We are excited to share Impact100 Garden State’s inaugural annual Impact Report with you. This report details the significant outcomes of our grants from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, reflecting our commitment to transparency and accountability to our Impact100 Garden State community.
Our organization has a unique and impactful model: We pool $1,000 contributions from our members to grant $100,000 to transformative projects. Members participate in selecting grant recipients from a rigorously vetted list of finalists. After awarding a grant, we work closely with recipients to achieve milestones and
We keep our members informed about how their contributions are making a difference.
We understand that our members are passionate about community welfare. We see how local nonprofits are tirelessly working to improve lives, and Impact100 Garden State serves as a bridge connecting dedicated women with high-impact initiatives. For more information, visit our website at www.impact100gardenstate.org. We welcome your questions and comments at info@impact100gardenstate.org.
Thank you for supporting our vibrant organization. Together, we are making an impact!
Celeste Campos President
SERVING MORRIS, PASSAIC, SOMERSET, SUSSEX AND UNION COUNTIES
YEAR FOUNDED NUMBER OF MEMBERS
TOTAL GIVING
$3,500,000
ARTS & CULTURE
CHILDREN & FAMILIES EDUCATION
FOCUS AREAS
ENVIRONMENT, PRESERVATION & RECREATION HEalth & Wellness
71
Total number of grants awarded
83% Of members retained year-over-year while Adding new members
Each of these nonprofit organizations was awarded a $100,000 grant, based on member votes, in June 2024. Working with our Grant Administration team, each has created a plan setting milestones and disbursements for the length of the grant period.
2024 grant Recipients
Grant: $100,000
Program: Helping Paralyzed Young
Adults Rise & Walk Again
Area of Impact: Morris County
Key Impact Goals:
Cheshire Home is a 35-bed residential facility that primarily serves young adults with spinal cord injuries, with the goal of helping them achieve their maximum level of independence. The Rise & Walk is state-of-the-art equipment that provides ambulatory therapy and gait training. The machine helps residents improve functional mobility at a more rapid pace, thereby facilitating their transition to independent living. Impact100 Garden State funds will cover the cost of the Rise & Walk lease and help defray the personnel costs for physical therapists to oversee the use of the equipment.
Cheshire Home currently has a waiting list of applicants. Shorter residential stays made possible by the Rise & Walk will allow the facility to serve an increasing number of injured young adults.
Grant: $100,000
Program: Free NJ Bereavement Camp Where Children Learn to Grieve, Heal and Grow
Area of Impact: Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties
Key Impact Goals:
Comfort Zone Camp (CZC) has a mission to empower children experiencing grief to fully realize their capacity to heal, grow and lead more fulfilling lives. An estimated 149,000 New Jersey children will lose a parent or sibling by the time they are 18 years old.
CZC has provided programs and camps to grieving families in New Jersey free of charge for the past 22 years. Impact100 Garden State’s grant will fund an additional New Jersey camp that will enroll 36 to 50 new campers for a weekend camp experience over the two-year grant period.
Grant: $100,000
Program: Arts Access for High-Need Children Area of Impact: Union County
Key Impact Goals:
Impact100 Garden State funds will be used to develop and codify the Institute of Music for Children’s existing programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, support the training of art, music and performing arts teachers and other instructors with skills and knowledge to effectively work with children with special needs, and help pay to hire a new Program Manager.
Comprehensive and ongoing training sessions will address issues specific to intellectual, developmental, cognitive challenges, how to deliver trauma-informed and healing centered approaches, and skills/tools for working both one-on-one and in classrooms. The program will serve up to 50 high-need youths, primarily from low-income communities that have been historically denied access to high-quality services. Each child will have a customized program, based on their needs and interests.
Grant: $100,000
Program: Food Rescue Heroes: Bridging the Gap Between Food Waste and Food Insecurity Area of Impact: Morris County
Key Impact Goals:
The Impact100 Garden State grant is enabling Table to Table to expand its network of food donors, agency partners, and volunteers (“food rescue heroes”) so that more people in Morris County can have access to fresh, healthy food.
By the end of the grant period, Table to Table expects they will have engaged at least 90 food rescue heroes in Morris County who will rescue over 700,000 pounds of food from more than 75 organizations, such as grocery stores and restaurants and deliver to approximately 50 agency partners, such as community kitchens, shelters, and group homes, to help approximately 7,500 people.
ONGOING GRANTS
The programs funded by the grants on these pages are meeting milestones, receiving disbursements and working toward the end of their grant period.
Key Impact Goals:
Grant: $100,000 awarded in June 2022, scheduled to complete in the first quarter of 2025
Program: Birth Haven II: Extended Care, Housing and Supportive Services Area of Impact: Sussex County
The Birth Haven II program provides structured supportive services to formerly homeless mothers with young children who have moved into their own apartments after leaving Birth Haven, a temporary shelter, enabling them to attain true independence. Using the Impact100 Garden State grant, Birth Haven is able to provide:
• Three months of rental expenses.
• Weekly in-home therapeutic services by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
• Help with budgeting, childcare arrangements, parenting education and career support. Four mothers and infants have been placed into apartments to date. The goal is to add at least one new participant to the program each quarter for the duration of the three-year grant.
Grant: $100,000 awarded in June 2023, scheduled to complete in the fourth quarter of 2025
Program: Affirming the Voices of Women to Secure Mental Health and Housing Stability Area of Impact: Morris County
Key Impact Goals:
Family Promise of Morris County (FPMC) recognizes that a housing voucher is only the first step in housing sustainability, particularly for women with complex trauma histories.
• FPMC is poised to provide a rolling eight-week group curriculum focusing on developing self-regulation, effective self-advocacy and other fundamental competencies that will address the challenges of maintaining housing.
• After the initial eight weeks, voucher tenants will have the opportunity to enroll for individual counseling sessions.
• At least 12–18 women are expected to measurably improve their emotional wellness, self-advocacy skills, housing status, and engagement in school, work, and community groups.
Key Impact Goals:
Grant: $100,000 awarded in June 2023, scheduled to complete in the second quarter of 2025 Program: WomenSpeak: English as a Second Language Area of Impact: Passaic County
• More than 200 women will take part in various levels of English language learning that allows them to reach their personal goals, whether that is communicating with doctors or teachers, or getting a job.
• More than 30 women will have completed the citizenship course, which is geared toward becoming a US citizen.
Key Impact Goals:
• Approximately 25 children will have been registered for Oasis’s daycare expansion to enable women to attend their classes.
• The women are tested after each semester and are improving their English skills and moving up in their classes. Most women express great enthusiasm for the camaraderie that they experience at Oasis, including across various immigrant communities.
Grant: $100,000 awarded in 2023, scheduled to complete in the first quarter of 2025 Program: Workmanship Trades Training and Mentoring Program Area of Impact: Passaic County
The Servant’s Heart Ministry (SHM) program offers free construction trade skills training to young adults who are under-skilled and underemployed. The Impact100 Garden State grant has helped SHM expand its Critical Path Method, Fine Woodworking, Welding, Tiling and Automotive programs.
• 96 total participants will have graduated with the support of this funding.
• Enrollment for upcoming programs has doubled in the past year.
• 66 participants were enrolled for the Fall session.
• Safety measures have been expanded.
• The new tiling educator position has been funded.
Norwescap Helps Women Through Life Transitions
Norwescap has long offered its Career and Life Transitions Center (CLTC) program to help displaced homemakers gain personal and economic self-sufficiency as they look to enter the workforce or upgrade their job skills. Through this program, Norwescap staff members help women assess their current skills and identify areas they want to enhance. In addition, Norwescap offers classes and provides stipends for certification training.
Grant: $100,000 grant awarded in June 2021 and concluded in Q2 2023. Program: Expanding Economic Opportunity for Women & Families Area of Impact: Morris, Somerset and Sussex counties
Because the CLTC was funded by the State of New Jersey, Norwescap was bound by certain restrictions on who they could serve. The Impact100 Garden State grant has enabled Norwescap to make the program available to a broader range of women who needed their service as they experienced life transitions.
Key Impact Figures:
• Served 75 women who would have previously been turned away, 36 of whom were unemployed and 39 of whom had jobs.
• Of the 36 previously unemployed women, seven are now attending school thanks to the education funds provided through this grant; 14 have obtained new jobs.
• Of the 39 employed women in this group, 14 have obtained better paying positions in their fields.
• Over the course of the grant period, 19 women received 25 education grants. Ten women studied in the healthcare field, five studied English as a second language, three pursued degrees, and one learned how to work in the field of real estate.
• 92% of the women receiving education grants completed their courses and certifications/exams.
Second Street Youth Center Expands Bilingual Services
Grant: $100,000 grant awarded in June 2022 and concluded in Q2 2024.
Program: Community and Family Navigator Program Area of Impact: Union County
The Second Street Youth Center (SSYC) applied for the Impact100 Garden State grant to support expansion of its Community and Family Navigator program, which helps families access needed benefits and services. SSYC proposed to hire an experienced bilingual Navigator, create a bilingual resource guide for the community and organize and deliver workshops on a range of topics.
Key Impact Figures:
Five thousand copies of a first-of-its-kind Community Resource Guide in both English and Spanish, identifying an array of services in healthcare, disability, pregnancy, nutrition, housing, careers and more were researched, written, printed and distributed. The guide was also distributed electronically to 35,000 Plainfield residents through the mayor’s regular newsletter.
Throughout the grant period, the Navigator helped more than 500 individuals and families resolve issues ranging from registering children for preschool to complex referrals for needed evaluations and services. More than 200 families were referred for services such as rental and utility assistance. More than 95% of the individuals and families assisted were Hispanic and most are Spanish speaking.
The Navigator organized 11 workshops for parents on topics ranging from setting boundaries to healthy nutrition. Post-workshop surveys showed 100% of attendees gained new knowledge. SSYC hosted two Resource and Health Fairs during the grant period along with vaccine (flu and COVID) clinics in partnership with Neighborhood Health.
The Navigator was also available to fill an unexpected need for therapeutic intervention for young children adjusting to the classroom after the social isolation of the pandemic. Based on this emerging need, SSYC plans to include delivery of behavioral health services to young children as part of its long-range plan.
Major Grants 2013–2023
All grants were $100,000 unless otherwise noted
2023
FAMILY PROMISE OF MORRIS COUNTY
Affirming Voices of Women to Secure Mental Health & Housing Stability
OASIS — A HAVEN FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN
WomenSpeak: English as a Second Language Program
SERVANT’S HEART MINISTRY
Workmanship Trades Training & Mentoring Program
2022
BIRTH HAVEN, INC.
Extended Care, Housing & Supportive Services
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE & CHILDREN’S
CENTER OF CLIFTON-PASSAIC
The Impact Café: A Pop-Up Business Powered by People with Disabilities
SECOND STREET YOUTH CENTER
Community and Family Navigator Program
2021
COMMUNITY OPTIONS ENTERPRISES
Workforce Development for People with Disabilities
FAMILY PROMISE OF SUSSEX COUNTY
Housing Hope—Because Everyone Deserves a Home
NORWESCAP
Expanding Economic Opportunity for Women & Families
2020
CORNERSTONE FAMILY PROGRAMS
Teen Pathways to Brighter Futures
HOMELESS SOLUTIONS
“Next Level” Shelter Expansion Project
ZUFALL HEALTH CENTER
Mobile Meals for Dover Families in Need
2019
COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS FOUNDATION
Dover College Promise ($110,000)
CUMAC
Beyond Hunger ($110,000)
UCEDC
Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance ($110,000)
2018
GREATER BERGEN COMMUNITY ACTION
Paterson Family Financial Empowerment
SAMARITAN INN
The Emergency Shelter Program
TABLE TO TABLE
Eat Fresh Passaic
2017
OASIS A HAVEN FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN
Teaching Women Reaching Children ($141,000)
PROJECT SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF SUSSEX COUNTY
PSS Pop-Up Shop ($141,000)
2016
INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY NETWORK
Healthy Choice Mobile Pantry Program
ROOTS AND WINGS
Outreach Case Management Program
WHARTON INSTITUTE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Paterson Music Project ($44,000)
2015
HEAD START COMMUNITY PROGRAM OF MORRIS COUNTY
Early Language and Literacy Program ($102,500)
NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
FreePair Paterson ($102,500)
2014
AMERICA’S GROW-A-ROW (AGAR)
Morris County Free Farm Market
MIDDLE EARTH
Big Dan’s Bike Shop ($85,000)
2013
PRINTMAKING CENTER OF NEW JERSEY: Combat Paper NJ ($135,000)
Merit Awards 2018–2024
These grant finalists received awards of between $1,000 and $20,000.
2024 Merit Awards
Housing Partnership for Morris County
Passaic County Community College Foundation
Rebuilding Together North Jersey
2023 Merit Awards
Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation
Family Promise of Morris County*
Happiness Is Camping
Oasis—A Haven for Women and Children*
Project Self-Sufficiency
The Ramapo College Foundation
Servant’s Heart Ministry*
*also received $100,000 grant in 2023
2022 Merit Awards
Cheshire Home
Community in Crisis
DASI (Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault
Intervention Services)
St. Joseph Social Service Center
2022 10th Anniversary Grants
The Foodshed Alliance
Institute of Music for Children
2022 10th Anniversary Merit Awards
Father John’s Animal House
Great Swamp Watershed Association
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey
Frontline Arts
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts
Vivid Stage
Rising Star Awards
2021: Arts by the People
2020: Farmstead Arts
2021 Merit Awards
Adult Day Center of Somerset County
Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic
Children’s Literacy Initiative
Family Promise Union County
Literacy New Jersey, Inc.
Partners for Women and Justice
Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts
2020 Merit Awards
Bonnie Brae
Caring Contact
Family Promise Union County
Norwescap
2019 Merit Awards
Passaic County Community College
Foundation
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
2018 Merit Awards
Literacy New Jersey, Inc.
Morris County Prevention Is Key
Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey
Prevention Resources
Merit awards
About Our Membership
• 408 members in 2024.
• Women with different experiences and perspectives.
• Range in age from recent graduates to octogenarians.
• 21 Fellowships awarded in 2024.
• Year-round educational and membership engagement events.
Volunteering is optional, but half of Impact100 Garden State members choose to participate in one or more committees.
COMMITTEES APRIL 2024
“We get to show the world that an organization led by women for all people is not only possible but very much needed.”
Preeti Lobo Member since 2023
“Membership has been the most meaningful volunteer experience for me. The sense of purpose is real and the relationships made are transformative and priceless. And we have fun!”
France Delle Donne Member since 2013
As of June 30, 2024
Contact our Membership Chairs to find out when our next prospective member Meet & Mingles are, or with any questions, at member@impact100gardenstate.org
