The Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in 2025 Community Impact Grants to 40 nonprofits working to build communities, prevent hunger and homelessness, and provide mental health services, educational opportunities and workforce training in our region.

The 2025 Community Impact Grants, totaling $1,309,614, are made possible thanks to the generous support of individuals, families, companies and foundations, including Johnson & Johnson and the Burke Foundation.

“We are grateful to be part of such a generous community,” said Mathieu Nelessen, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “Our Community Impact Grants program allows us to support a wide range of nonprofits doing incredible work in our region. Providing books to toddlers in daycare, tutoring for students, nutritious meals and emergency rental assistance to families, job training for young people and case management support for seniors are just some of the ways these nonprofits are making a difference for our neighbors, and we are thrilled to help support these programs.”

Three of the grants were made to honor the memory of longtime Community Foundation trustees, Dr. William P. Burks, Allen Porter, and John D. “Jack” Wallace, who passed away earlier this year.

“Bill, Allen and Jack dedicated years of their lives to volunteer service with our organization, as well as other nonprofits in the community,” said Nelessen. “We are thankful that we are able to honor their memories with these grants, supporting causes that were important to each of them.”

2025 Community Impact Grants:

Community and Capacity Building

  • BookSmiles, based in Pennsauken, $5,000 to help grow a program that delivers books to local daycares in Trenton and the surrounding areas. The nonprofit has already distributed more than 130,000 books to childcare centers serving kids ages of 0-5. Daycares are encouraged to stock their classrooms and send books home to families.
  • Center for Modern Aging – Princeton, Princeton, $45,500 for operating support to help the organization meet the rising demand for free social services including counseling, case management, and benefit navigation, especially among low-income older adults.
  • Hamilton Area YMCA, Hamilton, a $60,000, two-year grant for its Community Sports for All program, which expands access to organized sports for underserved youth and supports mental health, academic success, and leadership.
  • Hearts and Homes Ministries Inc., Cranbury, $10,000 for operating support for the nonprofit that distributes gently used items, including emergency essential kits, to people living at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Its volunteers also re-imagine and refinish furnishings before they are donated.
  • People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos, Princeton, $8,10 in operating support to help continue their literacy programs in underserved areas.  The 8-week programs encourage cognitive growth and appreciation for literature, improve literacy, and build self-esteem, social connectivity and strong communities.

Food Security

  • America’s Grow-a-Row, Pittstown, $10,000 for its Fresh Produce Initiative, which provides nutritious food and educational programs to families facing hunger. The produce is grown on four New Jersey farms and made available to nonprofit partners, including TASK, Mercer Street Friends and Arm in Arm, to distribute in their food banks and hunger relief programs in the Greater Mercer County region. Youth from area agencies also participate in Kids Farm Days, where AGaR’s executive chef teaches them about healthy eating and nutrition.
  • Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, Trenton, $12,500, to help support a partnership with Snipes Farm to establish a dedicated greenhouse that will supply fresh, locally grown produce year-round to its pantry consumers.
  • Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County, Princeton, $50,000 for its Brick and Mortar and Mobile Food Pantries, which has distributed 21,264 bags of healthy groceries – 4,600 onsite and 16,664 from the mobile pantry via 440 distribution stops in the last year. This grant is made in memory of Allen Porter, a former Community Foundation Trustee and Board Treasurer, who also spent many years as Board Attorney. He passed away on March 16 at the age of 84.
  • Meals on Wheels of Mercer County, Ewing, $25,000 for operating support to the organization that delivers hot, nutritious, and medically tailored meals to almost 400 homebound and food insecure seniors daily. The volunteers also help ease social isolation for those seniors.
  • Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, $33,500, for its Community Support Program, which combats food insecurity and financial instability. The program provides nutritious food, emergency financial aid to prevent evictions and utility shutoffs, and educational outreach.
  • Send Hunger Packing Princeton, Princeton, $25,000 for its Produce Distribution Program, which provides 3-6 pounds of seasonal fruits and vegetables weekly to almost 200 families of school children enrolled in its program.
  • Share My Meals, Princeton, $12,500, to help expand its Meal Recovery Program, which collects surplus meals from corporate cafeterias, schools, universities, and hospitals, then distributes them to those in need. The expansion will focus on Trenton and the organization plans to partner with one or two new nonprofits and launch additional home-delivery routes.
  • Snipes Farm and Education Center, Morrisville, Pa., $25,264 for its Healthy Food Access for Trenton Families program, which works with the Trenton Housing Authority to deliver and distribute free locally grown produce shares to low-income families over an 8-week period.
  • Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), Trenton, $50,000 to expand meal distribution in Trenton’s two designated Food Desert Communities by adding new Community Meal Sites and expanding the TASK food truck stops and hours. This grant is made in memory of John D. “Jack” Wallace, a founding member of the Community Foundation’s Board and a Trustee Emeritus, who passed away on May 1 at the age of 92.

Homelessness

  • Anchor House, Trenton, $50,000 in operating support for the nonprofit that provides services to youth and young adults experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. It runs the only youth shelter, transitional living, and street outreach program targeting youth in Mercer County, and operates one of two supportive housing programs in the county for young adults.
  • Arm In Arm, Hamilton, $50,000 for its One Family at a Time: Working Better Together to Prevent Eviction & Ensure Housing Stability program. Through a partnership with Housing Initiatives of Princeton, the organization plans to help 15 to 20 housing-insecure families avoid eviction or regain housing after homelessness, while also providing case management that includes tailored assistance and access to the organization’s full range of services, programs, and referrals. This grant was made in memory of Dr. William P. Burks, a Community Foundation Trustee Emeritus who was one of the organization’s longest serving trustees. He passed away on Jan. 28 at the age of 91.
  • CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children of Mercer & Burlington, Ewing, $20,000, in operating support for the organization that recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for children in foster care, many of whom experience trauma and housing insecurity and have complex needs.
  • HomeFront, Lawrenceville, a two-year, $50,000 grant to help the nonprofit expand its shelter and support to families in crisis. The grant will supplement government funding and a commitment from its Board, which will allow it to buy a five-unit property next door to its Lawrenceville headquarters.
  • Rescue Mission of Trenton, Trenton, $30,000 in operating support for its Emergency Shelter, which is open 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week and provides warm meals and a safe place to sleep for anyone experiencing homelessness. The organization provides comprehensive services to a population with complex needs. In the last year, the shelter provided 674 people with a total of 42,390 nights of stay.

Mental Health

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County, Hamilton, $30,000 to help support sustain and expand its one-to-one mentoring programs – including Community-Based, School-Based, and Workplace Mentorship initiatives. The organization also plans to explore new models to connect young people with dedicated mentors.
  • PEI Kids, Lawrenceville, $26,000 in operating support for the nonprofit that provides specialized counseling services for child victims of sexual abuse and youth victims of community violence. The services include individual counseling, transportation assistance to ensure children consistently attend counseling sessions, and support groups for youth and supportive, non-offending family members.

Education / Workforce Development

  • Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County, based in Lawrence and Trenton, $6,250 for its Virtual Reality (VR) Teen Workforce Training, which provides immersive career exploration and modern skills development. Teens use VR simulations to explore careers in skilled trades, healthcare, and IT.
  • Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), Trenton, $12,500 for its Vehicle Replacement Program; the grant will help the CYO replace a bus that the state requires be placed out of service in early 2026 due to age. The CYO picks up students at 15 schools to transport them to its out-of-school programs. Buses are also used for its summer program field trips.
  • The Children’s Home Society of NJ, Trenton, a two-year $100,000 grant for operating support. Its school-based services – TEDI, Kidsbridge, and 21st Century Afterschool – engage hundreds of students in activities that teach the social-emotional skills to foster future success. Teachers report students are more focused and engaged.
  • Dress For Success Central New Jersey, Lawrenceville, $25,000 for its Business Academy at Trenton Central High School, which includes a job fair, monthly workforce development workshops, guest speakers, and presenters. It also plans to award scholarships to students.
  • Every Child Valued, Lawrence, $47,000, in operating support for the organization that provides a free breakfast program and an After School Program for students from low-income households, including those living in Eggerts Crossing Village public housing complex. ECV is also increasing programs for middle and high school students and connects families to wraparound services.
  • The Father Center of New Jersey, Trenton, $50,000, for its Bridges2Success initiative, which helps participants with job searches and provides them with support needed to retain jobs, including assistance with human and social service referrals, mentoring and peer support, case management, and life skills assistance.
  • HISPA, Princeton, a two-year $60,000 grant for its Role Model Programs for Low-Income Students in Mercer County; it runs a Leaders in College program at Mercer County Community College and Rider University, and it plans to expand its Role Model Program in Trenton and Hamilton schools. The programs support academic and career advancement for predominantly low-income students through mentorship, college and career visits and skill building.
  • Isles, Trenton, $32,500 for its Youth Institute: Education and Workforce Development program for young people, ages 16-24, who are disengaged from school and career pathways. It combines academic instruction, skills development, job preparedness education, leadership development, life skills training, and community service activities to help participants succeed in meaningful employment and higher education.
  • James R Halsey Foundation of the Arts, Hamilton, $12,500 for its Let’s Film Program, which provides trauma-informed, arts-based, free afterschool programming for young people, ages 14–20, from Trenton. Through filmmaking, mentorship, and mental health-informed support, students build creative, technical, and life skills in a safe, healing environment.
  • Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF), Trenton, $50,000, to help sustain and expand its programs. Its community outreach and education programs include adult education, client advocacy and high-impact youth mentoring.
  • Millhill Child & Family Development, Trenton, $40,000, for its Creating Access to Limitless Possibilities initiative, which includes its Trenton PEERS, STEM, and Camp Rise programs. The educational and mentoring programs challenge, engage, and motivate youth to reach their full potential.
  • Princeton Ballet Society, Princeton, $12,000 for its DANCE POWER In-School Residency – Trenton program that provides an in-school dance residency at Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School.
  • Princeton-Blairstown Center, Princeton, $15,000 for Venture Out, a high-quality STEM experiential program that is offered free to Trenton middle school students. The 30-hour residential program provides students with inquiry-based, hands-on environmental education and social-emotional learning sessions.
  • Princeton YMCA (part of Greater Somerset County YMCA), Princeton, $50,000 in operating support for the organization that provides K–5 students with enriching after-school programs and has an ACE program to engage students in grades 6–12, fostering consistent school attendance through meaningful academic support, mentorship, and personal development. The two programs reach more than 100 students each year.
  • Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra, based in Princeton and Trenton, $30,000 to help the nonprofit sustain and expand access to high quality music training through scholarships, alumni teacher training and instrument support for Trinity Strings, its Trenton-based program that serves young people, ages 4–18. Some 70% qualify for financial aid.
  • UrbanPromise Trenton, Trenton, a two-year $100,000 grant to provide operating support for the organization that provides students with individualized tutoring, leadership development, enrichment programming and holistic support. Its StreetLeaders program builds life skills and career readiness. The nonprofit also offers college prep assistance and tuition gap scholarships.
  • We Make: Autism At Work, Pennington, $7,500 in operating support for its Campus Community program, a vocational training initiative designed for those who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD). This year, it expanded the program to include real-life retail experiences within a professional and safe environment.
  • The WorkWell Partnership, Trenton, $7,500 in operating support for the nonprofit that provides citizens returning to the community following incarceration with financial empowerment and job-readiness training, assistance with online job searches and applications, educational connections, and case management support.
  • YWCA of Princeton, Princeton, $23,500 to expand its Art Start: Cultivating Creativity in Early Childhood program. The expansion will integrate music, visual arts, and performing arts into a dynamic, developmentally appropriate curriculum.

To learn more about our Community Impact Grants or to make a donation to support the annual grants program, visit the Community Foundation website at https://pacf.org/our-impact/community-impact/.