Social Investment Application

South Jersey Industries Social Investment Program was established in 2008 with the goal of creating a positive, long-lasting impact on the communities we serve. Through this program, we focus our volunteer efforts and charitable contributions on organizations and initiatives that benefit women, children and families; economic development; cultural diversity; vocational & technical education; and environmental preservation. We believe that stronger communities are created when corporations work closely with dynamic nonprofit partners to address the critical needs of our residents. 

SJI provides funding to qualifying 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations demonstrating the ability to positively impact our communities, while focusing on needs that closely coincide with the company’s focus on five strategic areas of social investment.

To be eligible for these grants, a qualified organization must complete and submit a social investment application, which can be accessed through the link at the bottom of this page.
  
Our Focus

Our goal is to help as many local residents as possible throughout the communities served by SJI and its subsidiaries, including South Jersey Gas. We try to address the critical needs of our communities through our support of community programs, projects and initiatives that address the following core priority areas:

Health and Social Services –Improving the quality of life for residents of Southern New Jersey by specifically addressing the health and welfare of our region’s women, children and families. This includes support of organizations that protect the most vulnerable members of our community by promoting self sufficiency and creating safer homes and neighborhoods.

Economic and Workforce Development - Strengthening the communities of Southern New Jersey by enhancing the economic vitality of the region by directly or indirectly creating and retaining jobs, stimulating growth and increasing tourism.

Cultural Diversity – Improving the communities of Southern New Jersey by promoting in our region cultural diversity and exposure to the arts through a variety of outlets.

Vocational and Technical Education – Improving the quality of life for residents of Southern New Jersey by encouraging lifelong learning efforts, supported by secondary, vocational and technical education initiatives and programs.

Environmental Stewardship – Improving the communities of Southern New Jersey by helping to protect our environment and natural resources through education, advocacy and grassroots efforts.

  
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have received funds from SJI in the past without completing this application. Do I have to submit an application now?
A: All charitable and community based organizations seeking charitable financial support from SJI are required to submit a completed application. This includes organizations that previously received charitable funds or event sponsorships from any SJI subsidiaries, as well as organizations new to the process. Additionally, prior sponsorship or financial support does not guarantee grant awards in subsequent years.

Q: How often can I apply for funding?
A: Only one application may be submitted per organization per year. For this reason, you must include the total amount of funds you are requesting for the entire calendar year and highlight any benefits available to SJI throughout the year. Additionally, if you don’t receive funding in a given year, you are welcome to reapply in subsequent years with a new application or opportunity if a demonstrated need remains.

Q: In fundraising, I’ve always been told to “shoot for the stars” and request the highest grant amount available. Even if I don’t get it, at least I have a better chance of getting some funding, right?
A:Unfortunately this isn’t always the case. Please consider carefully the grant level you request and identity very specifically how it coincides with our social investment goals. With 42,759 non-profit organizations operating in New Jersey (from IRS reports, 4/09), it is not possible to fund them all at maximum levels. If you only offer information relating to maximum funding amounts (i.e. $10,000 to $15,000), we have no way of identifying how other amounts could impact your organization, and we may have to deny your request completely. When completing your application, try to highlight the benefits of a relationship with your organization at a level that is consistent with our areas of interest and our business goals, and how these two things relate to your organization. Providing this information for comparison purposes will allow our Social Investment Funding Committee to make the most informed decisions when allocating funds. Also, if your organization does not currently have an established relationship with South Jersey Industries, we urge you to consider a more conservative request in your first application. If you have never received funding from SJI and we have not previously been involved with your organization, it is unlikely that you will receive funding at the highest levels available.

Q: I would much rather come in and meet with SJI to show you the benefits that you could enjoy from partnering with my organization. Can I set up a meeting instead of submitting an application?
A: An organization will not be considered for funding without completing an application. Additionally, because there are so many organizations operating in New Jersey, we prefer only to set up individual meetings if we need to follow up with you for additional information or would like to learn more about your group’s activities. We plan to hold an informational session during 2010 for nonprofit leaders and will post information on this site for those who may be interested.

Q: We are seeking support for an event in February, but the SJI funding announcements will not be made in time for our event. How can we still compete for funding?
A: If you are holding an event or requesting funding for an initiative that will occur before March 1, you may apply for funding determination during the second funding period of the preceding year. In the fall, organizations may submit an application for the coming year to ensure that a decision is made in time for early-year initiatives. Please note, however, in the event you receive early approval of your application, you will not receive payment until the following year’s March distribution period. Other early submissions will not be accepted unless they relate directly to a program or event occurring before March 1.


Eligibility Guidelines

Before submitting your application for funding, please review the following eligibility guidelines. Funding is offered by SJI pursuant to the following guidelines and requirements.

To be eligible for grants from the Office of Community Relations, organizations applying for grant funds must be structured as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that utilizes the support of volunteers in addition to at least one full-time paid staff person.

Grant applications must adhere to the specified proposal format, which outlines the organization’s mission, specifies populations directly served or affected by the organization, and identifies how the funds requested will be used. While we recognize that some organizations create their own forms for specific events or requests, those forms will only be considered as supporting material. Each requesting organization must complete and submit an SJI Social Investment Request Form in order for a request to be considered.

Organizations NOT ELIGIBLE to apply for SJI Corporate Grants from the Office of Community Relations include:

• Religious or faith-based organizations soliciting funds to be used largely to benefit their membership or to improve facilities used predominantly by their membership.

• Benefits providing financial support only for individuals or single families

• Political causes

• Public, private and religiously-affiliated elementary and high schools

• Youth sports leagues and leagues teams

•Projects funding causes that demonstrate minimal benefits to the local communities served by our subsidiaries. This includes organizations whose primary audiences reside outside our main service area.

If you have any questions concerning your organization’s eligibility, please contact the Office of Community Relations at 609-561-9000 extension 4316 or via email at socialinvestment@sjindustries.com.

      
Application and Funding Process
 
Contacts

Please direct any questions or requests for information to socialinvestment@sjindustries.com and one of the following individuals will be happy to assist you:

Lauren Hurtt
PR Projects Assistant

Ilene Lampitt
Public Relations Specialist

Marissa Brooks Travaline
General Manager, Government & Community Relations