Turrell Fund

What Turrell Fund does

The Turrell Fund is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 1935 and headquartered in Montclair, New Jersey. It concentrates philanthropic capital on programs serving children, with particular emphasis on the youngest and most underserved children in targeted New Jersey counties (Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union) and statewide in Vermont, where it ranks among the top three funders of early childhood initiatives. The foundation operates five programmatic focus areas: Early Childhood, K-12, Music and Arts, Family Support, and Systems Change, and it deploys both outbound grantmaking and directly managed initiatives such as HealthySteps, Reimagine Child Care, Safe Babies Court Team, the NJ ACEs Collaborative, and support to Let's Grow Kids.

The foundation's model combines traditional grantmaking with coalition-building and policy advocacy. Strategic initiatives are executed alongside co-funders including the Burke Foundation, the Nicholson Foundation, the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP), ZERO TO THREE, Hackensack Meridian Health, and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. The HealthySteps program, a pediatric behavioral health model co-administered with Hackensack Meridian Health and NJAAP, scaled from 4 to 12 New Jersey sites in 2023-2024, reaching more than 15,000 children. The Reimagine Child Care campaign, launched jointly with the Nicholson Foundation, convenes cross-sector partners to restructure New Jersey's child care system. A digital grant portal and a cloud-based Letter of Inquiry platform (Fluxx) handle inbound grantee applications.

The Turrell Fund is led by CEO Curt Fields and President Evan Delgado, supported by a board with Harvard-affiliated representation and a Special Advisor for Early Childhood Policy. Revenue is generated from an endowment whose value is not publicly disclosed, and the foundation is recognized annually through its S. Whitney Landon Awards and the 2022 Champion for Children award. The organization employs a lean staff of 7 and operates with a deliberate focus on systems-level change rather than direct service delivery.

Name

Turrell Fund

Legal name

Turrell Fund

Website

https://turrellfund.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Established in 1935, the Turrell Fund is a Montclair, NJ-based private foundation that grants and advocates for children, especially the youngest and most underserved, across four New Jersey counties and statewide Vermont.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking / Private Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Early childhood funding
• Private foundation grants
• Nonprofit grant programs
• Child welfare philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Montclair

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grantmaking: The Turrell Fund operates as a private foundation providing financial grants and strategic support to 501(c)(3) organizations serving children, especially the youngest and underserved, in New Jersey and Vermont. The Fund does not generate revenue from products or services but distributes its endowment through grant cycles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Turrell Fund is a private foundation that awards financial grants to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations serving children—especially the youngest and the underserved—in New Jersey (Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union counties) and Vermont. Through two annual grant cycles and strategic initiatives (HealthySteps, Reimagine Child Care, Safe Babies Court Team, NJ ACEs Collaborative, Let's Grow Kids), the Fund provides both monetary support and strategic guidance to grantees in early childhood, K-12 education, music/arts, family support, and systems change.

Product overview

The Turrell Fund is a charitable foundation that provides financial and strategic support to organizations serving children, especially the youngest and underserved, in New Jersey and Vermont. The foundation operates grant programs with focus areas including Early Childhood, K-12 Education, Music & Arts, Family Support, and Systems Change. Its portfolio includes strategic initiatives such as HealthySteps (in partnership with ZERO TO THREE), Reimagine Child Care, Safe Babies Court Team, and the New Jersey ACEs Collaborative. The foundation also administers the S. Whitney Landon Awards for Vermont organizations and the Turrell Fund Champions Award for individual recognition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grant Programs Financial grants awarded to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations serving children, especially the youngest and the underserved, in New Jersey (Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union Counties) and Vermont. New applicants must first submit a Letter of Inquiry. Two annual grant cycles per year.
• HealthySteps A ZERO TO THREE evidence-based pediatric primary care program that integrates child development specialists into pediatric practices to support families with children from birth to five. Co-funded in New Jersey by the Turrell Fund, Burke Foundation, and Nicholson Foundation.
• Reimagine Child Care A campaign backed by the Turrell Fund and The Nicholson Foundation to achieve high quality, affordable early care for infants and toddlers in New Jersey. Includes public events, advocacy, and policy engagement.
• Safe Babies Court Team A ZERO TO THREE program collaborating with child welfare stakeholders, parents, and community partners to ensure safety and access to trauma-responsive services for infants and toddlers in the court system.
• New Jersey ACEs Collaborative A partnership with the Burke Foundation, The Nicholson Foundation, and NJDCF to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through coordinated statewide initiatives, including focus groups, town halls, and the ACEs Microgrant Program.
• Let's Grow Kids Strategic initiative focused on early childhood development and advocacy.
• S. Whitney Landon Awards Annual unrestricted grants awarded to agencies doing exemplary work on behalf of young children in Vermont. 2025 winners included Early Childhood Professional Network, Winston Prouty Center, Rutland County Parent Child Center, Dad Guild, The Arts Bus, Bennington Early Childhood Center.
• Turrell Fund Champions Award Recognition award given to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to supporting children and families in New Jersey and Vermont.

Quantifiable outcome

• HealthySteps program reaches approximately 2,000 children annually at 4 active sites in NJ, with expansion to 8 additional sites targeting 15,000+ children annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022NJAAP was awarded a four-year, $4 million HRSA cooperative agreement (NJ SEEDlings) to transform pediatric primary care for children ages 0-5 eligible for NJ FamilyCare. The Fund, along with the Burke Foundation and Nicholson Foundation, supported the original HealthySteps pilot at Hackensack Meridian Health that laid the groundwork for this scaled initiative. NJAAP leads the TPEC award to expand HealthySteps to 8 additional sites across NJ.
• ZERO TO THREEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZERO TO THREE is the national organization behind the HealthySteps evidence-based pediatric primary care program. The Turrell Fund co-funded the initial HealthySteps pilot in NJ with the Burke Foundation and Nicholson Foundation. The Fund also supports Safe Babies Court Team, a ZERO TO THREE program, and has been a partner in the New Jersey ACEs Collaborative.
• Burke FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Burke Foundation co-founded the HealthySteps pilot initiative in New Jersey alongside the Turrell Fund and Nicholson Foundation at Hackensack Meridian Health. The Foundation also partners with Turrell on the New Jersey ACEs Collaborative, the Reimagine Child Care campaign, and co-funded the Safe Babies Court Team launch in NJ. Burke Foundation is a consistent co-funder across the Fund's major strategic initiatives.
• The Nicholson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nicholson Foundation co-funded the original HealthySteps pilot in NJ alongside the Turrell Fund and Burke Foundation. The Foundation also co-backed the Reimagine Child Care campaign (with Turrell Fund), the Safe Babies Court Team implementation, and the New Jersey ACEs Collaborative. A key partner in policy and advocacy work for early childhood in New Jersey.
• Hackensack Meridian HealthkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHackensack Meridian Health (HMH) was the site of the original HealthySteps pilot launch in New Jersey, funded by Turrell Fund, Burke Foundation, and Nicholson Foundation. Three HMH pediatric primary care practices piloted HealthySteps: the Pediatric Academic Practice in Hackensack, Jane H. Booker Family Healthy Center in Neptune, and Medical Arts Building Pediatrics Practice in Neptune.
• Reimagine Child Care Campaign (Turrell Fund + Nicholson Foundation)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerReimagine Child Care is a campaign backed by the Turrell Fund and The Nicholson Foundation to achieve high-quality, affordable early care for infants and toddlers in New Jersey. The campaign includes virtual town halls (hosted by Caucus Educational Corporation/Steve Adubato) and advocacy to policymakers, business leaders, parents, and communities.
• New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJDCF) / Office of ResiliencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe New Jersey ACEs Collaborative — comprising Turrell Fund, Burke Foundation, Nicholson Foundation, and NJDCF — developed the NJ ACEs report, convened focus groups, and held a Town Hall with Dave Ellis, Executive Director of the Office of Resilience. The collaborative contributed to the statewide ACEs Action Plan released by the Office of Resilience in February 2021. NJDCF also partners with Turrell on ACEs Microgrant Program administration through Regional ACEs Collaboratives (CUMAC ECHO for Northern NJ).
• CUMAC ECHO (Regional ACEs Collaborative for Northern NJ)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUMAC ECHO is the Regional ACEs Collaborative (RAC) for Northern New Jersey, representing Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties. The Turrell Fund shares information about the ACEs Microgrant Program administered by CUMAC ECHO with its network. CUMAC ECHO administers microgrant funds from NJ DCF/Office of Resilience for community-generated ACEs projects.
• Passaic County CASA / Safe Babies Court TeamkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2020, the Turrell Fund partnered with Passaic County CASA to apply for an implementation grant from ZERO TO THREE's National Resource Center to bring the Safe Babies Court Team program to New Jersey. The grant provided pilot funding for three sites in Passaic, Essex, and Hudson counties. Safe Babies Court Team is a ZERO TO THREE program that ensures safety and access to trauma-responsive services for infants and toddlers in the child welfare system.
• HealthySteps (launched in NJ at HMH; expanded via NJAAP HRSA award)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthySteps is an evidence-based pediatric primary care program of ZERO TO THREE. The Turrell Fund, along with the Burke Foundation and Nicholson Foundation, launched the program at Hackensack Meridian Health. The NJ Legislature FY2024 budget included $500,000 in state funding (matching federal funds for a $1 million investment) for HealthySteps. The program currently has 4 active sites reaching ~2,000 children annually, with 8 additional sites planned to reach 15,000+ children.
• Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts (SMAPA) + Newark School of the Arts (NSA) PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMAPA and NSA announced a joint partnership in September 2022 to share programming and teaching artists across their locations in Newark and Montclair. The partnership includes a Music and Movement class for children ages 0-2 with caregiver (funded as early arts education), dance instruction at NSA, and early childhood programming. Turrell Fund supports both institutions.
• Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerACNJ partnered with Turrell Fund and The Nicholson Foundation to launch the Reimagine Child Care campaign. Turrell and ACNJ also co-sponsored the NJ Spotlight virtual roundtable on Child Care in New Jersey's Economic Recovery in December 2020. ACNJ provides advocacy and policy expertise as a key partner in the Fund's systems change work.
• New Jersey Association of the Education for Young Children (NJAEYC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNJAEYC partnered with ACNJ, Turrell Fund, and The Nicholson Foundation on the Reimagine Child Care campaign to encourage policymakers, business leaders, parents, and communities to improve the NJ child care system.
• Harvard Graduate School of Education (Dr. Junlei Li)keyOthersDr. Junlei Li, Saul Zaentz Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education and Co-Chair of the Human Development and Education Program at Harvard Graduate School of Education, serves on the Turrell Fund Board of Trustees. Dr. Li's research and practice focuses on understanding and supporting frontline helpers serving children and families. He developed the 'Simple Interactions' approach and was featured in the film 'Won't You Be My Neighbor.' He presented at the NJAAP Early Relational Health Summit sponsored by the Fund.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ZERO TO THREE: National nonprofit organization behind the HealthySteps and Safe Babies Court Team programs that Turrell funds and co-implements. Not a foundation, but the closest strategic partner and the architect of two of Turrell's flagship initiatives.

Direct peers

• The Nicholson Foundation: New Jersey private foundation that co-funded the original HealthySteps pilot and the Reimagine Child Care campaign with Turrell. Highly comparable in mission, geography, and partnership pattern.
• Buffett Early Childhood Fund: National private foundation exclusively dedicated to early childhood care and education. Shares Turrell's prenatal-to-five focus and systems-change orientation, but operates nationally rather than regionally.
• The Burke Foundation: New Jersey-based private foundation focused on early childhood and healthy community development. Direct co-funder with Turrell on HealthySteps, NJ ACEs Collaborative, Reimagine Child Care, and Safe Babies Court Team, making it the most operationally comparable peer.
• Irving Harris Foundation: Chicago-based foundation long focused on early childhood development and prevention. Comparable in founding-era mission and prenatal-to-three programmatic focus, though larger in scale.
• Pritzker Children's Initiative: National early childhood philanthropy focused on prenatal-to-age-three systems change, including universal newborn home visiting. Highly aligned with Turrell's prenatal-5 mission and policy/advocacy approach.
• A.L. Mailman Family Foundation: National early childhood foundation that pioneered place-based, preventive infant and family work. Comparable in dedicated early childhood focus and emphasis on systems change for vulnerable families.

Emerging players

• Perigee Fund: National early childhood philanthropy focused on infant-toddler care and the early childhood workforce. Smaller and more narrowly focused than Turrell, but aligned in the prenatal-to-three niche.

Regional players

• Victoria Foundation: New Jersey-based private foundation with significant grantmaking in Newark and focused on early childhood and family support. Closest regional peer to Turrell's NJ footprint and historically overlapping grantee universe.

Broad incumbents

• The William Penn Foundation: Large Philadelphia-area foundation with a major early childhood focus and history of multi-year, place-based grantmaking. Comparable in approach to systems-change-oriented early childhood funding, though larger and broader in portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/turrellfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turrell-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Turrell Fund