New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

What New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance does

New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance (NJEJA) is a Newark-based non-profit advocacy alliance founded in 2002, dedicated to eliminating environmental injustices in low-income communities and communities of color across New Jersey. The organization operates a coalition model, convening 15+ member and partner organizations including Ironbound Community Corporation, Clean Water Action, Earthjustice, the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School, the Center for the Urban Environment at Kean University, and the Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy. NJEJA's service offerings span policy advocacy at state and federal agencies (NJDEP, BPU, EPA), community organizing and technical assistance, training programs for partner organizations, research reports and policy platforms, and a public-facing resource library branded 'Clean Air, Not AI.' Its core subject areas are air pollution, climate change, energy policy, and cumulative environmental health impacts, with recent expansion into plastics reduction and opposition to large-scale AI data center development.

NJEJA's revenue model is that of a non-profit advocacy organization, derived from grants and donations rather than commercial product sales. A $700,000 funding round from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in June 2023 represents a disclosed institutional inflow, with additional grant funding identified from NRDC for specific research initiatives and donations processed through EveryAction/OurPowerbase platforms. The organization is led by Executive Director Melissa Miles, Director of Policy Brooke Helmick, and Board Chair Dr. Nicky Sheats (Director of the Center for the Urban Environment at Kean University), with a staff headcount of 1-10. NJEJA's measurable outcomes include instrumental passage of New Jersey's Environmental Justice Law (S232) in 2020, the 2022 implementing rules requiring cumulative impacts review for polluting facilities in overburdened communities, and successful advocacy for the nation's strongest 'Skip the Stuff' plastics reduction legislation.

The organization distributes its work through community organizing and direct engagement with EJ communities, a coalition and partner network reaching policymakers, and formal policy advocacy and government relations at state and federal levels. Marketing and outreach channels include a website (njeja.org), email newsletters, active social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), in-person People's Forums and the annual FutureFEST climate justice festival, and earned media through press releases and op-eds. Geographic operations are limited to New Jersey, with no global footprint claim and no disclosed plans for geographic expansion.

Name

New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

Legal name

New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

Website

https://njeja.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance is a Newark-based non-profit advocacy coalition that supports low-income communities and communities of color across New Jersey through policy advocacy, community organizing, research reports, and technical assistance on air pollution, climate, and energy issues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Justice Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Policy, Advocacy & Litigation (BPAGAGAG), Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD)

Keywords

• Environmental justice advocacy
• Community organizing
• Policy research
• Nonprofit coalition
• Environmental policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NJEJA is a statewide environmental justice nonprofit alliance that advocates on behalf of low-income communities and communities of color in New Jersey. It provides environmental justice advocacy through policy research, public comments on regulatory rulemaking, community organizing, training programs, and a community toolkit/resource library covering issues such as clean air, cumulative impacts, and environmental law.

Product overview

NJEJA is a non-profit alliance providing environmental justice advocacy services rather than a commercial product company. The organization operates as a unified advocacy service offering training programs, policy research and reports, public comments and policy advocacy, and community toolkit resources. Their core mission focuses on eliminating environmental injustices in low-income communities and communities of color through education, advocacy, public policy review, organizing, and technical assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Justice Advocacy Services Comprehensive advocacy offering that delivers policy research and analysis, public comments on state and federal regulatory rulemaking, training programs for community members, and direct policy advocacy on environmental justice issues in New Jersey. The service is provided free of charge to overburdened communities and partners and includes development of NJEJA's statewide policy platform.
• Community Toolkit & Resource Library (Clean Air, Not AI) A public-facing educational toolkit and resource library — including the "Clean Air, Not AI" guide — that explains environmental justice concepts and supports community members in engaging with environmental issues and regulatory processes. It is offered as a free resource to NJ communities.
• NJEJA Statewide Policy Platform A statewide policy platform that consolidates NJEJA's research-backed positions across environmental justice priorities and serves as a reference for regulators, legislators, partner organizations, and community members engaging in advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Passed landmark NJ Environmental Justice Law S232 in 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Ironbound Community CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIronbound Community Corporation is a key partner in NJEJA's coalition work. The organizations frequently co-author reports, submit joint public comments on environmental regulations, and collaborate on community organizing efforts, particularly in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood.
• EarthjusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarthjustice has partnered with NJEJA on major reports including 'New Jersey's Dirty Secret' on incinerators and trash energy, providing legal and research expertise to support EJ advocacy.
• Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tishman Center has collaborated with NJEJA on multiple policy reports including the Environmental Justice Concerns with Carbon Capture and Hydrogen Co-Firing white paper, and joint comments on EPA power plant rules. Dr. Ana Baptista serves on NJEJA's Board.
• Center for the Urban Environment at Kean UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for the Urban Environment, led by Dr. Nicky Sheats who serves as NJEJA Chair of the Board, has co-authored multiple research reports with NJEJA including the Newark Community Impacts of Mobile Source Emissions study and the MER report.
• Center for Earth, Energy and DemocracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEED partnered with NJEJA on the Environmental Justice Concerns with Carbon Capture and Hydrogen Co-Firing report and joint comments on EPA power plant carbon pollution standards.
• Coalition for Healthy PortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNJEJA is a member of the Coalition for Healthy Ports, a bi-state alliance fighting for zero emissions, clean air, and environmental justice at the Ports of New York and New Jersey. Melissa Miles serves as Executive Director and has represented the coalition on port-related issues.
• Clean Water ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Water Action is a key coalition partner, co-authoring statements on environmental justice issues including the landmark Environmental Justice Law rules release and various policy positions.
• Natural Resources Defense CouncilsupportingOthersNRDC provided funding for the 'Newark Community Impacts of Mobile Source Emissions' study conducted by MJ Bradley and Associates. This represents a funding relationship supporting NJEJA's research initiatives.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization that has partnered with NJEJA on major EJ reports (e.g., New Jersey's Dirty Secret on incinerators). Comparable as an EJ legal advocacy peer, though broader in scope and scale.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): National environmental advocacy organization that has funded NJEJA-aligned research (e.g., Newark mobile source emissions study). Comparable as a large-scale EJ and climate policy advocacy peer.

Direct peers

• Clean Water Action: National environmental advocacy organization with strong New Jersey presence; co-authors statements and policy positions with NJEJA on the EJ Law, power sector rules, and plastics. Directly comparable as an EJ policy advocacy peer.
• UPROSE: Brooklyn-based community-led EJ organization working on air quality, climate resilience, and just transition in communities of color. Comparable as a community EJ advocacy peer in the broader NY/NJ region.
• Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy: EJ research and policy organization that co-authored reports with NJEJA on carbon capture and hydrogen co-firing and submitted joint comments on EPA power plant rules. Comparable as a research-driven EJ policy peer.
• Ironbound Community Corporation: Newark-based community organization and core NJEJA coalition partner working on environmental justice, air pollution, and cumulative impacts in the Ironbound neighborhood. Directly comparable as a community-led NJ EJ advocacy group.
• WE ACT for Environmental Justice: Northern Manhattan-based environmental justice organization focused on air quality, climate, and community health in low-income communities of color. Directly comparable mission and structure to NJEJA, though operating in NYC rather than NJ.
• Chispa NJ: New Jersey affiliate of Chispa (LCV program) focused on Latino community climate and EJ advocacy, including clean energy and air quality. Comparable as a NJ-focused EJ and clean energy community advocacy peer.
• South Ward Environmental Alliance: Newark South Ward-based EJ coalition partner of NJEJA focused on industrial pollution and cumulative impacts. Directly comparable as a community-level NJ EJ advocacy peer.

Emerging players

• Coalition for Healthy Ports: Bi-state alliance focused on zero-emissions, clean air, and EJ at the Ports of New York and New Jersey; NJEJA's ED Melissa Miles represents the coalition. Comparable as a regional port-side EJ coalition peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NJEJAlliance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBp88qo9dEal6wmUof2wJvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/NJEJA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-jersey-environmental-justice-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/njejalliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance