Best Grants for New Nonprofits in Massachusetts

The MA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Massachusetts by funding projects that promote marketing, research, and access to these crops. It addresses the USDA's goals and focuses on providing healthy, affordable food options while supporting underserved communities. The program runs from October 1, 2023, to September 29, 2026, and aims to improve economic opportunities in urban, rural, and suburban areas.

The Norfolk Southern Corporate Giving: Thriving Communities Grant Program supports initiatives that promote sustainability, workforce development, and community resilience across a 22-state network. With grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, the program aims to foster economic development and ensure equal access to basic necessities. Eligible organizations include tax-exempt nonprofits, government entities, and public schools, emphasizing diversity and inclusion in their community-focused efforts.

The Fence Authority Scholarship offers a $1,000 award to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fields that enhance community beautification, such as architecture, civil engineering, and environmental sciences. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time, and involved in community service. This scholarship aims to empower students to contribute positively to society while furthering their education in impactful disciplines.

The Community Capital Fund

The Klarman Family Foundation is committed to expanding access to critical services and enrichment opportunities that help make Massachusetts communities stronger, healthier, and more vibrant. We recognize that community-based organizations of all sizes and across a variety of mission areas play crucial roles in strengthening the fabric of neighborhoods. 

Community-based organizations often struggle to raise funds to support critical investments in physical assets (e.g., facilities and open space). These investments are necessary so they may deliver and sustain high-quality operations and advance their vision and mission. 

The Foundation believes that investments in physical assets help create a permanence that benefits the broader community. The Community Capital Fund (CCF) provides funding to support the development, improvement, or ownership of physical assets. This funding initiative aims to counter disparities in access to funding across Massachusetts and prioritizes organizations operating in the Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, and Roxbury, as well as the cities of Brockton, Lawrence, Lynn, New Bedford, and Springfield.

The Community Capital Fund supports facilities or land acquisition; construction; renovation; repair; preservation and major equipment. In some cases, funding will also support technical assistance to help organizations develop or assess the feasibility of a project, or engage expertise necessary to execute the project successfully.

Through this funding initiative, The Klarman Family Foundation hopes community-based organizations will be better positioned to make their space and neighborhoods more vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive. At the same time, The Klarman Family Foundation seeks to deepen and expand its relationships within, and knowledge of more communities throughout Boston and Massachusetts. We know we do not have all the answers and expect our funding approach to evolve over time based on what we learn.

Our work in this area is guided by the following principles:

• Staying locally informed: We prioritize funding for organizations and projects rooted in their neighborhoods.
• Addressing barriers to capital: We prioritize funding to communities that have limited access to philanthropy.
• Looking for bold approaches: We are ready to take risks as an early or leading funder.
• Creating lasting benefit: We invest in projects that address community needs in meaningful, sustainable ways.
• Knowing one size doesn’t fit all: We are flexible and adapt our support based on the size, type and urgency of need.

The Shannon Community Safety Initiative Grant aims to combat gang and youth violence through a comprehensive strategy involving social intervention, suppression, opportunity provision, organizational change, and community mobilization. With approximately $11.1 million in funding, the initiative supports multi-disciplinary approaches and encourages applicants to allocate more resources to public housing sites. This grant reflects a commitment to enhancing community safety and addressing the root causes of violence effectively.

The ASHRAE Region I Setty Family Foundation Scholarship offers a one-year award for undergraduate mechanical or architectural engineering students attending institutions in ASHRAE Region I or those who graduated from high schools in the area. Eligible candidates must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and meet specific program criteria, promoting excellence in HVAC&R education. This scholarship supports future leaders in the field, ensuring a sustainable built environment.

The JFNY Grant for Arts & Cultural Exchange supports U.S. non-profit organizations aiming to enhance understanding of Japanese arts and culture. Eligible projects include performances, workshops, and exhibitions, with priority given to those with additional funding and in areas with limited access to cultural events. Applications must be submitted at least one month prior for online projects and three months for others. The grant covers expenses like travel, publicity, and artist fees, and is reimbursed upon project completion.

The MGM Resorts Foundation Community Grant Fund supports nonprofit agencies providing essential services in areas such as affordable housing, education, and health. Grants are awarded for a one-year period and focus on regions where MGM Resorts employees live and work. Eligible applicants must comply with diversity policies and serve individuals or families. The foundation does not fund governmental agencies or projects exclusively for medical research. This initiative aims to enhance community well-being through targeted support.

The American Electric Power Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on educational improvement, particularly in STEM fields, and basic human services such as hunger and housing. Organizations must operate within AEP's service territory or have a broader beneficial purpose. The Foundation also supports social justice initiatives and environmental protection efforts. Eligible applicants must affirm compliance with anti-discrimination policies and demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The Wolf Kahn Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations focused on visual arts, enhancing education and artist careers through exhibitions and residencies. Grants range from $5,000 to $15,000, prioritizing projects that promote social justice and environmental awareness. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located in specific regions, while school-based programs and certain other entities are excluded. This initiative honors Wolf Kahn's legacy by fostering artistic collaboration and public engagement.

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) is offering approximately $12 million in grants to enhance the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. Managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. EPA and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), this initiative seeks innovative proposals to support environmental restoration efforts, leveraging major funding from various agencies and foundations.

About PCORI

PCORI funds patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER).

Our Mission

PCORI helps people make informed healthcare decisions, and improves healthcare delivery and outcomes, by producing and promoting high-integrity, evidence-based information that comes from research guided by patients, caregivers, and the broader healthcare community.

Broad Pragmatic Studies PCORI Funding

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) intends to issue a Broad Pragmatic Studies (BPS) PCORI Funding Announcement (PFA), seeking to fund patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) projects. 

Research Initiative Highlights

CER compares at least two available health treatments, services or care delivery strategies. PCORI seeks proposals that compare clinical interventions (e.g., pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments, screening and diagnostic approaches) and healthcare delivery system interventions (e.g., workforce, technologies, healthcare service delivery designs) to evaluate potential benefits and harms of different treatment and care delivery options, thus generating evidence that empowers patients, caregivers and the broader healthcare community with information to make informed choices that reflect their needs and preferences.

Special Areas of Emphasis

For Cycle 2 2026, PCORI is particularly interested in submissions that address the following Special Areas of Emphasis (SAE) within the BPS funding opportunity. The purpose of identifying these SAEs is to encourage submissions to these areas, rather than limiting submissions to these topics. Applicants addressing one of the below SAEs should identify the area that is best associated with their research approach:  

• Addressing Obesity
• Diabetes Prevention, Care and Treatment
• Management of Urogynecological and Pelvic Pain
• Pain Management for Individuals Living With Sickle Cell Disease

In PCORI-funded research, patients and other research partners are expected to meaningfully contribute their lived experience or professional expertise to ensure studies are patient-centered, relevant and useful for healthcare decision making. Applicants must address PCORI’s Foundational Expectations for Partnerships in Research — an evidence-based framework supported by tools and resources to guide effective engagement strategies. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to consider the inclusion of a broad range of patient-centered burdens and economic outcomes. 

Broad Pragmatic Studies PFA: Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3 Study Specifications

PCORI will commit up to $120 million in direct costs through this funding opportunity. This funding opportunity contains three categories for funding:

• Category 1: Category 1 will support research projects with direct costs up to and including $5 million.

• Category 2: Category 2 will support research projects with direct costs greater than $5 million and up to a maximum of $12 million. Applications for funding under Category 2 will be required to provide additional information in the Letter of Intent (LOI) and application to justify the size and scope of the proposed research projects and to explain how additional funds are necessary with respect to the scale, scope and complexity of personnel and material resources needed to address the research question.

• Category 3: Category 3 will support research projects with direct costs up to $12 million that utilize PCORnet® to conduct observational studies and/or pragmatic trials that are national in scale. Category 3 PCORnet Studies® must include two or more Clinical Research Networks and share study progress, performance metrics and best practices with the network to promote continuous learning and improvement. PCORnet Studies® will leverage the PCORnet Common Data Model® as appropriate. Additional details about Category 3 can be found on the PCORI website.  

The Great American Cleanup Grants, offered by Keep America Beautiful, aim to enhance community beautification and environmental efforts across the U.S. This initiative encourages KAB affiliates to remove litter, plant greenery, and restore public spaces, contributing to the larger goal of cleaning up 25 billion pieces of litter by 2026. With cash grants available, this program fosters collaboration among communities, promoting sustainable practices and a cleaner, greener future for all.

The Allison Keller Education Technology Grant Program, established by the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, aims to bridge the technological gap for schools and organizations supporting individuals with autism. Since 2012, over $820,000 has been awarded to enhance learning through technology, including iPads and apps. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and public schools in Massachusetts and surrounding New England states, with one program per district receiving funding annually.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) intends to issue a Broad Pragmatic Studies (BPS) PCORI Funding Announcement (PFA) on Aug. 4, 2026, seeking to fund high-impact, patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) projects. This preannouncement provides potential applicants additional time to identify collaborators; obtain patient and stakeholder input on potential studies; and develop responsive, high-quality applications. 

Patient-centered CER compares at least two available health treatments, services or care delivery strategies. PCORI seeks proposals that compare clinical interventions (e.g., pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments, screening and diagnostic approaches) and healthcare delivery system interventions (e.g., workforce, technologies, healthcare service delivery designs) to evaluate potential benefits and harms of different treatment and care delivery options, thus generating evidence that empowers patients, caregivers and the broader healthcare community with information to make informed choices that reflect their needs and preferences. 

MassDevelopment

MassDevelopment is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' development finance agency and land bank. We partner with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to help Massachusetts grow and thrive. We are committed to achieving three core goals: stimulating business, driving economic growth, and strengthening communities across the state. 

Brownfields Redevelopment Fund

Finances the environmental assessment and remediation of brownfield sites. Eligible applicants include community development corporations, nonprofit organizations, EDICs, and municipalities and their agencies for publicly owned sites with an identified developer. Applicants have a redevelopment project that will commence site work and construction within a short period of time; have a demonstrated immediate funding gap in the development budget; and provide a substantial public benefit to the community they are in by eliminating blight, through the creation of employment or housing opportunities. 

Eligible Projects

Projects eligible for funding through the Rolling Round program include the assessment and/or remediation of environmental contamination when necessary to redevelop vacant, abandoned, or underutilized properties. Above-ground contamination will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may not be used to remediate a building in advance of demolition. Funds may, however, be used for limited demolition to advance additional required environmental testing or assessment.

Remediation Projects

Up to $750,000 is available for site remediation with an eligible scope submitted by a Massachusetts Licensed Site Professional in good standing.

The McNeice Foundation Grant, established by John A. McNeice, Jr., focuses on supporting the Roman Catholic Church and related charitable organizations in Massachusetts. It prioritizes immediate use of funds for educational and medical purposes, emphasizing the development of young people and assistance for the needy. Organizations should demonstrate efficient use of resources with low administrative costs. Awards are rarely granted outside Massachusetts, ensuring local impact and support.

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

The Asia-Pacific region, home to over half the world's population, faces challenges due to its development goals, which strain natural resources, communities, and cultural heritage. These issues are exacerbated by adverse environmental changes. While research has shed light on these problems, it's clear that more challenges lie ahead. The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) is well-positioned to generate new knowledge and solutions for these evolving global change and sustainability issues by supporting collaborative research and scientific capacity development activities, particularly those aimed at training the next generation of early career professionals.

APN 2025 Call for Proposals: CAPaBLE Programmes

CAPaBLE, our scientific capacity development programme, aims to enhance the capacity of scientists, policymakers and practitioners to assess global change issues, and explore options to resolve issues towards achieving sustainability. Through CAPaBLE, we support activities that enhance capacity at individual, organizational and systemic levels.

Activities of interest under the CAPaBLE Programme

APN supports CAPaBLE activities that enhance existing capacities of developing countries at three levels of individual-based capacity development; group, organisation, network-based capacity development; and societies, governance, and system level capacity development. APN accepts CAPaBLE proposals that engage 1 or more member/approved countries. Proposals must address one or more of the following activities:

SCIENTIFIC CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES that promote the following approaches related to one or more of the six thematic areas of APN:

• Utilising and strengthening existing capacity, 
• Creating opportunities to use/instil capacity, 
• Developing new capacity through innovative approaches.

AWARENESS-RAISING AND DISSEMINATION activities through policy- and decision-making communities, civil society, and/or the general public.

SCIENCE-POLICY interfacing in the context of the priority topics.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES that contribute to the capacity development components of the evolving global change arena, including the UNFCCC Paris Agreement, IPCC, IPBES, post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and ongoing and new global change and sustainability research programmes.

Activities geared towards using SCIENCE COMMUNICATION to disseminate knowledge generated from projects, particularly to non-science audiences.

Under the leadership of MassDEP, the Clean Energy Results Program is an integrated energy and environmental partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center  that reduces regulatory or other barriers to clean and energy efficient project development across the state. A cornerstone of this partnership has been the development of a streamlined "Gap" Energy Grant funding model that has helped municipal water utilities reduce their energy usage, operating costs, and improve the environment. This grant program “fills the funding gap” by leveraging incentives from energy utilities and other funding sources to jump-start energy efficiency and clean energy generation projects.

The Career and Technical Education (“CTE”) Capital Annex Grant Pilot Program grant awards resources for career and vocational technical annex facilities on comprehensive high school campuses to provide CTE (chapter 74) programs, including support of capital improvements, space, and other initiatives necessary to build capacity and safely accommodate additional career technical education opportunities.

The Express Health Information Outreach Awards aim to enhance public health by increasing access to biomedical information for U.S. health professionals and the general public. These awards support projects that improve health information literacy among consumers and caregivers, ensuring they can effectively find and utilize health information. Focused on partnerships and outreach to underrepresented communities, the initiative seeks to promote healthy behaviors, prevent illness, and improve health outcomes through informed decision-making.

MassDevelopment

MassDevelopment is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' development finance agency and land bank. We partner with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to help Massachusetts grow and thrive. We are committed to achieving three core goals: stimulating business, driving economic growth, and strengthening communities across the state. 

Brownfields Redevelopment Fund

Finances the environmental assessment and remediation of brownfield sites. Eligible applicants include community development corporations, nonprofit organizations, EDICs, and municipalities and their agencies for publicly owned sites with an identified developer. Applicants have a redevelopment project that will commence site work and construction within a short period of time; have a demonstrated immediate funding gap in the development budget; and provide a substantial public benefit to the community they are in by eliminating blight, through the creation of employment or housing opportunities. 

Eligible Projects

Projects eligible for funding through the Rolling Round program include the assessment and/or remediation of environmental contamination when necessary to redevelop vacant, abandoned, or underutilized properties. Above-ground contamination will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may not be used to remediate a building in advance of demolition. Funds may, however, be used for limited demolition to advance additional required environmental testing or assessment.

Environmental Site Assessment Projects

Up to $250,000 is available for environmental site assessment with an eligible scope submitted by a Massachusetts Licensed Site Professional in good standing.

The Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant supports entry-level athletics administrative positions for one academic year, promoting diversity in NCAA Division II. It provides $30,000 for intern salaries and $3,000 for professional development, benefiting six schools annually from a total budget of $180,000. Eligible applicants must be active NCAA members, with a focus on enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration. This initiative encourages professional growth and compliance in diverse environments.

The M.S.P.A. Grant, offered by the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, provides financial support to projects that enhance agriculture in Massachusetts. With grants ranging from $500 to $25,000, the Society focuses on initiatives that are economically and environmentally sound, promote knowledge of farming, and stimulate research in new areas. Founded in 1792, the Society has a long-standing commitment to advancing agricultural practices and supporting farmers in the region.

The Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Competitive Grants: Exploratory Projects aim to enhance agricultural producers' economic viability through innovative risk management education. Funded by the University of Delaware, these grants offer up to $10,000 for projects that address emerging risk topics or support producer workshops. With an 18-month duration from April 2026 to September 2027, this initiative encourages the development of new educational approaches to better serve the needs of farmers and ranchers.

The Aimlee Laderman Student Grant, offered by the Society for Ecological Restoration, supports emerging professionals in ecological restoration research. Established in 2005, this biennial grant is dedicated to Aimlee Laderman, a founding member of SER-NE. Applicants must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a relevant program, and their work must be completed by August 30, 2024. The next application cycle is anticipated in early 2025.

The Climate Service Corps Grant, offered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), aims to support organizations that provide training and career opportunities in energy efficiency and clean heating for youth ages 18-24, particularly from underserved communities. This grant offers funding of up to $375,000 over two years for implementation and planning of workforce development programs, promoting the growth of the clean energy sector and advancing Massachusetts' climate goals.