The NextGen Giving Circle of the Princeton Area Community Foundation awarded $27,500 in grants to three local nonprofits for a children's school day breakfast initiative, a workforce program for high school boys, and job training for teens and adults.

At Every Child Valued's breakfast program, the grant will help offset the cost of the rising price of groceries. At the Father Center, the grant will help pay for field trips and test fees for boys enrolled in an employment and credentialing program. At RISE, the grant will help fund workforce training for its thrift store staff.

"I founded NextGen with the goal of inspiring and developing the next generation of philanthropic leaders in our community," said Jeremy Perlman, who created the fund in 2017.  "The giving circle brings together like-minded young professionals to learn how nonprofits are addressing key issues facing individuals and families in the greater Trenton area, and to make a bigger impact than any one of us could on our own.  I have made lifelong friendships through my participation in NextGen, and each time we gather it is meaningful, educational, and fun."

More than 20 young adults are members of the NextGen Giving Circle, an initiative in which donors make monthly contributions to the NextGen Fund, then meet once a year to review grant applications and recommend funding to local nonprofits. Anyone can join the Giving Circle. Most members are Millennials or Gen Z.

By pooling their donations, the members of the Giving Circle can make a larger impact in the community. Since its founding, the Fund has awarded $210,000 in grants to local nonprofits.

Membership in the Giving Circle also allows the donors to learn more about philanthropy and nonprofits in the region working to make a difference in the lives of local residents.

"I joined NextGen to be able to give back to organizations that have values that align with the younger generation," said Emma Natale. "We give in ways that have a positive impact on the world around us and the world we want to see thrive in the future."

The Giving Circle is one of more than 440 funds at the Community Foundation, which helps people and companies make effective charitable gifts and awards grants to nonprofits. Since its founding in 1991, the Community Foundation has granted more than $241 million to nonprofits, including over $114 million in funding to local organizations.

NextGen Giving Circle grantee-partners:

Every Child Valued, Lawrenceville, $10,000; the grant will help support staff salaries and food costs for the Breakfast Program, created in 2018 as part of the Community Foundation's 5-year All Kids Thrive initiative because children were going to school hungry. The program increased food security and school attendance rates, while providing free childcare for working families. Some 70 students are enrolled in the program at the Eggerts Crossing Village housing complex, and during the last school year, more than 6,700 free meals were served. The rising cost of groceries has had an impact on the organization's budget.

The Father Center of New Jersey, Trenton, $10,000 for its Skills2Prosper for Young Men program, which provides workforce and skills development for high school boys. The grant will help pay for certified instructors, transportation costs for field trips, including college visits and a career shadow day, and test fees for forklift operator, OSHA and ServSafe certifications.

RISE, Hightstown, $7,500 for its Expanding Rise Thrift: Strengthening Small Businesses & Community Impact program. The grant will help fund workforce training for the organization's thrift store staff, which includes high school students and students who attend local special needs schools. The thrift store provides affordable clothing, household goods, and essential items to families, with the net income used to help support RISE's other programs, including food security, case management, and educational initiatives.

To learn more about NextGen Giving Circle or to become a member, visit the NextGen page on pacf.org or contact Gabrielle Markand, Community Foundation Senior Director of Philanthropy, at gmarkand@pacf.org or 609.219.1800 Ext. 832.