Mission and History
Created in 1991, the Princeton Area Community Foundation builds community by promoting and encouraging philanthropy across greater Mercer County and central New Jersey. It now manages over 200 charitable funds, including 20 agency endowments created by the Community Foundation and members of the community for the long-term benefit of central New Jersey.
Our motivation is simple: no one knows what the region’s needs will be in 20, 50 or 100 years, yet we do know that later generations will require substantial charitable resources to respond to the issues of the day. We offer all people who care about this place a simple way to create a lasting remembrance of their lives, values, and commitment.
Our work falls into three basic areas:
- we attract charitable gifts from individuals, families, businesses, and foundations for all types of local needs.
- we invest funds for long-term stability and prudent growth.
- we distribute grants through a competitive process and according to donors’ wishes. Our principal aim is to help donors build permanent endowments for the support of greater Mercer County. Local needs change over time. We help donors give gifts today that will remain effective forever.
The Community Foundation is one of more than 700 community foundations across the nation and the first New Jersey community foundation to be certified under rigorous National Standards.