The Trustees of The Fund for New Jersey awarded $955,000 in grants to non-profit organizations at their June 2020 quarterly board meeting. Grants were awarded to 15 organizations in the areas of climate change and clean energy, environmental protection, voting rights, criminal justice reform, social justice and civil rights, and transportation.
Kiki Jamieson, president of The Fund for New Jersey, stated, “The Fund for New Jersey is proud to invest in these policy organizations working to offer solutions that address the climate crisis, protect the state’s natural resources, improve public transportation, expand voting rights, and promote racial and economic justice in New Jersey.”
Grants awarded in June 2020 include:
Criminal Justice Reform, Civil Rights & Social Justice
A $100,000 general operating grant to New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund to advance public policy solutions that promote economic and social justice, improve health care access and affordable coverage, and ensure sufficient revenue to address New Jersey’s state budget needs.
A $100,000 general operating grant to the American Civil Liberties Union – New Jersey to
advance its racial justice work in New Jersey over the coming year, with particular focus on advocating for prosecutorial reform, police reform, expanded voting rights, protecting immigrants’ rights, and equitable marijuana reform.
A $100,000 general operating grant to New Jersey Institute for Social Justice to advance racial and economic justice in New Jersey’s urban communities, with particular focus on the racial wealth gap, voting rights, and police reform.
Voting Rights
A $75,000 general operating grant to League of Women Voters of New Jersey Education Fund to protect New Jersey’s democracy and serve New Jersey voters during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, including specific focus on communities of color and voters whose first language is not English.
Environmental Protection
A $65,000 general operating grant as part of a three-year grant (year two) to New Jersey Conservation Foundation to advance policies that support the rapid transition to renewable energy in New Jersey.
A $60,000 general operating grant as part of a three-year grant (year two) to the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions to advance state and local policy to improve water quality, protect water supply, and reduce plastics pollution.
A $55,000 general operating grant as part of a three-year grant (year two) to New Jersey Highlands Coalition to protect and defend the Highlands Act and the Regional Master Plan and to educate the public and decision-makers about the importance of protecting natural resources of the Highlands.
A $50,000 general operating grant as part of a three-year grant (year two) to Pinelands Preservation Alliance to advance and enforce policies to protect the natural resources of the Pinelands region.
A $40,000 general operating grant to NY/NJ Baykeeper to advance its Clean Water Campaign to protect, preserve, and restore the Hudson-Raritan Harbor Estuary.
Climate Change & Clean Energy
A $75,000 general operating grant to New Jersey Work Environment Council to advance policies for climate and clean energy, Right to Know, and COVID-19 worker protections, and to provide leadership to Jersey Renews.
A $75,000 general operating grant to Environment New Jersey Research and Policy Center to advance equitable renewable energy and transportation policy and provide leadership to Jersey Renews over the coming year.
A $25,000 general operating grant to GreenFaith to provide campaign leadership to Jersey Renews’ clean energy policy and to engage the faith sector, with a focus on the AfricanAmerican faith community.
An $85,000 general operating grant to Eastern Environmental Law Center to represent environmental and community organizations to address environmental sustainability and climate resiliency issues in New Jersey.
Transportation
A $25,000 general operating grant to Regional Plan Association to advocate for policies in New Jersey and nationally to implement the two-phase Gateway transit rail program.
$25,000 general operating grant to Tri-State Transportation Campaign to organize and advocate for a strong and equitable public transit system and to advance climate resilient transportation policies with a focus on environmental justice communities.
The Fund for New Jersey works to improve the quality of public policy decision-making on the most significant issues affecting the people of New Jersey and our region. For 50 years, The Fund has supported organizations and initiatives that advance systemic and sustainable solutions to public problems through the work of policy, advocacy, analysis, and organizing.