BOONTON, NJ — Help is available for community groups in northern New Jersey’s Highlands Region and the Highlands Water Receiving Areas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded to: protect or educate about the water and other environmental resources of the NJ Highlands, or to preserve cultural and historic treasures in the NJ Highlands.

Applications to the New Jersey Highlands Coalition’s 2026 Small Grant Program must be received by June 8, 2026. Grants will be announced in October at the Coalition’s 2026 Annual Meeting.

“Our Small Grants Program is one of the unique strengths of the Highlands Coalition,” said Julia Somers, Executive Director. “We engage at the state and regional levels, but most of our members are from local grassroots groups who are in touch with breaking issues in their communities. They’re our early warning system. In addition to giving them financial assistance to ‘prime the pump’ for their own fundraising, we also offer counseling based on our hard-won experience.  Historic projects include “brick-and-mortar” projects for specific historic objects, sites, or districts. This is the twentieth    year of the Coalition’s Small Grants Program helping local people protect the places they love.”

Grassroots organizations are defined as non-governmental organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $200,000. It is not necessary that the organization be incorporated, but the organization does need to be a member to apply (membership starts at $20 a year). Grants from the Highlands Coalition cannot be used for political purposes.

A grassroots group may apply for one or more grants, either environmental, cultural, or components of both. But the total amount requested by any one organization cannot exceed $5000.

Grant applications should meet at least one of the following five criteria, with the items at the top prioritized over those below:

1. Projects that focus on developing a stronger Highlands Regional Master Plan, and/or implementation of the Regional Master Plan. For example, projects that identify, map, or verify mapped Highlands natural or cultural resources or monitor the implementation of RMP standards at the local level; projects that advocate for and result in municipal conformance with the RMP.
2. Projects that would establish a precedent advancing strong environmental or cultural protection in the Highlands. For example, hiring a consultant to help achieve the most environmentally protective decision by NJDEP, the Highlands Council, the Office of Planning Advocacy/State Planning Commission, the NJ Department of Agriculture on a Highlands matter, or for meeting local affordable housing needs.
3. Projects that may not help set a precedent, but would assist an organization to fight against a development in the Highlands Region – such as residential, commercial, agribusiness projects, etc. – that seriously threatens or damages natural or cultural resources in the Region.
4. Projects that support capacity building of Highlands Region grassroots organizations, for example, a membership mailing, a strategic planning exercise, a workshop, conference, or public educational event, etc.
5. Projects that educate about Highlands water and resources, and/or increase public awareness of the use and conservation of Highlands water.

Applicants are advised to view the full guidelines for the program on the Coalition’s website (www.njhighlandscoalition.org/small-grants/) particularly for cultural and historic grant components which have detailed requirements. To join the Coalition, click on “Join Us,” then click on “Organization Membership.” Applicants seeking more information are encouraged to contact Brielle Olshan at brielle@njhighlandscoalition.org.