The Catalyst Fund is a grantmaking initiative of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, supported entirely by donations from its employees and vendors. Since its inception in 2002, it has distributed nearly $2.5 million to a diverse range of health centers, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizations across Massachusetts. The Foundation prioritizes equity and health access, aiming to improve outcomes for individuals who are low-income or otherwise marginalized economically, socially, or racially.
This fund offers one-time, non-renewable grants of up to $7,500 to community-based and grassroots organizations operating within Massachusetts. The purpose is to strengthen the organizational capacity of small nonprofits through infrastructure-building projects or future planning activities. Catalyst Fund awards are intended to spark innovation and do not support ongoing programmatic costs, salaries, or general operating expenses. Ineligible uses also include sponsorships, capital campaigns, and medical equipment purchases.
The Catalyst Fund is open to nonprofits with a budget under $5 million that primarily serve Massachusetts residents. Organizations that received a Catalyst Fund grant within the past 24 months, hospitals and their affiliates, non-Massachusetts-incorporated entities, individuals, for-profits, and higher education institutions are not eligible. Preference is given to organizations not recently funded, particularly those serving communities of color and led by people of color, aligning with the Foundation's commitment to racial and social justice in healthcare.
Applications can be submitted at any time through the Foundation’s online grant portal. Those submitted by the 5th of each month (or next business day) are reviewed within 3–6 weeks. No reviews are conducted in December, July, or August; submissions during these months are held for January or September review. Only one application per organization may be submitted per month, and a final report is required before applying for future grants.
Applicants must answer a structured set of narrative questions within character limits and provide several uploads: a specific project budget, the organization’s operating budget with a narrative, and tax-exempt documentation. Optional supplemental material may be included, but key points must appear in the narrative. Contact for this grant is Reena Singh, Senior Program Officer, at Reena.Singh@bcbsma.com.
Preference given to organizations not recently funded; proposals must not include general operations or salary; emphasize compelling health care linkage.
