What is the Montclair Bridge Fund?

The Montclair Bridge Fund is a nonpartisan, neighbor-led effort to keep our schools strong and our community inclusive.

Why was the fund created?

The fund was created during a school budget crisis. We saw that gaps in school funding impact everyone—especially financially vulnerable students—and raising taxes creates additional economic hardship for households already stretched. The Montclair Bridge Fund helps address both issues. It’s about keeping Montclair’s tradition of diversity and mutual care alive.

WhAT HAVE YOU DONE?

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Montclair Bridge Fund awarded $20,000 in grants to three local organizations in early 2026. These investments addressed two urgent needs facing our community: affordability and educational opportunity.

Montclair Helps — $10,000

We supported direct emergency assistance for Montclair households struggling with rising housing costs and other affordability pressures, helping families remain stable and housed during times of financial hardship.

Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE) — $5,000

We supported the launch of a multi-year math proficiency initiative for economically disadvantaged elementary school students, helping ensure that children who need additional academic support are not left behind.

IMANI — $5,000

We provided scholarships for Montclair High School students to participate in SAT preparation courses after public funding for the program was eliminated due to district budget cuts.

Together, these grants helped strengthen both the immediate stability of local families and the long-term success of Montclair students.

What are you working on now? 

Today, the Montclair Bridge Fund is focused on one urgent challenge: affordability.

While we continue to support long-term solutions for our schools alongside partners like MFEE, we know many of our neighbors are struggling with the rising cost of living right now.

This summer, we are raising funds to help local families stay in their homes. Through our distribution partner, Montclair Helps—which works with trusted local nonprofits—every dollar donated will go directly toward helping neighbors facing housing insecurity.

Read more about our first round of grants here.

IS MY GIFT TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

Yes! The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) is the fiscal sponsor of the Fund, ensuring all donations are tax deductible and managed transparently.

NNJCF’s EIN number is 22-3603171.

My company matches my donations. what org should i list?

Please list the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) as the charitable organization. In any field for “project,” “comment,” “fund,” or “memo,” please write Montclair Bridge Fund so your matching gift is directed correctly.

CAN I WRITE A CHECK?

Yes! Checks should be made out to the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation with “Montclair Bridge Fund” in the memo. Checks can be mailed to: The Northern NJ Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza Drive, Suite 102, Hackensack, NJ 07601.

How can i help?

Two simple but powerful ways:

1. Donate – Every gift, big or small, brings us closer to keeping our schools strong and our community inclusive. Right now, your gift will support residents facing housing insecurity in town.

2. Spread the word – Share our message with your friends, neighbors, and networks. The more people who know, the more families we can reach.

This is Montclair at its best — neighbors lifting neighbors, schools staying strong.

whAT IS THE ROLE OF THE NORTHERN NJ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (NNJCF)?

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) serves as the fiscal sponsor for the Montclair Bridge Fund — a crucial role that ensures the Fund operates legally, transparently, and in full compliance with applicable tax law.

As a registered 501c3 public charity, NNJCF has formally approved the purpose of the Montclair Bridge Fund as advancing its charitable mission. That means all donations to the Fund are fully tax-deductible and held in a restricted account designated solely for this project.

NNJCF retains legal and fiduciary responsibility for the funds, including oversight of how they are received, managed, and distributed. The Montclair Bridge Fund decides how funds are used with NNJCF’s oversight through the Montclair Bridge Fund’s reporting to NNJCF. NNJCF provides the legal and administrative framework — including financial management, compliance, and reporting — that protects both donors and the community effort.

This partnership ensures that all funds are distributed appropriately and transparently. The details of this arrangement are outlined in our Charter with NNJCF, which formalizes shared governance and accountability.

How can someone access emergency assistance funded by the Montclair Bridge Fund?

The Montclair Bridge Fund provides grants to Montclair Helps, which distributes emergency assistance through its network of trusted community partners. If you or someone you know is experiencing housing insecurity due to rising costs, start by contacting one of the following organizations:

1 in 6 Support, Family Promise of Essex County, First Congregational Church, HomeCorp, Human Needs Food Pantry, Montclair Ambulance (EMS), Montclair Community Foundation, Montclair Public Library, Out Montclair, People Helping People, Pride Center of Montclair, Rachel Coalition, Succeed2gether, Toni's Kitchen, MFEE Navegadores Escolares, Montclair State University, Temple Ner Tamid, Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, or the YMCA.

whAT IF I ALREADY DONATE TO MONTCLAIR HELPS?

Thank you! Montclair Helps and the Montclair Bridge Fund are complementary. Montclair Helps provides emergency assistance through its trusted network of community partners. Montclair Bridge Fund expands that support by funding housing-related emergency assistance for residents experiencing housing insecurity due to rising costs, regardless of employment status.

who runs the fund?

The Fund was started by a group of Montclair residents concerned about the potential of a newly created hardship for our neighbors. NNCJF is the fiscal sponsor.

The Fund planning committee includes Johannah Chase-Coates, Laura Davies, Kate Lewis Yalniz, Julie Neuspiel Warner, Rachel St. Fleur, and Shira Zamir.