New Jersey Cultural Trust awards $1M to 37 history and humanities organizations

The New Jersey Cultural Trust has approved $1,001,964 in grants to 37 nonprofit history and humanities organizations across 14 counties, the largest total awarded in a single funding round in the program’s history.

The grants were approved during a November public virtual meeting of the Cultural Trust Board. With this round, the Trust has awarded more than $12.4 million for institutional stabilization and historic preservation projects since Fiscal Year 2004.

The Fiscal Year 2026 Institutional and Financial Stabilization Grants for History and Humanities Organizations were recommended by the New Jersey Historical Commission. Funding will support cash reserves, technology upgrades, capital equipment purchases, staff development, and strategic planning projects.

“As history and humanities organizations across New Jersey prepare to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, these investments in institutional stability and capacity are especially vital,” said Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who oversees the Cultural Trust as secretary of state. “These grants increase the ability of our state’s cultural community to promote civic engagement, expand economic vitality, and engage diverse audiences in 2026 and beyond.”

Cultural Trust Board Chair Carol Cronheim said the program received more than $2 million in requests — a 130 percent increase over the last cycle. The Trust’s ability to fund a record amount this year stems from high interest income generated by the Trust’s permanent investment fund.

Cultural Trust grants are unique within the Department of State because they are funded through investment income rather than annual budget appropriations. The FY26 grants underwent an independent peer-review process.

Awardees

Atlantic County

• Historical Society of Hammonton — Hammonton — Atlantic — $25,000

Bergen County

• Friends of the Hermitage, Inc. — Ho-Ho-Kus — Bergen — $5,400
• Jewish Historical Society of North Jersey — Fair Lawn — Bergen — $25,000

Burlington County

• Bordentown Historical Society — Bordentown — Burlington — $40,000
• Roebling Museum — Roebling — Burlington — $40,000
• Whitesbog Preservation Trust — Browns Mills — Burlington — $40,000

Camden County

• Historical Society of Haddonfield — Haddonfield — Camden — $8,819
• New Jersey Council for the Humanities — Camden — Camden — $40,000

Cape May County

• Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society — Cape May Courthouse — Cape May — $5,217
• Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum — Rio Grande — Cape May — $32,900

Cumberland County

• Bayshore Center at Bivalve — Port Norris — Cumberland — $40,000
• Millville Army Air Field Museum — Millville — Cumberland — $26,794
• Vineland Historical & Antiquarian Society — Vineland — Cumberland — $9,186

Essex County

• Greenwood Gardens — Short Hills — Essex — $9,682
• Montclair Historical Society — Montclair — Essex — $37,975
• The New Jersey Historical Society — Newark — Essex — $40,000

Hudson County

• Liberty Science Center — Jersey City — Hudson — $40,000
• Save Ellis Island — Branchville — Hudson — $40,000

Mercer County

• Historic Morven, Inc. — Princeton — Mercer — $19,199
• Historical Society of Hamilton Township — Hamilton — Mercer — $40,000
• New Jersey State Museum Foundation — Trenton — Mercer — $14,450
• Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum — Hopewell — Mercer — $40,000
• Trent House Association — Trenton — Mercer — $22,500
• Washington Crossing Park Association — Titusville — Mercer — $10,000

Monmouth County

• Allaire Village — Farmingdale — Monmouth — $40,000
• Atlantic Highlands Historical Society — Atlantic Highlands — Monmouth — $9,601
• Friends of Millstone Township Historic Registered Properties — Millstone Township — Monmouth — $30,000
• Monmouth Museum & Cultural Center — Middletown Township — Monmouth — $17,895

Morris County

• Kemmerer Library Harding Township — New Vernon — Morris — $22,386
• Macculloch Hall Historical Museum — Morristown — Morris — $40,000
• Madison Historical Society — Madison — Morris — $40,000

Ocean County

• Barnegat Bay Decoy & Baymen’s Museum (Tuckerton Seaport) — Tuckerton — Ocean — $40,000

Sussex County

• Sparta Historical Society — Sparta — Sussex — $10,000

Union County

• Historical Society of Plainfield — Plainfield — Union — $40,000
• Kenilworth Historical Society — Kenilworth — Union — $15,000
• Liberty Hall Museum — Union — Union — $39,960
• Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum Association — Rahway — Union — $5,000