Free funder guide · New Jersey · Last checked 27 September 2026
Which New Jersey environmental funders actually accept applications
Most private foundations in New Jersey have already told the IRS they won't read your proposal. This page explains how to spot them, and lists 12 secular funders of environmental and conservation work in New Jersey that do take applications, with what they fund, what they have given, and when they next open.
Most New Jersey private foundations that take applications and fund conservation also gave to a church, a religious school, a YMCA or another faith-based charity in their latest filing, so only one private foundation is on this list. Few of the state's community foundations run an open environmental cycle, which is why state, county and regional public programs make up most of it.
From my own read of IRS filings, September 2026
In New Jersey, 1,111 of the 1,380 private foundations with $1 million or more in assets tick the box on their tax return saying they don't accept unsolicited requests. That is 81%.
That leaves 269 larger New Jersey foundations that say they will read an application. It is a higher share of closed doors than in Pennsylvania (72%, 1,675 of 2,336), and a lower share than in New York (82%, 3,533 of 4,309), counted the same way.
How I counted: every private non-operating foundation with a New Jersey address on the IRS Exempt Organizations Master File (September 2026 release) reporting assets of $1 million or more, checked against its most recent e-filed Form 990-PF (tax years 2022 to 2026, almost all 2024 or 2025). Operating foundations, which mostly run their own programs, are left out, as they were for New York and Pennsylvania. Counting them too gives 81% (1,184 of 1,468).
What the checkbox means
One small box on the tax return tells you whether to bother.
Every private foundation files Form 990-PF with the IRS each year. Part XIV, line 2 of that return has a checkbox. A foundation that ticks it is telling the IRS, in writing, that it chooses its grantees itself. A proposal sent to it is usually wasted work.
"Check here if the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."Form 990-PF, Part XIV, line 2
A foundation that leaves the box empty has to fill in lines 2a to 2d instead: who receives applications, what form they should take, any deadlines, and any limits on who or what it funds. For many small family foundations, those four lines are the only published guidelines they have.
The box does not tell you whether a foundation funds your kind of work. For that, read line 3a, the list of grants it actually paid. Check both before you write a letter of inquiry. Any foundation's return can be read free on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
12 funders
Open to applications, and funding environmental work in New Jersey.
Every funder below is secular, says it accepts applications (on its website or its tax return), and has paid grants to environmental or conservation groups in its most recent filing. Government programs are the exception: they file no tax return. Community foundations are listed by the program that fits environmental groups. Grant examples come from each funder's latest IRS filing unless the funder's own site is named.
Verified date on the funder's own site on 27 Sept 2026Expected based on last cycle; next not yet postedRolling applications any timeFiling only no website; from the tax return, confirm firstCheck site next date not posted; open their page
Statewide and regional public grantmakers
01
New Jersey DEP: Natural Climate Solutions Grants
Trenton · statewide
Paid for with the state's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative proceeds, this program pays for on-the-ground projects that create, restore or enhance natural carbon sinks. Round 2 has five categories: living shorelines, restoring tidal flows, tidal salt marsh vegetation, forest restoration, and urban forest canopy with water quality benefits. Local 501(c)(3) nonprofits authorized to operate in New Jersey can apply, and only private for-profit landowners have to match.
Typical grant
No range on the program page ($30 million for Round 2 in total). Awards the state announced in September 2026 include Tenafly Nature Center Association $566,290 (24 acres of forest restoration). New Jersey Conservation Foundation's Trees for Trenton project ($1.3 million) was the first grant finished under the program.
Next deadline
Round 2 takes applications through December 31, 2026 Verified. DEP says it notifies applicants within about 120 days of submission.
How to apply
Online through NJDEP's SAGE grants system, using the blue carbon or green carbon application materials on the program page.
New Jersey DEP: Green Acres Local and Nonprofit Program
Trenton · statewide
The state's long-running open space program. It gives grants and loans to counties, towns and eligible nonprofits to buy open space, build or rehabilitate parks, and carry out land stewardship work at public parks.
Typical grant
Not published on the program page; limits are in each year's application package.
Next deadline
The 2026 round closed February 27, 2026. The page lists the next deadline as TBD Check site.
How to apply
Application package from Green Acres. Last cycle ran workshops in November and December before the deadline.
New Jersey DEP: Water Quality Restoration Grants (nonpoint source pollution)
Trenton · statewide
Federal Clean Water Act 319(h) and 604(b) money for watershed restoration that cuts nonpoint source pollution, usually in priority waters where the project helps carry out an approved TMDL or watershed-based plan. Watershed and water resource associations and other local 501(c)(3) nonprofits are named as eligible, and projects must be shovel ready and finish within three years.
Typical grant
No range on the program page. No monetary match is required, but match and in-kind support improve a proposal's score.
Next deadline
The last round closed June 2, 2025, and no 2026 round was posted. The next deadline is listed as TBD Check site.
How to apply
Through NJDEP's SAGE grants system when a round opens. The page links an interactive map of past awards.
New Jersey Freshwater Wetland Mitigation Council: In-Lieu Fee Grants
Trenton · Atlantic Region (Watershed Management Areas 12 to 16)
Mitigation money for projects that create, restore or enhance wetlands dominated by tidal wetland features, to make up for losses of intertidal and subtidal shallows. Nonprofits are eligible, alongside county, state and federal agencies. Grants can cover design, permitting, construction and monitoring costs, including staff and contractors.
Typical grant
Not published on the program page.
Next deadline
Conceptual proposals due October 15, 2026, 5 p.m. Verified. Administrative review by December 2, 2026 and a Council decision on December 17, 2026.
How to apply
A conceptual proposal answering the request for proposals: location, wetland acreage, amount requested with a detailed budget, and credits to be generated. DEP points applicants to its mitigation proposal checklist.
New Jersey Highlands Council: Open Space Partnership Funding
Highlands Region (seven counties, 88 municipalities)
A matching grant for buying land or conservation easements that protect Highlands resources, for passive recreation or conservation: parkland, natural areas, greenways, farmland and other resources in the Regional Master Plan. Charitable conservancies are eligible, along with state agencies and Highlands counties and towns.
Typical grant
Up to 50% of the total purchase price (its site).
Next deadline
Applications any time; there is no deadline. Staff tell applicants after review whether funding is currently available Rolling.
New Jersey Pinelands Commission: Pinelands Conservation Fund
Pinelands Area
Funding rounds for permanent land protection in the Pinelands Area, open to county and municipal governments and nonprofit land protection groups. The last round scored projects on grassland and endangered species habitat, size and contiguity, environmental justice, target areas and stewardship plans.
Typical grant
The 2025 round offered $3,000,000 in total; earlier rounds paid at most one-third of a project's fair market value, and the 2025 matrix rewarded partner contributions of at least 66.7% (its site).
Next deadline
The 2025 round closed September 19, 2025. No newer round is posted Check site.
How to apply
Application form emailed to the Commission's planning staff, with a landowner letter and one completed appraisal (preferred).
County open space grants to the 39 Morris County towns and to eligible land conservancies, for preserving land or water for recreation or conservation. A committee reviews applications once a year and recommends awards to the county commissioners.
Typical grant
Amounts are in the county's award PDFs, which I did not open. Recent nonprofit awards it lists: The Land Conservancy of New Jersey (Wildcat Ridge Preserve, 2025) and Raritan Headwaters Association (Schiff Preserve addition, 2024).
Next deadline
The 2026 round closed June 12, 2026. The county says the next application will be released in spring 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Online program portal plus a signed paper application, an appraisal and a project finance sheet. Last year applicants had to email the program coordinator for portal access about a month before the deadline.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund
Washington, DC · Delaware River watershed in New Jersey
Habitat restoration and conservation, water quality, flood reduction and public access anywhere in the Delaware River watershed, which takes in much of western and southern New Jersey. Nonprofits can apply for implementation, planning, capacity-building and research and monitoring grants.
Typical grant
$75,000 to $1,500,000 in 2026; planning $75,000 to $500,000; capacity building $75,000 to $250,000; a 1:1 non-federal match is strongly encouraged but not required (2026 request for proposals). New Jersey grants in its filing for the year to September 2025, which does not name the program: New Jersey Audubon Society $743,252 (wetlands for warblers and bog turtles), Pinelands Preservation Alliance $192,730 (landscape makeovers for the Delaware River), Musconetcong Watershed Association $180,311 (buffers along the Musconetcong), Foodshed Alliance $39,879 (Paulins Kill monitoring).
Next deadline
About March 2027 Expected. The 2026 round closed March 26, 2026; the 2027 request for proposals is not posted yet.
How to apply
Online proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system. Requests of $1 million or more needed a virtual proposal lab with NFWF staff in 2026.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: National Coastal Resilience Fund
Washington, DC · New Jersey's coastal areas
Nature-based projects that protect coastal communities from storms and flooding while improving fish and wildlife habitat: marshes, dunes, living shorelines, oyster reefs and floodplains. Nonprofits can apply for capacity building and planning, site assessment and design, final design and permitting, or restoration. It is large and competitive, with a pre-proposal stage first.
Typical grant
Average awards expected at $100,000 to $1,500,000 for planning and design stages and $1,000,000 to $7,000,000 for restoration; non-federal match encouraged, not required (2026 request for proposals). New Jersey grants in its filing for the year to September 2025, which does not name the program: NYNJ Baykeeper $282,968 (designing oyster castles for the New Jersey shoreline), Ocean County College for the Barnegat Bay Partnership $90,127 (tidal marsh restoration).
Next deadline
Pre-proposals about March 2027 Expected. In 2026 pre-proposals were due March 31 and invited full proposals June 24; the 2027 request for proposals is not posted yet.
How to apply
Pre-proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system, then a full proposal by invitation only.
Two competitive cycles a year for organizations serving the Summit area. "Public space improvement and conservation" is one of its listed interests. It funds specific programs and projects, not endowments or general operating support alone.
Typical grant
Not published. Its 2024 filing shows Reeves-Reed Arboretum $45,500 as its one environmental grant.
Next deadline
Twice a year: April 1 (decided in June) and October 1 (decided in December); the portal opens February 15 and August 15 (its standing schedule) Verified. Next deadline October 1, 2026.
How to apply
Online grant portal on its website, with the current budget, IRS letter, latest Form 990, financial statements and board list.
A small foundation, registered in New Jersey, that alternates its new grants between environment and mental health each year. Environmental grants go to new initiatives and model projects with the potential to shape policy or be copied elsewhere. It does not fund projects that are local in focus and unlikely to be replicated, general or continuing support, capital or direct services, so it suits a specific pilot better than a program budget.
Typical grant
Grants in its 2024 filing: Great Plains Restoration Council $30,000, New York City Audubon $25,000 (bird-friendly buildings), The Meridian Institute $15,000 (a reuse and refill forum).
Next deadline
Environmental letters of inquiry about September 1, 2027 Expected. The 2026 round (letters before September 1, 2026) was for mental health only.
How to apply
A brief letter to the executive director, Anthony C. Wood, describing the organization and the work, with proof of tax-exempt status. It asks for more if the idea fits.
It is not exhaustive and it is not a ranking. Deadlines and guidelines change, so open each funder's own page before you start. Grants are competitive, and past grant sizes describe what a funder gave, not what it will give you. I list secular funders only.
The full version
Want this done for your own organization?
A Funding Roadmap ($1,200, flat fee) gives you ten to fifteen funders matched to your mission, place and size, the grants each one paid to groups like yours, how to apply, and a 12-month grant calendar. Every deadline is labeled the same way as on this page.
Email me your organization's name, rough budget and what you'd like funded. You'll get a written reply within two business days.
You fill in a short intake questionnaire, then answer one round of written follow-up questions.
About three weeks later you get the roadmap, a two-page note on how to use it, and 14 days of email questions.
Everything happens in writing. There are no calls or meetings.