New Jersey Bridge Project
The Bridge Project is a national nonprofit that provides unconditional cash assistance to low-income pregnant individuals and new mothers to combat childhood poverty. In October 2025 the organization expanded to New Jersey, backed by a $2 million investment from RWJBarnabas Health plus $6 million in local philanthropic funding coordinated through the Community Foundation of New Jersey, with administrative costs covered by the Monarch Foundation. The New Jersey cohort provides 250 pregnant individuals in Newark, Trenton, Paterson, and Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland counties with a prenatal stipend followed by monthly payments over three years. Funding blends a hospital-system investment (partly supported by state appropriation funding) with private philanthropy. No Social Security number or ITIN is required to apply.
Bridge Project Network, Maternal Health, Prenatal Cash Assistance, Hospital Partnership, Guaranteed Income
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Bridge Project
- City
- New York
- State / Province
- New York
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 201 305 3521
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 250
- Funding type
- Government, Nonprofit, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 20,250 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 562.5 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 36 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit, Debit Card
- Benefit details
Participants receive a one-time $1,125 prenatal stipend upon enrollment, followed by monthly payments of $750 for the first 15 months and $375 for the following 21 months, totaling roughly $20,000–$20,250 in unconditional cash over three years (the child's first 1,000 days). Funds carry no restrictions on use. Bridge Project's broader multi-state model typically disburses funds via direct deposit or a fee-free prepaid debit card issued in the mother's name; the NJ-specific method was not separately confirmed in available sources.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, currently 23 weeks pregnant or less, and have an annual household income under $44,000. Residency is limited to the City of Newark, City of Trenton, City of Paterson, or Gloucester, Salem, or Cumberland counties. No Social Security number or ITIN is required. Eligible applicants are selected at random on a rolling basis until all 250 slots are filled.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Sex
- Female
- Gender
- Female
Family
- Family Status
- Expecting
Health
- Health conditions
- Pregnancy
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $44,000
- Income as % of Federal Poverty Level
- 20,820,252 %
Geography
- US states covered
- New Jersey
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Newark, Trenton, Paterson
- Counties covered
- Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Research / participation requirements
The Bridge Project conducts ongoing evidence-based research and impact evaluation across its national cohorts (savings, mental health, employment outcomes); no explicit mandatory research participation requirement was found specifically for the New Jersey cohort, unlike the org's separate Appalachia research-study cohort.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applicants apply online at bridgeproject.org/apply. Applications for New Jersey opened October 1, 2025 at 9:00am and remained open until all 250 slots were filled. If selected, applicants must verify due date, income, and location.
- Selection process
Eligible applicants are selected at random (lottery) on a rolling basis until all 250 New Jersey program slots are filled.
