New Jersey American Water and American Water Charitable Foundation Celebrate 2025 Water and Environment Grant Recipients
The American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF), a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water—the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company—has announced the recipients of its 2025 Water and Environment grants. This year, nine organizations in New Jersey have been selected to receive a combined total of $209,674 in funding to support innovative, community-based environmental initiatives that aim to protect water resources, improve water quality, and promote environmental education.
These grants are part of the Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, which focuses on three strategic pillars: Water, People, and Communities. The program supports impactful projects across American Water’s national footprint that address environmental challenges through community partnerships, science-based solutions, and public engagement. In New Jersey, the projects funded this year will benefit a wide array of watersheds, wildlife habitats, educational programs, and conservation efforts.
Local Impact through Collaborative Conservation
“At New Jersey American Water, we believe that protecting our water resources begins with empowering the communities we serve,” said Mark McDonough, President of New Jersey American Water and a board member of the American Water Charitable Foundation. “Each of these grantees is leading the way with creative, science-driven approaches to water protection and environmental stewardship. We are proud to stand with them and support their work, which will create measurable and lasting benefits across the state.”
One of the recipients, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, received $18,800 to support its Landscape Makeover Program. The grant will help fund the transformation of a section of a public park in Hainesport Township into a model of sustainable landscaping, incorporating a micro-forest and rain garden designed to absorb stormwater and reduce runoff. The project will also serve as an educational demonstration site to inspire residents to adopt eco-friendly landscaping practices.
“Clean water is a resource many of us take for granted, but it’s up to all of us to protect it,” said Jaclyn Rhoads, Executive Director of Pinelands Preservation Alliance. “This grant allows us to show the community how small changes in landscaping can make a big difference in protecting local waterways. We’re grateful to the American Water Charitable Foundation and to Hainesport Township for making this project possible.”
The 2025 New Jersey Grantees: Supporting Innovation Across the State
Below is a summary of the nine grantees and how they plan to use their funding to improve environmental and water health in New Jersey:
1. Clean Ocean Action
Grant Amount: $23,231
Clean Ocean Action will use its grant to bolster the Rally for Two Rivers program, which focuses on identifying and eliminating pollution sources in the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers in Monmouth County. With this funding, the organization will enhance upstream water quality monitoring, conduct nutrient assessments, and engage stakeholders through its collaborative, no-blame approach. These efforts aim to restore the health of the Two Rivers Watershed and raise community awareness of local water issues.
2. Great Swamp Watershed Association
Grant Amount: $22,463
This project will expand the organization’s water quality monitoring activities to include the lower Passaic River, specifically the area downstream from the Dundee Dam to Newark Bay. Funding will support the installation of new water sampling stations and the purchase of monitoring equipment. The collected data will be shared with the public to foster informed decision-making about pollution control and river restoration.
3. Monmouth Conservation Foundation
Grant Amount: $29,310
At Scudder Preserve in Middletown, NJ, the foundation will install three bioswales to manage stormwater, filter pollutants, and help replenish the local aquifer. This project is part of a larger ecological restoration initiative for the 90-acre preserve. It will also include community education to raise awareness of green infrastructure and its benefits for both water conservation and ecosystem resilience.
4. Musconetcong Watershed Association
Grant Amount: $45,370
The Musconetcong Watershed Association will lead a study to identify PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the Musconetcong River, particularly during the agricultural season when chemical runoff is more likely. The project will involve surface water sampling, data sharing with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and community education to foster support for future remediation efforts.
5. New Jersey Audubon
Grant Amount: $10,000
This funding will enhance NJ Audubon’s conservation education programs at the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary and other sites across the state. The programs aim to teach students and community members about habitat protection, clean water practices, and the connection between healthy ecosystems and water resources. The hands-on, nature-based curriculum will promote environmental stewardship from an early age.
6. New Jersey Tree Foundation
Grant Amount: $15,000
The NJ Tree Foundation will revitalize a green space in Oaklyn by planting new trees along the Newton Creek Watershed. The trees will help filter runoff, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. Part of the funding will also support the TreeKeepers program, which educates community members about the long-term care and environmental value of trees.
7. Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Grant Amount: $18,800
As described earlier, this grant will support the conversion of a section of public parkland in Hainesport Township into a demonstration site for sustainable landscaping, incorporating a micro-forest and rain garden. The project includes community workshops to teach residents how to adopt similar practices at home.
8. Somerset County Chapter – Native Plant Society of New Jersey
Grant Amount: $12,500
This group will undertake a reforestation project along Royce Brook in Manville, a flood-prone area. The goal is to mitigate stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity through the planting of native species. Educational signage and outreach materials will engage the community and explain the ecological importance of the effort.
9. The Watershed Institute
Grant Amount: $33,000
The Watershed Institute will expand its StreamWatch Schools program, a water monitoring initiative that trains teachers and students to collect and analyze water quality data from local streams and rivers. The grant will support educator training, curriculum development, and classroom materials, helping to instill environmental awareness and scientific literacy in students across central New Jersey.
A Broader Vision for Water and Environment
“The American Water Charitable Foundation is proud to support projects that promote clean water, conservation, environmental education, and recreational access to water bodies,” said Carrie Williams, President of the American Water Charitable Foundation. “The Water and Environment Grant Program allows us to stay rooted in our core mission—focusing on water—while fostering community-driven efforts that ensure long-term environmental health. These projects show how every drop truly counts.”
The Foundation received a high volume of applications this year, and each proposal was rigorously evaluated based on its alignment with the Foundation’s funding priorities, as well as its potential for measurable impact. Projects were selected based on their ability to address local needs, engage the public, and contribute to the resilience of New Jersey’s ecosystems and water systems.
Through its Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, the American Water Charitable Foundation demonstrates how corporate philanthropy can serve as a powerful catalyst for positive change, fostering collaboration between local stakeholders, nonprofit organizations, and environmental agencies.
