Grant Application Process
Girls Making an Impact: The TIJC Grant Process
Welcome to Teen Impact Jersey Coast! We are a group of high school girls dedicated to understanding our community’s needs and making a real difference. Inspired by Impact 100 Jersey Coast, we pool our donations to award at least one general operating grant to a youth-serving nonprofit in Monmouth and/or Ocean County.
Our membership drive will run through December 31, 2025, and we anticipate awarding a grant in the range of $5,000 – $10,000 to one or more nonprofit organizations that are chosen by our members at the “Big Give” in June.
Our 2026 grant application period opens on October 15, 2025.
Please carefully read the information below if you are interested in applying.
The deadline for grant applications is midnight on Friday, January 15, 2026, or when we have received 40 applications.
Our Educational Experience
We as teen members will manage the grant-making cycle from start to finish. This includes reviewing applications, selecting finalists, and ultimately voting on the grant recipient. If your nonprofit is chosen as a finalist, we would love for you to host a one-hour site visit in the early spring, in person or online, so we can meet your leadership team and learn more about your organization.
Limit on Grant Applications
To make sure we can review all applications carefully and fairly, we're limiting the number of grant applications to 40. This gives us enough time to review each application, select finalists, and conduct site visits. We appreciate your understanding as we set this limit to help us learn and do a great job in the process!
Grant Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting grant applications is midnight on January 15, 2026, or when we reach the maximum of 40 applications.
We look forward to reading your application and discovering the important work you do to support youth in our communities.
Funding Priorities
As a passionate and philanthropic group of high school girls, we are excited to learn about nonprofits that are addressing youth issues in Monmouth and/or Ocean Counties. By pooling our individual donations, we aim to make a meaningful impact and contribute thoughtfully to a youth-focused organization.
Grant Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for our grant, your organization must:
- Be a 501 (c)(3) public charity with tax-exempt status (provide a copy of your determination letter).
- Have been in operation as a 501(c)(3) public charity for at least 12 months and submit a Statement of Activities (SOA) for the most recent fiscal year.
- Provide youth services in Monmouth and/or Ocean Counties, New Jersey.
- Not have received a grant from Impact 100 Jersey Coast or Teen Impact Jersey Coast in the last three years
Teen Impact Jersey Coast Will Not Provide Grants For:
- Debt reduction, operating deficits, or interim funding
- Endowment funding
- Individuals or private foundations (including those with 501(c)(3) status)
- Religious or partisan activities, political lobbying
- Fundraising events, funding drives, or annual appeals
- Organizations that have received a grant from Impact 100 Jersey Coast or Teen Impact Jersey Coast in the last three years.
FAQS:
What does Teen Impact Fund?
We provide general operating grant funding to organizations in Monmouth and/or Ocean counties that are helping to address youth-based needs in the community.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Teen Impact grant?
Your organization must be a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit located in Monmouth or Ocean counties. Additionally, you need to have operated as a 501 (c)(3) public charity for one full financial year before applying for the grant and submit a Statement of Activities (Statement of Revenues and Expenses) for your most recently completed fiscal year.
Does someone supervise the grant process?
Teen Impact is inspired by Impact 100 Jersey Coast, which has awarded over $3.24 million in grants to 43 Monmouth County nonprofits. Members of Impact 100 serve as adult supervisors, providing guidance throughout the grant process. However, it is we, the teen members, who review applications, conduct site visits, and ultimately vote on which organization receives the grant funding.
If we are selected for a site visit, what is involved?
A predetermined number of our teen members (based on how many your organization can accommodate), accompanied by an adult supervisor, will visit your organization. If you prefer, the site visit can be hosted via Zoom. The goal is for us to learn more about your mission, specifically in relation to youth-based issues.
You will receive questions in advance to guide the conversation with your staff. Site visits are typically one hour and would be scheduled for Friday late afternoons or Saturday mornings to accommodate our school schedules. We believe these visits are key learning experiences that foster leadership and enhance the critical thinking skills essential for our grant review process.
When will we know if we are selected as a finalist?
All applicants will be notified via email during the first week of March to inform you if you are a finalist or not.
Can a faith-based organization apply for a grant?
There are many nonprofits in Monmouth and Ocean counties that are faith-based or operate under churches, temples or other religious institutions. In order to be eligible for our grant, the youth-serving projects or programs must be open to all, regardless of religious beliefs and practices.
If we are a finalist, are we required to attend the Big Give/Voting Event? What type of presentation do we need to give?
All finalists are invited to attend the Big Give in June. We suggest two representatives from your organization attend. While it is not mandatory, you are welcome to have an information table for us to learn more about how we can best support your organization. Grant finalists are asked to give a 4-5 minute presentation about your mission and how your organization is addressing youth issues. After the presentations, we will vote, and that year's grant recipient will be announced. As we move through the grant cycle, we will share more details.
Thank you for considering us in your important work to support youth in our communities!
Visit the Impact 100 Jersey Coast website.