Best Grants for Preschools in Massachusetts

The Offshore Wind Works program aims to build a qualified and equitable workforce for the growing offshore wind industry in Massachusetts. By enhancing training capabilities and incorporating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) principles, the program seeks to develop a skilled workforce ready to support the planning, construction, and maintenance of offshore wind projects, ensuring safety and innovation in this vital sector.

The EmPower Massachusetts program, managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, provides crucial funding ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 for innovative projects that enhance clean energy access for underserved communities. This initiative supports capacity building and the exploration of novel solutions, helping organizations implement impactful programs. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, making it easier for communities to engage in clean energy advancements and contribute to the state's climate goals.

About Us

As a tax-exempt, public charity, the SouthCoast Community Foundation offers donors the guidance and flexibility to fulfill their philanthropic goals. We serve a range of charitable individuals, families, and corporations whose main concern is improving the quality of life in our community.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation allocates individual, family, and corporate funds to meet community needs. To date, the organization has distributed over $60 million from more than 200 funds to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations in the region.

Scholarship Resources

The SouthCoast Community Foundation is proud to offer scholarship opportunities to students in our community. We manage one of the largest scholarship programs in our area, with more than $800k awarded to local students each year.

Most SouthCoast Community Foundation scholarships are available through our online scholarship portal. Unless otherwise noted, scholarships are available through the Universal Application, which automatically pairs eligible students with all available scholarships.

Olga R. Sylvia, Manuel Sylvia, and Iria R.S. Sylvia Scholarship Fund

This fund was established to provide scholarships to: One student from NBHS and one from Dartmouth HS who attends or will be attending an institution of higher learning. Scholarships can be renewed yearly. 

About Us

As a tax-exempt, public charity, the SouthCoast Community Foundation offers donors the guidance and flexibility to fulfill their philanthropic goals. We serve a range of charitable individuals, families, and corporations whose main concern is improving the quality of life in our community.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation allocates individual, family, and corporate funds to meet community needs. To date, the organization has distributed over $60 million from more than 200 funds to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations in the region.

Scholarship Resources

The SouthCoast Community Foundation is proud to offer scholarship opportunities to students in our community. We manage one of the largest scholarship programs in our area, with more than $800k awarded to local students each year.

Most SouthCoast Community Foundation scholarships are available through our online scholarship portal. Unless otherwise noted, scholarships are available through the Universal Application, which automatically pairs eligible students with all available scholarships.

The Dr. Norbert P. and Elsie R. Fraga Scholarship

The Dr. Norbert P. and Elsie R. Fraga Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to postgraduate students who have: 1. graduated from New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, or Westport High school, or Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, 2. completed pre-dental or pre-medical studies at accredited college, 3. has an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and 4. been accepted into an accredited dental or medical college or university. 

About Us

As a tax-exempt, public charity, the SouthCoast Community Foundation offers donors the guidance and flexibility to fulfill their philanthropic goals. We serve a range of charitable individuals, families, and corporations whose main concern is improving the quality of life in our community.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation allocates individual, family, and corporate funds to meet community needs. To date, the organization has distributed over $60 million from more than 200 funds to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations in the region.

Scholarship Resources

The SouthCoast Community Foundation is proud to offer scholarship opportunities to students in our community. We manage one of the largest scholarship programs in our area, with more than $800k awarded to local students each year.

Most SouthCoast Community Foundation scholarships are available through our online scholarship portal. Unless otherwise noted, scholarships are available through the Universal Application, which automatically pairs eligible students with all available scholarships.

Thomas O. and Sarah F. Jackson Trust Award

The Thomas O. and Sarah F. Jackson Trust Fund of the SouthCoast Community Foundation provides tuition assistance on an annually rotating basis to graduating Silver Lake, Carver, and Plymouth High School seniors during their first year of college. Recipients must attend either the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or the University of Massachusetts, and preference is given to students majoring in an agricultural course of study.

About Us

As a tax-exempt, public charity, the SouthCoast Community Foundation offers donors the guidance and flexibility to fulfill their philanthropic goals. We serve a range of charitable individuals, families, and corporations whose main concern is improving the quality of life in our community.

The SouthCoast Community Foundation allocates individual, family, and corporate funds to meet community needs. To date, the organization has distributed over $60 million from more than 200 funds to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations in the region.

Scholarship Resources

The SouthCoast Community Foundation is proud to offer scholarship opportunities to students in our community. We manage one of the largest scholarship programs in our area, with more than $800k awarded to local students each year.

Most SouthCoast Community Foundation scholarships are available through our online scholarship portal. Unless otherwise noted, scholarships are available through the Universal Application, which automatically pairs eligible students with all available scholarships.

Westport and Beyond - The Erika Hall Memorial Scholarship

The Erika Hall Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to grant scholarships to Westport High School or Westport residents who graduated from sister schools (i.e., Diman Regional, Bristol County Agricultural, Bishop Connolly, or Bishop Stang High School). All scholarship applicants must be planning on attending a two- or four- year college or university.

About Northeast SARE

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program offers grants and education to farmers, educators, service providers, researchers and others to address key issues affecting the sustainability of agriculture throughout our region.

The program serves Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The program is administered by Northeast SARE's host institution, the University of Vermont.

Farming Community Grant Program

The Northeast SARE Farming Community Grant applies social science research and education projects that strengthen farming and food systems at the community level.

These projects explore innovative approaches to improving the health and sustainability of agricultural communities in the Northeast. This program supports projects that are grounded in community partnerships and informed by the lived experiences of farmers. It encourages collaboration among farmers, service providers, researchers, and nonprofit organizations to co-create solutions that are responsive to local needs and scalable across the region.

This program encourages innovative solutions to challenges in farming and food systems in the Northeast USA, including but not limited to the areas of: Marketing and business; Crop production; Raising livestock; Aquaculture; Economic and social sustainability; Ecological knowledge; Projects related to climate and/or bioenergy work that provide direct or indirect benefits to farmers,ranchers, and private foresters; and more.

Technical Assistance Program

Applicants and grantees of the Farming Community Grant Program are eligible for Technical Assistance (TA) provided by Northeast SARE’s Technical Assistance Providers.

Funding: This grant is reimbursement based; you must spend money to receive the grant funds.

The Albert W. Rice Charitable Foundation Grant supports educational, health, and human services programs for underserved populations in Worcester, MA. Established in 1959, the foundation encourages grant requests for general operating or program support, with special consideration for local organizations. Most grants are for one year, though multi-year support may be awarded on occasion. This commitment aims to enhance the quality of life for those in need within the community.

The Houghton Library Visiting Fellowships support scholars at all career stages in conducting in-depth research on the library's extensive collections. This program encourages innovative scholarship and offers access to Harvard's resources, fostering intellectual collaboration. Successful applicants may also qualify for additional funding through the American Trust for the British Library, but must wait five years before applying again. The program emphasizes the inclusion of underrepresented groups in academia, enhancing diversity within scholarly research.

The EmPower Massachusetts Implementation Grants, offered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), provide funding to enhance energy access for underserved communities. Grants range from $50,000 to $150,000 and are aimed at implementing community-based projects that address energy burdens. This initiative supports innovative solutions and strengthens organizational capacity, ultimately contributing to the Commonwealth’s clean energy goals and fostering equitable access to clean energy benefits.

The Clowes Fund focuses on supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals in New England, particularly in Massachusetts. It offers grants for immigrant services, workforce development, arts education, and K-12 education, with specific priorities for communities with high immigrant populations. Applications are open to first-time grantees and returning organizations, with a strong emphasis on transparency and accessibility in the funding process.

The New England Regional Consortium Fellowships, supported by Harvard University, offer approximately 24 research grants annually across diverse fields such as history, literature, and sociology. These fellowships encourage collaborative projects utilizing resources from multiple cultural agencies. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or foreign nationals with the proper documentation, and itineraries require a minimum of eight weeks, involving at least three member institutions with two weeks spent at each.

KeyBank's Community Grants support tax-exempt organizations that align with the Foundation's funding priorities, focusing on improving community well-being. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, eligible organizations must have an operating budget of at least $100,000 and a minimum of three years in operation. The application process is invitation-only, requiring interested organizations to submit an Expression of Interest for review, typically receiving feedback within 90 days.

Key Bank Philanthropic Support - Community Sponsorships aims to enhance community welfare by providing financial backing to nonprofit organizations. With grants ranging from $500 to $5,000, these sponsorships focus on fundraising events and operational support for initiatives that foster economic inclusion and community growth. Applications are accepted from January to October, with decisions typically made within 90 days, ensuring timely support for impactful local projects.

The Cora Du Bois Fellowship, offered by the Cora Du Bois Charitable Trust and Harvard University's Tozzer Library, supports advanced Ph.D. students who have completed all requirements except their dissertation. This fellowship enhances research through access to the Tozzer Library's resources. It is open to both Harvard and non-Harvard students in Anthropology or related fields, providing funding for two, six, or twelve months, with the expectation that fellows will complete their dissertation by the end of the funding period.

The Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation Grant, established in 1959, seeks to address crucial issues in criminal and juvenile justice systems, particularly in Massachusetts. The foundation prioritizes funding for research, innovative reintegration programs for offenders, and effective community collaboration models. Grants support new projects, proven initiatives, and organizations with a strong track record. Requests for funding are due by February 1st, with decisions made by May 31st, ensuring timely support for impactful projects.

The Innovation Ecosystem Program (IEP) offers grants to Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) in Massachusetts, aiming to support early-stage climatetech entrepreneurs. The program features two tracks: Track 1 provides up to $120,000 for programming support, while Track 2 includes the same amount plus access to a fellowship funding pool of up to $900,000. This initiative focuses on enhancing startup programs and advancing research translation into viable climatetech businesses.

The Point32Health Foundation Grant focuses on advancing equity in aging by providing multi-year, general operating grants to nonprofits in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The foundation emphasizes collaboration with community organizations to address systemic inequities and improve health outcomes for older adults. Grant applications are accepted at various times, with specific deadlines for advocacy and social justice projects. The foundation seeks to honor the voices of those most affected by inequities.

Creating Health Access for Next Generation Equity (CHANGE) Grant Program

Launched in 2023, the AstraZeneca Foundation’s signature Creating Health Access for Next Generation Equity (CHANGE) program works to improve access to quality healthcare.

Beginning April 1, 2026, the AstraZeneca Foundation will accept grant requests of $200,000 - $220,000 for review and consideration for its next cohort of CHANGE grant awardees. Organizations receiving funding in 2026 may be considered for renewed funding on an annual basis for two additional years, contingent upon meeting objectives, funding availability and approval by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

The intent of the grants is to provide general operating support for organizations working in innovative, collaborative ways at the community level to help improve access to quality healthcare in their community during the grant year and beyond. Our aim is for funded organizations to maximize the benefit to community members and community-based organizations and to work toward continuing their services beyond potential AstraZeneca Foundation funding.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Purpose

The purpose of this continuation grant is to support districts in completing the implementation of rigorous, engaging, and standards-aligned digital literacy and computer science (DLCS) education in public schools for kindergarten through grade 12. This grant will continue the DLCS implementation work from the FY25 and FY26 CS Engage Grants. This grant represents the final phase of the CS Engage initiative and focuses on completing implementation and supporting sustainable DLCS programming beyond the grant period.

Districts who received funding for the FC0126 CS Engage Grant are eligible for this continuation grant. They have planned and implemented CS education for at least one grade span (3–5 or 6–8). This continuation grant will build on that work by supporting districts in expanding their DLCS planning and implementation to include additional grade spans.

Best practices for DLCS planning and implementation include the creation of a district team to enact the changes needed to create rigorous, inclusive, and sustainable K–12 DLCS education.

To participate in this grant, districts will form a District Team to include at least:

• one district administrator,
• one school leader for the FY27 grade span, and
• one DLCS teacher for the FY27 grade span.

The FY27 team's school leader and DLCS teacher must be from the selected grade span. The district administrator may remain the same.

During the FY27 grant period, educators from the district team will:

• Attend summer curriculum PD (up to 5 days) as well as school-year follow-up PD for select curriculum.
  • Educators attending PD will receive stipends
• Use funding to purchase classroom devices (excluding student computers) associated with the selected curriculum for educators who attended the relevant summer curriculum PD.
• Receive stipends or substitute reimbursement for up to four (4) curriculum planning days for educators who attended the relevant summer curriculum PD

Priorities:

This grant supports the creation of new programs and/or expansion of existing programs to serve more students who are the most underserved (including but not limited to students designated as economically disadvantaged, English language learners, special education, underrepresented races/ethnicities, underrepresented females, and those living in rural areas).

Fund Use

This continuation grant will provide funding as well as hands-on support from Department specialists and a Professional Development Coordinator for recipients to accomplish the activities listed in the Purpose section of this RFP.

Funds from this grant must be used in alignment with the purpose and priorities outlined and as described in the budget and application narrative questions that are submitted with the application.

Teachers who participated in previous grant years are eligible to attend extension workshops to support their ongoing implementation. The following uses for the funds may be included in the budget.

• Funds may be used for curriculum PD for educators in July 2026 who will be implementing the selected curriculum in SY26-27.
  • Only comprehensive curriculum included in the Digital Literacy and Computer Science Curriculum Guide for Massachusetts Districts will be eligible. This funding may include:
    • Curriculum PD workshop cost
    • Stipends for eligible educators who complete the PD at $200 per full day
    • Travel costs for teachers who attend
• Funds may be used for DLCS computing devices for district-selected curriculum that requires the devices (e.g., micro:bits, robots) as well as associated storage materials, construction materials, project materials, and accessories (such as servos, sensors, and other components).
  • This funding is only available for teachers who complete the summer curriculum PD. This funding may include:
    • Maximum $1,500 per teacher who meets eligibility (pending funding)
• Funds may be used for school year follow-up PD, from September to December 31, 2026, which is required by select curricula. This funding may include:
  • Maximum four (4) days of stipends at $200 per full day
• Funds may be used for stipends or substitute reimbursement for up to four (4) curriculum planning days for those teachers and coaches / curriculum leaders who complete the summer curriculum PD from September to December 31, 2026.
• Funds may be used for stipends/salary for the District Team Point of Contact. The District Team Point of Contact maintains the plan and other grant artifacts in an accessible location, collects and reports data, and manages communication with DESE, the Grant Evaluator, and the PD Coordinator. For this role, plan for 1–2 hours/month for the 6 months of the grant.

Grant funding may only be used for stipends for work outside of work hours.

Funding:

Approximately $200,000 is available.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

The initial level of funding could change during the year based on changes in the awarded program (e.g., scope, course, follow-up activities, number of participants, or number of course(s)). The grant budget may be amended up or down to reflect the program changes. Grant recipients are required to contact the program liaison to discuss any proposed change to the awarded program.

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.

The EDA Philadelphia FY 2016–FY 2019 Planning Program and Local Technical Assistance Program aims to enhance regional economic development by providing grants for creating and implementing Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). This initiative supports eligible organizations, including Indian Tribes and District Organizations, to develop plans that foster economic prosperity and job retention in distressed areas. Through various investments, the program strengthens local capacities for effective economic development and job creation.

The Grants for Creative Individuals program by the Mass Cultural Council offers unrestricted $5,000 grants to support artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners in Massachusetts. This initiative aims to promote creativity and cultural expression across diverse disciplines while ensuring equitable access. The grants are awarded based on a review process that prioritizes geographic diversity and the needs of historically underfunded communities. Eligible applicants must be 18+, residents of Massachusetts, and not enrolled in full-time education.

The Woodberry Poetry Room Creative Fellowship invites diverse creators, including poets, writers, and scholars, to engage with its extensive collections. Funded by the T.S. Eliot Foundation, recipients receive a $5,000 stipend and a one-week residency at the T.S. Eliot House in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The fellowship promotes inclusivity and welcomes applications from individuals of all nationalities, fostering creative exploration and collaboration in a supportive environment.

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 Booth Ferris Foundation's Higher Education Grant Program offers crucial capacity-building support to eligible higher education institutions in New York State, requiring an annual budget exceeding $1 million. Established in 1957, the Foundation has contributed over $425 million to various charitable causes. This program focuses on enhancing institutional effectiveness and sustainability, ensuring that organizations can thrive and serve their communities effectively. Note that the Foundation does not fund requests from individual schools or certain types of support.

The Asian Community Fund (ACF) at the Boston Foundation is dedicated to supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Massachusetts. Launched in 2020, it provides grants for general operating support to eligible nonprofit organizations. With grant sizes typically between $5,000 and $15,000, ACF emphasizes projects that foster visibility, collaboration, and advocacy, prioritizing underrepresented AAPI ethnicities and organizations with smaller budgets.