In this Issue
- Thrive in 2025: A Message from Our Executive Director
- Q4 Grant Awards total $360,000
- Grantee Spotlight on New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children
- Schumann Fund Welcomes New Board Leadership
- WATCH: Nonprofit Response to Immigration Enforcement in New Jersey
- OPINION: A Case for Universal Preschool Education & New State Department of Early Childhood
- WATCH: Steve Adubato Interviews H. Carl McCall, Schumann’s First Executive Director
A Message from Our Executive Director
2025 is rapidly revealing itself as a year filled with challenges for our grantee partners and the communities you serve. With federal funding cuts, diversity, equity, and inclusion bans, and threats to New Jersey’s immigrant children and families, alongside the radical reshaping of federal government agencies, New Jersey already feels the impact.
This will also be a year of opportunity. New Jersey will elect a new Governor and state legislature this November. This creates opportunities to share new ideas and insights with state leaders and policymakers. Throughout this time of upheaval and dramatic change, Schumann Fund for New Jersey remains steadfast in our commitment to invest in the Essex County communities we serve through direct services, community power-building, and equitable public policy. We understand, now more than ever, the importance of centering racial and other forms of equity to advance opportunity for our state’s vulnerable children and families. Despite the challenges we collectively face, we are heartened by the steadfast commitment of our grantee partners, peer funders, and other collaborative partners to uplifting our communities in Newark, Essex County, and across the state.
In keeping with our vision and mission, we want to see our grantee partners thrive. Let us know how we can support you. Over the coming months – and always – tell us your ideas and challenges. We’re here to listen and encourage you in every way we can.
WINTER 2025 GRANT AWARDS TOTAL $360,000
Schumann Fund for New Jersey’s Board of Trustees approved seven grant awards totaling $270,000 at our December 2024 quarterly meeting. In addition, $90,000 of Trustee designated grants were awarded for a total of $360,000 in grant awards.
Advancing two of the Fund’s priorities of affordable homes and healthy community and early childhood and education, each organization will deliver impact through a variety of complimentary strategies including power-building, public policy through funder collaboration, and direct service grants in Essex County. Executive Director Lucy Vandenberg noted, “We are honored to continue support for these organizations committed to advancing public policy and programs to support children and families in Essex County and statewide.”
Read more about each of these organizations and their awards below.
Advocates for Children of New Jersey was awarded $75,000 in operating support for its early childhood and child welfare policy work. Newark, NJ
Clinton Hill Community Action was awarded $50,000 in operating support to advance its neighborhood plan in Newark’s South Ward. Newark, NJ
Family Success Institute was awarded $25,000 in operating support. Newark, NJ
Newark Youth Career Pathways was awarded $30,000 in operating support. Newark, NJ
NJ Food Security Access Fund (fiscally sponsored by Community Foundation of New Jersey) was awarded a second installment of $25,000 in program support for the Fund. This installment is part of a two-year grant totaling $50,000. Morristown, NJ
Trust for Public Land was awarded $25,000 in program support for TPL’s Parks for People-Newark. Newark, NJ
United Parks As One was awarded $40,000 in operating support to continue to revitalize Newark’s neighborhood parks. Newark, NJ
GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children
Schumann Fund is pleased to highlight the work and impact of its grantee partners in this quarterly spotlight. For this quarter’s spotlight, we are proud to share the work of the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children.
The mission-driven work of the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children (NJCIC) is more critical now than ever before. In our Grantee Spotlight, learn more about NJCIC and their mission.
Founded in 2015, NJCIC mobilizes allies across immigration law and other disciplines to welcome and serve unaccompanied children (UCs) to New Jersey. During the height of the family separation crisis, New Jersey experienced a more than twofold increase of UCs new to the state. These children arrived without strong networks of support nor access to critical legal relief and interrelated services. At the center of NJCIC’s mission is a holistic model developed to meet the needs and aspirations of immigrant children and youth, including the more than 35,000 unaccompanied children released to sponsors in New Jersey over the last decade. Today, NJCIC serves as the statewide legal services and policy advocacy organization dedicated to empowering New Jersey’s young immigrants. NJCIC works toward a just and equitable New Jersey where young immigrants can flourish and lead full, fearless lives by 1) providing holistic, youth-centered legal representation, 2) driving systemic change to advance immigrant rights, and 3) building community through collaboration and education.
Three pillars shape NJCIC’s programmatic approach:
- Holistic, youth-centered legal representation. refers young immigrants to peer legal service providers for high-quality, free legal representation through its role as the central intake and referral hub for the state-funded Legal Representation for Children and Youth Program (LRP). Their Legal Team also provides direct legal representation, advice, and counsel to immigrant youth.
- Driving change to advance immigrants’ rights. NJCIC’s Policy Team drives systemic change to advance the rights of NJ’s young immigrants via advocacy campaigns addressing policy and systems affecting equitable access to justice, health, and education. Narrative change and youth development are facilitated through NJCIC’s Immigrant Youth Advocates program for first- and second-generation immigrant students.
- Building community through collaboration and education. NJCIC’s community of practice, the Consortium, has grown to 175+ professionals representing more than 25 organizations working with young immigrants. The Consortium lends the convening power and movement-building that, in large part, shapes the collaboration and education piece of NJCIC’s mission across its Legal and Policy Advocacy efforts.
NJCIC has been led by Executive Director Priscilla Monico Marín since early 2022. In September 2024, Schumann Fund awarded $45,000 to NJCIC in program support for its Equity and Access Advocacy Project. NJCIC’s efforts are aligned with Schumann Fund’s child welfare & youth justice program priority and are advanced under our public policy strategy.
“When we work together, a Garden State where young immigrants can reach greater heights and become who they aspire to be is increasingly within reach. NJCIC will continue to meet what is a critical moment for New Jersey’s immigrant communities facing immediate and lasting consequences of federal immigration policy rippling out at the state level. The Schumann Fund for New Jersey’s support of and partnership in our statewide policy advocacy work, which is practiced with care and through collaboration, will allow us to fortify the inroads New Jersey has made in becoming a model state for welcoming, integrating, and advancing immigrant communities.”
-Priscilla Monico Marín, Esq., Executive Director
WELCOME NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP
Schumann Fund is pleased to welcome longtime Board member, Chris Daggett, as our new Board Chair for 2025 – 2026. Serving together with Vice Chair Carlos Lejnieks and Treasurer/Secretary Roger Pratt, the Fund looks forward to their continued leadership to move our mission forward.
We extend our thanks to outgoing Board Chair Martha Bonsal Day for her devoted service and steady leadership during the past two years.
We also extend gratitude and a fond farewell to Barbara Bell Coleman. Barbara has served the Fund for 15 years with distinction, passion and an unwavering commitment. During her tenure, she served as Board Chair and Nominating Committee Chair. We wish Barbara well.
WATCH: Nonprofit Response to Immigration Enforcement in New Jersey
On January 25, 2025, the New Jersey Consortium for Immigrant Children hosted a virtual briefing on immigrant rights preparedness for nonprofit organizations and social service providers. The conversation provided tactical tips to guide organizations as they support immigrants in the communities we serve. The conversation was led by legal representatives from Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest, Make the Road New Jersey, and Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs.
Watch the webinar on YouTube. A transcript is available for download via YouTube. (44 minutes)
OPINION: A Case for Universal Preschool Education & New State Department of Early Childhood
For nearly 40 years, Schumann Fund for New Jersey has been proud to support early childhood development and youth education initiatives in our state. When legislators share our common priorities, it strengthens this aim. Read New Jersey State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz’ insight on how our state can serve Essex county’s preschool education through stronger alignment of the state’s early childhood programs and services.
WATCH: Steve Adubato Interviews Schumann’s First Executive Director H. Carl McCall
Following his historic visit to Schumann Fund in October 2024, watch as H. Carl McCall discusses philanthropy, public policy, and his legacy with WENY-TV’s State of Affairs host Steve Adubato. The interview reminds us of Florence and John Schumann’s deep commitment to families and children and, in particular, to advancing racial equity in Newark and Essex County. Click the video to listen to their discussion. (13 minutes)
About Schumann Fund for New Jersey
Founded in 1988, Schumann Fund for New Jersey is a private foundation based in Montclair, NJ. It advances ideas and opportunities to empower low-income children, families, and communities of color to thrive. The foundation invests in non-profit organizations rooted in Essex County and statewide that work to advance racial and economic equity.