njcfsa.org

NJ ME/CFSA (the New Jersey Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association) publishes awareness announcements, research updates, a podcast, and a patient survey plan on njcfsa.org. The site is aimed at ME/CFS patients in New Jersey, their families, and supporters. The most current items on the homepage, as of the posts dated 2025–2026, are summarized below so you can decide which pages are worth your time.

Awareness Month and the Governor's Declaration

The site's lead post marks May as ME/CFS Awareness Month (posted May 9, 2026) and links to the NJ Governor's Declaration. This is the page to check each May if you want official state recognition language you can share with local media, employers, or clinicians. The post itself is short; its value is the linked declaration document.

Research and Advocacy Updates

A May 7, 2026 post, "Working For You," describes the organization's ongoing advocacy:

• NJME/CFSA submitted a research proposal to the Doris Duke Foundation, which pairs new healthcare initiatives with funders. The proposal is viewable as a 5-minute video in the foundation's requested format.
• The organization states it plans to run the research project whether or not it is funded.
• The project centers on a survey of how ME/CFS patients in New Jersey are managing, with the goal of informing the NJ Department of Health and involving the department in improving care for chronically ill patients.
• The survey currently exists in paper/word-processor format; funding would migrate it to REDCap, an online tool that would simplify distribution and analysis.
• Donations earmarked "Research" are stated to be used only for the research effort.

If you are an NJ ME/CFS patient, this post is effectively a notice that you may be asked to complete the survey—useful to know before it circulates.

Podcast: UK and US Updates

An August 20, 2025 post announces a podcast featuring Dr. Charles Shepherd (UK) and Dr. Ken Friedman (of NJME/CFSA and multiple US platforms), covering UK and US updates on ME/CFS. For patients who want a clinician-level overview of how research and care are developing on both sides of the Atlantic, this is the site's main audio resource. The post is an announcement rather than a transcript, so expect to listen rather than read.

Scholarship and Membership Pages

Two other homepage items are practical rather than informational:

The scholarship post links to both the application and an announcement flyer; the membership form is the entry point for donations, including the "Research" designation described above.

How to Use These Resources

1. Start with the Awareness Month post if you need the Governor's Declaration for advocacy or outreach.
2. Read "Working For You" to understand the survey plan and the Department of Health angle—and to watch for the survey if you live in NJ.
3. Listen to the podcast for a UK/US research and care update from two named clinicians.
4. Check the scholarship page if you are a healthcare student in NJ or an NJ resident in training.
5. Use the membership/contribution form if you want to support the research effort, noting that "Research"-earmarked donations are described as restricted to that purpose.

One caveat: the site presents these as its own announcements and plans. The survey, the REDCap migration, and the Department of Health engagement are described as intended work, not completed results, so treat them as things to follow rather than finished resources.

The stated path to both join and give is the Membership & Charitable Contribution Form on njcfsa.org. The site also states that donations earmarked "Research" will be used only to support the organization's research effort. Before submitting anything, open the form itself to confirm current membership terms, payment method, and any amount fields, since the site's summary page does not spell these out.

What the site says about joining and giving

The homepage lists "Membership & Charitable Contribution Form" as a standing item, which indicates the organization handles membership and charitable contributions through a single form rather than separate sign-up and donation pages. The site does not publish membership tiers, dues amounts, or a list of member benefits in the material available, so treat the form as the authoritative source for those details.

For donations, the organization makes one commitment explicit: money marked for "Research" is restricted to the research effort. That statement appears in a post describing a survey project on how ME/CFS patients in New Jersey are managing, which NJ ME/CFSA says it will carry out whether or not it receives outside funding. If restricted giving matters to you, use the research designation and confirm on the form that the earmark is recorded.

Steps to join or contribute

1. Go to njcfsa.org and open the Membership & Charitable Contribution Form entry.
2. Read the form's fields before filling anything in — note whether it asks you to choose between membership and contribution, and whether a research earmark is a checkbox, a dropdown, or a note field.
3. Enter your details and the amount or membership option you want.
4. Complete payment through the form's checkout. The site's payment signals point to Stripe as the processing platform; confirm the processor named at checkout before entering card details.
5. Keep the confirmation the form or processor returns, especially if you designated your gift for research.

Verification: after submitting, check that any confirmation email or receipt reflects the designation you chose. If the receipt does not show a research earmark, follow up with the organization using the contact route on the site.

Giving Tuesday and other occasions

The site highlights Giving Tuesday (a post dated December 1, 2025) as a giving occasion, alongside the general contribution form. Giving Tuesday is a seasonal prompt, not a separate mechanism — the same form and the same research earmark apply. If you prefer to give on a schedule, the form is available year-round according to the site structure; the Giving Tuesday post is simply a reminder.

Who this is for

Membership and donations are aimed at people who want to support ME/CFS patients in New Jersey and the organization's advocacy and research work. The site describes NJ ME/CFSA as working to improve the lives of ME/CFS patients in New Jersey and, through that, the wider community living with similar diseases. Separately, the organization runs a medical scholarship for New Jersey healthcare students and residents — that is an application process, not a membership or giving route, so do not use the contribution form for scholarship inquiries.

Common snags

• No published dues or tiers. Because the site does not list membership costs, do not assume a figure from elsewhere; read the form.
• Earmark wording. The research restriction is a stated commitment, not a tax or legal guarantee you can verify from the homepage. If restricted giving is essential to your decision, ask the organization directly how the earmark is tracked.
• Payment details. The site's signals indicate Stripe, but confirm the processor and any fees at checkout rather than assuming.
• Scholarship confusion. The $5,000 medical scholarship has its own application and flyer; it is not part of the membership form.

If your goal is simply to support ME/CFS research in New Jersey with a restricted gift, the form plus a research designation is the route the site describes. If you want membership benefits spelled out first, request those details before submitting, since the public pages do not itemize them.

NJ ME/CFSA (New Jersey ME/CFS Association) is a New Jersey-focused nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of people with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) in the state and, by extension, the wider community affected by similar chronic illnesses. It functions as an information, advocacy, and fundraising hub rather than a medical provider: the site publishes news and awareness material, runs a medical scholarship, solicits memberships and donations, and organizes research and survey work. It is relevant to you if you are an ME/CFS patient in New Jersey, a supporter or donor, a New Jersey healthcare student, or someone looking for state-level advocacy and patient-survey activity.

What the organization says it does

The site's "Working For You" post states that NJME/CFSA "continually works to improve the lives of ME/CFS patients in New Jersey" and that this also improves the lives of the larger community living with similar diseases in New Jersey and elsewhere. Two concrete activities illustrate that mission:

• Research and survey work. In response to a solicitation from the Doris Duke Foundation, NJME/CFSA submitted a proposal (viewable as a 5-minute video in the Foundation's requested format). The organization says it plans to carry out the research project whether or not it is funded. The project centers on a survey, currently in paper or word-processor format; funding would help migrate it to REDCap, an online application that would make distribution and analysis easier. The stated goal is to inform the New Jersey Department of Health about how ME/CFS patients are managing in the state and to involve the Department in improving care for chronically ill patients. If you are an ME/CFS patient residing in New Jersey, the organization says it will ask you to complete the survey.
• Awareness and advocacy. The site marks May as ME/CFS Awareness Month and links to the New Jersey Governor's declaration. It also notes a podcast featuring Dr. Charles Shepherd (UK) and Dr. Ken Friedman (of NJME/CFSA and multiple US platforms) on UK and US updates.

Who it serves

What it is not

The site describes an association and advocacy organization, not a clinic or treatment service. Nothing in the available material indicates that it provides medical care, diagnosis, or patient referrals. If you need clinical care, this site is a source of context and advocacy information, not a provider.

Practical notes if you want to engage

• Patients in New Jersey: watch for the survey announcement; the organization has said it will ask NJ-resident ME/CFS patients to complete it.
• Donors: use the membership and charitable contribution form, and note the site's statement that "Research"-earmarked donations are restricted to the research effort. The site references Stripe as a payment platform; specific payment or login requirements are not described in the available material.
• Students: the 2026–2027 Medical Scholarship application and announcement flyer are linked from the site; eligibility is stated as all healthcare students in NJ and all NJ residents.

In short, NJ ME/CFS is a state-level patient advocacy and research organization for ME/CFS in New Jersey, serving patients, supporters, and healthcare students through awareness work, a planned state survey, scholarships, and donations.

The NJ ME/CFSA 2026–2027 Medical Scholarship is open to all healthcare students in New Jersey and all New Jersey residents, according to the organization's announcement. The award is described as possibly $5,000 in tuition remission or educational expense reimbursement. To apply, use the application link posted with the April 26, 2026 announcement on njcfsa.org; a separate announcement flyer link sits alongside it.

Who is eligible

The site states two eligibility groups, joined by "and," which reads as two separate qualifying paths rather than a requirement to meet both:

• Healthcare students in NJ — students enrolled in healthcare-related programs in New Jersey.
• All NJ residents — the announcement does not limit this group to students, so the residency path is stated broadly.

The announcement does not list further conditions such as citizenship, enrollment status, school type, GPA, or financial need. If any of those matter for your situation, confirm with the organization before relying on the scholarship.

What the award is

The announcement describes the award as "possibly $5,000 in tuition remission or educational expense reimbursement." Two things follow from that wording:

• The $5,000 figure is presented as a possible amount, not a guaranteed one.
• The award may take the form of tuition remission or reimbursement of educational expenses — the site does not say how the form is chosen or whether applicants can state a preference.

The page gives no information on the number of awards, disbursement timing, or whether the award is renewable.

How to apply

1. Go to njcfsa.org and open the post titled "The 2026-2027 Medical Scholarship Application is now available!" (posted April 26, 2026).
2. Use the "Click here to view the application!" link in that post to open the application.
3. Use the "Click here to view the announcement flyer" link for the flyer version of the announcement.
4. Check the application and flyer for the deadline, required documents, and submission instructions — the homepage excerpt does not state a deadline.

Expected result: you reach the official application and the flyer from the organization's own post, rather than a third-party copy.

Common sticking points

• Deadline not shown on the homepage. The excerpt covers eligibility and amount but not a closing date. Treat the application page and flyer as the authoritative source and confirm the deadline there.
• "Possibly $5,000" is not a promise. Plan finances without assuming a fixed $5,000.
• Two eligibility paths, one form. If you are a NJ resident but not currently a healthcare student, the announcement's wording still includes you; if the application form asks questions that seem to assume student status, ask the organization how residents should complete it.
• Links live inside a blog post. The application and flyer are linked from the April 26, 2026 post, so navigate there rather than searching the site menu.

Where this fits in the organization

NJ ME/CFSA describes itself as working to improve the lives of ME/CFS patients in New Jersey and the wider community with similar diseases. The scholarship sits alongside its research and advocacy work — for example, its proposal to the Doris Duke Foundation for a survey of how ME/CFS patients in New Jersey are managing, and its membership and charitable contribution form. The scholarship page itself does not state a connection between the award and ME/CFS, so don't assume applicants must have a connection to the illness.

For the exact deadline, required materials, and any conditions beyond the two eligibility groups, rely on the application and flyer linked from the April 26, 2026 post.

NJ ME/CFSA (New Jersey Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association) reports two main strands of work on its site: awareness and advocacy around ME/CFS in New Jersey, and a research effort centered on a patient survey it intends to run regardless of outside funding. The site's posts describe a state proclamation for ME/CFS Awareness Month, a research proposal submitted to the Doris Duke Foundation, and a plan to inform the New Jersey Department of Health about how ME/CFS patients in the state are managing.

Awareness and advocacy

The site's most visible advocacy item is the NJ Governor's Declaration for ME/CFS Awareness Month, published in a May 9, 2026 post titled "May is ME/CFS Awareness Month!" The post links readers to the declaration itself. This is the clearest example of the organization's public advocacy: getting state-level recognition of the disease and the month.

The organization also frames its mission broadly. In a May 7, 2026 post, "Working For You," it states that NJME/CFSA "continually works to improve the lives of ME/CFS patients in New Jersey," and that by doing so it improves the lives of the larger community living with similar diseases in New Jersey and elsewhere. That statement is the organization's own description of its purpose rather than an independent assessment.

The research proposal and planned survey

The same "Working For You" post describes the organization's research activity in concrete terms:

• Proposal submitted: In response to a solicitation for new research projects from the Doris Duke Foundation — which the post says pairs new healthcare initiatives with organizations interested in funding them — NJME/CFSA submitted a proposal.
• Format: The proposal can be viewed as a 5-minute video, which the post says was the submission format the foundation requested.
• Commitment regardless of funding: The post states that "whether funded or not, NJME/CFSA plans to perform this research project."
• Current state of the survey: The survey exists in paper (or word processor) format.
• What funding would change: Funding would help migrate the survey to REDCap, an online application that would make distribution and analysis easier.

The organization is explicit that the project's importance does not depend on philanthropic support: it says the task of informing the NJ Department of Health about how ME/CFS patients are managing in New Jersey — and involving the Department of Health in improving care for chronically ill patients — is "too important to succeed or fail based upon philanthropic organization financial support."

What the research is meant to accomplish

The stated goal is twofold:

1. Inform the NJ Department of Health about how ME/CFS patients are managing in New Jersey.
2. Involve the Department of Health in improving the care of chronically ill patients.

The organization also says it will ask ME/CFS patients residing in New Jersey to complete the survey, and it asks supporters to contribute, noting that donations earmarked "Research" will only be used to support the research effort.

Other items the site reports

• Medical scholarship: A 2026–2027 Medical Scholarship Application is posted (April 26, 2026). The post says all healthcare students in NJ and all NJ residents are eligible to apply, with a possibility of earning $5,000 in tuition remission or educational expense reimbursement.
• Membership and contributions: A "Membership & Charitable Contribution Form" post (December 29, 2025) and a "Giving Tuesday 2025" post (December 1, 2025) point to fundraising and membership channels.
• Podcast: An August 20, 2025 post announces a podcast featuring Dr. Charles Shepherd (UK) and Dr. Ken Friedman (of NJME/CFSA and multiple US platforms) on UK and US updates.

How to read these claims

The site's posts are the organization's own reporting on its activities. The awareness declaration, the foundation proposal, and the survey plan are described as things the organization has done or intends to do; the site does not present independent verification of outcomes such as whether the proposal was funded or whether the Department of Health has engaged. Readers who want to confirm the declaration or review the proposal can follow the links in the original posts, and patients in New Jersey who want to take part should watch for the survey announcement described in "Working For You."