Environmental Endowment for New Jersey

About Environmental Endowment for New Jersey

Environmental Endowment for New Jersey Inc. makes court-ordered Clean Water Act settlement money work through environmental advocacy and action projects tied to water quality in New Jersey and nearby watersheds. Its recent awards show a steady pattern of $20,000 grants to groups working on policy change, community engagement, and litigation, alongside smaller awards for local advocacy and watershed protection. The foundation’s grantmaking connects legal and policy strategies with on-the-ground environmental work, especially where water quality, stormwater, and watershed protection overlap. Several recurring grantees illustrate that approach. Delaware Riverkeeper Network received multiple $20,000 awards for education and advocacy and for protecting the Delaware River watershed. Work Environment Council of NJ also appears repeatedly, with grants for supporting whistleblowers and for advocating to protect the environment. Eastern Environmental Law Center received awards for healthy watersheds and legal support, while Nynj Baykeeper was funded for stormwater advocacy, green infrastructure, advocacy and litigation, and protecting the bay. These examples point to a funder that uses comparatively modest grants to support targeted campaigns, legal defense, and local coalition work across eligible New Jersey watersheds.

What Environmental Endowment for New Jersey Funds

Water quality protection sits at the center of the foundation’s giving. In 2025, it awarded $20,000 to Environment NJ Research and Policy for protecting waters, and in 2024 it gave $20,000 to Sierra Club NJ for clean water in a changing climate. Legal and policy advocacy is another clear thread. Eastern Environmental Law Center received $20,000 in 2025 for healthy watersheds and legal support, matching the foundation’s emphasis on litigation and regulatory change. It also funds stormwater and infrastructure work. Nynj Baykeeper received $20,000 in 2023 for stormwater advocacy and green infrastructure, and Newark Doing Infrastructure Green received $18,000 in 2024 for green infrastructure. Environmental justice appears in the portfolio as well. South Ward Environmental Alliance received $18,000 in 2024 for water justice, showing that the funder supports community-facing efforts in frontline areas.

How Environmental Endowment for New Jersey Gives