About the Fund

The Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) is a capital grant program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund offers grants to help nonprofit cultural organizations plan for, renovate, expand, and repair their facilities. CFF grants help increase contributions from private funding sources. The Fund is a landmark investment in the infrastructure of our state’s cultural resources.

Cultural Facilities Fund 2023 Grant Cycle

Over $9 million will be awarded to support repairs, renovations, new construction, and acquisition of facilities. Planning grants are also available for analysis, design, and feasibility studies that relate to a cultural facility.

This year, we are encouraging cultural organizations to consider ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their facilities, and to align with the Commonwealth’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.  (Please note: applicants may apply for a Feasibility & Technical Assistance Grant in tandem with a Capital Grant, if it is for the purpose of planning for the reduction of carbon emissions.)

Grant Categories

• Capital Grants: For the acquisition, design, construction, repair, renovation, rehabilitation or other capital improvements or deferred maintenance of a cultural facility. Any of the following would qualify for consideration under this description:
• New construction.
• Additions to an existing structure.
• Renovations or repairs to an existing structure.
• Fixed/integrated equipment.
• Any combination of the above.
• Feasibility & Technical Assistance Grants (FTA): For costs and expenses related to overall planning and feasibility for a proposed eligible project.
• Systems Replacement Plan Grants (SRP): These are a specific type of Feasibility and Technical Assistance Grant specifically designed for organizations without full-time maintenance staff. The SRP is a 20-year capital needs assessment of the building and its mechanical systems.

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.

About Us

The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation supports a variety of nonprofit organizations seeking to improve the quality of life for those residing in Hampden County, with particular focus in the areas of education and early literacy.

The Foundation’s investments in the community are designed to improve outcomes and life prospects for our region’s youngest citizens through strategic supports in the critical areas of early childhood and education PreK-16.

Capacity Building Grants

A grant awarded to an organization to assist in supporting and/or improving their work and operations with a focus typically in the areas of strategic planning, fiscal systems review, board development, staff development, diversifying revenue streams, etc.

Areas of Funding

The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation considers funding requests from nonprofit organizations based in or working in Hampden County Massachusetts in the following areas:

• Early Education (Birth to 5)
• Primary Education (K-12)
• Higher Education
• Education Policy
• Health
• Social Services
• Arts

NOTE: Organizations that are new to the Foundation are strongly encouraged to contact us directly to set up a brief introductory meeting.

Areas of Funding

The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation primarily considers funding requests from nonprofit organizations based in or working in Hampden County, Massachusetts that address needs in the following areas:

• Early Education (Birth to 5)
• Primary Education (K-12)
• Higher Education
• Education Policy
• Health
• Social Services
• Arts

Funding requests are considered for:

General Operating Funding

General Operating funding is awarded to help support an organization’s general operating costs and overhead rather than a particular project or initiative.

Capital Funding

Capital funding is awarded to support the purchase, construction, or renovation of a property, land and/or capital assets associated with the organization and the communities it supports.

Program Funding

Program funding is awarded to support a specific program, project, or initiative to be implemented by the organization with the goal of achieving measurable and meaningful projected outcomes.

Capacity Building Funding

Capacity Building funding is awarded to support and/or improve an organization’s work and operations. These awards typically focus on the areas of strategic planning, fiscal systems review, board development, staff development, diversifying revenue streams, etc.

Emergency Funding

Emergency funding is awarded to assist an organization in a time of unexpected and sudden need. These requests are reviewed as quickly as possible, typically within two weeks, of receipt.

Mission

The Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation was established in 1973. The Foundation's 3 primary focus areas reflect Mr. Balfour's strong affinity for the employees of the Balfour Company, his commitment to the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and his lifelong interest in education. Specifically, the Balfour Foundation supports:

• Educational scholarships to employees of the Balfour Company, as well as to their children and grandchildren
• Organizations serving the people of Attleboro, with special consideration given to those organizations that provide educational, human services and health care programming for underserved populations
• Educational organizations that serve New England

Focus Area

Educational Organizations

The Foundation's educational funding is generally focused on organizations or programs that provide support for underserved or under-represented populations to prepare for, access and succeed in higher education, including 2-year and 4-year institutions.

It is clear that Mr. Balfour was interested in supporting students for successful completion of college. As such, the Foundation focuses its grantmaking in the New England area on programs that support college readiness, access, and success. The Foundation is most interested in programs that support students all the way into and through post-secondary credential attainment (2- or 4-year credentials). Programs within institutions of higher education aimed at attracting, supporting, and retaining (through successful completion) under-served and under-represented populations are also of interest. In this area, we will consider applications that request scholarship funds, if those scholarships are part of a broader set of services and supports.

NOTE: First-time applicants must register before starting an application. You will be asked to take a brief quiz to assess your eligibility before you begin. Potential applicants are also encouraged to contact us before submitting an application to determine whether your organization and proposed project are eligible for consideration.

Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation

We are a private family foundation awarding grants of approximately $17 million a year. We focus our work in Greater Boston and select Gateway Cities in Eastern Massachusetts.

Our Mission

Our mission is to effect permanent positive change in the lives of individuals and families across Greater Boston, especially in economically disadvantaged communities.

We invest in organizations that improve human health, raise educational attainment, increase economic security, and meet community needs.

We believe in engaged, multigenerational family philanthropy as a means to have greater impact and to honor our family’s philanthropic legacy.

Small Capital Grants

Our Small Capital Grants program provides $10,000 to $50,000 grants for one-time capital expenses that strengthen a nonprofit’s ability to serve its clients and achieve its mission.

This support is particularly valuable because nonprofits can find it difficult to make these investments through their operating budgets.

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.

About Us

Since its founding in 1997, Horizon Foundation has funded non-profit organizations that meet the mission goals in places where our trustees live and work. Grant funding concentrates on building organizational and community-wide effectiveness, developing opportunities, raising aspirations, and generally making a positive and lasting difference.

Our Mission

Horizon Foundation supports non-profit organizations that aspire to create and maintain sustainable, vibrant and resilient communities by:

• Enabling children and adults to lead their communities in creative, healthy and thoughtful ways;
• Educating citizens to be good stewards of the environment;
• Conserving land and water resources;
• Encouraging service to others;
• Promoting visual arts and music, and;
• Teaching appreciation of and preserving historic assets.

Outside of Maine

Outside of Maine, Horizon is particularly focused on identifying and supporting organizations that:

• Encourage learning in the classroom and beyond;
• Help to build self-esteem;
• Motivate individuals to reach for higher levels of educational proficiency and competency, and;
• Strive to increase the number of safe places for children to learn, share, and ultimately become stronger leaders for the future.

Outside of Maine, our grants will support organizations that strive to keep educational opportunities vital and operational by maintaining critical connections through distance learning as well as in person.

Grant Size

Horizon generally will make grants in the $5,000 to $20,000 range, with an average grant size of about $12,500. While many grants will be for onetime projects, multi-year support will be considered. The Foundation will consider proposals for both challenge or matching grants, and encourages collaborative efforts with other grant makers.

Nordson Corporation Foundation Grant

The Nordson Corporation Foundation awards grants to non-profits in our communities throughout the United States. Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants to improve the quality of life in our communities, placing a special focus on causes related to education. Employees support the foundation by making donations during our annual A Time to Give Campaign, or by participating in a Community Affairs Committee (CAC). Committees review grant applications and vote to distribute Foundation funds to deserving local causes. During the last financial year, the Foundation gave out 362 grants totaling $6.3 million.

Nordson Foundation Giving Strategies

The geographic areas in which Nordson has major facilities determine the Nordson Foundation's giving priorities. 

Within these geographic areas, granting priorities are driven by community needs. Although needs change quickly, our vision is long term. We pursue and support results-oriented opportunities that prepare individuals for full and equal participation in the economic and social mainstream. We believe these kinds of programs help improve the quality of life over the long term and produce stronger, more enlightened communities in which we live and work. We strive to fulfill these responsibilities in our communities through contributions to charitable activities with a focus on education. Other major giving categories that are supported are human welfare, civic affairs and arts and culture. 

Nordson Foundation Values 

In the spirit of our corporate founders, the Nordson Corporation Foundation continues to operate on the belief that business, as a corporate citizen, has a social responsibility to share its success with the communities where it operates and draws employees.  

The Nordson Foundation is dedicated to improving our communities by supporting the continuum of education from birth to adulthood in the belief that education is the key for individuals to become self-sufficient, productive members of society.  

To prepare individuals for economic independence, a variety of quality educational experiences are necessary. To be successful today, individuals not only need to master the basics, “reading, writing and arithmetic”, they must also know how to think critically and creatively. Strengthening the community’s human capital – through quality education – is crucial.  

The Nordson Foundation offers support to non-profit organizations that cultivate educational curriculum and experiences that foster self-sufficiency, job readiness and goals to aspire to higher education. The Foundation is well aware of the fact that for non-profit organizations to remain viable they must receive operating support. With this in mind, Nordson Corporation Foundation does invest in general operating support.  

As stewards of the Foundation assets, the directors feel strongly that the organizations that are supported by the Foundation be able to measure the effectiveness of their mission and programs. Quantitative and/or qualitative data allows for the Foundation to ensure that the organizations it supports are bringing about the desired outcomes in our communities.

Nordson Foundation Goals

The goals of the Nordson Corporation Foundation are to insure that:

All children have access to and receive quality educational experiences from early childhood  

• All individuals have the opportunity to be self-sufficient members of society 
• There is a continuum of quality educational opportunities 
• Our communities are strengthened by the organizations we fund whether their focus is education, human welfare, civic or arts and culture

Nordson Foundation Funding Strategy

Through its grant-making, the Foundation supports organizations that directly or indirectly seek to maximize success before, during and beyond the traditional classroom years. 

Education

• Early Childhood Care and Education
• Maximizing Student Success
• Access to quality educational opportunities
• Innovative programs
• Partnerships/collaborations with school districts
• Funding gaps not covered by public monies
• Augmenting core curriculum
• Exposure to programs that expand on traditional education
• Workforce Preparation
• Initial preparation for the world of work
• Retraining for the new job market
• Strengthening our communities

Grants will be reviewed and considered on the basis of their enrichment to the communities where our employees live and work.  

Human Welfare

• Promote prevention and lifestyle maintenance programs and activities
• Promote crisis intervention
• Promote life transition opportunities
• Promote systemic change

Arts and Culture

Actively seek to broaden the audience bases in Nordson communities

• Support the visual and performing arts
• Provide educational enrichment for students
• Motivation for at-risk youth
• Provide access to the arts for special needs audience
• Promote greater understanding among people via the arts

Civic

• Work to improve the physical or economic environment
• Provide cultural or historical preservation
• Strive to inform citizens and increase their participation in community improvement

Organizations and programs receiving grants will be expected to identify relevant, measurable outcomes to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs.

New Hampshire

Includes

• New Hampshire Cities: Salem, Nashua, and Manchester;
• Massachusetts Cities: Lowell, Chelmsford, Billerica, Dracut, Tewksbury, Haverhill, and Lawrence