The Fund for New Jersey announced that is awarding $515,000 in grants to nine nonprofit organizations for the fund’s most recent grant cycle. Trustees approved the grants at their quarterly board meeting this month. Grants were awarded to organizations in the areas of lead poisoning prevention, public education, and antipoverty efforts.

“The Fund has worked since 2015 to support organizations that advocate for a lead-free New Jersey. Unfortunately, communities across the country and in New Jersey continue to be impacted by lead-contaminated paint, soil, and water. Children are particularly vulnerable to poisoning from lead, with lifelong consequences,” said Kiki Jamieson, president of The Fund for New Jersey. “We are proud to continue supporting the Lead-Free New Jersey collaborative — advocating for regulatory change, sustainable funding, and infrastructure updates all while centering on racial equity.”

Three community-based organizations are central to Lead-Free NJ efforts — the East Trenton Collaborative, Paterson Habitat for Humanity, and the Newark Water Coalition. “These organizations offer on-the-ground experience and the perspective of those most impacted by lead, which inform policy recommendations that aim to eliminate lead hazards,” Jamieson said.

Grants awarded in September

Lead Poisoning Prevention

• A $75,000 operating grant to New Jersey Future to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in New Jersey by providing leadership to the Lead-Free New Jersey campaign; advocating for regulatory change, sustainable funding, and infrastructure updates while centering racial equity.

• A $75,000 operating grant to Green and Healthy Homes Initiative to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in New Jersey by providing leadership to the Lead-Free New Jersey campaign; advocating for regulatory change, sustainable funding, and infrastructure updates while centering racial equity.

• A $90,000 program grant to the Lead-Free New Jersey Community Mobilization (Paterson Habitat for Humanity, Newark Water Coalition, East Trenton Collaborative) to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in New Jersey by providing leadership to the LeadFree New Jersey campaign, supporting community mobilization and engagement, and centering the experience and perspective of those most impacted by lead.

Public Education

• A $75,000 operating grant to Salvation and Social Justice for its collaboration with Latino Action Network Foundation to advance a policy agenda that promotes integrated, inclusive schools and works to remedy systemic racism in public education.

• A $75,000 operating grant to the Latino Action Network Foundation for its collaboration with Salvation and Social Justice to advance a policy agenda that promotes integrated, inclusive schools and works to remedy systemic racism in public education.

• A $100,000 operating grant to Education Law Center to advocate for adequate school funding, school construction needs, and equitable and diverse learning environments by serving as convenor of the Our Children/Our Schools Coalition and working with partners on school integration efforts.

Anti-Poverty Efforts

• A $25,000 operating grant to the Family Success Institute to advance a policy agenda that transforms how the state supports families through community-based and community-directed services.

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 the 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.