Greater Lawrence Community Fund

The Greater Lawrence Community Fund is a program managed by the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations serving the Greater Lawrence area of Massachusetts. The fund was established to address essential basic needs across four communities: Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and North Andover, with a particular emphasis on the city of Lawrence. The grant’s primary focus areas are food security, clothing, shelter (defined as affordable housing or shelter programs, excluding construction), and adult education. The fund favors collaborative projects and encourages smaller organizations with operating budgets under $1 million to apply. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or operate under a qualifying fiscal sponsor. Organizations that received a GLCF grant the previous year must wait one year before reapplying. The fund does not support individuals, public agencies including public schools, political purposes, debt or deficit reduction, replacement of public sector funding, academic research, out-of-region travel, organizations without a Merrimack Valley physical presence, or summer programs already supported by the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund. The GLCF Grant Committee evaluates applications based on several criteria, including demonstrated community need, the planning and feasibility of the project, evaluation procedures, organizational capacity, financial soundness, impact per dollar, and potential for lasting benefit. Preference is given to programs that use requested funds directly for programmatic activities or organizational capacity-building. Applications must be submitted via ECCF's Application Portal. Applicants without login credentials are directed to first access the Grant Application Process page. A site visit may be requested during the review period, which spans October to November. Grant recipients are typically notified by the end of December 2025. Awards range between $5,000 and $10,000 for a one-year grant period. While most funding supports specific programs, general operating support may be awarded to organizations with annual budgets under $500,000. A special award, the Patricia F. Karl Innovation Award, may be given to one grantee recognized for an innovative approach, entailing a $10,000 grant and public recognition. Successful applicants must submit a final report at the conclusion of the grant period through the Application Portal. Questions may be directed to Amy Moran Lowe, Director of Grants and Programs, via phone at (978) 777-8876 x138 or by email at a.lowe@eccf.org.

The GLCF Grants Committee favors collaborative projects and organizations with operating budgets under $1 million.