Spring Grants

The SouthCoast Community Foundation, a regional philanthropic organization based in Southeastern Massachusetts, administers a wide range of competitive and donor-directed grantmaking programs. With a mission to strengthen and support local communities, the foundation prioritizes impactful, equitable investments in nonprofit organizations addressing vital needs. In March 2026, the foundation transitioned to a new biannual grant cycle model, running in the spring and fall, to streamline its grantmaking processes and improve predictability for nonprofit partners. The 2026 Spring Grant Cycle is a pilot initiative under this new schedule. It is designed to enhance transparency, simplify application procedures, and ensure better alignment between funding decisions and community needs. The foundation aims to foster consistency and responsiveness while collecting feedback from grantees to refine future cycles. Participating organizations can submit up to three proposals through a single application, simplifying multi-project submissions and increasing access to resources. This competitive funding opportunity includes support from several individual donor funds, each with distinct goals and geographic focus areas. Some of the core funding areas include public safety, violence prevention, education (from early childhood to post-secondary), youth leadership and athletics, health and wellness, food and housing access, the arts, animal-assisted human services, preservation of historical artifacts and open space, and basic human needs. The funds offer diverse types of support, including program funding, general operating support, capital investments, and capacity building, depending on each fund’s specific priorities. Eligibility for this grant cycle is limited to organizations with 501(c)(3) status or those that are fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) entity. The foundation does not accept applications from individuals or small businesses and requires that all projects funded serve the communities within its 41-town service region, which includes cities such as New Bedford, Fall River, Fairhaven, and Brockton. Applicants are encouraged to consult individual fund criteria to determine alignment with funder intent, particularly as some funds may have more localized or specialized focuses. The application window for the 2026 Spring Grant Cycle opened on March 1, 2026, and will close at 11:59 PM on March 31, 2026. During the month of March, applicants may attend optional virtual or hybrid information sessions on dates including March 6, 12, 17, and 26. The foundation will conduct its review in April 2026, with final award notifications announced in May. Nonprofit feedback sessions are scheduled for summer 2026 to evaluate the effectiveness of the new grant cycle structure. Applications are submitted via the foundation’s online portal. While specific components of the application are not detailed in the public materials, applicants are reminded to ensure that their organization and proposals are aligned with the fund priorities. It is recommended to register early, gather necessary documentation related to 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship, and attend an information session for tailored guidance. The foundation emphasizes community engagement, effectiveness, and responsiveness as likely key criteria for funding decisions.

Ensure proposals are clearly aligned with the specific criteria and geographic scope of individual funds; review fund descriptions carefully before applying.