Working to improve the quality of public policy decision‑making on the most significant issues affecting the people of New Jersey.
The Fund’s grantmaking is strategically designed to advance systemic, sustainable solutions to the state’s most pressing civil rights and public policy challenges. We aim to dismantle structural inequities and protect the fundamental rights of all residents and maintain a commitment to long-term structural change, fostering landmark advancements in criminal justice reform, voting rights expansion, immigrant inclusion, labor protections and educational equity.
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The Fund’s grantmaking in public education is centered on the core principle that every child in the state is entitled to a high-quality, equitable, and “thorough and efficient” education, regardless of their zip code. By supporting data-driven research and strategic advocacy, we seek to ensure that New Jersey’s public school system remains among the best in the nation while addressing the persistent achievement gaps that affect low-income students and students of color. We are very proud to support efforts that advance full implementation of the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) and the expansion of high-quality, universal preschool. Through shrewd partnerships and collaborative supports, The Fund has helped catalyze landmark policy shifts that have led to historic increases in state aid, ensuring that resources are directed to the students who need them most to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
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The Fund’s environmental grantmaking is rooted in the belief that a healthy environment is a prerequisite for a thriving, equitable society. Our primary goals are to accelerate the transition to clean energy, ensure water quality and safety, and strengthen climate resilience through rigorous policy advocacy and legal action. We are honored to have supported work that resulted in the passage of New Jersey’s landmark Environmental Justice Law and the ongoing implementation of the Energy Master Plan, ensuring that the shift toward a green economy prioritizes the health and economic well-being of the state’s most overburdened communities.
Learn More
The Fund’s grantmaking on equity issues is defined by a deep commitment to dismantling the structural racism and economic barriers that prevent New Jerseyans from thriving. Our primary equity-focused goal is to foster a “reparative” framework for public policy—one that moves beyond mere service delivery to target the root causes of systemic inequality. The Fund’s support has helped catalyze transformative change, which can be seen in the state’s nation-leading efforts to close the racial wealth gap, the implementation of fairer tax structures like the state Child Tax Credit and improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the ongoing push for criminal justice reform that prioritizes community safety and rehabilitation over mass incarceration.
Learn More
The Fund’s grantmaking in government transparency and accountability is rooted in the belief that a healthy democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government that operates in the light. Our primary goals are to strengthen independent oversight, protect public access to information, and ensure that state resources are managed with the highest level of fiscal responsibility. By supporting vital watchdog and policy organizations, The Fund has been a steadfast defender of the “public’s right to know.” The impact of this work is particularly critical in the current landscape, where there is tremendous need to defend against the erosion of transparency by advocating for the modernization of the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and supporting rigorous reporting that exposes waste, mismanagement, and political corruption at all levels of government.
Learn More
The Fund’s health grantmaking is centered on the principle that health is a product of policy, not just medicine. Rather than funding direct clinical services, The Fund focuses on systemic policy advocacy to ensure that all New Jerseyans have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and live in environments that promote well-being. Our primary health-focused goals include expanding health insurance coverage, addressing the social determinants of health—such as housing and nutrition—and eliminating the racial and economic disparities that persist in the state’s healthcare system. The Fund’s impact is felt through its sustained support of organizations that have successfully advocated for the expansion of NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid), the implementation of the “Cover All Kids” initiative, and the protection of the state’s healthcare exchange, GetCoveredNJ.
Learn More
The Fund’s housing-focused grantmaking is dedicated to the belief that access to a safe, stable, and affordable home is the foundation of economic mobility and community health. Our primary goals are to dismantle exclusionary zoning practices, expand the supply of affordable rental and ownership units, and prevent homelessness through systemic policy change. By supporting a high-impact network of advocates and community leaders, The Fund’s impact is particularly exhibited in defenses of the landmark Mount Laurel doctrine to ensure every municipality provides its fair share of affordable housing, as well as protection of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to fuel local development and eviction prevention programs.
Learn More
The Fund’s grantmaking on immigration is driven by the conviction that the state’s long-term prosperity is inextricably linked to the inclusion and empowerment of its diverse immigrant communities. Our primary immigration-focused goals are to advance policies that foster justice, belonging, and equal protection for all residents, regardless of their documentation status. By providing sustained support to crucial organizations and advocates in the immigration space, The Fund has worked in partnership with others to accomplish major advancements including higher education tuition equity, driver’s licenses for all, legal protections for immigrant children, and more.
Learn More
The Fund’s grantmaking is strategically designed to advance systemic, sustainable solutions to the state’s most pressing civil rights and public policy challenges. We aim to dismantle structural inequities and protect the fundamental rights of all residents and maintain a commitment to long-term structural change, fostering landmark advancements in criminal justice reform, voting rights expansion, immigrant inclusion, labor protections and educational equity.
The Fund’s grantmaking in public education is centered on the core principle that every child in the state is entitled to a high-quality, equitable, and “thorough and efficient” education, regardless of their zip code. By supporting data-driven research and strategic advocacy, we seek to ensure that New Jersey’s public school system remains among the best in the nation while addressing the persistent achievement gaps that affect low-income students and students of color. We are very proud to support efforts that advance full implementation of the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) and the expansion of high-quality, universal preschool. Through shrewd partnerships and collaborative supports, The Fund has helped catalyze landmark policy shifts that have led to historic increases in state aid, ensuring that resources are directed to the students who need them most to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
The Fund’s environmental grantmaking is rooted in the belief that a healthy environment is a prerequisite for a thriving, equitable society. Our primary goals are to accelerate the transition to clean energy, ensure water quality and safety, and strengthen climate resilience through rigorous policy advocacy and legal action. We are honored to have supported work that resulted in the passage of New Jersey’s landmark Environmental Justice Law and the ongoing implementation of the Energy Master Plan, ensuring that the shift toward a green economy prioritizes the health and economic well-being of the state’s most overburdened communities.
The Fund’s grantmaking on equity issues is defined by a deep commitment to dismantling the structural racism and economic barriers that prevent New Jerseyans from thriving. Our primary equity-focused goal is to foster a “reparative” framework for public policy—one that moves beyond mere service delivery to target the root causes of systemic inequality. The Fund’s support has helped catalyze transformative change, which can be seen in the state’s nation-leading efforts to close the racial wealth gap, the implementation of fairer tax structures like the state Child Tax Credit and improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the ongoing push for criminal justice reform that prioritizes community safety and rehabilitation over mass incarceration.
The Fund’s grantmaking in government transparency and accountability is rooted in the belief that a healthy democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government that operates in the light. Our primary goals are to strengthen independent oversight, protect public access to information, and ensure that state resources are managed with the highest level of fiscal responsibility. By supporting vital watchdog and policy organizations, The Fund has been a steadfast defender of the “public’s right to know.” The impact of this work is particularly critical in the current landscape, where there is tremendous need to defend against the erosion of transparency by advocating for the modernization of the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and supporting rigorous reporting that exposes waste, mismanagement, and political corruption at all levels of government.
The Fund’s health grantmaking is centered on the principle that health is a product of policy, not just medicine. Rather than funding direct clinical services, The Fund focuses on systemic policy advocacy to ensure that all New Jerseyans have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and live in environments that promote well-being. Our primary health-focused goals include expanding health insurance coverage, addressing the social determinants of health—such as housing and nutrition—and eliminating the racial and economic disparities that persist in the state’s healthcare system. The Fund’s impact is felt through its sustained support of organizations that have successfully advocated for the expansion of NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid), the implementation of the “Cover All Kids” initiative, and the protection of the state’s healthcare exchange, GetCoveredNJ.
The Fund’s housing-focused grantmaking is dedicated to the belief that access to a safe, stable, and affordable home is the foundation of economic mobility and community health. Our primary goals are to dismantle exclusionary zoning practices, expand the supply of affordable rental and ownership units, and prevent homelessness through systemic policy change. By supporting a high-impact network of advocates and community leaders, The Fund’s impact is particularly exhibited in defenses of the landmark Mount Laurel doctrine to ensure every municipality provides its fair share of affordable housing, as well as protection of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to fuel local development and eviction prevention programs.
The Fund’s grantmaking on immigration is driven by the conviction that the state’s long-term prosperity is inextricably linked to the inclusion and empowerment of its diverse immigrant communities. Our primary immigration-focused goals are to advance policies that foster justice, belonging, and equal protection for all residents, regardless of their documentation status. By providing sustained support to crucial organizations and advocates in the immigration space, The Fund has worked in partnership with others to accomplish major advancements including higher education tuition equity, driver’s licenses for all, legal protections for immigrant children, and more.
Grant Dollars Awarded
in 2025
– Feather O’Connor Houstoun (Board Trustee since 2016)
Learn About Our Census Initiative
1970
With New Jersey one of only two states without a VHF TV station, and Newark the largest US city lacking one, The Fund created the Coalition for Fair Broadcasting to improve coverage of the Garden State by pushing New York and Philadelphia stations to invest in offices and news operations in New Jersey.
1975
The state Supreme Court, in Mount Laurel I (1975) and II (1983), declared unconstitutional municipal land use regulations that block decent, affordable housing opportunities.
1979
The Fund supported the founding of three organizations that have made indispensable contributions to improving New Jersey through a robust civic sector.
1994
The Camden Development Collaborative became New Jersey’s first locally organized consortium of private grantmakers pooling resources to support housing and economic development projects. The Fund for New Jersey broadened its mission to incubate the Collaborative.
1998
After the state Supreme Court’s 1998 Abbott V decision required the state to offer “well-planned, high-quality preschool,”the Early Care and Education Coalition led the charge that established a standard that makes New Jersey preschool programs among the best in the country. Research shows students’ learning success continues in later grades.
1999
Endowed by The Fund in 1999 in honor of founding Board chair Joseph C. Cornwall, the Center at Rutgers University-Newark brings the campus’s intellectual talent and other resources to bear on the challenges of revitalizing Newark and similar communities across New Jersey.
2004
Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act preserved more than 1,000 square miles of the state’s most important natural resources.
2007
New Jersey became the first state to legislatively abolish the death penalty since 1965.
2008
New Jersey became the second state to adopt a paid family leave law, which went into effect in 2009- providing workers with a percentage of their full pay for up to six weeks to care for a sick relative or bond with a new baby or adopted child. The program is fully funded by employees through a modest payroll tax deduction.
2013
New Jersey expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to include a broader range of low-income households. A grassroots effort informed community leaders and promoted coverage now available to more New Jersey residents.
2013
Same-sex marriage became law in New Jersey, allowing all couples the benefits of legal marriage. Nine years after the mayor of Asbury Park began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, six years after civil unions were legalized in New Jersey, and after a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court, New Jersey joined 13 other states in legalizing marriage equality.
2017
In 2013, 12% of the people in New Jersey’s jails were imprisoned only because they could not afford bail of $2,500 or less. People of color were disproportionately imprisoned under this cash bail system. The New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Act essentially eliminated money bail.
2019
The Let’s Drive NJ Campaign was a group effort over more than a decade that resulted in New Jersey passing a law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
2020
The New Jersey Complete Count Commission provided outreach and organizing support to county governments and community-based organizations dedicated to ensuring New Jersey residents were counted accurately. Together with additional support from New Jersey’s philanthropic community, the 2020 Census count resulted in the Garden State maintaining its congressional representation and recording an increase in population.
2024
In 2024, the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights went into effect, requiring employers pay fair wages, ensure safe working conditions, and provide written contracts. The codification of rights ensured that family caretakers and other workers employed in New Jerseyans’ homes were protected against wage and labor abuses.