For the past twenty years, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center has been a a guiding light for women in New Jersey, specifically women with breast cancer. The center is steadfast in its mission: To ensure that all women in New Jersey have access to essential breast healthcare services, including screenings, treatment, follow-up care, and support. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of GrantTalk with your host, Libby Hikind, the CEO of GrantWatch and author of The Queen of Grants. Libby’s guest this week is Sarah Roberts, the Executive Director of the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center. Under Sarah and her fellow board members’ dedicated leadership, the organization extends its reach into the community and supports other organizations with the same cause.
A Legacy of Impact and Growth
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Since its inception about 20 years ago, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center has made significant strides in the fight against breast cancer. Initially focused on helping other groups with capital costs, the center has expanded its reach and impact in numerous ways. Over the years, they have opened two major centers: one at St. Michael’s and another at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. Additionally, their collaboration with the University Hospital in Newark led to the creation of a Mobile Mammography Unit. This unit allows them to extend their services to even more women in need.
Expanding Support Through Grants
In 2022, the center introduced a grants program to help other like-minded nonprofits ensure women receive breast cancer treatment. These grants (some of which are listed on GrantWatch) provide crucial funding to various organizations, empowering them to continue their vital work.
The center’s grants program is primarily funded through small grants from family foundations and individual donors. Despite the relatively small size of these individual contributions, they collectively make a significant impact. Since 2016, the center has awarded approximately $2 million in grants, supporting a diverse range of projects, large and small. For instance, the partnership with University Hospital. They launched a Mobile Mammography Unit with a grant of $500,000 and contributed $1 million towards the hospital’s MRI suite.
Building Strong Relationships with Awardees
One of the hallmarks of the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center is its commitment to building solid relationships with its awardees. They work closely with other organizations to create a network of support that amplifies their impact across New Jersey. Notable collaborations include:
- Connections for Women and Families: A local group that supports women fighting breast cancer.
- Pathways Program | Pathways Cooks: This program provides meals for families of women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
- Crossroads4Hope: A social work program offering mental health support and mentoring.
- Sister to Sister: A supportive group for women affected by breast cancer.
Through these partnerships, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center provides financial support. Perhaps more importantly, they foster a community of care and collaboration.
Grant Cycles and Application Insights
The Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center operates two grant cycles annually: one in the fall and the other in the spring. Each year, they distribute approximately $100,000 in smaller community grants. This begs the question, what makes a grant application stand out to the review committee?
In answer, Sarah Roberts emphasizes the importance of telling a personal story in grant applications. Given the center’s focus on women with breast cancer, sharing personal stories helps illustrate the profound impact a grant can have on an individual’s life. This storytelling approach deeply resonates with the grants committee, who dedicate themselves to understanding the applicants’ needs and the potential impact of their projects.
Overcoming Mistakes
Applications are rarely set aside without assistance. The only exceptions occur when applicants do not meet the center’s requirements, like not being a nonprofit or not focusing on breast cancer. Sarah affirms that the review team commits to reaching out to seekers, learning more about their projects, and ensuring they have a robust support network. They particularly favor matching grants, which demonstrate a collaborative effort in funding.
Looking to the Future
To conclude, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center looks to the future, they aim to shift their funding model away from reliance on individual donors and towards writing more grants. Their organizational model focuses on raising funds to support smaller organizations in doing great things.
Under Sarah Roberts’ visionary leadership, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center continues to pave the way for comprehensive breast health care in New Jersey. By supporting and empowering other organizations, they amplify their impact, ensuring that more women receive the care and support they need to fight breast cancer.
About GrantWatch
With close to 8,000 grants currently available, GrantWatch.com is the leading grant listing directory. Upgrade to a MemberPlus+ subscription to view the full grant details, including eligibility criteria and application information. For more information, you can also visit the GrantWatch FAQ page. To see the great value of all 20 of the top GrantWatch features, click here. To conclude, see the latest episode of GrantTalk, powered by GrantWatch, with host Libby Hikind. You don’t want to miss this. Visit us on YouTube weekly. Don’t forget to get your copy of The Queen of Grants: From Teacher to Grant Writer to CEO, by Libby Hikind.
