MAKING TRENTON EVEN BETTER
2024

​GRANT AMOUNTS

Citywide Grants - Applicants may request up to $5,000. We expect most grants to be between $1,000 to $3,000.

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Downtown Trenton (DTTN) Grants - Applicants may request up to $8,000. We expect most grants to be between $1,000 and $5,000.

 

WHO CAN APPLY

We will prioritize projects designed and led by Trenton residents, people of color, and people with lived experience of the issue the project is addressing. Applicants are not required to have 501(c)3 nonprofit status. However, please note that grant funds are considered taxable income by the State of New Jersey and the IRS unless the recipient entity is tax-exempt. We also require a W9 with either an EIN or SSN to issue each grant. Grant recipients are responsible for all income reporting and all associated tax payments. We strongly encourage applicants who do not have 501(c)3 status to partner with a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that can serve as a fiscal sponsor for the project. 

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Note for larger organizations: I Am Trenton prioritizes grassroots initiatives that do not have access to other funding. We do not preclude applications from larger or more established organizations, but realistically these rarely get funded unless (1) the project is "very Trenton" and (2) a strong and compelling explanation is given for why the organization cannot fund it through its regular resources. 

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I Am Trenton reserves the right to disqualify an applicant that has not submitted satisfactory reports or complied with grant requirements in our other grant cycles. If you currently have an open grant, please talk to us (grants@iamtrenton.org) before applying.

 

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be submitted through the online form linked below. In keeping with our goals to become more inclusive:

• We will accept applications in Spanish as well as English. 

• Applicants have the option of uploading their Project Details as a short written essay OR as a short video (a conversation with your camera, not a fancy production). Please see the application for details. 

 

WE DO NOT FUND

• Projects or organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

• Debt reduction or on-going operational support 

• Capital campaigns or fundraising events

• Re-granting programs

• Scholarships

• Partisan political activities, lobbying, or efforts to influence an election

• Religious activities such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing. Religious organizations can apply for non-denominational activities that are open to all and do not require participation in religious services.

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TIMELINE

1. Application deadline - Applications are due by October 18th, 2024, at 11:59 Eastern Time. 

2. ​Notification of awards - We expect to notify applicants on whether their application was funded or not by December 6, 2024. 

3. Check Presentation/Gathering - We will give out checks to grantees at a gathering the week of December 9, 2024.  Details will be shared when finalized.

4. Grant activities must occur between December 10th, 2024 and November 30th, 2025.

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