Underserved Populations in Massachusetts

The Perpetual Trust for Charitable Giving is a philanthropic funding initiative established in 1957, administered by Bank of America through its Philanthropic Solutions division. The trust was founded to advance quality programming in education, health, and human services for underserved communities. Its purpose includes supporting direct services and enhancing access to vital resources for historically marginalized populations in the state of Massachusetts. It places emphasis on organizations that serve communities of color and smaller grassroots groups. In addition to its core mission, a portion of funding is reserved for institutions engaged in medical aid and medical research, as well as for colleges and universities providing higher education. Applicants may seek funding for general operating support, which is strongly encouraged. Requests for specific program support are also considered, and applications may include small capital expenditures if they are clearly program-related and bundled within the primary request. The trust also encourages multi-year funding requests, reflecting a commitment to long-term capacity building in the nonprofit sector. The fund is overseen by a five-member committee that guides the trustee’s decisions, applying a set of principles centered on equity, direct service delivery, and community-centered impact. The opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education located within Massachusetts. There are no stated restrictions or eligibility exclusions, but applicants are expected to align with the trust’s focus areas and community-centered values. Specific evaluation criteria are not published, but the trust's guidelines indicate a preference for organizations that are rooted in and serve marginalized populations and operate at a grassroots level. The submission deadline for applications is August 1. All applicants will be informed of funding decisions by November 30 of the same calendar year. While the opportunity does not operate on a rolling basis, it is recurring on an annual basis, and the next cycle is expected to begin in August of the following year. There is no mention of pre-application requirements such as letters of inquiry or concept papers. Application materials and procedure documents are accessible online in both PDF and Microsoft Word formats, and applicants may return to applications in progress through a provided portal. Questions or discussions related to the application process should be directed to the Massachusetts grantmaking office of Bank of America. The designated contact email is ma.grantmaking@bofa.com. Applicants are instructed to clearly indicate the foundation name in the subject line of their correspondence to ensure proper handling. The trust does not specify award ceilings, award floors, or total funding availability in public-facing materials. Therefore, applicants should plan proposals based on demonstrated need and the scale of impact, within the context of typical nonprofit funding levels. The foundation’s long-standing presence and commitment to serving disadvantaged populations in Massachusetts signal an ongoing opportunity for qualified organizations aligned with its mission and funding priorities.