Best Grants for Preschools in Massachusetts

The Ralph J. Torraco Scholarship for Special Education, offered by the UNICO Foundation, provides two scholarships of $2,500 each for U.S. students pursuing degrees in Special Education. Eligible candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and plan to continue their studies into the 2026-2027 academic year. This scholarship supports students with various disabilities, ensuring that education is accessible and equitable for all.

The George I. Alden Trust offers a Higher Education Grant aimed at supporting independent colleges and universities in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The Trust prioritizes capital needs to enhance the educational experience, approving grants up to $100,000 for first-time applicants. Eligible institutions must have a minimum of 1,000 full-time undergraduate students and demonstrate a commitment to educational excellence and effective administration.

The George I. Alden Trust offers grants to YMCAs in Massachusetts, reflecting founder George Alden's enduring commitment to the organization. The Trust prioritizes capital projects and primarily provides outright grants, while occasionally offering challenge grants to enhance philanthropic support. Eligible applicants include Massachusetts YMCAs, with specific policies governing application frequency and eligibility after rejection. The Trust's mission is to serve the community, ensuring that educational and charitable initiatives thrive.

The Autism Community Impact Grant by the Flutie Foundation supports not-for-profit organizations that enhance the lives of individuals and families affected by autism. In 2023, the grant focuses on underserved and culturally diverse communities, funding programs that make an immediate impact. Eligible projects include educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities, as well as support services. The Foundation encourages applications that serve those profoundly affected by autism, aiming to improve their quality of life.

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 Robert J. Tarte Scholarship for Italian Studies, offered by the UNICO Foundation, supports students of Italian descent pursuing a major or minor in Italian Studies or Language. Valued at $1,000, this scholarship is awarded to full-time undergraduate students attending accredited institutions in the U.S. Eligible applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and continue their studies through the 2026-2027 academic year, with preference given to those demonstrating financial need.

The Encova Foundation of West Virginia is dedicated to improving communities by supporting local causes that align with the values of its associates and policyholders. They focus on health, education, and wellness, emphasizing the importance of children's success. Organizations applying for grants must be U.S.-based and verified as charitable. Preference is given to initiatives impacting health and education, especially those involving Encova associates as active participants.

The Guglielmo Marconi Engineering Scholarship, offered by UNICO Foundation, provides $1,250 to students of Italian descent pursuing engineering degrees in various disciplines. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens, enrolled full-time in accredited programs, and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. This scholarship not only supports academic achievement but also promotes the heritage and contributions of the Italian American community, continuing UNICO's legacy of service and support.

The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, awarded by Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, supports first and second-year medical students conducting research over 2 to 12 months. With a total funding of $7,000, students can receive reimbursement for travel expenses up to $1,000 for presenting their findings at national conferences. Eligibility requires enrollment in schools with active AΩA chapters, while those taking a year off for research or holding a PhD are ineligible.

The Commonwealth Hydropower Grant aims to enhance energy output from small hydropower facilities in Massachusetts, promoting modernization and environmental sustainability. With a funding pool of $300,000, the program supports feasibility studies and construction projects that improve energy efficiency or capacity. Eligible applicants include commercial, industrial, and non-profit entities that can demonstrate control over project sites and water rights. This initiative focuses on generating local clean energy while providing economic benefits to Massachusetts communities.

The Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP) aims to support small- and medium-sized manufacturers in modernizing their operations and adopting new technologies. This initiative, managed by the Mass Tech Collaborative, provides grant funding and accelerator support to help eligible businesses navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape. By conducting thorough assessments, the program identifies effective capital investments to meet the specific needs of participating manufacturers, fostering economic growth and job creation in Massachusetts.

Project Lead The Way is offering a rolling grant opportunity for schools across the US to implement the PLTW Gateway program for the first time. With total funding of $9,100, the grant covers participation fees and training registration costs. Schools, including public, private, and charter, are encouraged to apply, particularly those serving low-income and minority majority populations. This initiative aims to enhance educational pathways in STEM for diverse student groups.

Summary

Through this Request for Proposals (“RFP”), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“MassCEC”) is offering Students and Young Adults Equity Workforce Career Awareness and Training Grants. The Grants help provide direct funding and technical assistance support to organizations interested in career awareness and training programming focused on supporting students1 and young adults who are part of one or more of the following populations:

• Individuals from Environmental Justice (“EJ”) Neighborhoods or low-income communities;
• Members of federally recognized or state-acknowledged tribes;
• Members of underrepresented communities in the clean energy workforce; and
• Current or former workers from the fossil fuel industry (“Fossil Fuel Workers”).

Strand A: Clean Energy Career Awareness, Career Exploration, Career Navigation, and Preparedness

Strand B: Career Pathway Training with Work-based or Learning-based Opportunities

Strand C: Planning and Capacity Grants for Career Awareness or Career Pathways Training 

The Music Drives Us Performance Grant supports talented musicians in New England by providing funding for free concert series in schools, after-school programs, and public spaces. With a mission to enhance music education, the grant allows musicians to receive compensation for their time and expenses while delivering educational experiences to underserved communities. Organizations can apply for grants up to $10,000, ensuring that music remains an accessible and enriching part of children's lives.

The Music Drives Us Instrument Grant supports schools and nonprofit organizations in New England by providing instruments for music education. This initiative aims to foster musical opportunities in underserved communities, ensuring that children have access to quality music programs. Eligible applicants include public and private schools, charter schools, hospitals, and community centers, allowing for a broad impact on the musical landscape. Grants provide brand-new instruments, enhancing the educational experience for future musicians.

The Music Drives Us Organizational Grant, offered by the Boch Family Foundation, aims to enhance music education across New England. This grant supports organizations that use music as an educational tool, particularly those facing funding cuts. With a maximum award of $10,000, it is designed for a variety of institutions including schools, hospitals, and community centers, ensuring that music opportunities are accessible to all age groups and backgrounds.

The CRSI Foundation offers an Undergraduate Scholarship Program designed for senior-level students majoring in Civil or Architectural Engineering. This program includes five regional scholarships and six named scholarships, awarded through the CRSI network. Eligible candidates must be pursuing their Bachelor’s Degrees and demonstrate a commitment to the steel reinforced concrete industry. The scholarships aim to support students who are focused on careers in structural engineering.

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides leadership, oversight, funding, support, and accountability for the Commonwealth's approximately 400 school districts that educate close to 1 million public school children each year. We also oversees programs that serve 20,000 adult learners each year.

Civics Teaching and Learning

The purpose of this competitive grant program is to support teaching and learning related to civics, as required by Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018 and emphasized in the 2018 History and Social Science Framework.

This grant supports LEAs to develop and/or select curriculum materials, implement professional development, and design other enriching learning experiences intended to further students' civic knowledge, skills and dispositions. LEAs may propose to collaborate with vendors to support this work. Proposals may include interdisciplinary elements or other opportunities for civic learning beyond the history/social science classroom.

In addition, the grant supports implementation of grade 8 and high school civics projects, the hosting of local civics project showcases, participation in the Massachusetts Civics Project Showcases, and other enrichment activities focused on meaningful civic learning.

For details about the civics projects and other civics instructional information, please visit Civics.

This grant is structured as a two-year program. LEAs awarded funding in FY27 (Year 1) and contingent upon available funds and satisfactory progress awardees may apply only for continuation funding in FY28 (Year 2) to support the next phase of their projects. Continuation funding is not guaranteed. Contingent upon available funds, a new cohort of LEAs may be selected through the FY28 competitive RFP process. FY27 awardees will not be eligible to apply under the new FY28 competitive RFP.

Priorities

DESE seeks to fund civics teaching and learning initiatives that exemplify:

• Equity. Grant-funded projects should increase all students' access to high-quality civics education experiences and work to address historical inequities where they exist. In addition, projects should provide students with culturally and linguistically sustaining learning experiences that value and affirm their identities and linguistic resources, center student and community agency, and develop students' critical perspectives. Supports for multilingual learners should be developed in alignment with the 2020 WIDA English Language Development Framework.

• Sustainability. Grant-funded projects should take steps toward long-term enhancements to civics education, including, but not limited to, the development of supportive instructional leadership structures. Investments such as professional development for educators or acquisition of needed instructional materials can provide benefits long past the period of this grant, as opposed to "one-off" activities.

• Civic deeper learning. Grant-funded projects should help students master civic knowledge, skills and dispositions, appropriate to grade-level standards, through creative agency and opportunities to actively "do civics." Civic action should be student-led and meaningful to students as individuals, with relevance to their identities and lived experiences. Civic learning should be an integrated part of the larger curriculum, not isolated experiences, lessons, or units.

This program supports the expansion of emergency care and assistance for survivors of human trafficking during the 2026 FIFA World Cup events.

Through this opportunity, the Office of Grants and Research is making funds available to Massachusetts-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that specialize in providing emergency care and assistance for survivors of human trafficking. 

Throughout the months of June and July, over 2 million visitors are expected to visit Massachusetts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup games and related events. These events, accompanied by an influx of tourists from around the world, are expected to heighten the risk of trafficking-related activity.  

This state funding is intended as emergency supplemental support to help organizations secure the additional staff and resources needed to respond to increased referrals from first responders, hotel staff, ride‑share drivers, and others assisting potential human trafficking victims, as well as individuals seeking services themselves.

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 New England Dance Fund Grant supports choreographers in New England by offering $500 to $1,000 for opportunities that advance their careers. This grant prioritizes diversity in artistic expression across various backgrounds and disciplines. Eligible applicants must maintain a Creative Ground profile and reside in one of the six New England states. The fund aims to empower artists through diverse opportunities such as residencies, workshops, and mentorships, fostering growth in the regional dance landscape.

The Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grants support municipalities in enhancing recycling, composting, and waste reduction initiatives. Through the Recycling Dividends Program (RDP), eligible cities and towns can receive funding by implementing effective waste management policies. This program encourages local efforts to divert waste from landfills, thus promoting sustainable practices and environmental responsibility. MassDEP evaluates applications based on established criteria, ensuring that communities meet the necessary standards for funding.

The FJ Brotherton Charitable Trust Grant aims to support charitable organizations, focusing on arts, education, and social services primarily in the northeastern United States. Established in 2024, the Trust continues the legacy of the Fred J. Brotherton Charitable Foundation. It emphasizes funding for programs that assist the needy or disabled, while adhering to strict eligibility criteria, including a requirement for tax-exempt status under I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3).

The Barr Foundation's Education Program is dedicated to transforming public high school experiences across New England, emphasizing excellence and equity for all students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. By supporting innovative models, investing in a skilled educator workforce, and fostering community engagement, the program aims to ensure that every student is well-prepared for their future. The Foundation prioritizes partnerships with public schools and organizations committed to these goals.

The Barr Foundation's Climate Grants program is committed to addressing climate change through equitable solutions that prioritize communities impacted by environmental injustices. With a focus on clean energy, mobility, and resilience, the program aims to foster an inclusive movement that supports diverse voices and builds capacity among organizations led by people of color. The initiative emphasizes collaboration and innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for climate impacts.

The Agricultural Climate Resiliency & Efficiencies (ACRE) Program is a competitive grant initiative aimed at assisting Massachusetts farmers in adopting practices that mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture. By providing reimbursement for materials and labor, the program enhances economic resilience and supports environmental sustainability. Eligible applicants must be engaged in commercial agriculture and have actively managed their properties for at least three years. Innovative proposals that improve soil health and conserve resources are especially encouraged.

The Agricultural Composting Improvement Grant Program (ACIP) aims to enhance agricultural composting operations by providing funding for equipment and facility upgrades. Eligible projects can receive up to 75% of total costs, capped at $75,000. This initiative supports sustainable practices in farming by improving compost management and facilitating on-farm compost use. Interested applicants should refer to the Climate Smart Agriculture Program for application details.