New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund Announces Fourth Round of Grants

$1M in New Food Security, Healthcare Grants Bring One-Month Total To $4.2M

May 13, 2020 – TRENTON, NJ.

The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) has awarded 12 new grants, totaling $1 million, to organizations providing emergency relief to nine hard-hit counties across the state. The funds will help provide tele-medical services, meal delivery to homebound and COVID-positive individuals, funding for families at risk of homelessness, and direct financial assistance for struggling individuals and families.

Current grant recipients include food pantries, social services agencies, community organizations, medical providers, crisis centers and homeless shelters.  This round of funding supports critical efforts to expand existing services and launch new programs in response to drastically increasing need.

Over the past five weeks NJPRF has distributed 174 grants, totaling $4.2 million, to organizations throughout New Jersey’s 21 counties. Grants have ranged in size from $4,000 to $150,000. More than 700 online applications for assistance were received before the first application period ended on April 30^th, with more than 850 total grant applications received to date.

“More than 55,000 individuals and institutions have donated to NJPRF since our launch just seven weeks ago,” said Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey and Founding Chair of NJPRF. “While donations of $10,000 or more came from 129 major donors, the vast majority of our donors made much smaller contributions. This outpouring demonstrates how much we all feel the extent of the need and recognize that every single dollar counts. We really cannot adequately express our heartfelt appreciation to each and every person who has stepped up to help.”

In this current round of funding, the seven food security grants support organizations in Camden, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Monmouth and Morris counties. The five healthcare grants support organizations in Atlantic, Bergen, Essex and Union.

“The economic impact of the pandemic has been widely reported,” said Josh Weinreich, CEO of NJPRF. “Our job is to help alleviate the suffering that accompanies it. Sixty percent of this current round of funding is in the area of basic needs, primarily food support, and forty percent is in the area of shelter and health care.”

As NJPRF continues to identify emerging needs the pace of grant-making will likely accelerate, with additional grants announced weekly for the foreseeable future, Weinreich said. “We are focused on pinpointing specific programs and areas where our dollars can have the most impact. In the near term, urgent need will continue to play a dominant role, with a likely continued emphasis on food, shelter, health-care and social services.”

Recipients of grants awarded to date are posted here.

NJPAC invites you to join us for an online version of our Business Partners Roundtable discussions.

On Thursday, May 14^th at 9 a.m., CEO Josh Weinreich and Board Chair Tammy Murphy will explain how NJPRF is working to mitigate the medical, social and economic impact of COVID-19 on New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities. Hear how the Fund is connecting with non-profit partners across the state, its priorities and expected trajectory. The live online conversation is hosted by New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Business Roundtable. Register here.

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About the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF)

The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) was launched March 24, 2020 to marshal resources to meet critical needs and fight the economic and social impact of COVID-19 within New Jersey.

NJPRF will provide grants to existing organizations with a demonstrated track record of caring for vulnerable communities. One hundred percent of every dollar received online by NJPRF will go to organizations that provide essential services to those in need and to assist those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NJPRF is proud to be hosted by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, which has been serving the needs of New Jersey non-profits and philanthropists for more than 40 years.

For additional information, or to donate, please visit: https://njprf.org/