Maplewood Foundation Awards $50,000 in Inaugural Grants to Local Nonprofits

The Maplewood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) community foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all Maplewood residents, has announced its inaugural grant recipients.

 

Seven local nonprofit organizations have been awarded grants totaling $50,000 to develop new programs or expand existing services.

 

Launched in January 2023, the Foundation has successfully raised $1,020,000 from community members and supporters connected to Maplewood, nearing its first-year goal of $1.1 million.

 

"The people of Maplewood, New Jersey, stepped up and answered our call to make a sustainable investment in transforming the lives of all our residents," said Fred Profeta, president of the Foundation's board of trustees.

 

"We are thrilled to be able to deliver on our promise of giving $50,000 in grants in our first year and now ask our generous neighbors to help us get across the $1.1 million finish line before the end of 2023."

 

The 2023-2024 grant recipients are:

 

Beloved Bath – Program Grant of $5,000

 

Family Connections – Program Grant of $10,000

 

Maplewood Village Alliance – Program Grant of $10,000

 

South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race – Program Grant of $7,000

 

South Mountain YMCA – Program Grant of $5,000

 

South Orange Rescue Squad – Program Grant of $8,000

 

Together We Bloom – Seed Grant of $5,000

 

The Foundation received 15 applications from local nonprofits for its first grant cycle, encompassing initiatives in education, recreation, cultural awareness, and racial equity.

 

To celebrate the grant recipients and share more about their programs, the Foundation will host "Celebrate Maplewood: An Evening to Honor Our 2023 Grantees & Founding Donors" on Saturday, December 2, at The Woodland in Maplewood.

 

Attendees will enjoy dinner, drinks, a live comedy show, and dancing.

 

Tickets are available for purchase online.

 

Donations to the Maplewood Foundation are invested into a fund for long-term community impact, with approximately 5% of holdings awarded annually as Program and Seed grants through an annual grant cycle.

 

"The strong interest from the nonprofits who serve our residents demonstrates the value a community foundation will bring to Maplewood this year and in the future," said Profeta.

 

"We greatly appreciate the effort the organizations made in completing their applications and we look forward to awarding even more grants as our fund grows over the years."

 

The Foundation focuses on areas such as diversity, equity, and inclusion; environmental initiatives; programs for individuals with special needs; promotion of the arts; enhancement of public education; youth recreation; educational scholarships; support for senior citizens; and emergency relief for residents.

 

Program grants support established nonprofits in launching innovative programs or expanding existing ones, while Seed grants assist organizations lacking sufficient capital or resources to achieve their vision.

 

To make a donation to the Maplewood Foundation, visit their website.

 

No gift is too large or too small.

 

For event sponsorships, please contact the Foundation directly.

 

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The Maplewood Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation dedicated to providing a continuously growing bedrock of financial support to nonprofit organizations in Maplewood, New Jersey.

 

Founded in 2023, the organization uses a grant-awarding process to disseminate approximately 5% of its assets each year in support of established Maplewood-focused organizations and aspiring nonprofits.