Home » GrantsGrantsThe Montclair Foundation provides grants bi-annually to a broad range of 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations working to strengthen and improve our community. The Montclair Foundation’s grant support strives to improve the quality of life for all people in the greater Montclair community. Thank you for considering us as a potential partner for your work. To help you understand our organization better, we have outlined our main grantmaking priorities, guidelines, and decision-making criteria. The Montclair Foundation has two grant cycles per year. Starting this year, grantees will need to apply during the cycle that best aligns with their mission and project focus. This change will allow our grant committee to compare applications within similar categories. Here are the cycles and their respective focus areas: Fall Grant Categories Mental Health and Well-BeingSupports programs and initiatives that promote emotional, psychological, behavioral, and social wellbeing for individuals and families. The Foundation is particularly interested in programs that improve equitable access to care, reduce stigma, strengthen resilience, and support underserved populations. Funding may support: •  Counseling and therapeutic services •  Youth social-emotional learning and wellness initiatives •  Trauma-informed care and crisis intervention •  Substance misuse prevention and recovery support •  Peer support and mentoring programs •  Community wellness education and outreach •  Mental health programs serving vulnerable or underserved populations Food SecuritySupports programs and initiatives that address hunger, nutrition, and food instability within the community. The Foundation seeks to support both immediate food assistance and long-term solutions that improve equitable access to healthy and nutritious food. Funding may support: •  Food pantries and emergency meal programs •  School and youth nutrition initiatives •  Senior nutrition services •  Mobile food access and delivery programs •  Community gardens and urban agriculture •  Nutrition education and healthy cooking programs •  Collaborative hunger relief partnerships •  Programs addressing food deserts and systemic barriers to food access HousingSupports programs and initiatives that promote safe, stable, affordable, and supportive housing opportunities for individuals and families. The Foundation values programs that strengthen long-term housing stability and self-sufficiency. Funding may support: •  Homelessness prevention and intervention programs •  Emergency shelter and transitional housing services •  Affordable housing initiatives •  Housing navigation and case management •  Tenant advocacy and eviction prevention •  Supportive housing services for vulnerable populations •  Temporary housing/emergency shelter •  Programs serving seniors, youth, families, or individuals with disabilities •  Financial literacy and housing stabilization services Spring Grant Categories EducationSupports programs and initiatives that expand educational opportunity, academic achievement, lifelong learning, and equitable access to educational resources. The Foundation welcomes innovative approaches that support underserved learners and communities. Funding may support: •  Early childhood education programs •  Academic enrichment and tutoring •  Literacy and STEAM initiatives •  College and career readiness programs •  After-school and summer learning opportunities •  Scholarship and mentorship programs •  Special education and inclusive learning initiatives •  Adult education and workforce development •  Programs supporting underserved learners and communities Community ServiceSupports programs and initiatives that strengthen communities, improve quality of life, and promote civic engagement through direct service, volunteerism, and community collaboration. The Foundation values collaborative programs with meaningful and measurable community impact. Funding may support: •  Community outreach and engagement initiatives •  Volunteer-driven programs •  Youth leadership and civic engagement •  Family support services •  Senior and intergenerational programming •  Community-building and neighborhood initiatives •  Programs serving vulnerable or underserved populations •  Collaborative partnerships addressing local challenges Cultural ArtsSupports programs and initiatives that enrich communities through arts, culture, creativity, and cultural preservation. The Foundation encourages programs that use the arts to foster education, inclusion, expression, and community engagement. Funding may support: •  Visual, performing, literary, and media arts programs •  Arts education and youth arts initiatives •  Public art and creative placemaking projects •  Community cultural events and performances •  Arts access programs for underserved populations •  Artist residencies and community collaborations •  Cultural heritage and preservation initiatives •  Multidisciplinary and community-centered arts programming List of Recent Grantees Guidelines Must be a 501 (c) 3 Organization for Three Years or more Organization serves the Montclair Community and its Environs Organizations can only apply once within a 12 month period. Each cycle we will be making 2-3 larger grants of $10,000-$15,000 Generally, we do not fund capital campaigns or other foundations. We fund general operations but prefer to fund special projects or items. A previous grant award for an organization does not mean an automatic award every year. Each year is a new beginning and all applications are weighted equally We can make multi-year grants, but should not be longer than a 3-year commitment. We appreciate invitations to visit your location or to see the project you are requesting funds for. Grant awards range from $3,000-$15,000 Criteria Your Mission Alignment with TMF Focus Areas Impact on helping Montclair and its Environs Equity; Fairness Management and Financial Stability Apply for Grants Fall Grant Cycle application will be opening August 3rd at 9:00 am and will close Tuesday, September 8 at 5:00 pm. Decisions will be announced in mid-November. For inquiries, please call the Development office at 973-744-4752 x6. Join our Nonprofit Roundtable Email List Required Documents Attachments can be Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF files created on a copier/scanner. Do not include ZIP files or password-protected files. Copy of the IRS letter of determination indicating 501(c)(3) tax exempt status Audited Financial Statement for the most recent year available or a Form 990 Organization’s operating budget for the coming year Project budget List of the names of the organization’s Board of Directors List of other sources of funding being solicited and their status to date with those sources View Grant Recipients Montclair has a long history of caring for those in need and seeking to improve the life of a dynamic suburb. View List Aging in Montclair American Red Cross ArtsPower Bike & Walk Montclair Friends of the Adult School of Montclair CASA of Passaic County Connections at Home COPE Center Dance on the Lawn NJ DIFFvelopment Corporation Ethan and the Bean Family Promise of Essex County Family Service League First Night Montclair Friends of Anderson Park Friends of Yogi (DBA Yogi Berra Museum) Garden Club of Montclair Girls in Gear Girl Scouts of Greater Essex Good Success Academies HackNCraftNJ (DBA/Laptop Upcycle) Hollow Day Care Center HomeCorp Human Needs Food Pantry IMANI Immaculate Conception High School Intensive Therapeutics Intersections IMPACT Community Development Jazz House Kids Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest KinderSmile Foundation Lacordaire Academy Luna Stage Company Inc. Main Street Counseling Mental Health Assoc. of Essex County Montclair Ambulance Unit Montclair Art Museum Montclair Center Corporation Montclair Community Farms Association Montclair Community Pre-K Montclair Counseling Center Montclair Economic Development Corp MESH Montclair Emergency Shelter for the Homeless Montclair Film Festival Montclair Free Public Library Foundation MFEE (Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence) Montclair Grass Roots Montclair History Center (formerly Montclair Historical Society) Montclair Hospital Foundation Montclair Local Newspaper Montclair Neighborhood Development Corp Montclair Orchestra Montclair Public Library Montclair Rehabilitation Organization Montclair Scholarship Fund Montclair Shared Housing / The Montclair Inn Montclair State University Children’s Center Montclair YMCA Moving Architects National Council of Jewish Women Neighborhood Child and Infant Care Center New Jersey Music Society Nishuane School Northeast Earth Coalition Oasis-A Haven for Women and Children Opera Theatre of Montclair Outpost in the Burbs Partners for Women and Justice PAWS Pearls and Ivies Presby Memorial Iris Garden Prevent Blindness Tri-State Programs for Parents, Inc. Project Graduation Pushcart Players Saint Peter Claver Church Side Door at Union Congregational Church Senior Care & Activities Center Sepsis Alliance SMAPA (Sharon Miller Academy for the Performing Arts) Sister to Sister of Montclair SOFIA (Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates) Strategic Mentoring Inc./Brother to Brother Mentoring Program Studio Montclair Succeed2ogether The Salvation Army of Montclair NJ (Greater Montclair Area) Toni’s Kitchen Trinity Presbyterian Church Twelve Miles West Unity Concerts Unitarian Church After School Program Unity Wall Project Upper Montclair Business Association Urban Health Care Initiative Vanguard Theater Watchung Pre-School We’ve Got Friends Willow Tree Center Youth Consultation Services Donations are appreciated The Montclair Foundation/Van Vleck House & Gardens depend on the generosity of volunteers and donors. We are grateful for your support. Make An Impact
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