The nonprofit, which supports members of Affinity Federal Credit Union and serves their surrounding communities, gave a combined $255,000 in grants to individuals and organizations

2025 was a successful year for the Affinity Foundation, which provides assistance to individuals and community members across New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut through development programs and grants. The Foundation supports members of Affinity Federal Credit Union and their surrounding communities, representing the member-owned financial institution’s 90-year commitment to serve.

This past year, the Foundation raised over $213,000 through events and over $21,000 with grassroots fundraising efforts. Through multiple grant programs, it awarded a combined $65,000 to 74 individual members and $190,000 to 23 nonprofits.

“Our team stepped up to bring communities together,” said Kelly Watts, Executive Director of the Affinity Foundation. “We reached more lives than ever before and took great inspiration from the people we served.”

2025 marked the 20-year anniversary of the Affinity Foundation’s higher education scholarship program. The Foundation offered individual grants of $2,500 to six exceptional New Jersey high school students to support their pursuit of two- or four-year degrees. The Foundation also concluded a three-year pledge to uplift six organizations with $20,000 annually, totaling to $360,000 given across the years.

In 2025, the Affinity Foundation gave a total of $70,000 in separate grants to local organizations including:

1. 180 Turning Lives Around (Hazlet, NJ) - Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter and Support Programs
2. Center for Great Expectations (Somerset, NJ) - Adult Residential Mommy & Me Program
3. Center for Safety and Change (New City, NY) - Bridging Critical Gaps in Emergency and Transitional Housing for Domestic Violence Survivors initiative
4. Community Center Without Walls (Greenburgh, NY) - Community Center without Walls, Inc. - Youth Empowerment and Apprenticeship Program
5. Dare to Be Different West Chester (White Plains, NY) - The Farmers Market One-Stop Hub: Essentials, Education, and Empowerment Program
6. Deirdre O’Brien Child Advocacy Center (Morristown, NJ) - Deirdre’s House Medical and Mental Health Program
7. Food Bank Network of Somerset County (Bound Brook, NJ) - General Food Assistance - Fresh Food Program
8. Homefront (Lawrence, NJ) - Hire Expectations: Employment and Educational Support for a Stable, Financially Secure Future Program
9. Homes for the Brave (Bridgeport, CT) - Training for Success Vocational and Educational Program
10. Lunch Break (Red Bank, NJ) - The Life Skills Program
11. Middle Earth (Bridgewater, NJ) - Journeys Employment Readiness Component (ERC) Program
12. Safe + Sound Somerset (Somerset, NJ) - Financial Empowerment & Support Program
13. Second Street Youth Center (Hillsborough, NJ) - Second Street Youth Center (SSYC) Full STEAM Ahead summer camp
14. Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (Trenton, NJ) - Education and Employment (E&E) Program
15. Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship (Chatham, NJ) - 2025 eCommerce/AI Program

Alongside their grant funding, the Affinity Foundation hosted and sponsored several initiatives for community needs. In November, the team partnered with eight organizations to host a holiday drive. Together with CASA, The CT Institute, The Center for Safety & Change, Children’s Aide & Family, Lunch Break, Operation Holiday, Visions and Pathways, and Younity, they gave 400+ gifts and donated funds to five food pantries. In addition, Foundation and credit union teammates volunteered at local organizations throughout the year.

“Affinity’s commitment to community extends from the financial services we provide to the local organizations we support,” said Kevin Brauer, Chief Executive Officer and President of Affinity. “We believe in showing up and giving back, and we turn those beliefs into action every day.”

The Affinity Foundation will build upon its current work in 2026, extending their support to as many Affinity members and communities as possible.

About the Affinity Foundation
The Affinity Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2005 to carry out the philanthropic work of Affinity Federal Credit Union. We invest in local organizations that deliver programs aimed at alleviating financial stress and helping people reach financial independence, empowering them in the pursuit of educational, employment and individual goals, and providing peace of mind for financially disadvantaged individuals and their families. Through our volunteer efforts, we connect charities with skilled professionals to elevate their mission, provide financial education resources and strengthen communities. The Affinity Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization, you can further our mission by donating today (EIN #20-2706810).

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