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Choose New Jersey Inc

EIN 27-2903875 · Newark, NJ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHOOSE NEW JERSEY IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED 501 C(3) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO STIMULATE JOB CREATION AND ATTRACT CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO NEW JERSEY. CHOOSE NEW JERSEY MARKETS NEW JERSEY BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS THE BEST PLACE TO GROW A BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES. KNOWLEDGEABLE, EXPERIENCED STAFF, SUPPORTED BY A NETWORK OF STATE AGENCIES AND PRIVATE PARTNERS, PROVIDE FREE, CONFIDENTIAL ASSITSANCE TO GUIDE COMPANIES IN ESTABLISHING OPERATIONS IN NEW JERSEY. BY HARNESSING THE POWER OF BUSINESS,LABOR, ACADEMIC, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS, CHOOSE NEW JERSEY ENABLES GROWTH ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF THE STATE'S ECONOMY, ASPIRING TO BUILD A STRONGER AND MORE PROSPEROUS NEW JERSEY FOR ALL.

Income
$20.9 million
Spending
$21.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
27
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$564,180, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (6)
  1. $2.8 million spent. BUSINESS ATTRACTION AND RETENTION EFFORTS - CHOOSE NEW JERSEY IS KEENLY FOCUSED ON NURTURING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NEW JERSEY BY STIMULATING JOB CREATION AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT. WORKING WITH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, CHOOSE NEW JERSEY DESIGNS AND EXECUTES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AIMED AT SPECIFIC COMPANIES, WITH A FOCUS ON SEVERAL KEY SECTORS, INCLUDING: INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY; LIFE SCIENCES; CLEAN ENERGY; ADVANCED MANUFACTURING; LOGISTICS; FOOD & AGRICULTURE; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI); AND FILM. WORKING JOINTLY WITH NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, CHOOSE NEW JERSEY ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH BUSINESS DECISION MAKERS TO COMMUNICATE THE UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION FOR DOING BUSINESS IN THE GARDEN STATE. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MISSIONS, AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOWS.
  2. $2.0 million spent. INTEGRATED MARKETING AND MEDIA RELATIONS - CHOOSE NEW JERSEY SUCCESSFULLY AND WIDELY PROMOTES THE BENEFITS OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO BUSINESSES AND CORPORATE LEADERS IN OTHER STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES. MARKETING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PAID ADVERTISING IN BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS; EVENT PLANNING AND SPONSORSHIPS, INCLUDING PROPRIETARY POLICY SYMPOSIA, NETWORKING EVENTS AND PUBLIC FORUMS; AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES. MEDIA RELATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE INTERACTION WITH BRIEFINGS WITH NEWS MEDIA, INTERVIEWS, PRESS RELEASE DISTRIBUTION, AND COORDINATION OF PRESS CONFERENCES TO PROMOTE INITIATIVES, MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND TRADE MISSIONS.
  3. $3.8 million spent. CHOOSE NEW JERSEY WAS AWARDED A $5 MILLION BUSINESS MARKETING GRANT FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF STATE. THIS INITIATIVE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFITS OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND TO ENCOURAGE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ENTITES TO RELOCATE AND EXPAND IN THE STATE. THE PRELIMINARY WORK ON THE CAPAIGN, ENTITLED, ""THIS IS NJ,"" INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF CAMPAIGN STRATEGY, DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF CREATIVE ASSETS, CREATING A NEW BRAND IDENTITY, AND IDENTIFICATION OF TARGET AUDIENCES WITHIN THE COHORTS OF BUSINESS DECISION MAKERS, SITE SELECTORS AND, ENTREPRENEURS AND STARTUPS; IDENTIFICATION OF GEOGRAPHIC TARGET MARKETS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE AD PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THIS PERIOD ALSO SAW THE CREATION OF THE LANDING PAGE NJINNOVATION.COM; THE DEVLOPMENT OF LANDING PAGES FOR EACH SECTOR AND KEY SUBSECTORS; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASSETS AND CUSTOM CONTENT TO PUSH OUT ON GOOGLE ADS, LINKEDIN, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM; AND, THE CREATION OF THE FIRST VIDEO MARKETING THE STATE FOR BUSINESS ATTRACTION.
  4. $120,669 spent. ISRAEL GRANT
  5. $8.3 million spent. NJEDA GRANT
  6. $1.6 million spent. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY PASSED THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUSINESS ACTION CENTER COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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