Grant Sherburne Fund Grant Program

The Grant Sherburne Fund is a philanthropic trust established through the 1888 will of Urania C. Sherburne of Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island. Named in memory of her father and late husband, the fund was designed to provide lasting benefit to the local community through targeted charitable giving. The Fund is one of many private foundations administered by Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions group, specifically under the oversight of its Massachusetts office. Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions serves as trustee and oversees grantmaking to ensure alignment with the fund’s original charitable mission. The primary purpose of the Grant Sherburne Fund is to support nonprofit organizations that serve the basic human needs of underserved populations in Rhode Island. This includes, but is not limited to, providing access to food, shelter, and healthcare services. The fund's guidelines explicitly prioritize these categories over others, including education, which—despite its broader recognition as a basic human need in contemporary philanthropic contexts—is not considered a funding priority by the trustees. As a result, proposals for educational programs are unlikely to be funded unless they are directly tied to the delivery of essential services. The scope of funding for this opportunity includes general operating support or program-specific support, provided that such programs are focused on food assistance, shelter services, or healthcare delivery for underserved populations. Capital funding, sponsorships, and endowment campaigns are discouraged and generally not supported, consistent with the broader policies of the Bank of America Massachusetts office. Similarly, the fund does not entertain letters of inquiry or applications submitted via email, mail, or in person. All applications must be submitted via the online GivingHub platform. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations operating in Rhode Island. Organizations must demonstrate that their work directly addresses the basic needs of local populations. The fund places a strong emphasis on sustainable, high-impact programs and has a preference for those with measurable outcomes. While public agencies and schools may be eligible in some contexts under other foundations, this fund excludes general operating support for public schools, including charter schools. Applicants are advised to consult the fund’s detailed guidelines and, if needed, to reach out via the provided contact email for clarification. Applications are due annually by September 1 at 11:59 PM ET. If this date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day. Only one application may be submitted to this fund per year. Applicants should begin the process early to allow time for technical support and system navigation, as technical assistance is not available on weekends. Notification of award decisions typically follows within 3–4 months after the deadline, though no fixed notification timeline is specified for this fund. Post-award reporting is required within one year of receiving a grant. To initiate an application or to access related documents, organizations should consult the Grant Sherburne Fund detail page on Bank of America’s grantmaking portal. For further assistance or clarification, applicants may contact the Massachusetts grantmaking team at [email protected], and should reference the fund name in the subject line of any correspondence. The fund is a recurring annual opportunity, and applicants not selected in one cycle may consider reapplying in subsequent years.

Avoid submitting education-focused requests. Focus on food, shelter, and healthcare programs with clear impact.