Search Through Food Grants for Nonprofits in Massachusetts in the U.S.

About the Trust

For over 81 years, The Agnes M. Lindsay Trust has been providing financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that help those in need. The Trust's focus areas of giving include Health and Welfare, Dental/Oral Health, Recreational/Camperships (camp scholarships), Education and Homeless Shelters, our newest initiative. Our geographic giving areas include the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Our Priorties

Health and Welfare

Impacting health and welfare organizations with grants that support capital projects for those with special needs, including the blind, deaf, learning disabled, elderly, youth and family service organizations, homeless shelters, and food banks to name a few.  

Dental Health

Expanding our reach to nonprofits that provide free dental clinics, and dental care to low income , needy populations to include children, families and the elderly through capital grants for dental equipment needs and program support.CampershipEnhancing children's lives through camp scholarships that provide a child with an opportunity for a summer camping experience/summer enrichment who would otherwise be unable to attend without this scholarship support.EducationAdvancing education through scholarship support to community colleges and preselected four-year colleges and universities to needy students from rural areas. Grants are awarded directly to the institutions who select recipients based on the Trust's criteria.  The Trust is not accepting any unsolicited requests from community colleges, 4-year colleges or universities at this time. Homeless SheltersResponding to the needs and demands placed on homeless shelters due to socioeconomic factors that impact individuals due to unemployment, addiction, behavioral disorders and other circumstances. We strive to work together to end homelessness. Capital and operating support grants are available.Food Banks/ Food PantryRecognizing the escalating need placed on food pantries and food banks due to inflation and the increased costs of food and basic necessities, we are committed to working with organizations to eliminate food insecurity and are dedicated to making a lasting impact by providing support through capital and operating grants.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

Hannaford Charitable Foundation

We have a long history of supporting our communities through volunteerism, donations and community leadership. The Hannaford Charitable Foundation is one of many ways we support our communities.

The Foundation's mission is to invest in creating and sustaining healthy communities in our five-state region by providing financial support to nonprofit organizations and programs that focus on improvement of the root causes impacting the quality of life for our customers, associates and neighbors. Our areas of focus for financial support are food, education and health.

Focus Areas for support:

The Foundation supports organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont that focus on one of the following core components of healthy communities:

• Food – We support programs with long-term solutions that will ensure safe, stable access to healthy food primarily through regional food banks in the markets we serve.
• Education – We help to deliver strong programs that prepare people through all stages of life for success in education and readiness to enter the workforce.
• Health – We support organizations that provide quality programs focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles and improved care.

In determining which organizations and programs to support, the Foundation considers

• the impact and outcomes to the community
• prior support from Hannaford Charitable Foundation
• relative uniqueness of the program versus others in the community.

Our Mission 

The mission of the Kelley Foundation is to enrich the quality of life on Cape Cod through the Kelley Foundation Scholars Program and grants to nonprofit organizations providing programs and services that support all areas of the community: health and human services; housing; youth development; food security and access; arts & culture; and the environment.

Grants 

The Kelley Foundation awards program and capacity building grants to nonprofit organizations that support all areas of the community: health and human services; housing; youth development; food security and access; arts & culture; and the environment.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

Project Bread connects people and communities in Massachusetts to reliable sources of food while advocating for policies that make food more accessible—so that no one goes hungry. We make it easier for people to access and afford food with dignity - money for groceries, healthy meals for kids in their schools and all summer long, an expert helping you navigate your options to finally make ends meet. We envision a Massachusetts where hunger is permanently solved for everyone.

Project Bread offers a variety of funding opportunities for anti-hunger organizations and food assistance providers in Massachusetts throughout the year to further our shared mission. We also share relevant grant opportunities from external organizations to further assist our child nutrition partners.

Community Power Fund

Project Bread’s Community Power Fund is a new funding opportunity that supports community-led advocacy, leadership, and movement building to end hunger in Massachusetts. As part of the Make Hunger History (MHH) initiative, this fund is rooted in the belief that ending hunger requires systemic change - not charity. We invest in communities most impacted by food insecurity to build the power, capacity, infrastructure, and leadership needed to drive long-term policy and systems change. This is about shifting narratives, redistributing power, and supporting solutions shaped by those closest to the issue.

The Community Power Fund, through a Request for Proposal (RFP) is seeking strategic investment to build collective power and advance the Make Hunger History Coalition’s vision. Rather than funding standalone programs or direct services, the RFP will support equity-centered, advocacy-driven initiatives that:

• Center community voice and leadership
• Mobilize those most impacted by hunger
• Foster cross-sector collaboration
• Build grassroots capacity for long-term movement work

Projects must align with the Coalition’s strategic priorities and be rooted in authentic, community-driven change. We are seeking proposals from grassroots organizations, mutual aid groups, coalitions, and small nonprofits - especially those led by and serving communities most impacted by hunger and structural inequity, including Black, Brown, immigrant, Indigenous, Trans, and gender-expansive communities. Collaborative applications are encouraged. 

Each grantee will receive a two-year investment of up to $20,000 per year (up to $40,000 in total after 2 years) to support work aligned with the MHH Coalition’s vision. Funds may be used for personnel/stipends, training, events, outreach, communications, materials, technical assistance, and evaluation. Grants are unrestricted and may be applied to areas of greatest need within the scope of the project.

The Foundation supports projects in coastal areas of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and selected international locations.

For the last two decades, the Foundation has focused a significant portion of its financial resources on Southeastern Massachusetts, where its office is located. Here the Board seeks to understand how communities grow sustainably and equitably, how to increase educational opportunities, how rural and urban economies are intertwined, and how to best protect working landscapes and the people who rely upon these areas for their livelihoods. In funding in a few specific areas, the Board believes it will have the most impact.   

New Bedford Grantmaking

The Foundation works with organizations that promote progressive social change and combat discrimination in all its forms in New Bedford. In this historic city, the Foundation supports youth programs, community development, arts and culture, and basic needs. The Foundation funds groups that have community-wide recognition and support and demonstrate a positive vision for the present and future of New Bedford.

Within the New Bedford program area, the Board currently seeks proposals addressing: 

• youth educational attainment, life skills, and career preparation, with an emphasis on workforce development for at-risk youth ages 16-24;
• strategies to address food insecurity;
• assistance for immigrants;
• activities that increase civic engagement, access, and inclusion;
• appreciation for for the history and cultures represented in this community; and
• professional development/capacity building for the nonprofit sector.

Cummings $30 Million Grant Program

Cummings Foundation has awarded more than $600 million to date in greater Boston. In 2026, it will grant an additional $30 million. These funds will be shared by 150 local-area nonprofits and will be awarded as multi-year grants, to be paid over either three or 10 years.

Priority Funding Causes

The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program funds a wide variety of local causes related to:

Human services

• housing and food security, anti-poverty, disabilities, employment training, immigrant/refugee assistance, legal assistance, senior citizens, strong families/communities, youth activities/services

Social justice

• equity, anti-hate, opportunity gap remediation, representation

Education

• K-12/college, mentoring/tutoring, out-of-school time, complementary programs

Healthcare

• hospitals/clinics, mental health

The Environment

• environmental education, equitable access to outdoor spaces, recycling/waste reduction, sustainable agriculture and food systems (This program does not currently consider requests for research, land preservation, and large capital projects)

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

Our Mission

First, to preserve and maintain the legacy of the Horne Family in Massachusetts’ Greater Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire regions by supporting various community efforts that specifically relate to Human Services, Environment and Wildlife.

Secondly, the Foundation seeks to broaden its impact by supporting national initiatives aimed at the Environment, Wildlife Preservation and Animal Welfare.

Greater Merrimack Valley Efforts

Human Services Causes In Massachusetts’ Greater Merrimack Valley And Southern New Hampshire Regions

The Horne Family will continue to support Human Services in the Greater Merrimack Valley region. The Foundation has a long history of funding community service groups targeting at-risk youth through various after-school and summer programs. In addition, we actively support human services organizations that provide aid to homeless, underprivileged and aging populations as well as victims of domestic abuse and trauma.

Types of Funding

Recognizing that the organizational infrastructure is a necessity, the Foundation welcomes requests for general operating support and efforts designed to increase organizational capacity. We also encourage requests for specific program initiatives or improvements. Areas of Interest As of the 2017 funding period, we have refined our mission to enable us to grant requests that are most closely aligned with the core values of the foundation:

• Conservation of Land and Wildlife,
• Human Services, and
• Animal Welfare.

Geographic Focus

The Foundation distributes regional grants in Massachusetts’ Greater Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire and on a national basis. While our primary interests are with regard to our regional and national focus, we will extend support to international initiatives as it specifically relates to disaster relief for people and animals and species preservation on the African continent.

Mission: The McCarthy Family Foundation Charity Fund was established in 1956. The trustees have a preference for organizations and programs focusing in the areas of education, food, health and housing & shelter programs.

Requests for general operating and program support will be considered, as will requests for specific program-enabling capital improvements. Grants may be subject to matching obligations and payable over multiple years. On very rare occasions, the trustees will consider needs for emergency grants.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Thematic Areas

In all our areas of geographic focus, we support communities in the stewardship of their landscapes and seascapes and the biocultural diversity found in these places.

We welcome inquiries from nonprofit organizations working to:

• Conserve terrestrial and marine biological diversity.
• Sustain cultural diversity, linguistic diversity, and traditional knowledge systems and practices.
• Maintain ecosystem services (including, water, soil, and carbon sequestration).
• Support food sovereignty and economic vitality of local communities.
• Sustain healthy reefs and fisheries.

And, in coastal communities along the North Shore of Massachusetts, in addition to the thematic areas listed above, we support artistic expression projects that at their core:

• Raise awareness of an issue or catalyze action.
• Help promote the protection of the environment.
• Help foster community diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Approaches

We support community-based projects that seek to meet their objectives in a variety of ways. Among the kinds of approaches we support are those concerned with:

Among the kinds of approaches we support are those concerned with:

• Creating and/or ensuring effective management of terrestrial and marine protected areas, in particular where governance is led by communities (e.g., Indigenous Peoples’ and Community-Conserved Areas and Territories [ICCAs]).
• Ecological restoration involving native species, prioritizing efforts linked to existing conservation areas already valued by communities (e.g., a watershed, community forest, or sacred grove).
• Providing enhanced and alternative livelihoods to support local economies and community well-being (e.g., through agroecology and non-timber forest products).
• Environmental education that draws on Indigenous and local traditions and languages to address present-day problems.
• Use of the arts and other innovative methods to convey social and environmental messages.
• Fostering civic engagement of communities through creative facilitation and other methods (e.g., community-mapping exercises).

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Vision

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, "A Foundation for All", was established in 2002. It was begun in order to give a clear voice for those who wish to be a part of the many, worthy, forces for change in our world.

We are a foundation whose purpose is to look ahead towards the future, giving the past its due by remembering where we came from, and how much we can all accomplish together. We aim to make the critical difference on our planet by recognizing and having respect for our ever changing world. We respect all Life, the Environment, and all People, no matter who they are.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education,
• environment,
• enrichment and
• entrepreneurship.

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

• Here are the additional associated grants in regards to this opportunity:
  • Here is the Tier 1 - Assessment Projects page.
  • Here is the Tier 2 - Planning Projects page.

Environmental Justice for New England Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

A total of $48 million will be awarded to New England community-based organizations, environmental justice organizations, nonprofits, Tribal governments (both federally and state recognized), and other entities representing underserved, urban, rural, Indigenous, remote, and capacity-constrained communities. The funds will support organizations implementing projects to address local environmental and public health challenges across the region, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Eligible applicants can apply for subgrants through three concurrent tiers as well as the Seed Fund for organizations with limited capacities.

Tier 3 - Implementation of Projects

Tier 3 will grant up to $350,000 for up to two years. Projects in this tier should support implementation projects informed by community planning and research. Projects may have educational and outreach components but must focus on developing tangible community assets or providing defined community benefits.

Examples of project activities include but are not limited to:

• Strengthening cumulative impact, public health, or environmental justice protections
• Increasing access to healthy food
• Reducing the use of pesticides or toxic substances
• Cleaning up contaminated sites
• Conducting healthy home assessments
• Increasing energy or water efficiency in homes or buildings
• Creating community resilience hubs

In a cooperative agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Justice for New England will implement the EJ Thriving Communities Subgrants in New England. This grant program seeks to counter historical disinvestment in communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis including communities of color, immigrant communities, indigenous communities, urban, rural, and low-income communities. It seeks to seed and build deeper capacity for a sustainable environmental justice movement to address environmental hazards, climate resiliency, and energy justice, and build livable and healthy communities.

~ About Our ~

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The Anthony F. Cordeiro Charitable Foundation was incorporated in 2017 with the goal of serving individuals in the communities in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The Anthony F. Cordeiro Charitable Foundation provides funding to nonprofit organizations serving communities in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island whose mission supports and enriches the lives of families and children. The Foundation’s goal is to assist those burdened by life’s challenges by providing access to vital resources including, but not limited to, health and mental health services, food and shelter.

Community Grant Fund

Grant decisions will be made by our employee Community Grant Councils (CGC) based in each of the regions in which MGM Resorts International operates domestically. Each CGC meets and evaluates grant proposals from nonprofit agencies in its respective region to determine how the community grant funds will be allocated.

Funding Areas

The Program will give priority to funding for agencies/projects/programs that provide services in the following focus areas:

• Affordable Housing
• Economic Opportunity/ Workforce Development
• Education K-12
• Family Services
• Food Insecurity
• Health and Wellness
• Homelessness
• Services for Seniors
• Services for Veterans and Military Families

MGM Resorts Foundation grants are for a one-year period and do not automatically renew.

About the Foundation

Harold Brooks, of Braintree, Massachusetts, was a successful business executive and entrepreneur who manufactured and sold prefabricated structures and underground bomb shelters during the Cold War. Mr. Brooks died in 1963 and the Foundation that bears his name was established in 1984.

The Harold Brooks Foundation provides assistance to causes and organizations that help the largest possible number of residents of Massachusetts' South Shore communities, especially those that support the basic human needs of South Shore residents. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that have the greatest impact on improving the human condition and/or that provide the neediest South Shore residents with "tools" to help them restore their lives. The Foundation focuses on 5 key areas: education; food, agriculture & nutrition; health; housing & shelter; and mental health.

The Foundation focuses on five key areas: Education; Food, Agriculture, & Nutrition; Health; Housing & Shelter; and Mental Health.

Program Areas

The Brooks Foundation seeks to leverage its funding by supporting programs and projects that impact large numbers of residents or that positively affect the lives of the traditionally underserved within South Shore communities. As discussed in its Mission Statement, the Brooks Foundation funds in 5 primary areas:

Education. The Foundation supports educational programs for all ages, including but not limited to academic access; educational enrichment; and remedial programming for children, youth, adults, and senior citizens that focus on preparing individuals to achieve while in school and beyond.

Health/Mental Health. The foundation supports programming that:

• makes possible care or expands care in response to priority community health needs of residents of the South Shore;
• improves access to care—especially basic services—for traditionally underserved individuals; or
• prepares individuals to be independent and to assist themselves.

Food, Agriculture, & Nutrition/Housing & Shelter. We are committed to serving the South Shore community by supporting organizations that meet the basic needs of all individuals. Our efforts are focused on, but not limited to, shelters, food programs, and employment programs.

Our History

Since 1995, the SouthCoast Community Foundation has given rise to philanthropic giving across the SouthCoast region.

In its first year of operation, the SouthCoast Community Foundation received its first charitable gift of $100,000. In 1997, we invested $1 million to establish Youth Entitled to Success (Project YES), spearheading drug abuse prevention and education efforts in our community.

For 25 years, we have supported personal and corporate philanthropy by offering a range of innovative giving options. We offer a variety of funds to help every donor meet their philanthropic goals.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation currently manages $50 million in charitable assets in support of more than 200 funds established by nonprofits, families, and businesses across Southeastern Massachusetts.

James Arnold Fund

The James Arnold Fund was established in 1891 through the estate of James Arnold for the “poor and needy of New Bedford who may be deserving.” Today, the Fund supports local nonprofits serving populations historically marginalized or excluded.

Katharine C. Pierce Trust

Mission

The Katharine C. Pierce Trust was established to provide support for women "in reduced circumstances, that their lives may be made more comfortable."

Guidelines

The Katharine C. Pierce Trust funds in two primary areas: Direct Service and Little Necessities. The proposal process and deadlines differ accordingly.

The Pierce Trust supports nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts, focused in the area of health and human services, to provide support to women "in reduced circumstances, that their lives may be made more comfortable."

Examples of support for organizations serving women include:

• Homecare supports for elderly women (congregate or non-congregate setting).
  • Examples: organizations working to provide nourishing food, home safety evaluations, transportation assistance, and those working to reduce isolation, and address the physical and mental health of this population.
• Adult day health services for older women, and women with disabilities.
• Emergency assistance to women of any age.
  • Examples: organizations working with women who have been victims of domestic violence, are being treated for substance abuse disorders, or may be unhoused/experiencing homelessness.

The above list is not exhaustive, but is meant to be demonstrative of the types of activities that might be considered.

The average grant size for a one-year commitment is $10,000.

The deadline to apply for direct service grants is May 1.

The Pierce Trust’s process for Little Necessities is administered by Mass Home Care, and is limited to members of Mass Home Care. This program gives authorized home care managers access to "last dollar" grants to help older women live safely and comfortably. A Little Necessity might be a microwave for someone unable to use a stove; a railing in the hallway to prevent falls; an air conditioner in the summer to prevent asthmatic attacks; payments towards chore service to clean up an apartment that has deteriorated; a security deposit needed to secure a new apartment; a mattress for someone who has been sleeping on the floor. This list is not exhaustive, but is meant to be demonstrative of the types of items that might be considered "little necessities."

Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program

Funding for projects that ensure that farmers, fishermen, and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system while providing greater, more equitable access to local food.

Background

Food Security is defined as access, by all people at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life (USDA, 2020).

The FSIG Program seeks to ensure that farmers, commercial fishermen, and other local food producers are better engaged with a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate food supply and distribution disruptions, as well as to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have equitable access to food, with a focus on food that is produced locally.

Eligible grantees include applicants that are part of the Massachusetts local food system including producers, processors, and distributors; emergency food distributors; community and food organizations; school meal programs (including summer meal sponsors); urban farms and community gardens; and nonprofit food security organizations. Applicants may be those representing farms, small, independent grocery stores, food banks, commercial fishing operations, seafood dealers and processors, and other food system businesses or organizations focused on addressing food access and/or improving and strengthening the resiliency of the Commonwealth’s food system by increasing distribution of Locally Grown Food.

Funding

This call for grant proposals is subject to and contingent upon the availability of funds. Funding is anticipated to be awarded in amounts up to $1,000,000. Applicants requesting over $10,000 are required to demonstrate a of 20% cash match of total project costs.

Community Solutions Challenge 

The Community Solutions Challenge (CSC), launched in 2021, works to advance health equity through the support of community-based nonprofit programming that prioritize the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of historically excluded and disenfranchised populations. To date, CSC has provided more than $2.6 million to over 100 local nonprofit programs working to address health inequities and advance opportunities in STEM among underserved communities.

Program Focus: Community-based programs must cover one of the following areas:

Nutrition

Address nutrition as a social determinant of health, including reducing food insecurity and providing comprehensive nutritional education to improve health outcomes.

Healthcare Access

Improve access to quality healthcare by addressing barriers, including health education, access to preventive screenings, and transportation services.

Lung Health

Improve lung health and achieve improved health outcomes for those impacted by asthma, COPD and lung cancer

Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) 2025 Prizes for Innovation

Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) and Newman’s Own Foundation are proud to announce the 2025 Prizes for Innovation! 2025 Prizes will focus on innovative, collaborative, systemic work advancing health equity for youth across three categories: 

• Food and Nutrition Policy Work – two $100K grants will be awarded over two years 
• Nutrition Education & School Food – two $25K grants will be awarded
• Indigenous Food Justice for Youth – two $25K grants will be awarded

In addition to funding awards, all Prize winners will be invited to attend the H2HC Fall Summit in Boston, Massachusetts on November 6, 2025. 

Hunger to Health Collaboratory (H2HC) is an innovative national model that convenes cross-sector thought leaders to explore innovative, systemic solutions to food and nutrition challenges with a focus on equity and the social drivers of health. H2HC created its Prizes for Innovation in 2023 and has awarded $400,000 since the program’s launch. 

Background

The Somerville Health Foundation, Inc. (SHF) was established on June 26, 1996 in the Affiliation Agreement executed by Somerville Hospital and the Cambridge Hospital when those hospitals merged. Under the terms of the Agreement, Somerville Hospital incorporated a new nonprofit corporation known as the Somerville Health Foundation, Inc.

The SHF has two main purposes.

• Promote and support the provision of primary care and preventive health services accessible to the residents of the City of Somerville, Massachusetts
• Promote and support educational, research and outreach programs that will improve the delivery and accessibility of primary care and preventive health services to the residents of the City of Somerville, Massachusetts.

SHF Priority Areas for 2025-2026 Funding

The current priorities for funding support are programs/projects with a prime emphasis on the three equity principles that emerged from the CHA 2022 Regional Wellbeing Report. These principles are language justice, inclusion of underrepresented voices in leadership and decision making, and system improvements that encourage spaces for collective care.

Proposals that also address the following preventative health priorities will receive extra consideration.

Housing

This priority area can include, but is not limited to, addressing concerns such as housing affordability, stability and anti-displacement, safety, accessibility (e.g. for older adults and persons with disabilities), as well as homelessness and transitions to stable housing.

Equitable economies

This priority area can include, but is not limited to, addressing concerns related to sustainable food systems, local jobs with living wages and benefits, healthy working conditions, and caregiving systems.

Equity in access to healthcare, services and information

This priority area can include, but is not limited to, addressing elements such as costs, cultural and linguistic barriers, navigation of systems, referral systems, adequate staffing, transportation, digital access, quality, disability, and other aspects of accessibility of systems. Systems of note include healthcare (including mental healthcare) and other essential services and information, such as education, economic development opportunities, financial support, legal services and advocacy.

Climate health and justice: air, water, preparedness

This priority area can include, but is not limited to, addressing concerns related to air quality, water quality, and climate change preparedness in recognition that the health impacts of climate change and exposure to environmental hazards are disproportionately shouldered by low-income communities and communities of color