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.
Key facts about New Jersey Education Association
- EIN
- 21-0524390
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,260,191
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $662,364
- Median grant
- $60,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2024)
- Total assets
- $270,562,783
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who New Jersey Education Association funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for New Jersey Education Association's 17 itemized 2024 grants were New Jersey (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Trenton, NJ (5 grants) and Lawrenceville, NJ (2 grants). None of its 17 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (17 grants).
Is New Jersey Education Association open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $796K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $118K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with New Jersey Education Association
- How to evaluate New Jersey Education Association as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to New Jersey Education Association with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
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
Share of all 17 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Garden State Forward ($8,534,061), NJ Center for Teaching and Learning ($750,000), Education Law Center ($585,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GARDEN STATE FORWARD Trenton, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $8,534,061 |
| NJ CENTER FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING Mahwah, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $750,000 |
| EDUCATION LAW CENTER Newark, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $585,000 |
| THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY FOUNDATION INC Ewing, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $389,130 |
| 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 | $175,000 |
| NJEA MEMBER BENEFIT TRUST Trenton, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FREDERICK L HIPP FOUNDATION Trenton, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| NJ HALL OF FAME Iselin, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS 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 SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
What does New Jersey Education Association fund?
**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 • **Member…
How do I apply for a grant from New Jersey Education Association?
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. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $11,963,840 (fiscal year 2024) • Average grant amounts range from $6,500 to $9,000,000 • Recent grants include support to New Jersey Cent…
Where does New Jersey Education Association make 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.
What size grants does New Jersey Education Association award?
In 2024, New Jersey Education Association awarded 17 grants totaling $11.3M — an average of about $662K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in New Jersey Education Association's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Chubb Charitable Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$74.9M
Grants
3,719
Total Given
$6.3M
Princeton Area Community Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
Assets
$279.6M
Grants
515
Total Given
$31.3M
Oceanfirst Foundation
Toms River, NJ
Assets
$8.8M
Grants
662
Total Given
$1.5M
The Philadelphia Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$704.6M
Grants
715
Total Given
$39.1M
The Prudential Foundation
Newark, NJ
Assets
$71.4M
Grants
178
Total Given
$40.8M
Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation
Teaneck, NJ
Assets
$78.5M
Grants
131
Total Given
$10.1M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Crane Fund for Widows and Children
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Assets
—
Grants
985
Total Given
$4.5M
The Hyde and Watson Foundation
Warren Township, NJ
Assets
$88.2M
Grants
611
Total Given
$6.1M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
More Funders in New Jersey
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.