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New Jersey Conservation Foundation at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Recognizing that a healthy environment is critical to the well-being and survival of all living things, NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION is devoted to preserving land and protecting natural resources throughout new jersey's (continued on schedule o)rural, suburban, and urban landscapes.

$1.6M
Granted FY2024still arriving
12
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$1.0M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Environment$14MHousing & Shelter$2.4MEducation$455kFood & Nutrition$276kCommunity Improvement$75kPublic Benefit$72kHuman Services$24kYouth Development$19kOther$0
02FY2024 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $15k
  • $10k–50k7 grants · $163k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $62k
  • $250k+2 grants · $1.4M
$27,488
Median grant
4
States reached
$68M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UPSTREAM ALLIANCE$1,023,366
RETHINK ENERGY NJ$354,500
EASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER$62,000
ISLES INC$40,000
NISKANEN CENTER INC$30,000
PINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE$27,488
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY$20,000
HOPEWORKS'N CAMDEN$19,000
ACADIA CENTER$15,000
MAKE THE ROAD$11,500
CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATION$7,605
LAND TRUST ALLIANCE$6,924
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $8.2M) land where the poverty rate runs at 5%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $3.3M → 5%Hispanic Family Center: $13k → 12%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $1.3M → 5%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $1.1M → 5%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $667k → 5%MAKE THE ROAD: $12k → 10%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $567k → 5%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $483k → 5%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $421k → 5%RETHINK ENERGY NJ: $355k → 5%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

84%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$14M · 18 repeat orgs$2.7M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +55% since the first grant, against +19% for those funded once.

18 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2024, 11 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

18
16

Total granted

$14M
$2.7M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+55%
+19%

Still filing today

89%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $45k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EnvironmentHuman ServicesEducationCivil RightsPublic BenefitHousing & ShelterOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • UA
    Upstream Alliance Inc
    5× · 2020–2024 · $2.5M · revenue +366% · 73% of their budget
  • PINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE
    8× · 2017–2024 · $332k · revenue +55%
  • SJ
    South Jersey Land & Water Trust Inc
    4× · 2018–2021 · $218k · revenue +508%

Funded once

  • MC
    MORRIS COUNTY
    one grant, 2019 · $1.1M
  • SH
    Save Hamilton Open Space
    one grant, 2017 · $395k · revenue -85%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2018 · $268k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Recognizing that a healthy environment is critical to the well-being and survival of all living things, new jersey conservation foundation is devoted to preserving land and protecting natural resources throughout new jersey's (continued on…

Environment
2
New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Inc. Is an alliance of New Jersey Organizations and Individuals committed to creating healthy, sustainable and just communities by eliminating environmental injustices in low income and…

Environment
3
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey Inc

Conserve wildlife foundation of new jersey works to preserve rare and at-risk wildlife in new jersey through field science, habitat restoration, education, and public engagement.

Animals
4
The Native Plant Society of New Jersey Inc

The Native Plant Society of New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation protection and study of the native flora of New Jersey.

Environment
5
Ridge and Valley Conservancy Inc

Ridge and valley conservancy is an accredited land trust that, in cooperation with strategic partners, permanently protects and stewards land in northwestern new jersey for the benefit of natural communities.

Environment
6
Wetlands Foundation
Environment
7
Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc

The mission of hackensack riverkeeper is to protect, preserve, and restore the hackensack river watershed and its living resources. hackensack riverkeeper fights for clean water, open space preservation, and public access to the river for…

Environment
8
Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues Dba Nj League of Cons Voters

New jersey lcv is the statewide political voice for the environment. working with our allies in the community, we advocate for strong environmental policies, support our environmental justice partners in pursuing more equitable policies,…

—
9
Canal Society of New Jersey
—
10
Clean Ocean Action Inc

Clean ocean action's goal is to improve and protect the waters off the new jersey/new york coast from pollution, plastics, industrialization and climate change with research, education and citizen action.

Environment
11
New Jersey Audubon Society

The new jersey audubon society is a privately supported, not-for-profit, statewide membership organization. (see schedule o for details).

Environment
12
Montgomery County Lands Trust Inc

Land Conservation and Preservation.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund; the most unlike its peers is Homeowners Against Land Taking - Penneast Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 40 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

5
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
31/32
Grantees still filing
22/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

RETHINK ENERGY NJ A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $8,187,134 · Human ServicesRETHINK ENERGY NJ A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION+2 more: $24,000 · Human ServicesUpstream Alliance Inc: $2,459,316 · EnvironmentUpstream Alliance IncEASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER INC: $1,336,365 · EnvironmentEASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER INCSave Hamilton Open Space: $395,450 · EnvironmentSave Hamilton Open SpacePINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE: $332,391 · EnvironmentPINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCESouth Jersey Land & Water Trust Inc: $218,499 · Environment+14 more: $1,015,142 · Environment+14 moreMORRIS COUNTY: $1,150,000 · OtherMORRIS COUNTYIndividual grant recipient: $497,043 · OtherIndividual grant …Individual grant recipient: $332,074 · OtherIndividual grant …Individual grant recipient: $267,962 · OtherIndividual grant …STATE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: $250,000 · OtherSTATE AGRICULTURE…Individual grant recipient: $115,000 · Other+6 more: $137,399 · OtherTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $384,747 · EducationROWAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $70,000 · EducationHOPEWORKS 'N CAMDEN INC: $19,000 · EducationISLES INC: $80,000 · Housing & ShelterTHE NISKANEN CENTER INC: $72,285 · Public BenefitGROUNDWORK ELIZABETH INC: $50,000 · Recreation & Sports
Human Services$8,211,134Environment$5,757,163Other$2,749,478Education$473,747Housing & Shelter$80,000Public Benefit$72,285Recreation & Sports$50,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetRETHINK ENERGY NJ A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $8,187,134 over 8y, 100% of budgetUpstream Alliance Inc: $2,459,316 over 5y, 73% of budgetEASTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER INC: $1,336,365 over 8y, 53% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $384,747 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetPINELANDS PRESERVATION ALLIANCE: $332,391 over 8y, 5.6% of budgetSouth Jersey Land & Water Trust Inc: $218,499 over 4y, 19% of budgetRANCOCAS CONSERVANCY INC: $185,500 over 2y, 26% of budgetAMERICAN LITTORAL SOCIETY: $151,081 over 1y, 5.7% of budgetHUNTERDON LAND TRUST: $132,812 over 2y, 11% of budgetNEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND: $114,400 over 4y, 13% of budgetAcadia Center: $90,000 over 3y, 1.6% of budgetISLES INC: $80,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetWASHINGTON TOWNSHIP LAND TRUST OF MORRIS COUNTY INC: $75,950 over 1y, 47% of budgetTHE NISKANEN CENTER INC: $72,285 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetNEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS COALITION: $72,000 over 7y, 2.3% of budgetROWAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $70,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetGROUNDWORK ELIZABETH INC: $50,000 over 3y, 4.2% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $35,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE LAND CONSERVANCY OF NEW JERSEY: $30,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetCAMDEN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetNEW JERSEY TREE FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 1.6% of budgetHOPEWORKS 'N CAMDEN INC: $19,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS: $15,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetHISPANIC FAMILY CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY INC: $12,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetMake The Road States Inc: $11,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF HOPEWELL VALLEY OPEN SPACE: $9,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSFORMATION INC: $7,605 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetLAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC: $6,924 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR AQUATIC SCIENCES: $5,940 over 1y, 0.5% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The William Penn Foun…Geraldine R Dodge Fou…Community Foundation …Pseg Foundation IncNational Fish and Wil…The Hyde and Watson F…American Water Charit…Bristol-Myers Squibb …Environmental Endowme…Victoria Foundation I…New Jersey League of …Princeton Area Commun…
The William Penn FoundationPA33× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The William Penn Foundation · Geraldine R Dodge Foundation Inc · Community Foundation of New Jersey · Pseg Foundation Inc · National Fish and Wildlife Foundation · The Hyde and Watson Foundation · American Water Charitable Foundationinc · Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc · Environmental Endowment for New Jersey Inc · Victoria Foundation Inc · New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund · Princeton Area Community Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization New Jersey Conservation Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 90%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 21%
  • New Jersey Tree Foundation: 100% of income from government
  • Camden Community Partnership Inc: 94% of income from government
  • Hunterdon Land Trust: 48% of income from government
  • Pinelands Preservation Alliance: 35% of income from government
  • Isles Inc: 21% of income from government
  • Groundwork Elizabeth Inc: 9% of income from government
  • The Watershed Institute Inc: 3% of income from government
  • American Littoral Society: 1% of income from government
  • Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space: 0% of income from government
  • Rowan University Foundation Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
9get no government money at all
7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
2rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 40 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on New Jersey Conservation’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home