Victoria Foundation Announces $14.3 Million in Annual Grants to Strengthen Community Power and Generational Well-Being in Newark

NEWARK, NJ – December 18, 2025 – Victoria Foundation proudly announces its 2025 annual grantmaking in Newark's communities, distributing $14.3 million through over 100 grants over the course of the year. This announcement represents the Foundation's steadfast commitment to strengthening community power and generational well-being for residents across Newark. These investments are core to Victoria Foundation's mission of partnering with residents, organizations, and leaders to build a future shaped by those who call Newark home.

"We have been moved by the extraordinary resilience and determination within this community. In the face of immense challenges, our partners have shown what it means to build together and make sure no one in our community stands alone," said Craig Drinkard, Executive Officer of the Victoria Foundation.

The grants provided critical resources to organizations on the frontlines, supporting their rapid response to pressing issues while advancing long-term, resident-led solutions. Through this grantmaking, Victoria Foundation moves forward its mission: strengthening community power by supporting grassroots organizing and advocacy; fostering economic justice to build community wealth and opportunity; promoting youth self-determination by investing in platforms for young leaders to shape their futures; and responding to urgent needs as they arise, standing with Newark families when it matters most.

This year's grantmaking highlights the breadth and impact of Victoria Foundation's commitment to Newark. Among the grants, four stand out for their vital contributions:

• Newarkers Organizing for Accountable Development (NOFAD): Growing the power of residents to actively shape public decisions and counter displacement, NOFAD builds civic and grassroots capacity. With partners like South Ward Environmental Alliance and Clinton Hill Community Action, the initiative has trained residents to navigate planning and zoning, strengthening their ability to ensure development reflects neighborhood priorities and builds cross-community solidarity.

• BRICK's South Ward Wellness Center: In partnership with Saint James Health and YMCA, the new 51,000 square-foot facility in Upper Clinton Hill will offer comprehensive primary care, maternal and behavioral health services, and wellness programs. Victoria Foundation's $2 million investment is bridging essential resources for holistic health and a stronger, healthier community.

• Newark Immigrant Resource Collaborative: Led by La Casa de Don Pedro, and joined by partners such as FOCUS and Ironbound Community Corporation, this collaborative is expanding education, outreach, and crisis response for immigrant residents. Their community-wide mobilization and toolkit distributions are helping Newark's immigrant families remain safe, informed, and connected in the face of increased detainment and deportation efforts. The toolkit was developed with help from the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, ACLU NJ, Rutgers Law School, and the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

• Emergency Relief for SNAP Benefit Cuts: When 37,000 Newark residents, including nearly 29,000 of whom are children, were confronted by federal cuts to SNAP benefits, Victoria Foundation responded with an immediate $250,000 grant to United Way. This support has helped sustain mutual aid networks and deliver critical emergency relief.
  
  

These investments highlight the Foundation's commitment to uplifting the power held by communities to create generational change for themselves.

About Victoria Foundation

Founded in 1924, Victoria Foundation is dedicated to strengthening community power, fostering economic justice, and promoting youth self-determination in Newark, New Jersey. By aligning resources and building deep relationships, we aim to address the systemic causes of inequity and support a future where all Newark residents can shape their own destinies. Learn more at victoriafoundation.org.

Media Contact: Jen Thom, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.