Community Employment Grants

Empowering Career Growth for People with Disabilities

The Foundation’s Community Employment Grants provide critical funding to organizations that support, train, and place individuals with disabilities in competitive, integrated employment. Since people with disabilities often face higher unemployment rates, lower wages, and increased poverty, meaningful employment offers a path toward greater independence, financial stability, and self-confidence. With proper support and training, individuals can secure sustainable employment and improve their long-term economic outlook.

Target Increasing Job Opportunities and Career Advancement

The Foundation seeks proposals from tax-exempt organizations that service New Jersey counties with some of the lowest employment rates for people with disabilities. These counties are: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren. Grants support an array of programs including transition-to-work for youth and adults, employment-related transportation solutions, vocational training, workplace readiness, strategies to support recruitment, hiring, placement, and retention, and strategies to move individuals from 14c employment to competitive, integrated employment settings. Other related programs may be funded at the discretion of our Trustees.

Funding

Community Employment Grants are awarded for one year. Funding ranges from $25,000 - $40,000. Organizations may apply for indirect cost expenses up to 8 percent in their project budgets. There is no matching grant requirement.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Any organization that serves New Jersey residents and is recognized as a tax-exempt entity according to the Internal Revenue Code may apply for funding.
  • This includes non-profit agencies, public or private schools, and public institutions, such as universities and governmental entities (state, local, federal) based in the United States or any of its territories.
• We accept applications from non-New Jersey based groups for projects based in New Jersey and serving local residents.
• Organizations must have an operating budget over $1,000,000 to apply.
• These grants support projects, programs, capacity building, pilot initiatives, and creative solutions that focus on job placement, education, training and retention.
  • Transition to work for youth and adults
  • Employment-related transportation issues
  • Vocational training and workplace preparation
  • Strategies to support recruitment, hiring, placement and retention
  • Strategies to move individuals from 14c employment to competitive, integrated employment settings

Ineligibility

• Organizations funded for three consecutive years in our community employment grant program cannot apply in the 4th year for funding.
  • After a one year break, organizations may reapply for funding.
• Kessler Foundation will not fund projects that discriminate in hiring staff or providing services on basis of race, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation or national origin.
• We do not fund lobbying activities, grants to individuals, scholarships, and/or projects unrelated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
• We also do not fund any vehicle purchase such as cars, vans, trucks or buses.
• We do not provide general operating grants.
• We do not fund any purely research-based projects.
  • However grant projects may include a research component.