Garden State Equality programming focuses on public policy advocacy and grassroots organizing.
Grassroots programs The organization's grassroots programs include volunteer work, training, town meetings, and action nights, where participants can provide input on or participate In the organization's work. Garden State Equality stresses the importance of volunteer work for the organization. There are many difference branches of service available within the organization, such as a campaign for the homeless and those in poverty, which helps to gather more information about these minority groups and take action to improve their living standards. This specific campaign not only aids the LGBT community but also often caters to the impoverished, homeless, and incarcerated. An anti-bullying hotline collects reports from parents, students and others about incidents of bullying against students. The organization visits schools to conduct training for administrators, teachers and other staff on New Jersey's anti-
bullying law, and how to comply with it. The organization also conducts a different age-appropriate anti-bullying training for students. At the annual Equality Walk, volunteers get sponsored by friends to do a walk each October. It started in Asbury Park, taking place on a Sunday, but now they host 4 separate events across New Jersey. Garden State Equality has held numerous town meetings on LGBT issues, such as
same-sex marriage, across the state. The organization also holds telephone town meetings with public officials on conference calls with as many as 200 people. In an effort to include more teens in their activism, they introduced a week-long youth leadership initiative known as Changemakers in 2023, along with a year-round Youth Advisory Board.
Former programs Garden State Equality's former grassroots programs include Activist Institutes that trained volunteers in organizing skills, and the "Equality Express", a motor home that traveled to large events in New Jersey to educate people on LGBT issues. The organization also held "Helping You Personally" seminars, where experts in legal and finance spoke on issues of interest to LGBT people in New Jersey. Prior to legal recognition of same-sex marriages in New Jersey, the organization volunteered to collect letters and postcards in support of marriage equality. The organization developed thirteen caucuses to help to diversify New Jersey's LGBT rights movement. Each caucus serves a different demographic community such as African-Americans, clergy, labor, women, and youth. As a part of legislative dinners, Assembly Members and State Senators met Garden State Equality members at the members' homes. Many
New Jersey legislators have attended at least one town meeting or legislative dinner. == Legends Dinner ==