The Harwich Fund Grant Program 2025

The Harwich Fund, guided by the motto “Harwich Helping Harwich,” is a community-based philanthropic initiative managed through The Cape Cod Foundation. It was created to strengthen the essential framework that supports the Town of Harwich, Massachusetts. The Fund brings together donors committed to addressing the diverse needs of Harwich residents, with grantmaking that has historically focused on health and human services for youth, families, and seniors. Over time, the scope has broadened to also include the town’s historic, cultural, and environmental priorities, ensuring a holistic approach to community support. The purpose of the Harwich Fund is to provide grants that respond creatively and effectively to unmet needs within the community. Proposals are welcomed in a variety of fields including human services, health, education, arts and culture, community development, and the environment. The Fund particularly encourages smaller, grassroots, Harwich-based organizations to apply, although organizations located outside Harwich may also be eligible if their projects directly benefit residents of the town. The Fund prefers to support specific activities, events, projects, or essential purchases such as equipment and technology. With limited dollars available, the Fund prioritizes initiatives with clearly defined outcomes that can demonstrate measurable impact on Harwich residents. Grants awarded by The Harwich Fund generally range between $1,000 and $2,500. Applications must be submitted through The Cape Cod Foundation’s online grants management system. Organizations with existing profiles on the system do not need to create a new one specifically for the Harwich Fund. A meeting with a program officer is not required as part of the process, though applicants are encouraged to review guidelines carefully before applying. The deadline for the 2025 grant cycle is Friday, September 19, 2025. Applications will be reviewed in September and October, with recommendations presented to The Cape Cod Foundation’s Board of Directors in late October. Final funding distributions will follow board approval. Eligibility for the Harwich Fund is open to several types of organizations. These include 501(c)(3) public charities, as well as organizations with a fiscal sponsor that qualifies as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Faith-based organizations are eligible if their services are open to all, non-religious in nature, and do not involve proselytizing. Civic organizations may also apply, provided that their proposals are project-based, charitable in nature, and fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. However, the Fund generally does not consider requests for debt reduction, projects completed prior to award notification, capital campaigns or improvements, endowment building, or the creation of monuments and memorials. The evaluation process begins with Cape Cod Foundation staff screening applications for eligibility and completeness. Applications that pass initial review are forwarded to The Harwich Fund’s grant committee, composed of community members familiar with local needs. The committee evaluates applications and forwards recommendations to The Cape Cod Foundation’s Board of Directors for final approval. A meeting with the Foundation is not required at any stage of this process. Grant recipients are required to submit a final narrative and financial report by September 2026, though extensions may be granted upon request. Reports may take the form of existing organizational documents or simple bullet-pointed summaries that include financial information. Completion of reporting obligations is mandatory before reapplying for subsequent funding from the Harwich Fund. The Cape Cod Foundation provides multiple opportunities for applicants to access information about the process. These include online grant tutorials, guidelines, and a recorded thirty-minute webinar available on the Foundation’s website. In addition, four open Zoom office hours are scheduled, where staff are available to answer applicant questions informally. Two optional information sessions are also provided for first-time applicants or those needing additional support, also accessible via Zoom. Attendance at these sessions has no bearing on funding decisions. For general inquiries about the application process or the online portal, applicants may contact info@capecodfoundation.org or call 508-790-3040. The primary contact person for this grant is Jeanne Ruckert Lovy, Director of Impact, who can be reached at jlovy@capecodfoundation.org.

Applicants are encouraged to review guidelines, view recorded webinar, and attend optional office hours or info sessions for guidance