Community Foundation of New Jersey

Community Foundation of New Jersey advances philanthropy and community investment in New Jersey through a broad set of charitable services and programs that include scholarship administration, grantmaking resources, donor funds, and support for personal, corporate, and legacy philanthropy. Its website presents an organization with dedicated sections for local partnerships, creative collaborations, investments and financials, professional advisors, and a statewide giving resource called the Give in NJ Map, placing scholarship work within a larger institutional mission rather than treating it as a stand-alone activity. A major part of that work is educational opportunity. Community Foundation of New Jersey administers more than 135 scholarship funds and reports that, in the last year, it awarded over $2 million in scholarship assistance to 271 scholars. Its scholarship portfolio spans opportunities tied to local high schools and geographic regions as well as awards connected to specific majors or career pursuits. The organization uses a universal application that allows students to submit one application and then review scholarship opportunities for which they may qualify. In its review process, applicants may be evaluated on academic performance, extracurricular activities, community involvement, paid or unpaid work, personal aspirations, educational goals, and demonstrated unmet financial need. The foundation also maintains structured support for continuing recipients. Renewable scholarships include installment-based requirements tied to annual deadlines, transcripts, narratives about academic and community experience, class registration, and, for some awards of $5,000 or greater, a student bill. The scholarship cycle includes a rolling open and closed timeline for 2026 applications and connects students to broader financial aid information, including the 2026–27 FAFSA form. This combination of philanthropic infrastructure, scholarship scale, and student support positions Community Foundation of New Jersey as a statewide charitable institution with a significant role in helping New Jersey students pursue higher education.