GRANT FAQs
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply for Impact100 Garden State grants?
We recommend that you review the section on Eligibility here.
How does Impact100 Garden State evaluate grants?
Grant applications that meet the eligibility criteria are assigned to a small committee of trained volunteers with various professional backgrounds. Each Grant Review Committee considers the clarity and feasibility of the proposal and the importance of the unmet need. Reviewers want to understand the who, what, when, where, and how of the proposal. Reviewers also pay close attention to the description of the intended benefits to the population being served and the plan for collecting data to quantify and evaluate results. In addition, reviewers look at the applicant’s financial information and proposed budget to assess the organization’s capacity to manage a $100,000 grant over one to three years.
All Grant Review Committee members pledge to keep their conversations confidential. No details of an application are discussed outside the Grant Review Committee.
Does Impact100 Garden State have any funding preferences or priorities?
No. Our goal is to fund organizations that reach underserved populations by providing services in at least one of our focus areas of Arts & Culture; Children & Families; Education; Environment, Preservation & Recreation; and Health & Wellness. We also require that most funds benefit residents of one or more of the following counties: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union. We will consider applications if a few of the beneficiaries reside outside of these counties.
What is the likelihood that an applicant will receive an Impact100 Garden State grant?
The number of grants we award each year depends on the number of Impact100 Garden State members, each of whom donates at least $1,000, in that year. Of the 92 applications we received for the 2025 grant cycle, seven were selected as finalists. Impact100 Garden State members voted to award $100,000 grants to four finalists. The other three finalists each received a $10,000 merit award.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply for Impact100 Garden State grants?
We recommend that you review the section on Grant Eligibility here.
If an organization serves residents of one of Impact’s five counties but is headquartered in another state, is it eligible?
Yes. The application should explain how the organization will manage grant monies so that the Impact100 Garden State funding is used to support a program that primarily serves residents of one or more of our five counties: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union.
Does Impact100 Garden State fund operational expenses?
The $100,000 grants that we award are restricted to the proposed program.
We do fund all expenses that are necessary to implement the proposal, including staff salaries/benefits, rent, training, equipment, and supplies.
We recognize that some staff members may spend only a portion of their time with the proposed program. In these instances, we will fund that portion of their time spent on the proposed program.
If applicants have other non-personnel expenses that are necessary to implement the proposal, it is important to explain why the expense is necessary.
Are foundations that are established to raise funds for programs and/or services eligible to apply? UPDATED 12/10/2025
Yes. Impact100 Garden State will accept applications from foundations that meet the following criteria:
1. Must be a 501c3 in good standing.
2. Must be dedicated solely to funding a specific institution, such as a school district or health care facility. Foundations that are only passing funds through to other entities or individuals are not eligible to apply.
3. Must hold the funded program accountable for adhering to the implementation plan described in the grant application. The foundation also must agree to modify the original implementation plan to achieve benchmarks established with Impact100 Garden State's Grant Administration Committee.
Can an organization apply for less than $100,000?
No. Our signature grants, awarded annually, are for $100,000 because we are committed to giving meaningful support to nonprofits whose proposals address unmet needs of residents of at least one of the following counties: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, or Union. We do not accept applications for less than $100,000.
May more than one organization apply together and share the $100,000 grant?
Yes. Impact100 Garden State encourages two (or more) 501(c)(3) organizations to work together on a proposal that is supported by a $100,000 grant.
We allow two types of financial arrangements where organizations share funds.
Collaborative Partnership: two or more 501(c)(3) organizations are joining together to implement the proposal, but the applicant organization will receive 100% of the Impact100 Garden State funding and disburse some of the funding to the collaborating organization for their portion of the services. The applicant organization is responsible for managing the funds and ensuring the collaborating organization fulfills its portion of the proposal.
Joint Application: two or more 501(c)(3) organizations are joining together to implement the proposal and each organization will receive a portion of the Impact100 Garden State funding. Each organization is responsible for managing the funds disbursed to them and ensuring their organization fulfills its obligations under the proposal. In this type of application, financial documentation is required from each of the applicants.
Can an organization submit more than one application?
No. We accept one application per organization. Similarly, two organizations that apply together may not also submit applications on their own.
Can an organization that has received a $100,000 grant reapply the following year?
No. Organizations that have received a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State cannot apply for another grant until two years after submitting their final report. Organizations that do not receive a $100,000 grant may apply again the following year, even if they have received one of our smaller grants or merit awards.
My organization is exempt from the requirement for an annual audit. What should I do?
If your organization is not required by law to have the financial statements audited, we require that you submit two years of financial statements reviewed by a CPA to be considered for a grant award. Financial Compilations and other financial statements are not acceptable substitutions.
If you are uncertain about the type of financial statements you possess, consult your accountant for clarification.
What financial documents must applicants submit with their application?
Please refer to this list of required documents.
Do you consider applications from newer non-profits?
Yes. We encourage all mission-driven organizations to apply. However, our due diligence process requires two years of audited or reviewed financial statements, plus interim financial statements.
If you do not yet have this financial history but still wish to apply, you may want to explore a Collaborative Partnership with a more established organization. The organization that has three years of financial data will receive 100% of the Impact100 Garden State funding and distribute the appropriate portion to the partner(s). The organization that receives funding will be responsible for managing the funds and ensuring that all collaborating partners fulfill their responsibilities.
Will Impact100 Garden State accept compiled financial statements instead of audited or reviewed statements ?
No. Impact100 Garden State requires audited or reviewed financial statements; compiled reports are not accepted. Unlike compiled reports, audited and reviewed statements include an independent assessment from the accounting firm, which provides insight and assurance about the organization’s financial health.
Can an organization that is exempt from filing with the IRS and does not have 990 returns still apply for an Impact100 Garden State grant?
Yes. If your organization is not required by law to have the financial statements audited, we will accept two years of reviewed financial statements along with an unaudited Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Statement, and a Cash Flow Statement. Please click here for a list of required documents.
What is the amount of the grant?
The grant is for $100,000 to spend on a specific proposal. Awarded funds must be spent within three years in accordance with the contract drawn up after the grant is awarded.
When will grant awardees be announced?
Grant recipients will be announced at our annual awards meeting, "The Big Give," on June 10, 2026.
Will grant recipients receive a check right away?
No. Impact100 Garden State requires recipients to sign a Grant Agreement that details when funds will be disbursed and how they will be used, as described in the next question. The grant funding is typically disbursed over one to three years as milestones are achieved.
Additionally, Impact100 Garden State requires grant recipients to provide a Certificate of Insurance and add Impact100 Garden State and the Community Foundation of New Jersey (CFNJ) as additional insureds for general liability, automobile, and worker’s compensation insurance.
How does Impact100 Garden State distribute the grant money?
Our Grant Administration team works closely with grantees throughout the implementation of the grant. Typically, funds are disbursed on a quarterly basis and we request quarterly reports detailing expenditures and activities undertaken while implementing the grant. However, if your application indicated that you need to spend more money “up front,” we will honor your request.
When will the grant application for 2026 be posted?
Expect to see the online application, along with a downloadable version for internal use, by Monday, November 17, 2025.
If you would like to receive an email notice when the online application is posted, contact grants@impact100gardenstate.org.
If you have any questions as you prepare your application, contact grants@impact100gardenstate.org.
When are the applications due?
Completed applications are due by Friday, January 9, 2026, by 5 p.m., though submissions can be made any time after the application is available. We will not accept late applications.
For the 2026 grant cycle, we will limit the number of applications to 100. This is consistent with the number of applications we have received in previous years. Imposing a cap will ensure that each application receives the careful, thoughtful, and objective review it deserves while helping us manage our volunteer capacity effectively. We will inform the nonprofit community when we receive 50 and 75 submissions, and we will let everyone know immediately if we close applications before January 9, 2026.
Can an organization include brochures, annual reports, or videos as part of the application?
Yes. You can specify a URL (no hyperlinks) so grant reviewers can access brochures, annual reports, videos and/or research as part of your narrative response in the application.
What should we pay special attention to in the Budget and Staffing section of the grant application?
Applicants must use the budget template that is part of the application. See a Sample Budget [in PDF or Excel] that illustrates how to complete the budget template and includes detailed instructions about the information to include.
Often, we receive applications for proposals that require more than our $100,000 grant. In these cases, we require applicants to indicate the amount of each expense to be funded by the requested Impact100 Garden State $100,000 grant and the amount to be funded by each additional source, and indicate whether the sources are in-hand, committed, or potential. See the Sample Budget (linked above) for an example of how to report multiple funding sources.
In the Application Staffing Template, identify the person, position/title, credentials/qualifications, and the percentage of time allocated to the program for each position. For example, specify the percentage of time a senior staff member may spend managing the proposed program.
Be sure that each individual on the Application Staffing Template has a budget line on the preliminary budget (a full or prorated salary amount, as appropriate) or indicate that the organization is making an in-kind contribution for the individual’s time.
Are organizations required to provide all information requested on the grant application?
Yes. All information is required at the time of submission. There are a few instances where the application indicates that Not Applicable (N/A) is an acceptable answer. You must indicate N/A for these questions or our system will generate an error message. If you have any questions, please email us at grants@impact100gardenstate.org.
If implementation of the proposal depends on cooperation/collaboration with other organizations, what other information should be included in the grant application?
There is a section on the application specific to this topic. Be sure to name each organization with whom you plan to cooperate/collaborate. Also, describe the status of your relationship with each organization. If a cooperative relationship is essential for the implementation of the program, we will ask you for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) if the proposal advances during our review process. The MOU must indicate that the cooperating partner will fulfill the needs of the applicant. We will inform you in March 2026 if we require one or more MOUs, and you will have less than a month to submit this documentation.
If you are collaborating with a public school, please note that the process for obtaining a MOU can be lengthy, as it may require approval by a legal department and Board of Education at scheduled meetings.
If you will need to obtain permits or licenses to implement your proposal, we ask you to explain what is needed and your process/timeframe for obtaining these approvals in the application.
Who can answer questions regarding the application?
Email us at grants@impact100gardenstate.org.
If an organization notices an error after submitting the application, is there a way to make corrections?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept re-submissions or corrections, so please double-check your application before you submit.
How will an organization know that its application was successfully submitted?
Our system sends an email confirmation with a copy of the completed application within 24 hours of submission. An applicant that receives an error message or does not receive a confirmation within 24 hours should contact grants@impact100gardenstate.org for assistance as soon as possible.
How will an organization know whether it is a candidate for the $100,000 grant?
We will notify applicants who did not meet the eligibility criteria by Tuesday, February 10, 2026. If you do not hear from us, we have assigned your proposal to a Grant Review Team who will carefully review your proposal.
By Tuesday, March 31, 2026, we will inform applicants who are not advancing via email. In this communication, we will provide general feedback about reasons for not advancing.
By Tuesday, March 31, 2026, we will telephone the person listed as the contact if we would like to visit your organization. Applicants that receive a site visit will receive a phone call on Monday, April 27, 2026, about whether they are advancing as a finalist.
Can an organization get a list of the members of Impact100 Garden State?
No. We do not permit applicants to reach out to our members.