Best Small Grants for Nonprofits in Massachusetts

Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The FCIDD was founded for the purpose of providing support to organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Mission Statement: The Foundation supports organizations which enhance the lives of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities by promoting research, projects, education and advocacy. 

Nonprofit Project Grants

The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD) funds 501(c)(3) organizations working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages, primarily in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. 

Funding Priorities

• Grants will be awarded for the purpose of primarily benefiting, including, or increasing accessibility for individuals with intellectual or development disabilities.
• Grants may be awarded for scholarships or training personnel in the care and education of individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. 
• Grants shall mainly be distributed to a Charity whose primary purpose or whose project is to support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A Charity which has a project to benefit individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities based on financial need shall be awarded the grant money based upon its own objective criteria and without any special preference to members of Civitan or members of their family.

Grant Categories

A grant application typically fits into one of the following categories: Accessibility & Engagement; Educational Spaces; Program Area Improvements; Outreach and Education 

Accessibility & Engagement

For museums, parks, other public spaces without a specific I/DD focus wanting to make property or equipment improvements and additions to better include visitors with I/DD.

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 Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, established in 1936, aims to support research into human disease and improve treatments. It offers funding for postdoctoral fellows and clinician scientists in advanced stages of their training in basic, preclinical, and clinical research. This program fosters the development of independent investigators in biomedical research, particularly in health services and population health, helping them achieve their career goals.

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 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.

The Haymarket People's Fund offers Urgent Response Grants of up to $5,000 for grassroots organizations in New England to address unforeseen crises or opportunities. These grants support both urban and rural social justice efforts and do not require 501(c)3 status. Priority is given to organizations led by people of color that incorporate anti-racism values. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis after a preliminary conversation with Haymarket staff.

Assistive Technology Grant -  Allison Keller Education Technology Program

Realizing the gains that many people with autism have achieved using the iPad, the Allison Keller Education Technology Program was created in honor of Flutie Foundation Board Member Kevin Lane Keller's daughter Allison. The goal of the program is to help fill the financial and technological gap for schools and 501(c)3 organizations that assist individuals with autism.Applications will be considered for any technology tools and/or training that improve learning outcomes or performance. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Tablets & Accessories
• Apps
• Smartboards
• Laptops
• Technology Training
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational activities & access to STEM studies

The Flutie Foundation is seeking innovative partners who are using technology to address real needs facing the autism community. One program per public school district is eligible to be awarded an Allison Keller Education Technology grant annually.

The Luther I. Replogle Foundation Grant supports organizations in metro areas like Boston and Washington, DC, focusing on youth, women with children, and those in long-term poverty. Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000, emphasizing mental health, vocational training, and educational services. First-time applicants are welcome, but the foundation prioritizes innovative programs with annual expenses under $1 million. Certain areas, such as religious activities and for-profit businesses, are not funded.

The Marvin R. and Pearl E. Patterson Family Fund Scholarship, offered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, supports students aspiring to study graphic or fine arts, as well as those interested in environmental sciences. Open to high school graduates from the Tri-Cities area, this scholarship considers leadership, community involvement, and academic achievements, although financial need is not a requirement. Applicants must provide transcripts and relevant documents to qualify for this opportunity.

The Robert J. Mullen Charitable Trust, established in 1998, supports nonprofits in Massachusetts that aid disabled children, older adults, and protect animals. With an application deadline of June 1, grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, focusing on operating support or program needs. Organizations are encouraged to apply, especially those dedicated solely to the Trust's mission, with grant decisions communicated by the end of September.

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.

MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (FRESH)

Purpose

The purpose of this state funded competitive grant program is to encourage National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and Child Adult Food Care Program (CACFP) sponsors to start or expand their capacity to grow or procure local food and educate students, teachers, school nutrition professionals and staff about the local food system. Furthermore, this grant seeks to connect food system education to the availability of local foods served in school or early education meal programs through strategic planning and investment in internal staff positions and/or external partnerships.

Funding

Applicant proposals must be submitted in one of the following categories. Only one application will be accepted per Child Nutrition Program sponsor. Sponsors of both the NSLP and CACFP may only submit one application for consideration.

Applicants may apply for funding in one of the five following categories:

• New K–12 Farm to School Initiative Grants
• New Farm to Early Education Initiative Grants

["New" farm to school/early education initiatives engage in none or only one of the farm to school three "C's": Classroom (such as curriculum and school garden engagement), Cafeteria (such as local menu offerings) and Community (such as farm field trips or non-profit food system partnerships). Applicants that have been dormant in all farm to school activities for the last three years also qualify as "new."]

• Expanding K–12 Farm to School Initiative Grants
• Expanding Farm to Early Education Initiative Grants
• MA FRESH CORP Planning Grant

Fund Use

The program is designed to support K–12 and early education programs in food literacy initiatives that connect local food system education to the availability of local foods served in school or early education meal programs. Applicants will be asked to indicate all activities their MA FRESH application seeks to fund. Project activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Building a new garden for children
• Building a new indoor growing operation for children
• Developing classroom curriculums or lesson plans that support food literacy efforts
• Expanding in-school or child care programming to promote food literacy for children through gardening, cooking, taste tests and more
• Field trip(s) to local farm/food producers
• Expanding before/after school/child care programming that supports food literacy, and exposure to local foods for children and families
• Completing farm to school strategic planning, including the development of an action plan, job description(s) for food literacy coordination, or a scope of work for a contractor to cultivating program structures that elevate internal staff capacity in food literacy
• Professional development and training for educators to bring food literacy activities or curriculum to their classrooms
• Professional development and training for school nutrition professionals to integrate local, unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients into program meals
• Funds can only be used to fund new staff time or salaries because of new or expanded initiatives.

Title I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides supplemental resources to local school districts to help provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.

Strategic Objectives: DESE partners with districts, schools, and programs to:

• Strategic Objective 1 — "Whole Student" : Cultivate systems to support the whole student and foster joyful, healthy, and supportive learning environments so that all students feel valued, connected, nourished, and ready to learn. 
• Strategic Objective 2 — "Deeper Learning" : Promote deeper learning so that all students engage in grade-level work that is real-world, relevant, and interactive. 
• Strategic Objective 3 — "Diverse and Effective Workforce" : Develop and sustain a workforce that is diverse, culturally responsive, well-prepared, and committed to continuous improvement, so that all students have equitable access to effective educators. 

• Strengthen the core program in schools and provide academic and/or support services to low-achieving students at the preschool, elementary, middle, and high school levels;
• Provide evidence-based1 programs that enable participating students to achieve the learning standards of the state curriculum frameworks;
• Elevate the quality of instruction by providing eligible staff with substantial opportunities for professional development; and,
• Involve parents/guardians of participating public and private school children as active partners in their children's education at school through open, meaningful communication, training, and, as appropriate, inclusion in decision-making processes.

The Abelard Foundation, established in 1958, supports progressive social change projects located east of the Mississippi River. With an average grant size of $12,000, they prioritize new initiatives with budgets under $350,000. The foundation emphasizes community organizing, civil rights, and empowering marginalized groups. Eligible applicants must be associated with a nonprofit organization and demonstrate a commitment to local leadership and broader policy connections. The board meets biannually to decide on approximately 15 grants per year, focusing mainly on general support.

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.

MA Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health with Coordination and Optimization of Resources and Partnerships (MA FRESH CORP)

Purpose

The purpose of this state-funded targeted grant program is to support MA FRESH CORP affiliates to ensure local food system activities - including local food system education and local procurement in Child Nutrition Programs - are strategically integrated into the classroom, cafeteria and community through investment in internal personnel or contracted partnerships that support institutionalized programs that promote food literacy. Grant funds will support further off-boarding technical assistance and guidance to support the retention of internal personnel and food system education workplans past the grant period.

Fund Use

MA FRESH CORP is designed to ensure local food system activities — including local food system education and local procurement in Child Nutrition Programs — are strategically integrated into the classroom, cafeteria and community through investment in internal personnel or contracted partnerships that support institutionalized programs. This funding seeks to support the retention of internal personnel and food system education workplans as awardees work to transition their programming model to other sustainable funding models.

Funding will be prioritized for the budget areas described below. Applicants may apply for up to 50% of the total funding expended for FY26 Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health Coordination and Optimization of Resources and PartnershipsMA FRESH CORP in the following budget categories. Total funding requests may not exceed $50,000.

• Professional Salaries: For the coordination and implementation of local food system education and/or local procurement by full-time, salaried and benefited positions, part-time positions, or for the expansion of hours/stipending of internal personnel - such as nutrition professionals, educators, or community/family stakeholders.
• Contracted Services: To provide technical assistance, coaching, professional development, the development of resources such as program protocols or curriculum and/or strategic planning consultation. The hiring of a contracted partner should be in service of cultivating program structures that elevate internal staff capacity and should not be used primarily to support the direct execution of direct farm to school programming by the contracted partner.
• Professional Development Expenses (Other Expenses): To attend farm to school, food literacy, agricultural or culinary oriented workshops, trainings, or conferences. Associated costs may include registration fees, travel fees, mileage, compensation/stipends for out-of-work time, or the cost of substitutes required to provide coverage for personnel attending professional development opportunities.

Equipment, supply, and infrastructure costs capped at 10% of the total budget request are allowable but will be contingent on budget availability once priority budget areas described above are funded for eligible applicants.

MA FRESH CORP awardees will be required to:

• participate in periodic grant meetings, professional development opportunities and technical assistance
• track local spending (dollar value) within Child Nutrition Programs during the grant period
• complete a funding succession plan

Priority will be given to MA FRESH CORP affiliates that:

• Have created a job description and/or consultant scope of work that ensures local food system activities are strategically integrated into the classroom, cafeteria and community
• Have current programming in all three core areas of farm to school: Classroom (such as food system curriculum and school garden activities), Cafeteria (such as local menu offerings) and Community (such as farm field trips, family engagement or food system partnerships).
• Have successfully onboarded farm to school personnel or contracted partners through MA FRESH CORP funding and are seeking to retain these personnel and contracted partnerships through the duration of the 2026-2027 school year
• Have effectively stewarded use of MA FRESH CORP funding awarded to date
• Are committed to identifying strategies for retaining farm to school personnel or contracted partners through alternative funding strategies outside of the MA FRESH CORP grant program
• Are willing to participate in program evaluation and off-boarding technical assistance activities, including the completion of a funding succession plan.

Business Builds: Climatetech

Business Builds: Climatetech is a competitive funding initiative created by the Mass Leads Act. It provides capital grants between $500K - $2M to help for-profit companies producing critical climate technologies make the capital investments needed to scale in or relocate to Massachusetts.

The Enbridge Community Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in North American communities through strategic donations and sponsorships. With funding ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the grant supports organizations focused on safety, education, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous culture. Enbridge encourages early applications, with decisions typically made within eight weeks. The grant seeks to empower local initiatives that foster community strength, vibrancy, and sustainability.

RFA: Technology Consultant for the Production Tracking System (PTS)

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or firms for a three-phase engagement to evaluate, modernize, host, and support the PTS. In Phase 1, MassCEC requires a thorough diagnostic assessment of the current system, including review of codebases, deployment pipelines (e.g., Azure DevOps or other CI/CD tools), data models, security controls, and system performance. The current system is a .NET application (primarily C#) with an SQL backend, hosted in Microsoft Azure. Phase 2 will focus on implementing the approved modernization strategy and delivering a production-ready modernized system. Phase 3 will provide ongoing operations, hosting, and support.

The objective is to preserve and improve existing registration, reporting, and verification functionality. The project should also enhance security, accessibility, logging, monitoring, and program compliance. The system must ensure seamless processing for programs including Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Mass Class I, Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC), Renewable Thermal (RT), Alternative Energy, and Clean Peak Standard (CPS).

Deliverables are expected to include a modernization strategy, migration plan, technical documentation, automated deployment capabilities, and long-term operational support. Support must include maintenance, bug-fixing, and enhancements with a focus on maintainability, scalability, and risk mitigation. The outcome will be a modernized, functionally equivalent PTS with improved security, reliability, and performance.

The Commonwealth Corps Host Site RFA invites Massachusetts organizations to partner with AmeriCorps to address local community needs. Through AmeriCorps Planning Grants, eligible nonprofits, schools, and agencies can develop new programs to recruit and manage AmeriCorps members. These members play a crucial role in service, receiving training and support while making a significant impact on education, the environment, and public safety. This initiative aims to strengthen community engagement and enhance service delivery.

Our Mission

The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Greater Kansas City by increasing charitable giving, educating and connecting donors to community needs they care about, and leading on critical community issues.

Scholarships

We offer hundreds of different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Professional Women in Construction - Boston Scholarship Fund

Professional Women in Construction (PWC) is a national, non-profit organization that seeks to support, advance, and connect women and promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction, and related industries. The Boston Chapter of PWC is proud to offer this scholarship to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students; open to individuals of all genders. Applicants must be based in New England and plan to pursue or are currently pursuing a career in architecture, engineering, construction, or related trades and fields including trade school, community college, graduate degrees, etc.

In addition to pursuing a passion in the identified fields, award recipients will display strong leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities, and demonstrate strong financial need. The award can be used for any educational expense, including tuition, fees, class materials, professional tools, books, room and board, etc. This is a one-time award, but past applicants may reapply.

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 Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research aims to support early-career investigators in biomedical science. Over its 30-year history, the program has invested $46.1 million, funding 202 scientists. It provides three-year awards of $400,000 to full-time faculty at eligible institutions in Massachusetts, Brown University, or Yale University. The program prioritizes innovative research proposals, excluding clinical trials, and encourages collaboration within the scientific community, enhancing medical breakthroughs.

The John W. Boynton Fund Grant supports organizations that benefit older adults in Massachusetts, particularly in the Athol area. Established in 1952, the fund aims to provide assistance to programs that enhance the lives of those in need, focusing on areas like health, education, and the arts. Grant requests for new initiatives and capital projects are prioritized, while requests from individuals and those aimed at political lobbying are not considered.

The Fields Pond Foundation Grant aims to support community-based nature and land conservation initiatives that enhance public access and awareness. Grants typically range from $500 to $25,000, with a focus on projects that involve local residents in conservation efforts. The foundation prioritizes trailmaking, land acquisition, and educational programs, encouraging collaboration among organizations. It seeks to empower communities to connect with their environment while ensuring ecological integrity.

The Mazamas is committed to exploring and preserving mountain environments in the Pacific Northwest through research grants. These grants support nonprofit research that aligns with the Mazamas’ mission, encouraging proposals from graduate and undergraduate students. Successful applicants often conduct field studies that enhance understanding of the region's natural features. Notably, the Mazamas also welcome innovative research ideas that may fall outside traditional grant guidelines, promoting a diverse range of scientific inquiry.

The Albert G. and Olive H. Schlink Foundation, established in 1966, has significantly impacted Ohio's nonprofit sector by increasing its annual grant distribution from an initial $500 to over $1.4 million in 2023. The Foundation prioritizes organizations with ties to Erie and Huron Counties and emphasizes thoughtful evaluation of all grant applications. With a focus on community needs, it continues to honor the founders' legacy while adapting to the evolving demands of local nonprofits.

The Estelle R. Ford Future Nurses Scholarship Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, provides financial support to students entering their third year of nursing programs at local colleges. This scholarship is dedicated to individuals who are committed to serving the City of Gardner and surrounding areas, promoting education and healthcare in the community. With a focus on fostering future nurses, this fund reflects the foundation's mission to enhance educational opportunities in the region.

Entergy’s Open Grants Program aims to enhance community well-being through funding initiatives in arts, education, social services, and community improvement. The program prioritizes support for organizations that serve diverse populations, including children and low-income communities. Eligible entities must have 501(c)(3) status or equivalent nonprofit recognition. Applications should be submitted three months in advance, allowing ample time for review. Entergy focuses on projects that foster self-sufficiency and enrich local neighborhoods.