The Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF) is currently accepting applications for its 2025 Community Grants: Project Support program. This signature funding opportunity awards nearly $2 million annually across five strategic focus areas: Arts & Creativity, Basic Needs, Economic Opportunity, Health & Wellbeing, and Youth Development. Support is available for discrete projects, pilot programs, programmatic expansions, and ongoing programs, with grant amounts ranging from $2,500 to $25,000.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) period opened on April 14, 2025, and will close on June 6, 2025. Notifications for applicants moving to the second round will be sent by July 7, with project conversations scheduled for July through August. Funding decisions will be made in early September 2025, and payments will be distributed by mid-September. Grantee reporting timelines will be determined after funding.
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, entities with fiscal sponsorship, collaboratives, or community-serving programs offered by houses of worship. Organizations must serve Worcester County residents and demonstrate a strong, authentic connection to the local community. Businesses, government agencies, and individuals are ineligible, and funding is not available for capital campaigns, tuition, scholarships, or school-time academic programming.
GWCF assesses applications based on project feasibility, community access and inclusion, innovation and impact, alignment with focus areas, commitment to equity, and organizational strength. Coaching and application review assistance is available for applicants through GWCF program staff. For more information or questions, applicants may contact Sarah Shugrue, Director of Grantmaking and Capacity Building, at 508-755-0980.
