Twenty nonprofits in South Jersey receive a total of $101,000 in grant awards in the latest round.

The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) will award 20 nonprofit organizations $101,000 in a seventh round of grants from the South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund.  This announcement includes funding for Phase 2 – Treatment and Phase 3 – Recovery requests. Details about these phases are available on the Fund website. With these awards, 173 grants totaling $1,169,500 have been distributed from the Fund to organizations serving Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties. These organizations are serving those families affected by the pandemic and related economic hardship.

“To date, nearly 300 funding requests from nonprofit partners across the region have been received totaling more than $4,000,000,” said CFSJ Executive Director Andy Fraizer.  “From that total, the review committee has considered 235 submissions for funding. The majority of these grants are funded to supplement lost revenue due to closures, cancellations, or other business model changes resulting from the pandemic.”

“Nonprofit organizations are where people turn to in times of need,” said Wanda Hardy, Chairperson of the Foundation’s Programs and Services Committee. “We remain committed to providing assistance to as many organizations as possible who are delivering critical services for those in need during these still difficult times.  Recovery for many remains a long-term challenge, the Community Foundation of South Jersey will continue to support efforts making a  positive impact in vulnerable communities across the region,” Fraizer concluded.

Since the launch of the South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund in March of 2020, The Community Foundation of South Jersey has raised nearly $1,370,000, well exceeding the initial goal of $1,000,000.  For more information on how individuals or organizations can make a donation, CFSJ funding priorities, or how to apply for a grant, please visit southjerseyresponsefund.org. 

ROUND SEVEN GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS:

All Things Are Possible Foundation – Willingboro, NJ
The $15,000 grant will support academic enrichment activities for South Jersey youth as well as help foster collaborations with partner agencies across Burlington County.

American Red Cross New Jersey – Fairfield, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support incentivizing blood donations to meet the sustained increase in demand for COVID-19 antibody-rich convalescent plasma throughout South Jersey.

Angels in Motion Atlantic City Chapter – Philadelphia, PA
The $3,000 grant will support volunteers aiding Atlantic County residents suffering from substance use disorders.

Civic Story – South Orange, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support the goal of increasing solutions-based, sustainability news throughout the state by training and developing a group of South Jersey journalists.

Delaware Valley Safety Council – Swedesboro, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support safety training & certification of essential workers throughout Gloucester and Salem counties.

Eastern Service Workers Association – Pleasantville, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support low-income, unemployed, and disabled workers across the Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties.

Family Promise of Burlington County – Moorestown, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support emergency shelter and eviction/foreclosure prevention programs for residents of Burlington County.

Gilda’s Club of South Jersey – Linwood, NJ
The $3,000 grant will support programs and support groups for South Jersey residents currently facing a cancer diagnosis or undergoing treatment.

Glassboro Child Development Centers – Glassboro, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support quality-rated childcare to students in Gloucester County.

Hands Up Silent Theatre – Millville, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support performing arts programming for the Deaf and hearing community across Cumberland County.

Jewish Federation of Ocean County – Lakewood, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support community outreach efforts and social, cultural, and educational programs for residents in Ocean County.

Larc School – Bellmawr, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support students with special needs in attending essential medical, therapeutic, and social programs across Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties.

Lazarus House Ministries – Wildwood, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support year-round food assistance programs for residents of Cape May County.

NJ Arts & Culture Renewal Fund – Lawrenceville, NJ
The $10,000 grant will support the arts, culture, and historic sectors across South Jersey.

Our Future First – Millville, NJ
The $3,000 grant will support academic enrichment activities as well as food and clothing assistance for youth in Millville.

Project Little Warriors – Haddonfield, NJ
The $3,000 grant will support mental health and well-being services for youth in Camden.

Ree Wynn Foundation – Pennsauken, NJ
The $3,000 grant will support South Jersey patients and caregivers struggling with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a rare blood disorder that primarily affects African American women..

Sea Change RCO – Long Beach, NJ
The $3,000 grant will support Ocean County residents struggling with substance abuse disorders.

Tony’s Steps – Runnemede, NJ
The $5,000 grant will support housing assistance services for South Jersey residents struggling with addiction..

TOUCH New Jersey – Collingswood, NJ
The $3,000 grant will support Camden children and their families with food, clothing, and other resources.

The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) wants our neighbors to know board members for their leadership and generosity. We asked board members a few questions to get to know them and learn about the values that drive their work.

Dr. Atkins has spent his adulthood trying to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable children and families living in distressed, urban neighborhoods through service, scholarship, and education. Through his scholarly work and practice, Dr. Atkins has become a leader in shaping the policy and practice that influences the health and well-being of vulnerable populations living in high poverty neighborhoods. He has authored and co-authored in journals ranging from Research in Nursing and Health to Psychological Science, to the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. He has discussed his practice and research locally and nationally, and since 2006 has been honored more than a dozen times for his teaching and community service work.

Dr. Atkins lives in Collingswood, New Jersey and serves as Executive Vice Dean for the School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University-Baltimore, and ongoing Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-Camden. He grew up in Cherry Hill and moved to Camden in his early 20s where he worked as a school nurse. He appreciates the diversity of people and places in the South Jersey area and enjoys being involved with local philanthropy through CFSJ.

What brings you joy or makes you experience gratitude?
My family brings me joy. I am one of six and I have the privilege of being close to my siblings and my many nephews and nieces.

What characteristics do you want to instill in children?
I want them to experience the joy of connecting to others and making meaningful contributions locally and globally. It’s hard to be sad when you are doing for others.

What is your aspiration for your philanthropy?
Philanthropy should lean into its obligations to serve communities of greatest disinvestment. When philanthropic organizations are willing to take risks and share what they learn from their successes and failures, they can help transform lives for the better.

The team at the Community Foundation has been working hard to implement a new fundholder portal system, which will improve a user’s experience advising funds at the Community Foundation. The new portal will provide up-to-the-minute fund information. Our secure fundholder portal lets you view the fund balance, submit grant recommendations, and view past grants.

How to Get Started

You will receive an email from the Community Foundation of New Jersey, CFSJ’s affiliate partner. Follow the instructions in the email to create a password for your account. Take note of your username (which is your email address in all lower case) and password as you complete this process.

To access the portal at any time, simply go to www.communityfoundationsj.org and click “My Fund” in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage. Enter your username and password, and then select the fund you’d like to review.

The main screen provides an at-a-glance list of recent contributions received into the account and recent grants paid out of the account. You will also see the current balance, updated in real-time, and the current fund advisors will be indicated just below the balance. Note that each person listed will have similar access to the fundholder portal.

Explanatory Video

Watch this video explaining how to use the fundholder portal. This video explains that whether a fund is associated with our work at the Community Foundation of South Jersey or a fund at our affiliate partner the Community Foundation of New Jersey, the operation of the portal is exactly the same.

Portal Features

The fundholder portal allows fund advisors to see the most recent transactions from their fund. The portal is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed through our website. If you have questions please contact Stefanie Guevara at the Community Foundation of New Jersey.

• Monthly Statements will post directly to the fundholder portal under the Statements Tab.
• Most recent transactions will post on the account’s main page when you log in.
• Accounts will be able to review all pending and completed grants paid from the account using the “Grants” option in the menu bar.
• You will be able to give to your fund through the portal.

Troubleshooting

I haven’t receive the auto-generated email yet. What should I do?
Check your Spam or Junk folder for an email from Community Foundation of New Jersey. Please email Stefanie Guevara to re-send the information you will need to establish login credentials.

I don’t understand how to navigate the portal. Where can I get help?
You can reach out to Stefanie Guevara at 973-267-5533.

The URL only worked the first time. How do I return to the portal?
The custom URL inside the auto-generated email should only be used to establish your password. Take note of your username and the password you select and then visit the fundholder portal to access the system at any time.

I’ve lost my password. What should I do?
For security reasons, the Community Foundation does not have the ability to access your password. You can reset your password on the portal login page. If you still need assistance, please email Stefanie Guevara or call 973-267-5533 for assistance.