Burke Foundation Commits $6.5M in Grants

The Burke Foundation announced $6.5 million in grants aimed at improving maternal and infant health and early childhood development in New Jersey, expanding its commitment to helping children and families in the crucial 1,000 days from pregnancy through age 2.

During that period, investments in parent-child bonding, early childhood education, and related areas help build a foundation for lifelong health and well-being — by building cognitive skills that help to narrow disparities in academic achievement, foster healthy physical development, and nurture social-emotional skills that promote future success. This can decrease costs related to health care and social services and contribute to a more equitable society.

The grants to New Jersey nonprofits reflect the foundation’s strategic shift to making fewer, larger grants that can accelerate lasting impact. These awards will support a mix of proven models and promising partnerships designed to improve lifelong health and well-being and help eliminate racial/ethnic health disparities in New Jersey.

“The foundation’s work reflects what science tells us — that the more nurturing children receive in the first 1,000 days, the healthier they will be for the rest of their lives,” said James Burke, president and board chair. “It pays off for society too, reducing long-term spending in such areas as special education, public assistance, health care and even criminal justice.”