2026 Grant Recipients
Meet our 2026 grant recipients! Each organization was nominated to receive a grant by one of our 16 community-based Nominators. A Team of Selectors then reviewed all nominations. Learn more about our trust-based process here. Read on for more information about each recipient.
HBCU Greatness
$20,000
Nominated separately by Kenneth Sharperson and Darlene Winkler
HBCU Greatness, founded in 2021 by William S. Parrish Jr., seeks to be a community bridge for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), their students, graduates, and alumni associations to access funding, training, partnership, and exposure with corporate and institutional donors. The organization seeks to highlight excellence in HBCU student achievement, alumni development, and growth opportunities for area professionals and recent graduates. They teach, support, and generate interest in entrepreneurship and business curriculums for HBCU prospective/current students and recent graduates.
Martin Luther King Observance Committee
$20,000 (pending)
Nominated by Brenda and Clarence Curry, Jr.
Martin Luther King Observance Committee was formed to educate, inspire, and motivate people of all races, religions, ethnicities, social and economic classes, political affiliations, ages, and genders to embrace the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the “beloved community” that seeks social justice, equality in education, employment and housing, personal freedom and peace and harmony among all people. Much of this support has come through its annual scholarship awards program.
NJ Black Women Physicians Association
$20,000
Nominated by Leslie Brown
New Jersey Black Women Physicians Association (NJBWPA) is a network of Black female physicians using lived experience, clinical expertise, and cultural insight to redesign healthcare from the inside. Their mission: Black female physicians driving innovations to eliminate health disparities. The three pillars of their mission are education, advocacy, and legacy--creating evidence, action, and permanence, which they use to drive change. Since their founding in 2019, they have reported more than 1000 volunteer hours personally donated by NJBWPA physicians.
Sister2Sister
$20,000
Nominated by Celeste Campos
Sister2Sister is nonprofit breast cancer survivorship organization dedicated to serving minority and underserved women in Central New Jersey. Since their founding in 2000, they have become a trusted resource for women battling breast cancer, providing sanctuary, education, advocacy, and vital support services to address disparities in care. Sister2Sister was founded by four women with personal experiences with breast cancer. Their collective knowledge and insights, born from facing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, allow S2S to offer a uniquely empathetic and personalized perspective.
St. Luke Community Development
Corporation (CDC)
$20,000
Nominated by Sasha Lowery
St. Luke Community Development Corporation (CDC) was established by St. Luke Baptist Church in 1997 under the direction of Rev. Kenneth D.R. Clayton to serve as an agent of hope, help, and healing in the City of Paterson. The CDC exists to improve the quality of life of city residents, create a better community and to empower individuals to live self-sufficient lives. Among its programs are Christ House, a food and clothing center; House of Mercy, which provides safe emergency housing for women who are homeless; an after-school counseling program; St. Luke CDF Freedom School; and a Reading Assistance Program.
Leaders of the 21st Century
$13,000
Nominated by Altorice Frazier
Leaders of the 21st Century is a nonprofit whose mission is to develop civic-minded youth leaders in urban communities and prepare them for the world of work and beyond through professional and leadership development. High school juniors and seniors who are accepted into the program have the opportunity to participate in a two-year fellowship program. They participate in a twelve-week long leadership workshop/training culminating with career professionals exposing them to a variety of career fields of interest.
Brothers Building a Better Nation
$11,000
Nominated by Richard Cammarieri
Brothers Building a Better Nation empowers individuals who were born male or identify as male to embrace healing, cultivate self- expression, and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood as a foundation for thriving families and communities. They define brotherhood as social infrastructure, the essential connection that builds resilience, accountability, and healthy relationships. Through Healing-Centered Engagement, Culturally Responsive Practice, and Trauma-Informed Care, they provide integrated support that help participants thrive, to heal, grow, and lead.
New Jersey Orators, Inc.
$11,000
Nominated by Vernon Anthony
New Jersey Orators is nonprofit youth organization that teaches the art of public speaking, an appreciation for literature, reading and media arts literacy, civic engagement, college readiness, and life skills to youth from 7 to 18 years of age. The organization was founded in 1985 by a small group of African-American corporate executives who were concerned by the lack of formal language skills of young people who visited and interviewed for jobs at their respective companies. They began with one
chapter which had 16 members; there are now chapters throughout New Jersey and into Pennsylvania.
Experience the Legacy
$5,000
Nominated by Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr
Experience the Legacy was established to help educate students on the history and significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Their mission is to provide communities with comprehensive information, resources, and a taste of the HBCU experience through a curated college resource fair. Experience the Legacy HBCU College Fair bridges the opportunity gap for students, combining some of the fun of the iconic HBCU homecoming with the essential information that traditional college fairs provide in order to encourage, influence, and raise awareness about these institutions.
.png)
Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective
$5,000
Nominated by Malcolm McClain
Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective, which came to life in 2019, is a curated community for professionals of color who are committed to personal and professional growth, meaningful networking, and the exchange of support and resources. Through monthly gatherings, including panel discussions, guest speakers, mentorship circles, workshops, and locally relevant programming, they create opportunities for connection, learning, and leadership development focused on professionals of color. They intentionally strive to create a nurturing and fun support network.
Together We Bloom
$5,000
Nominated by Camille Estrella
Together We Bloom is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and rooted in the communities of Maplewood and South Orange. Its mission is to empower young children with disabilities and their families through equitable access to connection, communication, and community. They employ two strategies: providing sliding scale, neurodiversity-affirming speech and language therapy; and working to transform their community into a place that is more inclusive and equitable for disabled and neurodivergent children.