Grant Sherburne Fund

The Grant Sherburne Fund, established by the 1888 will of Urania C. Sherburne of Cumberland in Providence County, Rhode Island, is a philanthropic foundation dedicated to honoring the memory of her father and late husband. The fund is managed by Bank of America Private Bank under its Philanthropic Solutions division, with administrative oversight by the Massachusetts office. This fund reflects a long-standing legacy of charitable giving focused on addressing the fundamental needs of underserved communities within Rhode Island. The Grant Sherburne Fund concentrates its limited financial resources on nonprofit organizations that deliver essential services, including food, shelter, and healthcare, to disadvantaged populations in Rhode Island. While contemporary philanthropic frameworks may consider education as a basic human need, the fund explicitly does not prioritize or expect to fund educational programming. The fund primarily offers support for either general operating expenses or program-specific initiatives, provided they align with its core focus on basic needs. Applications are submitted through an online platform managed by Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions team. Paper applications, hand-delivered proposals, and letters of inquiry or intent are not accepted. Each organization may submit only one proposal per calendar year to any of the discretionary foundations overseen by the Massachusetts office unless otherwise specified. The proposal deadline for the Grant Sherburne Fund is September 1. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the due date; if this falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the submission deadline is extended to the next business day. While the fund has no pre-application requirements or question deadlines, applicants are strongly encouraged to review all relevant guidelines and eligibility criteria beforehand. Post-award, grantees are required to submit a final report within one year of the award date, regardless of whether all funds have been expended. Failure to comply with reporting requirements renders the organization ineligible for future funding. These reports are to be submitted electronically through the MyAccount portal. If technical support is needed, applicants must contact the foundation during standard business hours (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET), as no technical assistance is provided on weekends. For additional guidance on the application process, including help with the online submission portal, applicants can refer to supplemental materials such as the Online Application Help PDF. To discuss the fund or ask questions related to the submission process, organizations are encouraged to contact the grant team via email at ma.grantmaking@bofa.com. It is requested that the foundation name be clearly stated in the subject line of all correspondence. Phone support is available at 866.778.6859. Overall, the Grant Sherburne Fund represents a narrowly focused opportunity for nonprofits dedicated to meeting the most basic human needs within Rhode Island. Its funding scope is specific, and adherence to both thematic and geographic requirements is essential for applicants seeking support.

Start early and avoid last-minute submissions due to limited technical support on weekends; follow all guidelines and ensure eligibility to avoid automatic disqualification.