Vala
Executive Committee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $4K (2025)
Esther A. Fletcher
Executive Committee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $4K (2025)
Kristen Sherman
Accounting & Finance Man
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$233K (2021) → $230K (2025)
Tammi J. Lee
Executive Committee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $4K (2025)
Barbara B. Rheault
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Carla Mancuso
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Joan M. Wright
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Lisa M. Simone
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Melissa Tomlinson
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Petal T. Robertson
Secretary-Treasurer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$88K (2022) → $299K (2025)
Stacy A. Yanko
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$2K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Tamara Y. Beatty
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Temika Langston-Myers
Executive Committee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $4K (2025)
Colleen C. Gilmartin
Executive Committee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$4K (2024) → $4K (2025)
Denise Graff Policastro
Deputy Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$288K (2023) → $388K (2025)
Mark Richards
Executive Committee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$699 (2023) → $4K (2025)
Ryan Griffin
Executive Committee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$4K (2024) → $4K (2025)
Steven Koumoulis
Executive Committee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$1K (2023) → $6K (2025)
Laurie A. O'Brien
Executive Committee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$4K (2024) → $4K (2025)
Marco A. Martinez
Executive Committee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$5K (2024) → $5K (2025)
Tarsha Lawson
Executive Committee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$5K (2024) → $5K (2025)
Theresa L. Fuller
Executive Committee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$4K (2024) → $4K (2025)
Jennifer Herick
Executive Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$4K (2025)
Sharon L. Ortiz
Executive Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$681 (2025)
Matthew R. Yuro
Executive Committee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bianca M. Nicolescu
Executive Committee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marie K. Battist-Rock
Executive Committee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karoline Bethea-Jones
Executive Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren B. Greenfield
Executive Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Madison F. Baca
Executive Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Vega
Executive Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tobyn De Marco
Executive Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (47)
- Former: Francisco C. Barquin (2019–2024) — Executive Committee
- Former: Lois Yukna (2019–2024) — Executive Committee
- Former: Marie E. Blistan (2019–2024) — Past President
- Former: Steve Swetsky (2019–2024) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Dawn A. Nichol-Manning (2022–2024) — Executive Committee
- Former: Jennfier Herrick (2024) — Executive Committee
- Former: Michael E. Frank (2024) — Executive Committee
- Former: Anita Kober (2019–2023) — Executive Committee
- Former: Peter A. Helff (2019–2023) — Executive Committee
- Former: Susan S. Butterfield (2019–2023) — Executive Committee
- Former: Marilyn Edge (2021–2023) — Executive Committee
- Former: Heidi C. Brache (2022–2023) — Executive Committee
- Former: Sarah M. Adamo (2022–2023) — Executive Committee
- Former: Jamie Jones-Brown (2023) — Executive Committee
- Former: Aaron P. Honaker (2019–2022) — Executive Committee
- Former: Christine Onorato (2019–2022) — Executive Committee
- Former: James R. Frazier (2019–2022) — Executive Committee
- Former: Michael Cohan (2019–2022) — Director & Professional Development
- Former: Susan C. Maniglia (2019–2022) — Executive Committee
- Former: Valerie C. Reynolds (2019–2022) — Executive Committee
- Former: Brian J. Reilly (2021–2022) — Executive Committee
- Former: Kimberly L. Scott-Hayden (2021–2022) — Executive Committee
- Former: Andrew M. Jacobs (2019–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: Andrew Policastro (2019–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: Beverly A. Figlioli (2019–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: Deanna J. Nicosia-Jones (2019–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: Edward J. Richardson (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Elizabeth Miller (2019–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: James Loper (2019–2021) — Regional Director & Uniserv
- Former: Judith C. Perkins (2019–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: Susan J. Davis (2019–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: Jo-Anne A. Montanti (2020–2021) — Executive Committee
- Former: Ann Margaret Shannon (2019–2020) — Executive Committee
- Former: Kimberly L. Scott (2019–2020) — Executive Committee
- Former: Kristen Butler (2019–2020) — Accounting & Finance Man
- Former: Wendell Steinhauer (2019–2020) — Former Officer
- Former: Amber M. Ingram (2020) — Executive Committee
- Former: Marilyn Weeks (2020) — Executive Committee
- Former: Stacey Salerno (2020) — Executive Committee
- Former: Frank E. Toth (2019) — Executive Committee
- Former: Gayle K. Faulkner (2019) — Executive Committee
- Former: Ginger Gold Schnitzer (2019) — Assistant Director & Uniser
- Former: Heidi M. Olson (2019) — Executive Committee
- Former: Jacqui Greadington (2019) — Executive Committee
- Former: Marilyn Weeks-Ryan (2019) — Executive Committee
- Former: Robin C. Holcombe (2019) — Executive Committee
- Former: Victoria D. McKeon (2019) — Executive Committee
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 $448K, to Kevin Kelleher (Executive Director). 44 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about New Jersey Education Association
How much does New Jersey Education Association give each year?
New Jersey Education Association gave $35.6M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $11.3M across 17 grants.
What is New Jersey Education Association's typical grant size?
New Jersey Education Association's median grant in 2025 was $55,000, and its average grant was $2,224,801, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from New Jersey Education Association that year got $13K on average.
Where does New Jersey Education Association give grants?
New Jersey Education Association gives mostly in New Jersey: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Trenton, NJ (4 grants).
Does New Jersey Education Association give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on New Jersey Education Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (16 grants).
Who are New Jersey Education Association's largest grantees?
New Jersey Education Association's largest 2025 grantees include Garden State Forward ($33,307,809), NJ Center for Teaching and Learning ($750,000) and Education Law Center ($600,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is New Jersey Education Association?
New Jersey Education Association reported $285.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $178.7M.
What does New Jersey Education Association fund?
NJEA’s mission is to advocate for and protect members’ rights, benefits, and interests while promoting a high-quality, equitable system of public education for all students. Its stated vision includes respected and supported educators and excellent, inclusive, and safe education for every student. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from New Jersey Education Association?
New Jersey Education Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check njea.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is New Jersey Education Association's EIN?
New Jersey Education Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 21-0524390. 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 June 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in New Jersey
New Jersey Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). New Jersey Education Association funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/new-jersey-education-association-morg_a938686e2ece43f9ae355662ea1acc88
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_210524390_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{New Jersey Education Association funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/new-jersey-education-association-morg_a938686e2ece43f9ae355662ea1acc88},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Education Association'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.
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