OVERVIEW: The Burke Foundation aims to improve the health and well-being of underserved children. The foundation invests in the most promising programs narrowing developmental, achievement, and health gaps in New Jersey.
IP TAKE: The foundation focuses its investments on proven and promising initiatives within the focus areas of early childhood development and arts education. The foundation also keeps an eye out for innovative, up-and-coming models across its focus areas.
PROFILE: The James E. and Diane W. Burke Foundation, based in Princeton, New Jersey, was established in 1989 by the late Jim Burke, former chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, and his wife Diane “Didi” Burke, a painter and arts advocate. The foundation’s mission is to invest in “transformative early childhood initiatives to build a cycle of opportunity across generations.” For over 35 years, it has supported programming in various fields including the arts, health care, education, and community revitalization, with an emphasis on creating opportunities for underserved families and children. It seeks innovative approaches and community-driven programs that respond to the real needs of New Jersey residents. It is a very hands-on funder that provides not only funding, but strategic guidance, technical support, collaborative partnerships, and networking opportunities. Its current main areas of focus are Healthy Pregnancies and Strong Beginnings, Healthy Caregiver-Child Relationships, Early Care and Learning, and Healthy Futures Workforce.
Grants for Reproductive and Maternal Health
The Burke Foundation’s grantmaking is committed to “advancing the most promising prenatal-to-five programs and policies to create and expand systems of support for New Jersey children and families.”
- Healthy Pregnancies and Strong Beginnings aims to improve and expand access to consistent, high-quality prenatal and postnatal care, especially for underserved members of the community. Grants support programs that expand access to health care and nutrition, increase access to and attendance of prenatal and well-child doctors visits, and help connect families to community resources.
- Healthy Futures Workforce aims to promote “a perinatal workforce that reflects the communities it serves” in order to improve patient care and reduce maternal and infant mortality. It especially prioritizes reducing the disparity of care and mortality for Black and minority women. It supports initiatives that increase wages, expand access to training and career advancement, and promote interest in the perinatal health care field, with a focus on expanding the role of doulas and midwives.
Grantees include Centering Healthcare Institute, Trenton Health Team, MSU Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, New Jersey American Academy of Pediatrics, Safer Childbirth Cities Initiative, and Community Doulas.
Grants for Early Childhood Education
The Burke Foundation’s grantmaking for early childhood centers around programs that “provide nurturing care and promote strong, stable caregiver-child relationships.”
- Healthy Caregiver-Child Relationships promotes the formation of “well-established bonds with caregivers and the fulfillment of basic needs such as nutrition, stimulation, and a safe home environment.” It supports programs that help new parents by improving access to postnatal support, including wellness checks, referral programs, parenting classes, and short-term interventions.
- Early Care and Learning aims to improve access to affordable, high-quality child care and educational opportunities for infants and toddlers. It supports programs that connect parents with childhood development resources, provide enhanced training and professional development for child care workers, and fund high-quality child care and preschool facilities.
Grantees include Mount Sinai Parenting Center, Foundation for Educational Administration, and Reach Out and Read New Jersey,
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $10,000 to $500,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $2.4 million. Grantseekers may peruse the foundation’s past Initiatives or review its tax filings for more information on the types of organizations it supports.
- The Burke Foundation’s grantmaking is limited to the state of New Jersey. On rare occasions it makes grants outside the state to programs that align with its overall mission.
- The Burke Foundation conducts its grantmaking by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. However, grantseekers who believe their organization’s work aligns with Burke’s mission may submit a letter of interest.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINK:
