On May 21, Prudential Financial announced the recipients of the second annual Prudential Community Grants Program during a ceremony at its headquarters in Newark. The program, launched in 2023, aims to support neighborhood-based solutions that enhance community vitality through grants to residents and organizations in Newark. This year, a diverse array of projects focused on health, wellness, arts, education, beautification, and development received grants.
“Through the Community Grants program, Prudential is proud to continue our support of the residents and projects that are driving growth and quality of life in our hometown city,” said Lata Reddy, senior vice president of Inclusive Solutions at Prudential Financial and chair of The Prudential Foundation. “Thriving neighborhoods are the heartbeat of a strong city, and we designed this program to directly support residents as they work to solve challenges in their community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this next group of grantees has across all five wards of Newark.”
With a $300,000 grant to the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Prudential supports neighborhood-based solutions that boost community vitality. This year, the program received 400 applications, a 78% increase from 2023, from individuals, 501(c)(3) organizations, and small business owners. Of the 66 community-based projects chosen, 19 are repeat recipients.
Selected projects address local issues and foster stability and growth across Newark’s five wards. They include:
- The Nork! Project: The Nork! Photo Walk, a one-day event, invites photographers of all levels to tour a Newark neighborhood, introducing them to local businesses, parks, and city streets. The event includes raffles for cameras, film, and gift cards.
- Steam 4 Urbn Youth: Launching “Let’s Dance,” a free, six-week introductory dance program for Newark youth aged 5 to 10, removing barriers of access and cost to dance instruction.
- SHE Wins Inc.: The SHE Wins Emerging Leaders Fellowship (#SELF) prepares high school girls in the Newark area for college and careers through youth organizing, leadership, and mentorship.
- Unidas En Una Sola Voz: This organization will implement a Women Violence Prevention and Advocacy Program to prevent family, domestic, and dating violence.
- Mentor U Connect: Empowering students with academic and social-emotional skills, this grant supports the Youth Latino Family Council, promoting civic engagement, mental wellness, and education.
“I would like to thank Prudential for its long-standing commitment to our city, and congratulations to the 66 community organizations in receipt of community grants,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “It is refreshing to see that our partners at Prudential see that great work is happening every day in the Newark community and want to support and reward it. The often-unheralded work of making sure our youth have neighborhood enrichment opportunities, or backpacks for school, or that our families have fresh food, and our seniors have more chances for engagement, is critical to our collective success. This is the work that drives community change. I view Prudential’s Community Grants Program as a ‘social impact incubator,’ and encourage its continuation and expansion.”
A unique aspect of the program is that Newark residents and organizations helped choose the grant recipients. Each ward had a five-member review committee, with four members being residents. Prudential partnered with the Community Foundation of New Jersey to administer the grants, ensuring they support neighborhood beautification, increase resident access to opportunity, and enhance quality of life.
Intermediary organizations in each ward received $15,000 to support the program and provide technical assistance, collaborating with Prudential to reach and support residents and organizations.
“With Prudential Financial’s long history of philanthropy in Newark, it is the Community Foundation of New Jersey’s privilege to steward this unique giving model for a second year, empowering residents to lead change efforts in their own communities,” said Aaron Turner, chief philanthropic officer at the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
For the full list of recipients of the Prudential Community Grants Program, click here.
