Grant Guidelines
Environmental Endowment for New Jersey, Inc.
Deadline for email submission of 2024 grant proposals will be December 15, 2023
EMAILED proposal submissions ONLY!
Contact Information
Joan E. Burkholtz
Office Administrator
Grant Guidelines
The Environmental Endowment of New Jersey was established thanks to the bold, visionary, and resourceful legal efforts led by Ed Lloyd, Esq., who filed four separate and successful citizen suits against four companies under the Clean Water Act representing non-profit advocacy organizations. The resulting fines from the litigation became the Fund’s endowment and serve as the principal from which interest is accrued annually. These funds are then distributed in grants awarded by the Board of Trustees. Thus, the EENJ is a philanthropic engine sustaining the legacy of Ed’s leadership, his legal teams, and the grassroots advocate plaintiffs.
As such, the grants focus on restoring or improving water quality in areas which are adversely impacted by pollution. Specifically, the grants support local, regional or statewide environmental projects that will have a direct benefit in or near the tidally related New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex, including Hackensack, Raritan and Passaic Watersheds, or in the Delaware River Basin or in the Schuylkill Valley (see Eligibility). Projects in the Atlantic Coastal Basin, or the Wallkill Basin are not eligible.
Required Grant Purpose: All grant proposals shall be limited to environmental advocacy and action projects focused on improving and protecting water quality through explicit policy change goals at the local, state, and/or federal level that include community engagement and/-or litigation. The Endowment has deep respect for projects that focus on tree plantings and rain gardens, but does not fund that work. Grants will be offered in the following categories:
Traditional: The Maximum grant amount in this category is $20,000.
Small Grants: Smaller grass roots groups may submit proposals under this category to be ranked and funded separately. Maximum grant amounts for this category is $7,000.
Three-year Grant (new description): This category is reserved for proposals that target clean water protection efforts of broad, meaningful significance and consequence. Proposals must show compelling need and a winning strategy that will result in profound transformative positive change and impact. The 3- year grant can be responsive, proactive, or both. The proposal must clearly define the need and transformative nature of the issue, as well as include a viable, strategic, compelling action plan, a convincing case that the goal is likely achievable within 3 years, and a budget for the entire project. This category is open to new nonprofit grassroots organizations that seek to address an issue of critical importance that is not being addressed by other activities or groups or have an innovative path to success. Each grant request will be evaluated on meeting the grant guidelines, the quality of the proposal, its environmental benefit, cost, the timeframe needed to accomplish the project, and conformity with Court Orders including geography, qualifications and other resources of applicants. Maximum grant amount for this category is $20,000 per year for a total of $60,000 for all three years.
Definition of "Outputs and Outcomes". The development of outputs and outcomes for each grant is a key component of the evaluation system in this category. The following guidelines and examples should help clarify the relationships among outputs and outcomes.
Outputs are the major products and/or the substantial and completed processes that will be created to reach outcomes. They are the anticipated accomplishments funded through the grant, and they are directly under the grantee's control. The outputs occur in order to achieve an intended outcome.
Outcomes are the desired change(s) or results that the proposed project will eventually accomplish. They follow from the outputs and identify the anticipated change that is the goal of the grant.
Projects are scored on advocacy goal, action(s) planned, and financial need.
Grants usually cover a 12-month period (except for Three Year Grants).
Preference will be given to non-profit environmental organizations that have an Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) designation, but it is not a requirement.
Funds will not be given to individuals, to endowments, for general operating, or for capital expenditures (building or renovation).
LATE OR INCOMPLETE PROPOSALS: As proposals are emailed, they are expected to be submitted on time. Late proposals of a few hours may be considered but will be docked points. Similarly, any proposals that are incomplete will also be docked points.
Also note, proposals that are identical or nearly identical to previously granted proposals especially in expected outputs and outcomes, will be docked significantly and are unlikely to be successful and receive a grant. It is expected that awarded grants will evolve with some success or changes from year to year.