In celebration of its one-year anniversary, the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund announced Thursday $16 million in new grant funding to 139 nonprofits throughout the state.
The grants, inspired by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s recognition of NJPRF’s impact and her transformational $20 million gift, include $10 million in grants to nonprofit organizations doing exemplary pandemic relief work at the state and local level.
NJPRF also allocated an additional $6 million in direct cash assistance for more than 18,000 of the state’s most vulnerable individuals and families, including higher education students, who will not benefit from government stimulus checks in the recently enacted American Rescue Plan.
The fund has now given $56 million in grants.
“Since the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund launched one year ago, we have worked every day to provide support to the millions of New Jerseyans struggling as a result of the pandemic and the crippling economic crisis left in its wake,” first lady Tammy Murphy, the founding chair of NJPRF, said.
“This round of grants goes directly to our nonprofits on the front lines delivering urgent aid to our most vulnerable residents.”
The $16 million of grants and support will be allocated toward the following areas of critical need:
- Domestic violence: $500,000;
- Health care/vaccine support: $1.25 million;
- Family/child care support: $1.5 million;
- Shelters/homelessness: $1.75 million;
- Food insecurity: $2 million;
- Statewide multiservice organizations: $3 million;
- Direct cash assistance: $6 million (including $1 million to higher education students).
Josh Weinreich, CEO of NJPRF, said the fund is continuing its aim of helping those most in need.
“We are proud to support these groups, which are working to achieve an equitable and fair recovery for all, and we hope that New Jerseyans will continue to support our many remarkable relief organizations in the months and years ahead,” he said. “With the $16 million in new grants announced today, NJPRF has now allocated $56 million towards our most vulnerable neighbors in their time of need.”
NJPRF selected the nonprofits through a lens of racial equity, inclusiveness and serving the state’s most vulnerable communities. The organizations have demonstrated track records in providing pandemic relief at both the state and local level and possess the infrastructure to deploy critical services effectively to large numbers of individuals and families.
