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Small Grants Program

Black River, Somerset County

Black River, Somerset County
Photo Courtesy The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

The New Jersey Highlands Coalition will be awarding a limited number of grants to assist grassroots organizations working on projects located within the New Jersey Highlands or associated with protecting New Jersey Highlands resources. (Click here for a list of 88 Highlands municipalities.)

Click here for the recent press release.

Eligibility and Guidelines:

Grants will be awarded to “grassroots organizations,” defined as non-governmental organizations with a total annual operating budget of less than $200,000. It is not necessary that the organization be incorporated. Any grassroots organization may apply, but prior to receiving a grant that organization must become a member of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition.

Grant awards will range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Grants will be awarded to fund projects that meet at least one of the following criteria, which are described in order of priority:

  1. Projects that focus on developing a stronger Highlands Regional Master Plan, and/or implementation of the Regional Master Plan. For example, projects that identify, map, or verify mapped Highlands resources or monitor the implementation of RMP standards at the local level; projects that advocate for and result in municipal conformance with the RMP;
  2. Projects that would establish a precedent advancing strong environmental protection in the Highlands. For example, hiring a consultant to help achieve the most environmentally protective decision by NJDEP, the Highlands Council, the Office of Smart Growth/State Planning Commission, the NJ Department of Agriculture or the Council on Affordable Housing, on a Highlands matter;
  3. Projects that may not help set a precedent, but would assist an organization to fight against a seriously environmentally damaging development in the Highlands Region, including residential, transportation, commercial, agribusiness projects, etc;
  4. Projects that support capacity building of Highlands Region grassroots organizations, for example, a membership mailing, a strategic planning exercise, a workshop, conference or public educational event, etc.
  5. Projects that educate about Highlands water and resources, and/or increase public awareness of the use and conservation of Highlands water.

Application Requirements:

Applicants should submit a short narrative (one page or less) describing the project, how it meets at least one of the criteria above, and how grant monies will be spent. Applications should also include the grant amount requested and evidence that the organization’s annual operating budget is less than $200,000. Include name and contact information (phone and email) for the organization’s contact person.

Please send applications to:

Julia Somers, Executive Director
New Jersey Highlands Coalition
508 Main St.
Boonton, NJ 07005
973-588-7190, fax 973-588-7193
julia@njhighlandscoalition.org

Applications will be accepted via email; please submit applications as Microsoft Word or PDF attachments.

When to Apply:

The Small Grants Committee of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition considers grant applications at its spring meetings each year.  Applicants who wish to have grant requests considered should ensure that their applications are received in the Coalition's office before March 31 of that year. 
 
Grants meeting at least one of the criteria above, may be considered and granted on an emergency basis, at any other time during the year.  Application requirements are the same.  A strong and persuasive case must be made for a grant being made outside the usual cycle.

 

For more information, please contact Julia Somers at 973-588-7190 or julia@njhighlandscoalition.org