Grants awarded by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation to 45 nonprofit organizations will be used to support a variety of law-related and civics-based education programs including webinars, symposiums, training, direct outreach, digital resources, videos, legal support and more. When combined, more than 100,000 people from across New Jersey will benefit from the cosponsored programs.
The nonprofit organizations will reach several underserved communities including people facing homelessness, immigrants, military veterans, the differently abled, people with autism, victims of domestic violence, people with addictions, neglected children, youth, older adults, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and cancer survivors, patients and caregivers.
Grant recipients said the funding will create a tangible, lasting difference for the communities they serve and advance their missions to help those in need. Here is what a few had to say:
Doreen Yanik, Law Enforcement Initiative Director, Autism New Jersey - “The New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s sponsorship of our Law Enforcement Initiative has already enabled us to spark change across the state. Within 18 months, we’ve established a statewide program to help officers communicate better with autistic individuals; shared best practices with local departments; and made our communities more autism friendly. We’re able to continue this important work because of the Foundation’s ongoing, generous support.”
Robyn Holt, Director of the Criminal Justice Advocacy Program, The Arc of New Jersey -“We’re grateful to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation for supporting our efforts to promote justice and inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This cosponsorship grant helps us expand access to legal advocacy, promote alternatives to incarceration, and advance equal treatment in the criminal justice system. It’s an important partnership that strengthens our commitment to equity and systemic change.”
Radwa Ali, Montclair Public Library Director - "Feedback from both Town Council and Unhoused Coalition meetings has made it clear: information about affordable housing and tenant laws in Montclair is often scattered and difficult to understand. Thanks to a generous grant from the Foundation, we will now be able to create a multimedia resource kit that brings this important information together in a clear, accessible, and multilingual format. This effort reflects our core mission—to serve as a trusted source of free, accurate, and unbiased information for everyone in our community."
Scott D. Cohen, 2nd VP/Education Committee Board Liaison, Hunterdon County NAACP - "Our education committee is very thankful for being chosen as a recipient of a New Jersey State Bar Foundation grant. This will help us towards fulfilling our mission of advocating for equitable and inclusive education for students of color within Hunterdon County, with a focus on dismantling systemic barriers that impede their success. Specifically, this grant will be used to equip students of color and their families with the knowledge and skills to understand and navigate the often complex Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) process."
The Foundation is supporting the following nonprofit organizations and programs in the fiscal year 2025-2026:
• The Arc of New Jersey: Equal Justice Talks webinar series
• Autism New Jersey: Law Enforcement Initiative
• CAIR-NJ: NJ Muslims, Know and Practice Your Rights!
• Catholic Charities, Dioceses of Metuchen: Immigration Services Program
• Center for Youth Political Participation: RU Ready Civic Education Program
• Centro Comunitario CEUS: Spanish-language education and outreach on the law
• Clinton Hill Community Action: Laws Affecting Your Everyday Life -- Part 2
• Community Health Law Project: Legal Assistance and Education to Promote Housing Stability
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Jersey: Court Report Writing for Advocates of Children in Foster Care
• Covenant House New Jersey: Atlantic City Youth Advocacy Center
• Crossroads4Hope, A Network of Cancer Support: Legal Programs for Community Outreach
• Disability Rights New Jersey: Youth in Transition: Navigating NJ Systems with a Goal of Achieving Competitive, Integrated Employment Through Informed Choice
• Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County (DASACC): Legal Advocacy for Survivors of Domestic Violence
• Essex County Legal Aid: End of Life Documents for Low-Income Military and Veterans
• Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County: Yes, You Can
• Garden State Equality: Empowering LGBTQ+ New Jersey: Rights Education and Legal Resilience Initiative
• The G.I. Go Fund: American Legal Victory Project
• Greater Somerset County YMCA: Youth and Government Program
• KIND: Pro Bono Attorney Training and Engagement to Protect Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in New Jersey
• Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund: Empowering Latina Women and Immigrant Families through Legal Education
• League of Women Voters of New Jersey: Voter Education: Know Your Voting Rights
• Legal Aid Society of Monmouth County: Pro Bono Civil Legal Services Program
• Literacy Volunteers of Morris County: Civics, Citizenship and Life Skills for Immigrants
• Make the Road New Jersey: Safeguarding Immigrant Tenants and Workers: Legal Rights Education Project
• Montclair Free Public Library Foundation: Developing Resources for Educating the Public on NJ Housing Laws and Tenant Rights
• Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs (MCOHA): Keeping Our Community Informed and Educate
• NAACP of Hunterdon County: Empowering Families and Students: Enhancing Education, Safety, and Well-being
• National Association of Women Judges: Color of Justice
• New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children: Actionable Information Via Social Media Shorts - New Jersey's Young Immigrants
• New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition: Disability Know Your Rights Outreach for People Living with Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
• New Jersey State Bar Association: Member Assistance Mental Health Project for the Legal Profession
• NJ LEEP: Legal Diversity Pipeline and College Access Program
• Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (NNLS): Immigrant Advocacy Project
• PLAN|NJ: Communicating the Need for Legal and Estate Planning for the Future Care of People with Developmental or Psychiatric Disabilities
• Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children: From Surviving to Striving: Removing Barriers to Legal Support for Underserved Survivors of Domestic Violence
• Palestinian American Community Center: Expanding Citizenship and English Conversation Classes
• Pushcart Players: Lift Every Voice: A Diversity and Outreach Initiative with NJ State Bar Foundation
• Safe in Hunterdon: 2025 Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Symposium
• Shalom Community Services Inc.: "Conozca sus Derechos y Responsabilidades" (Legal Education Seminars: "Know your Rights and Responsibilities" )
• Shore House: Legal rights for adults living with mental illness
• SPAN Parent Advocacy Network: Special Education & Health Rights of Children & Youth with Special Needs Involved in Child Protection & Juvenile Justice
• Women Aware: Domestic Violence Victims Rights - Understanding and Accessing the Protections Afforded by Law Video Series
• Women in Transition: Family Law Series
• YWCA of Northern New Jersey: Pay Equity Toolkit
• YWCA Union County: Legal Education Advocacy Project
NJSBF’s Cosponsorship Program, which began in 1990, is supported with funding from the IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey.
For more about the Foundation’s Cosponsorship Program, visit cosponsors.njsbf.org.