The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund announced Thursday that it has completed its first phase of funding, raising more than $37.4 million and providing $18 million in immediate relief through 460 nonprofit organizations.
The NJPRF said, during its first 16 weeks in operation, it received support from 57,695 individual donors from every county in New Jersey, every state in the U.S. and 11 foreign countries.
The relief funds have gone to organizations in all 21 counties, focusing on areas including food security, health care hubs, telemedicine, education assistance, small business relief and direct cash assistance to immigrants.
The fund said it will now invest in bold, strategic and sustainable solutions to drive statewide impact, it said, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.
“With our initial grants awarded to 460 deserving organizations and nonprofits now completed, the NJPRF will focus on strategic initiatives in areas where our funding can have a transformative impact,” New Jersey first lady Tammy Snyder Murphy, the organization’s founding chair, said in a prepared statement. “By strategically partnering with leading foundations and charitable organizations, we can leverage our shared values to support those New Jersey residents most impacted by COVID-19.”
Underwriting of administrative assistance meant every dollar raised went to those in need, the NJPRF said.
“I am humbled by the outpouring of support, and heartened by our amazing front-line workers, social service and relief organizations that have stepped up to meet this challenge,” NJPRF CEO Josh Weinreich said in a statement. “NJPRF will continue to monitor and connect with these organizations to stay attuned to the landscape of need as the pandemic continues to unfold.”
Moving forward in its phase two, the NJPRF said, it will no longer accept traditional grant requests, but will allocate resources with the goal of creating partnerships for funding and implementation.
