Small Grants, Big Hopes: American Water’s Foundation Sends $200,000 to Camden Nonprofits

Grant package lands in Camden to fund local water and community projects

The American Water Charitable Foundation, the giving arm of publicly traded American Water (AWK), has awarded $200,000 to 20 nonprofit groups in Camden through its One Water Street Grant Program. The awards, announced this week, are intended to support projects tied to water access, education and neighborhood health across the city. The grants are modest in size, but foundation leaders say they are meant to act as practical fuel for locally run programs that touch day-to-day life in Camden.

How the One Water Street program works and what the funds cover

The One Water Street Grant Program is a local giving initiative of the American Water Charitable Foundation. It targets projects that connect to water in a broad sense — from clean drinking water and lead-safety work to outdoor spaces and community education about water use and conservation. The foundation evaluates applicants on the clarity of their proposed work, the likelihood of measurable results, and how well projects serve neighborhoods with the greatest need.

Grants through One Water Street are typically one-time awards designed to pay for tangible, short-term needs rather than long-running operating budgets. That can mean buying filtration equipment for a community center, paying for materials to fix stormwater drains at a school, funding a neighborhood cleanup that reduces runoff, or running workshops that teach residents how to spot lead hazards in older homes.

Foundation staff said the selection process weighs local leadership heavily. ‘‘We look for groups with clear plans and a track record of delivering results,’’ said a foundation representative. ‘‘The goal is to amplify existing community effort — not to replace it.’’

Twenty Camden nonprofits selected — examples of projects and expected community impact

Twenty organizations across Camden received awards. While each grant amount is relatively small, the foundation expects the money to unlock larger community benefits by paying for specific, doable tasks.

Examples of how the grants will be used include: restoring a school garden so students can learn about water cycles and healthy food; replacing aging filters at a shelter that serves families; funding a neighborhood group to repair gutters and reduce standing water after storms; and supporting a veterans’ program that needs plumbing repairs for safe showers. Other grants will fund educational programs that teach residents how to manage water bills and conserve water during dry months.

Nonprofits said the grants will be especially helpful for line-item costs that are hard to fund with general donations. ‘‘This support lets us finish a project we’ve been planning for months — replacing an old pump so our community center can safely run after-school programs,’’ said a nonprofit leader. ‘‘It’s not a long-term fix, but it’s the exact push we need now.’’

Voices from the community: foundation and nonprofit leaders respond

A foundation spokesperson described the awards as targeted investments. ‘‘We’re concentrating on programs that have clear local benefit and can be completed quickly,’’ the spokesperson said. ‘‘When a small grant prevents a chronic problem from becoming a crisis, that’s a win for everyone.’’

Nonprofit leaders expressed relief and optimism. ‘‘This grant will help us reach more young people with hands-on science tied to the environment and water,’’ one program director said. ‘‘Kids learn best when they can touch, taste and test — and that requires basic supplies and safe water access.’’

Local officials praised the push for neighborhood-level work. ‘‘These awards help fill gaps that larger funding streams often miss,’’ a city official said. ‘‘They make small but meaningful improvements in residents’ daily lives.’’

About the foundation and what comes next for Camden and applicants

The American Water Charitable Foundation operates alongside American Water (AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. The foundation focuses on community resilience, water education and disaster response, typically through grant programs and local partnerships. While the One Water Street awards announced for Camden are one-off grants this round, the foundation runs similar neighborhood programs in other locations and sometimes opens new application cycles.

Officials say interested organizations should watch for future grant rounds if they want to apply. For now, the focus is on helping the 20 selected groups put their projects into action promptly so residents can see results this year. The grants aren’t a cure-all for the deeper challenges Camden faces, but for neighborhood groups trying to solve basic problems, they are a practical, immediate boost.

Sources

• prnewswire.com