On February 2, 2023, Montclair State University received a $1 million commitment from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to develop “One Square Mile,” a hyper-local place-based initiative designed to promote community and economic development and community wellbeing. Montclair will partner with Paterson, New Jersey’s numerous backbone organizations, nonprofits, and school district to develop a cross-sector coalition that will work to identify the geographical boundaries of the One Square Mile and the issues facing its residents. To begin the initiative, Montclair will work with Paterson Public Schools to transform Eastside High School into a University-assisted community school. University and community resources will be organized around student success, with Eastside serving as a community hub.
On November 5, 2022, Montclair State University alumnus and Paterson native Chuck Muth ’77 and his wife, Laura, made a transformational gift of $5 million to Montclair State University. The gift will fund the creation and operation of the Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium. The Museum will focus on the proud yet shameful story of negro league baseball and the role that Hinchliffe Stadium played in Paterson’s rich cultural life over the past 80 years.
In 2022 and again in 2023, the Tepper Foundation teamed up with the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships to expand and scale up its highly successful New Jersey Covid Service Corps (NJCSC). Their generous grants totaling $150,000 will provide critical support to engage more universities and students across the state to help more New Jersey organizations and residents navigate the ongoing pandemic and its widespread effects. Funding will also ensure that college students participating in the NJCSC, and who may have suffered economic dislocations as a result of COVID-19, will be able to continue their college careers.
In 2022, The Volcker Alliance generously awarded Montclair State University a $100,000 grant to develop a Next Generation Service Corps program. “The Next Generation Service Corps (NextGen Service) is a ground-breaking initiative that draws diverse, talented young people into government careers. Through NextGen Service, Schools of Public Service across the country are introducing college students to public service values and building practical, collaborative leadership skills, regardless of their chosen major. “
In 2020 and 2021, the Bonner Foundation awarded two grants totaling $33,000 to the Center for Community Engagement as part of their national Community Engaged Learning Initiative.
In 2020, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded the Center for Community Engagement a grant worth $100,000 to help establish the New Jersey Covid Service Corps (NJCSC) program.
In 2019, the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life awarded the Center for Community Engagement $10,000 to support the Montclair Community Farm.
Since 2015, the Bonner Foundation has supported the Bonner Leader Program at Montclair State University by awarding them the Bonner Program Enrichment Grant each year.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has selected Montclair State University as a Community Engaged Campus, affirming the University’s long-standing dedication and commitment to community engagement. Montclair State was among 240 institutions to receive the 2015 Community Engaged Campus designation, following an extensive documentation review process. It joins such campuses as Georgetown University, Duke University, The University of Texas at Austin, New York University and UCLA in being nationally recognized by the Foundation.
The U.S. Department of Education announced a five-year, $2.5 million award to Montclair State University in 2014 to help fund the conversion of two low-performing Orange, New Jersey schools into University-Assisted Full-Service Community Schools (UAFSCS) – the first such schools in New Jersey.
2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recipient.
Since 2012, the Center for Community Engagement has received multiple grants totaling $235,000 from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation to fund employees and to develop two Full Service Community Schools in Orange at Oakwood Avenue School and Rosa Parks School.
Since 2011, the Partners for Health Foundation has awarded the Center for Community Engagement multiple grants totaling $118,000 to support the Montclair Community Farm.
In 2011, the Center for Community Engagement was awarded a $3,500 grant from Corporation for National and Community Service to fund the 2011 9/11 National Day of Service.
Between 2010 and 2013, the Center for Community Engagement received $110,000 in grants from Capital One to fund the Financial Education Corps (FEC) at Montclair State University.
The Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning Fellows Program was awarded the TIAA-CREF Theodore M. Hesburgh Certificate of Excellence in 2008.
Since 2005, the Center for Community Engagement has received multiple grants of over $1,000 from Bringing Theory to Practice, and in 2007 was awarded a two-year, $90,000 Bringing Theory to Practice Demonstration Site grant from the Charles Engelhard Foundation and the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
The Center for Community Engagement was awarded a three-year, $400,000 Community Outreach Partnership (COPC) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2001.
In 1997, the Center for Community Engagement was awarded a three-year, $105,000 Learn and Serve America Higher Education grant.
