(Photo by Justine Cooper Photography)

Largest grants in Princeton-based Burke’s history expand commitment to first 1,000 days of life

PRINCETON, NJ, November 10, 2025 — With the announcement of $6.5 million in grants aimed at improving maternal and infant health and early childhood development in New Jersey, the Burke Foundation significantly expanded its commitment to helping children and families in the crucial 1,000 days from pregnancy through age two.

“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, healthcare, and even criminal justice. Nobel laureate economist James Heckman found that every dollar spent on high-quality early childhood programs returns up to $13.”

During that determinative time, 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 healthcare and social services and contribute to a more equitable society.

“With these multi-year investments, Burke doubles down on transformative initiatives and approaches proven to work for families and supports efforts to build strong partnerships to carry this progress into the future,” said Atiya Weiss, executive director.

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.

“Today marks a historic moment for mothers and babies across New Jersey,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “The Burke Foundation has been a critical partner to Nurture NJ over the years, supporting strong evidence-based pilots that have led to groundbreaking legacy initiatives, such as Family Connects NJ, our universal nurse home visitation program. These investments build upon that work and will help reduce disparities in maternal health and early childhood development by expanding access to quality, equitable care. Through proven community partnerships, this grant will strengthen our foundation of maternal and infant health care, ensuring every family has the opportunity to thrive in New Jersey.”

These are the grants and what Burke believes they will help accomplish:

• HealthySteps — $1.5 million over three years to expand an evidence-based pediatric care model that integrates child development specialists into primary care teams so parents receive support to address their children’s behavioral, developmental, and social-emotional needs from birth. This will protect momentum amid uncertain federal support and make good use of a new  enhanced Medicaid payment the state launched in July. With Burke’s support, HealthySteps will continue scaling efforts to reach 22% of New Jersey children under age four by 2029.

“When families have the right support early on, babies and toddlers thrive. ZERO TO THREE’s HealthySteps program makes that possible by meeting them where they are—in the pediatric primary care office,” said Rahil Briggs, PsyD, HealthySteps national director. “Whether it is helping connect families with local resources or providing positive parenting guidance, HealthySteps helps close gaps and set children up for success in school and in life. The results speak for themselves: the program delivers an average 159% return on investment in just one year through a combination of child- and adult-focused interventions related to breastfeeding, maternal depression, immunizations, and more. With the Burke Foundation’s leadership, HealthySteps is continuing to grow across New Jersey. When families thrive, we all thrive.”

• Start Strong NJ — $1.5 million over three years to help build a statewide campaign to make high-quality child care affordable for all New Jersey families. Uniting business leaders, child care educators, parents, advocates, community organizations, and funders, Start Strong NJ sees child care as essential infrastructure that is core to New Jersey’s economic competitiveness. Burke’s investment aims to make sure the next governor makes child care a high priority for helping families, educators, communities, and the state’s economy thrive.

“Turrell Fund is honored to join the Burke Foundation and our partners in advancing the Start Strong NJ campaign,” said Curt Fields, president and chief executive officer of the Turrell Fund. “By expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care, we invest in the healthy development of children, the stability of families, and the enduring strength of New Jersey’s economy.”

• South Ward Wellness Center — $500,000 capital investment toward creating a $43.7 million community health hub in one of Newark’s most underserved neighborhoods will support expanded doula care; CenteringPregnancy, CenteringParenting, and HealthySteps initiatives; lactation assistance, mental health counseling, and workforce training under one roof. Developed by long-time Burke partner BRICK in collaboration with Saint James Health, the Center will provide 2,000 residents annually with culturally responsive care and anchor numerous maternal and family wellness efforts.

“At BRICK, we believe lasting change begins with listening to the community. The South Ward Wellness Center is more than a building — it’s a movement to reshape health, maternal and early childhood care by centering local voices and culturally responsive services,” said Dominique Lee, chief executive officer of BRICK Networks. “This investment ensures that families in Newark have a trusted home to address whole family health from starting from the womb. Together, we’re advancing equity, reducing racial disparities, and empowering families to thrive across generations. We are extremely thankful for partners like The Burke Foundation for believing and investing in a comprehensive strategy to support families.”

• Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Fund — $3 million over five years to help seed a new public-philanthropic partnership supporting the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (NJMIHIA) and its flagship Innovation Center in Trenton. Backed by $86 million in state and federal capital funding, the Center will deliver maternal and infant health services, train doulas and other providers, and serve as a statewide data, research, and policy hub. As a founding funder and executive committee member, Burke will help shape pilot initiatives to reduce disparities and improve New Jersey families’ health.

“The establishment of the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Fund marks a pivotal step in advancing NJMIHIA’s mission to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across New Jersey. By strategically investing in innovative, evidence-based, and community-driven projects and partnerships, this Fund will foster advancements in clinical care, workforce development, and data-driven models,” said Lisa Asare, president and chief executive officer of NJMIHIA. “Together, these efforts will strengthen the State’s maternal health ecosystem and ensure the long-term sustainability of our initiatives — ultimately creating healthier futures for families throughout New Jersey. We are grateful for Burke’s support and partnership in making this vision a reality.”

About the Burke Foundation

Reflecting the legacy of Jim Burke, former Johnson and Johnson CEO and chairman, we focus on science-backed evidence that the first 1,000 days from pregnancy through age two are the most crucial to brain development and building strong caregiver-child bonds. Our grantmaking and partnerships with government, nonprofits, and the private sector stem from the belief that communities benefit most when we invest in families at the earliest, most essential stages of life. We engage at the community level, learning from the people on the frontlines of delivering services and pressing for change.