Fund Rolls Out Online Grant Application to Aid in Long Term Recovery
Non-Profit Organizations Operating in New Jersey Sandy Relief Efforts Encouraged to Apply
Staff | HSNJRF Press Release
02/11/13
(Mendham, NJ) - The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund Inc. announced today it has launched an online grant application accessible to any non-profit organization providing disaster relief services in New Jersey. The Fund will place a priority on four focus areas, including housing assistance, social services, financial and legal aid, and economic development. The deadline for the current grant cycle is March 15th, and the application can be accessed on the Fund's website at www.SandyNJReliefFund.org. The grants expected to be awarded during this cycle have a target allocation of $5 million.
The State of New Jersey, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and other state networks will assist in alerting non-profits from around the state about today's announcement.
"There are so many worthy organizations on the ground day in and day out providing critical services to those in need in the hardest hit areas around New Jersey. They want and can do more with greater financial support. We are proud to partner with them and are looking forward to efficiently disbursing funding that will help the long-term recovery effort in this state," said First Lady Mary Pat Christie, Chair of the Fund. "We've focused on these four priority areas after an extensive needs analysis collaborating with national and local disaster experts, first responders and government agencies. As has been said before, New Jersey will come back stronger but it will take time. That's why our Fund will continue to be a resource in the months and years ahead."
Grant eligibility requirements and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page covering the process are available on the Fund's website. For example, applicants must be a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit, overhead costs will be limited to just ten percent, and start-ups will be considered if the project being considered fits into the HSNJRF mission and focus areas. Groups that are headquartered out-of-state, but are active in the New Jersey recovery effort, are also eligible to apply. The minimum grant request is $10,000.
In December, the Fund allocated $1 million to county-based Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs). Per FEMA recommendations, LTRCs are created in the wake of a disaster to coordinate community-based organizations, non-profits, business groups and others to aid in the recovery effort long after immediate relief organizations like the Red Cross and FEMA have left the area.
The Fund's competitive and transparent grant process will track all distributed dollars from start to finish, ensuring applicants are delivering the promised assistance to families and communities according to their approved proposals.
DONATION INFORMATION
Donors interested in making a contribution can do so in a number of ways by either visiting the Fund online at www.SandyNJReliefFund.org, making an immediate, one-time $10 donation directly to their phone bill by texting "SANDY" to 20222 (message and data rates may apply), or by mailing a check made payable to the "Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund" to:
General correspondence to the Fund can be sent via US mail to PO Box 95, Mendham NJ 07945-0095.
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