To begin, we recommend all prospective applicants review these FAQs and view the Grant Application video and slide deck, which will be available in November.
Potential applicants can also check the first part of the 2024 grant application (available in November), which requires the applicant to verify compliance with all eligibility criteria. Applicants cannot proceed to the second part of the grant application unless they meet all eligibility criteria.
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.
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 all funds benefit residents of one or more of the following counties: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union. (We will consider proposals in which a few of the beneficiaries reside outside of these counties.)
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. In recent years, we have been able to award three $100,000 grants. Of the 74 applications we received for the 2023 grant cycle, seven were selected as finalists and Impact100 Garden State members voted to award $100,000 grants to three finalists.
In some years, we may be able to award smaller grants in addition to our $100,000 grants. If this is the case, we will use email and social media to inform the nonprofit community of these additional grant opportunities.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Yes. The application should explain how the organization will manage grant monies so that the Impact100 Garden State funding is used to support implementation of the program in one or more of our five counties: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union.
The $100,000 grants that we award are restricted to the proposal.
We do fund all expenses that are necessary to implement the proposal, including staff salaries/benefits, rent, training, equipment, and supplies. If individuals provide support/oversight, we will fund that portion of their salary/compensation for time spent on the proposed program. If applicants have other expenses that are necessary to implement the proposal, it is important to explain why the expense is necessary.
From time to time, Impact100 has awarded smaller, unrestricted grants. The terms for the use of those grants are clearly identified at the time the award is made.
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 for our signature grants.
As our resources allow, we may develop additional grant opportunities for less than $100,000. Should these opportunities arise, we will publicize the eligibility criteria on our website and social media. We also will contact organizations in our database if we believe they meet the eligibility criteria for the grant.
We have no preference. Our application asks whether a proposal is for a new/pilot program or a future expansion of an existing program so we can better understand the applicant’s intentions.
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.
No. We accept one application per organization. Similarly, two organizations that apply together may not also submit applications on their own.
However, applicants 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.
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.
The grant is for $100,000 to spend on a specific proposal. Awarded funds must be spent within three years.
Grant recipients are announced at our Annual Awards Meeting in early June.
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.
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.
Expect to see the online application, along with a downloadable version for internal use, on November 15, 2023. Completed applications are due January 17, 2024, at noon. If you have any questions as you prepare your application, contact grants@Impact100GardenState.org.
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.
Applications must include a preliminary budget for the proposal. We offer a sample budget here under "Additional Resources." We expect that applicants will use this as a template to ensure we have all of the information we require.
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 grant and the amount to be funded by each additional source, and indicate whether the sources are in-hand, committed, or potential.
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, a senior staff member of the organization may spend some time managing the proposed program, while other staff members may be hired exclusively to implement the 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.
Yes. All information is required at the time of submission and by the grant application deadline. If a dialogue box is empty or an attachment is missing, the applicant will get an error message and the grant application will not be submitted. If you have any questions, please email us at grants@impact100gardenstate.org.
There is a section on the application specific to this topic. Be sure to name each organization and 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 Letter of Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) if the proposal advances during our review process. The letter/memorandum must indicate that the cooperating partner will fulfill the needs of the applicant.
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.
Email us at grants@Impact100GardenState.org.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept re-submissions so please double-check your application before you submit.
Our system sends a receipt with a copy of the completed application within 24 hours of submission. An applicant that receives an error message should contact grants@Impact100GardenState.org.
We will contact all applicants by early April regarding the status of their application.
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide personalized feedback.
We continuously review our practices and share lessons learned internally and in relationship with other Impact100 chapters. Please refer to the “Review Process” section of these FAQs.
We do not permit applicants to reach out to our members.