Frequently Asked Questions: Core Mission Grant Process
Q: Will a Grant Information Session be held?
A: Yes, a virtual grant information session will be held and a recording of the session will be posted on Impact100 SJ’s website. Iit is recommended that all applicants attend as this is an opportunity to get a better understanding of the mission of Impact100 SJ and our grant review process. In addition, virtual “office hours” will be held prior to the application deadline for those with further questions or questions unique to their organization. Visit the Grant Review Timeline for dates and times.
Q: What type of organization’s are eligible for a Core Mission Grant?
A: Impact100 SJ’s grants are intended to support a wide variety of community nonprofits by awarding grants to organizations that fit into five broad Focus Areas:
- Arts and Culture
- Children & Families
- Education
- Environment & Sustainability
- Health & Wellness
New for 2026, applications will not be reviewed based on your Focus Area selection. This information is used solely to verify the proposal fits within our funding criteria.
Q: What do you mean by a grant in support of “core mission?”
A: We want our grant awards to improve an organization’s ability to effectively deliver its services, which goes right to the core of their mission. This almost always means a project to strengthen its programming in a significant way. This typically means developing a new program or expanding an existing one to serve an unmet need in the community. We want organizations to look towards their future and identify what would enable them to do what they do betterimprove upon their services with the support provided by Impact100 SJ.,
Q: Can former applicants submit a new application to lmpact100 SJ?
A: Yes, we encourage those who applied previously but did not receive funding to apply again. However, those grantees who received our $100,000 Core Mission grant must wait three years to apply again. Those grantees who received a General Operating grant must wait two years to apply again.
Q: What were some of the reasons that applications were not selected for grant review or as finalists in the past?
A: As a collective grantmaking organization, we are responsible for awarding the donations of many generous women. Therefore, we are very diligent about doing thorough reviews to ensure the organizations that we select to receive our grants are financially stable and that the project is well thought out and impactful for the organization and the community that it serves.
We have reluctantly passed on organizations with a shaky financial situation, or whose proposal did not fully explain how the project would accomplish its goals, or whose timetable and activities did not correspond with the timing of our grant questions and make a thorough and thoughtful case for the proposed project.
Q: Can we include additional materials with our proposal, such as a brochure or a report?
A: No, please submit only the documents requested. We will not consider anything else received as part of your proposal.
Q: We are an organization that serves communities across New Jersey. One of our satellite offices is in one of the counties in which you fund and we would like to grow our program there. Are we eligible to apply?
A: Yes. We will fund organizations that serve residents of our four-county region of Cumberland, Gloucester, Burlington and Camden Counties, but are headquartered elsewhere – such as in Philadelphia or in another part of New Jersey. However, your organization must either be headquartered in or have a satellite office in our four-county region of Cumberland, Gloucester, Burlington and Camden Counties. If you are asked to submit a proposal, it must be for a project within our four counties.
Q: Our organization does not have its own 501(c)3. May we apply if we have a fiscal sponsor?
A: No, we require that your organization operates under its own 501(c)(3) status.
Q: Will Impact100 South Jersey consider a proposal from a group of organizations collaborating on a project or program?
A: Yes, as long as one of the collaborating organizations acts as the lead organization, applying as if it were an individual organization on behalf of the collaboration. The lead organization must be willing to take on all the potential rights, responsibilities, restrictions and liabilities of the grant, if it is received.
Q: May we submit as part of a collaborative project and then separately as an individual organization?
A: No. Each organization may only submit one grant application each year.
Q: Will lmpact100 SJ consider an infrastructure improvement or construction project?
A: Yes; however, lmpact100 SJ requires the application include detailed plans, with a detailed line item budget and a detailed timeline, all signed by a licensed NJ Contractor. The contractor’s submittal must also include any and all planning and zoning permits from the respective municipality, and county, if applicable.
lmpact100 SJ also requires all funding for the project be identified in the application with letters of commitment from any outside organizations funding the project. We are looking for projects that are “shovel-ready” meaning they can be implemented and completed within our two year timeframe.
Q: What kind of communication from Impact100 SJ can we expect during the grant review process?
A: All applications and communication will be made through an on-line portal. Each applicant will register through the portal and submit their initial Grant Eligibility Application. Applicants will be notified through the portal if they are invited to submit a full proposal to Impact100 SJ. During the review process, all communication will go through the portal. Please make sure your contact information within the portal remains current during the grant review process. Impact100 SJ will not be responsible if important information is missed because the organization’s primary contact information has changed.
In order for our grant review to be fair, we do not respond to any unsolicited communication apart from questions about the guidelines or the grants process, which may be directed to us at grants@impact100sj.org.
Q: Is there a period of time in which the grant money must be spent?
A: The organization awarded the Core Mission Grant has up to 24 months to spend the grant funds. We request the organizations receiving the general operating support grants provide us with a summary of their past year’s activity 12 months after the receiving the grant.
Q: What are the reporting requirements for organizations receiving grants?
A: All awardees will sign a Grant Agreement that states reporting requirements. The organization awarded the Core Mission Grant will complete two interim reports and one final report during the 24 month grant period. The organizations receiving the general operating grants will complete one final report 12 months after receiving the grant.
Q: How does Impact100 SJ pay out the money for the Core Mission Grant?
A: All awardees will sign a Grant Agreement specifying payout of the grant funds. The Core Mission grantee will receive two payments of $50,000 each. The first payment will be issued soon after the grant is awarded; the final payment will be issued after Impact100 SJ’s Leadership Council reviews and approves the organization’s second interim report. This will occur approximately 12 months after the grant is awarded. The General Operating grantees will receive one payment soon after the grant is awarded.
QUESTIONS?
Email grants@impact100sj.org