Search Through Housing Grants in Massachusetts in the U.S.

Investing in Our Communities

A hallmark of our philanthropy is the hundreds of community donations we make each year supporting local needs and events important to our neighbors across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Our commitment as a good corporate citizen starts with listening to community members.

Eastern Bank Foundation (EBF) is committed to helping our neighbors and communities prosper. Last year, we invested over $16 million in nearly 1,500 local organizations providing vital services across Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Impact Grant

Support for organizations that are advancing Economic Inclusion and Mobility in our communities in five strategy areas: 

• Advancing equity in the small business ecosystem
• Enriching early childhood development (Children ages 0-5)
  • This area is not focused on initiatives aimed at people in grades K-16.
• Meeting the demand for safe, supportive, and affordable housing
• Promoting workforce development for “untapped talent” that provides family-sustaining wages.
  • "Untapped talent" refers to working age individuals who desire to work or to work more or at higher levels than they currently do because they face obstacles to achieving that goal. This includes immigrant workers and workers with disabilities, among others.
• Innovating (i.e., testing new methods, approaches, or tools) to advance economicmobility and inclusion which connect in some way to the four areas of focus listedabove.

Impact Grants must be focused on individuals and families who are Low to Moderate Income (LMI). Grant sizes generally range from $50,000 to $100,000, and sometimes more.

Mission

The Highland Street Foundation is committed to addressing the most pressing needs and concerns for children and families in Massachusetts and California. We provide access and opportunities in education, housing, mentorship, health care, environment, and the arts.

Grants

We award grants to organizations of many different sizes and types, but most often for education, youth programming and mentoring, housing and homelessness prevention, environment, healthcare and the arts. The grants we make tend to stem from the relationships our trustees have built with our nonprofit partners. Therefore, we don’t seek unsolicited grant proposals, and have no open proposal submission deadlines or pre-established funding limits.

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.

Background

Mabel Louise Riley, the Foundation’s donor, was born in 1883 in Boston. Miss Riley was an active patron of the arts and especially enjoyed the beautiful gardens at her homes in Newton and Cotuit on Cape Cod. Generous and concerned for the needs of others throughout her lifetime, she gave regularly to numerous charities in the Boston area.

In establishing a general purpose foundation, Miss Riley’s only suggestion to her trustees was that particular consideration be given to the needs of children and youth. The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation began operation as an active member of Boston’s philanthropic community in May 1972.

Program Interests

The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation is a general-purpose foundation with a special interest in supporting the needs of low-income children and youth and their families.  The foundation supports a broad range of programs, particularly in the areas of education and human services, and neighborhood revitalization.  

Current more specialized areas of interest include:

• Arts access programs for underserved communities
• Support for foster care children and those aging out of the system
• Vocational Education and job training
• Affordable housing and shelter for vulnerable families

Types of Support and Grant Size

Grants are made in support of new projects and organizations, program expansion, and for capital projects.  The trustees are interested in leveraging their grants by funding programs that can become self-sufficient or may serve as a model in other geographic areas.

One-year grants normally fall in the range of $50,000 to $100,000.

About the Latino Equity Fund

The Latino Equity Fund (LEF) at the Boston Foundation is the first and only community fund in Massachusetts dedicated to activating, convening, and supporting the Latinx community in Greater Boston and across the Commonwealth. Established in 2013, LEF serves as a permanent resource to uplift Latinx voices, foster cross-sector partnerships, and advance systemic change. The Fund works to mobilize Latinx residents, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders toward Nuestro Futuro—Our Future. 

About this Application Cycle

For the FY26 grant cycle, LEF will award one-time $25,000 grants to 20 Latinx-serving nonprofit organizations within the Boston Foundation’s catchment area. LEF seeks proposals from community-based nonprofits advancing the well-being and economic mobility of Latinx residents in the following priority areas:

Basic needs:

• Housing stability  
• Food security
• Health care access (including, but not limited to: disabilities assistance, HIV prevention, elder care, mental health and well-being, and substance use)
• Legal aid  

Economic Mobility:

• Job readiness and career coaching
• ESOL and Language access
• Immigrant/refugee workforce integration
• Professional credentialing and certification

Our Mission

The mission of the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund is to enhance the quality of life in communities where the Group conducts business, by providing financial support to worthy community organizations.

Where We Give

The Charitable Giving Fund is designed to benefit organizations within the marketing territories of Vermont Mutual Insurance Group that aim to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Giving Focus

The Fund provides financial support to organizations that help to build, maintain and enrich healthy lives and strong, vibrant communities. The Fund's primary focus is to contribute to non-profit organizations that serve communities through any of the following four initiatives:

• Promote Education: Examples may include traditional and non-traditional opportunities focused on inspiring academic excellence, leadership and community service
• Foster Youth: Examples may include teaching and modeling positive life skills
• Community-based: Programs that build better communities in which to live and work
• Satisfy Basic Needs: Examples may include affordable housing, homelessness and hunger

Since 1984, the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation has been working to improve the quality of life for the residents of Stamford and Worcester, New York, and Winchendon, Massachusetts.

Mission and Areas of Interest

The Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation is a private foundation operating and granting funds at the complete discretion of the Directors, to fund charitable 501(c)(3) organizations in the following endeavors, but not limited to:

• Provide a better quality of life for all community members.
  • For example; Hospice, senior housing, health clinics.
• Provide support for historical preservation in the communities served.
• Enhance opportunities for a quality education for all ages.
• Support projects that would promote community spirit and cooperation.
• Support community volunteer organizations that qualify.
• Support youth programs that encourage responsibility, community interest, citizenship and healthy life styles.
• Support religious organizations in their service to the community.
• Support municipalities to improve and maintain infrastructures.
• Support efforts to improve public safety.

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)

Mission

The Ezra M. Cutting Trust was established in 1965 under the will of Ezra Cutting, who was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The Trust supports charitable organizations serving residents of Marlborough. Areas of special interest include agencies serving youth as well as those with programs fostering economic growth and the general quality of life in the City of Marlborough.

Grant Program

Grants are restricted to organizations located in Marlborough, Massachusetts (and to other organizations which serve Marlborough residents) and are generally made for special projects and programs, with a limited number of capital gifts made each year.

Program Type: Arts, Culture, & Humanities; Education; Employment; Environment; Health; Housing & Shelter; Human Services

The typical grant range is $2,500 - $10,000.

Overview

The Tower Foundation is a family foundation that helps children, adolescents, and young people affected by intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues, and/or substance use disorders. Our goal is to improve the lives of young people in our geographic footprint of Erie and Niagara Counties in Western New York, and Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Nantucket Counties in Eastern Massachusetts.

The Tower Foundation believes every young person should have the chance to achieve their personal goals, regardless of the challenges they face. Individuals who live with one or more of these issues may be overlooked or stigmatized, creating additional challenges. We also know that some young people face more challenges than others because of systemic inequalities. The convergence of our focus areas with racism, ableism, sexism, and other types of discrimination warrants the Foundation’s attention because as we know, people do not live single-issue lives.

The Tower Foundation sees its role as more than just a funder. These issues are near and dear to us because we have members of our family who live with one or more of the issues. These are individuals who are resilient—persevering despite the challenges they face— and who should be valued by our communities. The Tower Foundation envisions a future in which equitable communities include, accept and value these young people.

Strengthening Partner Capacity Grants

The Foundation seeks to fund requests that, “build and/or strengthen the systems, structures, cultures, skills, resources, and power that organizations need to serve their communities.” Strengthening Partner Capacity grants are available for board/leadership development; diversity, equity, inclusion; evaluation/evaluation design; organizational development; professional development; program design and planning (not service delivery); small capital projects/equipment purchases; staff mental wellness support; technology planning/purchasing; and other ideas that help organizations better serve their communities as described above. We accept applications for Strengthening Partner Capacity grants multiple times a year. All other grants in this category are by invitation only.

Focus Areas

The Foundation supports organizations and initiatives that help provide young people with opportunities to realize their highest potential regardless of the challenges they face. Our funding supports work in four focus areas: Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorders – all typically underfunded and stigmatized conditions.

We have set out broad, aspirational goals to guide our work and to keep us focused on the big picture. With these in mind, we hope to move a little closer each day to these ideals.

Intellectual Disabilities

• Children with intellectual disabilities are identified early and receive services that meet their evolving needs.
• Young people with intellectual disabilities are engaged in meaningful, social, vocational, and educational pursuits.
• Families understand intellectual disabilities and secure needed supports.
• Communities embrace young people with intellectual disabilities and provide them with a full range of supports and opportunities to engage in community life.

Learning Disabilities

• Children with learning disabilities are identified early, diagnosed, and connected to services that meet their ongoing individual needs.
• Youth with learning disabilities understand how they learn and pursue resources that support them accordingly.
• Young adults are confident and do not view their learning disability as a liability.
• Young adults with learning disabilities are ready for work and/or educational pursuits.
• Families are informed about learning disabilities and can identify and navigate available services.
• Communities value persons with learning disabilities and accommodate their needs.

Mental Health

• Stigma related to mental illness is eliminated.
• Children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges are identified early and connected to appropriate services.
• Young people with mental health challenges understand and manage their conditions and behaviors.
• Families understand mental health challenges and help young people live productive lives.
• Communities offer meaningful opportunities and appropriate support to young people with mental health challenges and their families.

Substance Use Disorders

• Community members understand the prevalence and harmful effects of alcohol and drugs on young people and work to address them.
• Resources for substance use disorders prevention, treatment, and recovery are readily available.
• Families provide safe environments that support healthy and informed choices about alcohol and drugs.
• Young people make healthy and informed choices about alcohol and drugs.

Click here for the Foundation’s definitions of the above four focus areas.

What We’re Most Interested in Funding

Here are some examples of the sorts of things the Foundation might be willing to fund, just to get you thinking. This is not a complete list of everything we’ll consider!

• Board/Leadership development
• Diversity, equity, inclusion
• Evaluation/Evaluation design
• Mergers/affiliations
• Organizational development (e.g., strategic planning; marketing, development, and/or communications support; process improvement; succession planning)
• Professional development
• Program design and planning (not service delivery; contact us if you have questions!)
• Small capital projects/equipment purchases
• Staff mental wellness support
• Technology planning/purchasing
• What are your ideas? (We’re happy to discuss them!)

Our Mission

The primary mission of the Amelia Peabody Foundation is to increase the number, range, and depth of positive learning experiences available to materially disadvantaged young people living in the cities and towns of Massachusetts. Perhaps this is also the primary mission of your organization. If so, we welcome the opportunity to work with you toward our common goal.

About Amelia Peabody

Ms. Peabody was the sole surviving heir of Frank Everett Peabody an early partner in the brokerage house of Kidder, Peabody & Company. In 1942 she established a trust to benefit Massachusetts charities. The Amelia Peabody Foundation has administered a portion of those funds since her death in 1984.

Grant Application Considerations

We look first and most of all at the leadership of the organization. Experience has taught us that the people who lead and staff the organization are most instrumental in bringing about positive changes in the lives of the youth and families in the communities they serve.

Grants are made for almost any project that serves to promote and enhance the grantee organization's mission: for existing and new programs; for operations; capital acquisitions; for the renovation of existing buildings and facilities; for the repair, maintenance, and purchase of equipment.

Examples of organizations supported by Amelia Peabody grants are: neighborhood and community centers, youth centers, charter schools, out of school time and sport programs, YMCAs and YWCAs, and Boys & Girls Clubs.

Examples of program types supported by Amelia Peabody grants are: work preparedness, education persistence and enrichment, mentoring and youth guidance, increased opportunities and deeper benefits for youth, facility and technology improvements, and expansions in the number of youth or communities served.

Sincere Foundation Grant

We are a Foundation with Heart.

At Sincere, we build technology that brings you closer and helps show you care to the people who matter the most. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to celebrate, recognize milestones, and honor memories; and that is only possible when people have what they need to thrive.

With our Foundation, we support organizations and programs that address basic needs:

• Food Security: Sincere Foundation supports organizations that provide meals, connect people with food resources and nutritional information, research the complex causes of food insecurity, and everything in between. We are open to any program that addresses the essential food needs of vulnerable people.
• Housing Stability: Ending homelessness requires a holistic approach that includes more affordable permanent housing, resources for rapid re-housing, workforce development, emergency shelter, and street outreach. We support programs that work with individuals and families to meet this need.
• Safe Spaces: We support organizations that provide spaces free from bias or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations. This can include, but is not limited to, school campuses, domestic violence shelters, LGBTQIA+ youth and family programs, and mental health resources.

Criteria

Grant requests of up to $25,000 will be considered and reviewed for the following:

• The impact of the requested grant on the organization and/or project/program to be funded
• The financial size and strength of the organization

Awareness. Education. Prevention.  These are three key tenets of Bayer Fund’s investments in health and wellness.  With a focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease, we provide resources to organizations dedicated to educating and/or providing services to patients, caregivers and at-risk populations.

Health & Wellness Grants

Programs that Bayer Fund will support include those that focus on patients and their families needing assistance with issues to managing cardiovascular disease and cancer. This includes education, disease awareness, and supportive services for these diseases. In areas related to cardiovascular disease, priority (though not exclusivity) will be given to charitable organizations that focus on programs and support for the African American community due to the high incidence rate of disease in this population.

Giving in this category will focus on support services such as education, disease awareness, and general access to care (e.g., housing for families traveling for cancer or heart care).

All funding requests and budgets must be for program activities and expenses that start after funding decisions are made. All programs must be completed within one year of the start date, except in limited situations where longer term programs have been agreed upon. Grant award amounts vary, depending on the size of the community, the type of programming, and the reach of the organization.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

For over 25 years the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation has provided funding and support to our communities. Our hope is that the investments we make, help to create a more equitable place to live and work and improve the quality of life for everyone in our communities.

Areas of Focus

Education & Literacy

Education is an essential foundation for prosperity and opportunity. We fund various types of educational support including early learning programs and initiatives, all levels of academic learning, workforce development, job training and more.

Economic Development

We fund activities and programs that work to improve the economic well-being and quality of life of our communities. Particularly those that focus on community development, diversification, creating and retaining jobs and building the local tax base.

Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing can improve the quality of life of residents leading to better health, adequate jobs, financial stability, security, and population diversity. We fund a wide variety of affordable housing initiatives including organizations and programs that provide credit counseling, homebuyer education, temporary and affordable housing solutions.

Critical Needs/Sustainability

This is a new area of focus added during the past year in response to the serious issues impacting our communities. The effects of Covid-19 and social injustice continue to be felt throughout our community and have negatively impacted many of our community organizations. We want to address these and other community impact issues as well as create the flexibility to address new critical needs and sustainability concerns that may arise.

Funding Ranges/Restrictions:

In an effort to assist as many qualified organizations as possible within our market areas, our Foundation awards grants of varying sizes depending on the specific project being funded. However, please note the following:

One-time Grants

• The average range for grants is up to $10,000.
• Successful applicants are limited to one grant per year.

Large Dollar Multi-Year Grants

• Our Foundation has a cap for the amount of multi-year grants issued annually
• Successful applicants are precluded from receiving additional grants during the multi-year funding period.

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.

Mission

The Corporation’s purpose (and hence its Mission) is to honor the work of Hannah B. Chickering, who in the 19th Century dedicated her life to female prisoners and their children. Accordingly, the Corporation shall provide financial support to programs and organizations that address the needs of women and children in crisis, thereby furthering the Corporation’s goal of helping women and children gain health, safety, independence and self-sufficiency.

Criteria

The Chickering Foundation seeks to promote and support agencies whose work reflects and promotes the mission of Hannah B. Chickering. Furthermore, the Chickering Foundation seeks to provide financial support that will make a meaningful difference to the women and children being served.

The programs and special projects we support: 

• Are dependent on private funding reflecting in their size and scope the size of our foundation.
• Provide community-based resoures for women and children in Eastern Massachusetts.
• Build relationships with individuals in order to bridge gaps left by government services, enabling women and children to have a higher quality of life.
• Develop relationships within the community in order to foster a long-term web of support for women and children for, but not limited to, jobs, housing, and life skills.
• Raise awareness and educate the public concerning the underserved needs of women and children.

Agencies that are approved for funding will be assigned a Chickering Foundation Manager and will undergo an annual review. Some one-time grants may be provided.

MBF IOLTA Grants Program

At the heart of the Foundation's grantmaking activities is the IOLTA Grants Program. The Foundation is one of three charitable entities in the state charged with distributing the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Account (IOLTA) funds, receiving 26 percent of the aggregated interest on Massachusetts IOLTA accounts.

Through the IOLTA Grants Program, the MBF awards approximately 100 grants annually to nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts whose programs either provide civil legal services to low-income clients or improve the administration of justice. These grants enable recipients to provide critical assistance to those who have few resources to address legal issues, including domestic violence, housing, immigration status, child advocacy, family law, discrimination, and health care.

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.

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.

Annual Community Impact Grants program

Fallon Health awards grants in the range of $5,000 to $45,000, per proposal, with the average awards of $10,000 to $20,000. We fund new programs or the continuation or expansion of existing programs that address one or more of our focus areas for funding.

Focus areas for funding

Food and nutrition security

Priority will be given to programs that improve or expand access to healthy and culturally inclusive food sources, with a focus on individuals and families with limited economic means.

Older adults

Programs for older adults that support housing safety and stability, that mitigate isolation and loneliness, or that work to eliminate barriers to health care (for example: technology, transportation, health literacy)

Early intervention programs for children and youth

Programs that focus on mental health, behavioral health, and/or substance use prevention, education, and awareness

 Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Fallon Health Community Impact Committee on the basis of:

• The program’s ability to address one or more of the focus areas for funding
• The importance of the particular problem being addressed and the number of people who will be served
• The qualifications of the organization(s) sponsoring and implementing the program
• The sustainability of the program
• Collaboration between the program and other community resources, with a goal of reducing or eliminating duplication of services 

James W. Blake "Catalyst" Award

Accelerating growth & impact in the local community 

James W. Blake served as President and CEO for HarborOne Bank for over 25 years. During his tenure, the Bank grew from$ 458 million to $4.5 billion in assets. Through this tremendous period of growth, Jim remained committed to the people and communities where HarborOne Bank had a presence. Jim lent his time, talent and voice to numerous local and state-wide organizations and encouraged staff and Bank leadership to do the same. Under Jim’s leadership, HarborOne established a first of its kind financial education center serving over 20,000 individuals and businesses, a robust college scholarship program which invests $1M in promising area students, and the HarborOne Foundations serving Massachusetts & Rhode Island that have donated over $5 Million to local nonprofit organizations. Beyond the time, wisdom and financial support, Jim served as a model for all who have had the pleasure to work with him, as he treated any and all with respect and dignity. As a social entrepreneur and business leader, Jim is a believer in the value of investing in quality organizations and watching them grow and make an impact in the cities and towns served by HarborOne.

Award Purpose

The annual James W. Blake “Catalyst” Award is intended to assist a local organization in dramatically accelerating their organizational development, impact and reach. The award will support transformative projects or small but critical capital projects that will have a substantial effect on the organization and who they serve.

Investment Focus Areas

What is the Urban Agriculture Program?

The purpose of the MDAR Urban Agriculture Program is to advance Commonwealth goals and objectives, leverage collective resources, and support commercial projects designed to increase the production, processing, and marketing of produce grown and sold in urban centers across the Commonwealth. Expenditures will promote strategies to address food insecurity and to increase access of fresh, local produce in urban neighborhoods with a high concentration of low-moderate income residents.

Urban agriculture encompasses a wide variety of activities related to the growing of plants and the raising of animals for food including but not limited to: production techniques such as land-based outdoor and greenhouse cultivation, rooftop open air and greenhouse production, hydroponics, aquaculture, aquaponics, beekeeping and egg-producing poultry. Each project proposal must represent long-term, capital investments such as infrastructure improvements, building upgrades, purchase of computer software and systems, land procurement, and purchase of farm equipment. Projects will also foster youth development, small business development, and job training directly related to commercial urban farming.

This program does not fund backyard produce or livestock raised for personal consumption.

MDAR’s Urban Agriculture Program seeks proposals that demonstrate strategies for municipalities to increase access to affordable, fresh food for urban residents address the challenges of small scale farming in densely populated centers, and create direct markets in low-moderate income neighborhoods.

Examples of Project Priorities:

• Soil Management: Initiatives that address the issues of soil quality in urban environments with particular emphasis on improving soil fertility in blighted areas;
• Land: Proposals for acquisition of land for food production in urban settings;
• Equipment: Mobile market vehicles, small farm equipment or hand tools;
• Green Infrastructure: Demonstrations of greenhouse, hoop house, cold frame and other technologies to help urban farmers scale up the volume, quality and enable year round production or to manage energy and water usage, or allow for more intensive and efficient food production in urban environments;
• Climate Change Infrastructure: Compost tumblers and water conservation methods such as drip irrigation or rainwater recovery systems.
• Community Urban Farming Projects: Capital infrastructure to support non-commercial urban food production, via partnership with municipality or non-profit organizations for community benefit and distribution; must have a minimum of 0.5 acres in food production.
• Innovative Growing Technology: Demonstrate practical/economically viable approaches to urban aquaculture/aquaponics and vertical farming and other innovative growing methods to make available local sourced food and products to low-moderate income communities;
• Marketing, Distribution, Transportation: Improve the transportation and distribution of locally grown products from farm to customer such as food hubs sourced from local urban farms or other innovative technologies designed to aid/improve cost-effective distribution of food produced on urban farms to urban residents;

Mission

The Lenny Zakim Fund works to develop deep relationships and builds bridges among people and communities to advance social, economic, and racial justice. Our mission is to listen to those most impacted by inequity and provide the funding, essential resources, and support they need to create lasting change. We envision a more just and equitable world where communities thrive because of the contributions and leadership of grassroots organizations.

Core Values

The work of the Lenny Zakim Fund is guided by the following principles:

Social Justice: Everything we do is based in our deeply held belief that social justice is equity and that the fundamental rights, well-being, and dignity of all people must be recognized, upheld, and celebrated.

Grassroots Leadership: LZF is inspired by and respects the power and ability of those most impacted by injustice to bring about change.

Diversity and Belonging: We embrace a culture of inclusion and belonging, one that seeks out and welcomes the voices of those with diverse life experiences and intersectional identities.

Learning: We firmly believe that continuous, active, and reciprocal learning is critical to promoting awareness and creating a solid foundation for change.

Bridge Building: We are committed to bridging real and perceived difference, and to creating strong and lasting relationships that are fundamental to progress.

Responsiveness: Emerging challenges often impact those we serve, and we knowingly accept the risk required to adapt and respond as rapidly as possible.

Love: Love is at the heart of philanthropy. Love and compassion motivate and sustain the spirit of those who partner with LZF and remain dedicated to justice for all.

LZF Grants Growing the Grassroots

From the beginning, LZF has prioritized historically marginalized, under-served, or under-resourced communities or populations throughout eastern Massachusetts, where the greatest racial, economic, and social injustices exist.

The Fund intentionally focuses on small, grassroots organizations with annual operating budgets under $350,000, that are “below the radar,” often in the nascent stage of their development, and thus not visible to other individual or institutional funders. An LZF grant is often the first step taken by those who seek to turn a vision into a sustainable reality. The Fund provides annual general operating (unrestricted) grants up to $20,000. Grants may be renewed for up to five years.

Funding Areas

The Lenny Zakim Fund’s primary funding areas are:

• Access to Food, Housing, and Economic Opportunity
• Child and Youth Development and Education
• Civil and Human Rights Advocacy and Support
• Health Promotion and Accessibility for All
• Organizing and Support for Immigrants and Refugees
• LGBTQIA Community Support and Organizing
• Violence Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform and Family Outreach

Washington Trust Charitable Foundation

The Washington Trust Charitable Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations within our market area, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts and southeastern Connecticut.

Charitable grants range widely in size. Multi-year grants are often considered for capital funding (to build or repair facilities), capital campaigns, or specific projects, with consideration given to:

• Affordable Housing and Revitalization Programs
• Business and Economic Development
• Youth and Family Services
• Hospitals, Health and Human Service Organizations
• Museums, Arts and Cultural Organizations
• Colleges, Universities, Libraries
• Conservation and Environmental Groups

Autism Community Impact Grant

The Flutie Foundation recognizes not-for-profit organizations who share our mission to help individuals and families with autism live life to the fullest. For our 2023 Autism Community Impact Grant, we will continue granting these organizations with a particular emphasis on supporting traditionally under-served, under-funded, culturally diverse communities.

Our Autism Community Impact Grant cycle will consider requests that will help fund programs and projects showing potential to make an IMMEDIATE impact in the community and align with the Flutie Foundation priorities as stated in our Seven Key Dimensions described below. We especially encourage organizations with programs serving those most profoundly affected by autism to apply and share their stories.

Grant Funding Priorities

Work/School

Providing a path for educational opportunities, vocational skills programs, employment, housing, transportation and healthcare delivery for individuals on the autism spectrum.   

Active/Social

Support for recreational and sports programs, aquatic programs, social skills training, family events and summer camps for all individuals on the autism spectrum.

Safe/Supported/Informed

Funding for community organizations and schools who are providing vital resources and actively assisting individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families through advocacy programs, diagnostic and clinical services, direct family support, safety equipment, emergency care, respite services and other opportunities that will enhance the quality of life for those affected.

Purpose

The purpose of this Competitive grant program is to provide access to highly effective adult basic education services to eligible adults who cannot or will not enroll in class based instructional services at a Community Adult Learning Center.

Priorities

The priority is to support one statewide standalone program that offers volunteer tutoring services annually to approximately 1,000 eligible adult students in cities and town in the Commonwealth including Gateway cities and that:

• demonstrates past effectiveness in providing one-on-one academic instruction for ABE or ESOL students;
• provides one-on-one adult basic education instruction through the use of well-trained and well-supported volunteer tutors;
• for ABE services, ensures the program implements a curriculum that is aligned with the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE)
• for ESOL services, ensures that the program implements a curriculum that is aligned with the standards and benchmarks of the Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education (MA ELPS) and the standards of the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE) at all levels;
• provides services that are effective in assisting adults to develop the college and career readiness skills needed to successfully transition to higher education and stable jobs that provide a family-sustaining wage; and
• Provides services that are aligned with the strategy and goals identified in the Local Workforce Development Plan Package.

Funding

The total allocation available for one statewide primary instruction by volunteers' program is approximately $500,000. Funds are contingent upon satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change.

Fund Use

Funds must be used to provide Adult Basic Education instructional services, delivered by well-trained volunteers, including basic skills, pre-adult secondary education, adult secondary education, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Personnel costs may include paid staff time for: recruitment; volunteer/student orientation; volunteer training and ongoing support; required and ongoing assessment of student progress; establishing and maintaining tutor/student matches; advising; follow-up; referral; professional development data collection/entry; and administration. A portion of the funds may be used to support non-personnel related costs.

As defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR §463.25 and §463.26, not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities. If awarded, programs may negotiate on an individual basis with DESE to determine an adequate level of funds for non-instructional purposes by submitting a written request and rationale annually with their continuation applications. Administrative costs must be reasonable, necessary, and allocable.

Adult Education and Family Literacy Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. For this competition, applicants may include indirect cost rates to recover certain business-related expenses necessary to support the proposed services.

• Local Education Agencies (LEA) may apply their district rate.
• A non-LEA that has a current federally approved restricted indirect cost rate may use that rate.
• A non-LEA that has an FY22 approved indirect cost rate may use that rate for purposes of an application under this funding opportunity. However, if awarded a grant, the agency must reapply to DESE for FY24 and annually through the grant cycle (2 CFR 200.332).
• A non-LEA that does not have either a Federal or DESE approved indirect cost rate may budget up to 8% percent of the agency's proposed budget to recover certain business-related expenses. However, if awarded a grant, the agency must apply to DESE for FY24 and that there is no guarantee that the rate will be approved (2 CFR 200.332).

Project Duration

Conditionally renewable annually for up to 2 (two) additional years.