The NextGen Giving Circle of the Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $20,000 in grants to four area nonprofits.

NextGen is comprised of 26 millennial donors, who pool their contributions, and then collectively decide which charities will be awarded grants. The Giving Circle was created in 2017 by Jeremy Perlman, a Risk Advisor at Borden Perlman in Ewing, to help a new generation learn about philanthropy and nonprofits in the region. Members of the Giving Circle contribute monthly – much in the same way they pay for subscription services.

“Many people I know in their 20s and 30s want to be involved in their communities, and the NextGen Giving Circle makes giving a financially manageable and fun group activity,” Perlman said. “Through this Giving Circle, we are aiming to develop the next generation of philanthropists in our community.”

Last year, the Giving Circle awarded $20,000 to three local nonprofits. This year, the group voted to award a total of $22,500 in grants to:

  • RISE in Hightstown; a $10,000 grant to buy a used, well-maintained refrigerated truck to increase the quality and quantity of healthy foods that are offered in its food pantry. It will allow the agency to transport a total of 4,284 bags of healthy food to 496 families.
  • LifeTies, based in Ewing; a $5,000 grant for safety improvements at its two group homes.
  • Farmers Against Hunger in Delran; a $5,000 grant to help refurbish a cooler at the agency’s new headquarters, which will allow the nonprofit to quadruple its cold storage space, allowing them to distribute more produce to those in need, particularly in Mercer County.
  • Boys & Girls Club in Trenton; a $2,500 grant to purchase equipment and supplies, such as plants, seeds, containers for its new Garden & Outdoor Education Center. The grant will also help pay for the additional maintenance costs of operating the new facility.

To learn more about the NextGen Giving Circle, or to become a member, contact Marcia Shackelford, Community Foundation Chief Philanthropy Officer, at 609.219.1800 ext. 20 or email Marcia. 

The Princeton Area Community Foundation promotes philanthropy and builds community across Mercer County and central New Jersey. It helps people and companies make effective charitable gifts and awards grants to nonprofits. Since its founding in 1991, the Community Foundation has grown into an organization with more than $180 million in assets and made grants of more than $149 million, including $21 million in 2018.