Massachusetts grants for Nonprofits

The RIZE Massachusetts Foundation is providing grant for people suffering from substance use disorder have access to care and experience better quality of life and overall health. Donor Name: RIZE Massachusetts Foundation State: Massachusetts County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/14/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The primary goal of this first round of grantmaking is to help organizations deepen their impact, scale their work, and build a strong and sustainable infrastructure. Grants will provide general operating support with a focus on capacity building. Nonprofits can use this unrestricted funding to address urgent and emerging issues, sustain operations, strengthen organizational infrastructure, or meet different operational needs.   Focus Areas The RIZE Massachusetts Foundation should be focused on prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, trauma, and family support. Funding Information Depending on the organization’s size and budget. Organizations with budgets of $250,000 or less may request up to $50,000 per year or 30% of their annual operating budget, whichever is less, for three years. Organizations with budgets between $250,000 and $1 million may request up to $100,000 per year or 30% of their annual operating budget, whichever is less, for three years. Organizations with budgets ranging from $1 to $5 million may request up to $150,000 for three years. Eligibility Criteria RIZE seeks to fund nonprofit organizations that work on any aspect of the care continuum from prevention to recovery and that work with diverse communities and populations that are historically underserved and have experienced a higher rate of opioid-related overdose deaths. This includes nonprofit organizations that: Have a total annual operating budget of under $5 million. Deliver prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery programs and services in Massachusetts. Are in good standing and current on state and federal reporting requirements.  Ineligibility Fundraising pursuits Capital campaigns, endowments, or annual appeals Clinical or drug trials Support for individuals or the promulgation of religious beliefs Lobbying or legislative activity. For more information, visit RIZE.

The 2024 Youth Development Fund (YDF), launched by the City of Boston's Human Services Cabinet, is a $1.5 million grant program aimed at supporting non-profit organizations that offer high-quality, engaging programs for youth and young adults aged 14-24. The fund prioritizes initiatives aligning with Mayor Michelle Wu’s Connect, Learn, Explore commitment, aiming to increase free youth programming and provide positive outlets for youth outside school hours. Applications are open until 5:00 p.m. on August 19, 2024. This year, the fund will offer two tracks of funding: one for small, emerging organizations and another for larger, established organizations. Emerging organizations will also receive technical assistance and capacity-building support through the Emerging Organization Learning Community. Mayor Wu emphasized the importance of investing in youth programming for the community's future, while Human Services Chief José F. Massó highlighted the fund’s role in partnering with diverse youth development organizations. The program aims to foster growth in small organizations with annual budgets under $200,000 through mentorship and support, while larger organizations can receive grants up to $30,000. The 2024 YDF will focus on sports, gardening, urban farming, culinary arts, arts, and other youth development programming, supporting initiatives across all Boston neighborhoods.

The Expand Massachusetts Stories Grant - Open Track offers funding up to $20,000 for projects that amplify under-recognized narratives and voices in Massachusetts. Focused on using humanities tools such as inquiry, contextualization, and reflection, this grant seeks to enhance public understanding of the diverse histories and experiences within the state. Projects eligible for funding include oral histories, community-centered museum exhibitions, and other humanities-focused initiatives. The grant is competitive, with applications reviewed based on their contribution to a more inclusive narrative of Massachusetts.

The Martha G. Coggeshall Fund is inviting applicants to support the preservation and maintenance of buildings and artifacts with historical value in the town of Fairhaven. Donor Name: SouthCoast Community Foundation State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/20/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding Information Requests in the amount of $1,000 to $12,500 will be considered.  Criteria Note, only requests from 501(c)3 organizations or those who are fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3 will be considered. Eligible requests may vary ( i.e. program support, project support, operating support) depending on funding criteria. For more information, visit SouthCoast Community Foundation.

This fellowship provides $10,000 to support AAPI women and gender-expansive individuals in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or Georgia who are dedicated to creating impactful civic projects in their communities, along with mentorship and skills training.

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is offering grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community organizations that provide services to improve the quality of life for residents of specific towns, with a focus on low-income and underserved individuals, in areas such as arts, culture, education, environment, health, and social services, while prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This grant provides funding for educators in Brookline to collaborate on innovative projects that enhance teaching and learning across disciplines and grade levels.

The Fund for Williamstown seeks nominations for the DeMayo Bright Futures Innovation Award. Donor Name: Fund for Williamstown State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 10/15/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The award recognizes organizations, institutions, businesses or individuals who create new approaches to solving community challenges and/or who enhance life in Williamstown through innovative programs that do not currently exist in the community. This award is presented to those demonstrating an exceptional degree of innovation and creativity, resulting in significant community impact. It recognizes non-traditional approaches to solving community challenges and/or to enhancing life in community. Funding Information The award recipient will receive $1,000 to further the innovative work of the recipient to benefit community. Who can Apply This award is by nomination only. Organizations, institutions, businesses or individuals may be nominated if they are passionate about solving community challenges with innovative practices in Williamstown, Mass. Self-nominations and posthumous nominations will not be accepted. No current Fund for Williamstown committee member may be nominated. Past award recipients are not eligible for re-nomination within a three-year period. For more information, visit BTCF.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for programs that educate children and older adults about fire safety, helping to reduce fire-related risks in these vulnerable populations.

The Massachusetts Food Ventures Program (MFVP) is designed to increase access to healthy, affordable food options and improve economic opportunities for low to moderate income communities. Donor Name: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources State: Massachusetts County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/06/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The MFVP will provide funding through grants to support food ventures, sited primarily in or near communities of low or moderate income, including Gateway Cities and rural communities. The MFVP will help implement goals of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan and contribute to the financing needs of local Massachusetts food enterprises.  With expanded investment, completed projects will improve access to Massachusetts grown, harvested or caught food products through the development of collaborations with local agricultural enterprises and private/public entities. Key areas for investment include: food processing infrastructure to meet the needs of the expanding local food system; improved distribution systems to support opportunities for equitable access to fresh local food; and retail outlet strategies that enhance access to healthy food. The following are examples of potential, eligible Food Ventures projects Food Processing Infrastructure – Creation of commercial food processing infrastructure to ensure availability of Massachusetts produced foods and which can benefit low and moderate income households. Non Retail: Food Commissaries – Innovative proposals by commercial food commissaries that connect local farms and partners, create new local food retail markets or improve marketing within low income communities. Proposals may include requests for support for infrastructure, distribution, processing and marketing plans that demonstrate increased access to low to moderate income communities. Food Co-Ops – Proposals for construction, renovation or build-out of existing facilities that will create new permanent jobs and/or  greater access to affordable, fresh food. Greenhouses and Farmers’ markets – Develop and build facilities designed to increase year round access of diverse food production and distribution to existing or new markets to benefit low to moderate income communities. Food Hubs – Capital for infrastructure to build or renovate sites for new or existing ventures that improve commercial food access in low to moderate income communities. Commercial Markets – Innovative projects that connect local food producers and partners in order to develop, build or renovate a large scale retail market, designed to improve commercial distribution of healthy, locally produced food. Proposals may include initiatives for new construction or the renovation of an existing building. Must clearly document a community demand and outline a marketing strategy for expansion of commercial food access and distribution in low to moderate income areas. Mobile Markets/Innovative Markets – To purchase, design, and upgrade vehicles to provide healthy Massachusetts food including meats, seafood, vegetables, and fresh or frozen produce for purchase. Must provide marketing strategy that demonstrates the expansion of commercial access and distribution in low to moderate income communities. Who May Apply? Massachusetts Municipalities. Massachusetts Non-Profit or For-Profit Organizations. Individual Residents of Massachusetts. Examples of ineligible project areas: Funding for audits, feasibility studies or design work. Operation or maintenance costs associated with the proposed grant investment. Staff or consultant time on proposals for projects that have already been completed or for which the applicant seeks reimbursement. For more information, visit MDAR.

The Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant program funds projects that develop the knowledge, awareness, skills and attitudes of agricultural and other service providers about sustainable agriculture practices to teach, advise or assist farmers. Donor Name: Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 4 Years Details: An agricultural service provider is a professional who assists farmers. Projects that develop the ability of other service providers (for example, real estate agents, bankers, and attorneys) to work with farmers are also eligible. These service providers then use what they’ve learned through participation in project activities in their work with farmers. A wide variety of topics can be funded by Northeast SARE, including marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture and much more. Other aspects of projects funded through the Northeast SARE program include those that address climate-smart agriculture practices intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change; increase carbon sequestration; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-smart practices include reduced and no-till, cover crops, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. In addition, projects may address traditional ecological knowledge. Funding Information Awards typically range from $30,000 to $150,000. Project Duration Typical project length is 2 to 3 years. The maximum project length allowed is 3.5 years. Geographical Focus  The Northeast region includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Eligibility Criteria  Professional Development Grants are open to anyone who works with service providers and farmers, including personnel at nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, municipalities, tribal governments, state departments of agriculture, federal agencies, research farms and experiment stations, and for-profit business entities (such as farms, private consultants, veterinary practices and other businesses that serve the farming community). Northeast SARE encourages projects submitted from or in collaboration with women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Additionally, they encourage projects submitted from or in collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions (including 1890s and other historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and tribal colleges and universities) and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities. Your organization must have the legal structure and financial capacity to receive and implement a Northeast SARE contract, including expending funds needed for the project prior to receiving reimbursements from Northeast SARE; advance payments are not possible. Projects must take place within the Northeast region. Applicants and host organizations may be located outside of the Northeast region if the project activities and the farmers served are located within the Northeast region. For more information, visit Northeast SARE.

The City of Boston has launched the Third Annual Community Empowerment Grants, offering a total of $500,000 to strengthen capacity and expand programming for organizations supporting men and boys across Boston’s neighborhoods. Administered by the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Advancement (BMA), these grants provide up to $20,000 per organization to enhance programs aimed at empowering Black men and boys. Applications are open now and must be submitted by January 6, 2024, at 5:00 PM. The grants focus on seven key areas: Mentoring and Out-of-School Time, Youth and Young Adult Pathways, Housing Mobility, Economic Inclusion and Wealth Building, Workforce Training and Development, Fatherhood Engagement, and Mental Health and Wellness. Programs in these areas should foster social, economic, and emotional wellbeing for men and boys, providing pathways to success in education, housing, employment, and mental health. Building on the success of prior grant cycles, this year’s initiative introduces enhanced capacity-building support through the BMA Capacity Building and Impact Institute and mentoring opportunities in collaboration with Mass Mentoring. These programs offer personalized coaching, nonprofit training, and expert resources to help grantees amplify their impact and build long-term sustainability. To further promote collaboration, the BMA will facilitate a community of practice for grantees to share insights and strategies. Eligible applicants must be Boston-based organizations with a demonstrated history of positively impacting Black men and boys. Interested organizations can attend a virtual information session on December 11, 2024, at 12:00 PM via Zoom, with registration available on the BMA website. For further questions, applicants may contact the City of Boston grants team at [email protected]. In previous cycles, $1.5 million in Community Empowerment Grants has been awarded to 115 community-based organizations. This ongoing investment aligns with the BMA's mission to create equitable opportunities and lasting change for Black men and boys across Boston. For more details on this and other grant opportunities, visit www.boston.gov/grants.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Greater Boston that serve marginalized communities by addressing essential needs such as food, shelter, legal aid, and support for vulnerable populations.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is seeking applications for its Flexible Funding 2024 which will provide general operating support to nonprofits that benefit the region. Donor Name: Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts State: Massachusetts County: Franklin County (MA), Hampden County (MA), Hampshire County (MA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Flexible Funding aims to provide unrestricted financial support to sustain day-to-day operations of organizations, enabling you to focus on your mission. At CFWM, equity is central to all the efforts. They especially welcome applications from smaller, newer, non-traditional, or fiscally sponsored organizations that have not yet received substantial institutional philanthropy. They also prioritize organizations deeply rooted in their communities. Focus Areas The foundation’s strategic vision serves as the cornerstone for establishing the priority support areas for Flexible Funding. The aim is to fund organizations that work to increase equity and opportunity while demonstrating a strong mission in the following areas:  Racial justice Accessible and more affordable post-secondary education and training  A strong start for all children A vibrant local arts and creativity ecosystem Financial resiliency (Springfield only) Family economic resiliency (Franklin County only). Funding Information Flexible Funding provides grants of up to $30,000. Grant Period January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Eligible organizations must have IRS-designated 501(c)(3) status or an existing fiscal sponsor. Organizations should be located in and serve residents in Franklin, Hampden, and/or Hampshire counties.  For organizations who also have locations or a presence outside of the region, They look for key indicators such as local staff, an office in the region, and/or programs solely dedicated to residents of the region. Organizations with operating budgets larger than $10 million are not eligible. There is a strong preference for organizations with an operating budget of less than $5 million.  Ineligibility Expenses that occur outside the 12-month funding timeframe. Endowments or capital campaigns. Sectarian or religious organizations unless as a fiscal sponsor for a broad community benefit. Institutions of higher education – including scholarships. Academic research. Organizations whose mission is to support municipalities/government agencies such as friends of libraries or school systems. K-12 schools – public, private, or charter. Start-ups or organizations less than one year old. For more information, visit CFWM.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts for reentry programs aimed at helping young adults transition successfully from incarceration to the community, thereby reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and municipalities for summer programs that enhance academic achievement and mental health services for school-aged youth in Central and North Central Massachusetts.

The Connection, Health, & Equity through Food (CHEF) Grant Program is a collaborative network of organizations and volunteer initiatives across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Eastern Massachusetts, and Upstate New York that are focused on increasing older adults’ equitable access to healthy food and social connection. Donor Name: Maine Council on Aging State: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Connection, Health, & Equity through Food (CHEF) grant program will provide funding to increase older adults’ equitable access to food and social connections in their communities. Grants will allow awardees to make investments in programmatic infrastructure, sustainably expand current programming and/or launch innovative, new programming that supports the food and social connection needs of older people. Priority will be given to projects and programs that serve diverse older people, veterans, and older people living with disabilities. Funds can also be used to help find solutions to the root causes of food insecurity and social isolation, including but not limited to poverty, transportation, rurality, and language barriers. The CHEF program is administered by the Maine Council on Aging. Purpose The focus of this grant program is to increase older adults’ equitable access to healthy food and social connection, with a particular focus on rural communities and underserved and marginalized older people including: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) LGBTQ+- (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer or Questioning) Women Veterans People Living with Disabilities People Living in Rural Communities. Funding Information The minimum amount that can be requested is $500. Although no maximum has been set, they would anticipate that most grants would be in the $2,000 – $10,000 range. Eligibility Criteria  The grant-funded activity must primarily serve older people. Thus, if your program serves people of all ages, you should provide data on the number of older people served, and this number must be 50.1% of the overall population served, or the grant-funded activity should focus primarily on the older adults currently being served. Grants will only be made to applicants serving older people in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Eastern Massachusetts, and Upstate New York. Applicants must serve people who may access a Hannaford Supermarket to purchase food. The organization itself does not have to be located in a community with a Hannaford store. As an example, any statewide organization in one of these states would qualify. Regional organizations that serve at least one community with a Hannaford Supermarket qualify, even if the other communities do not. They recognize that people in some rural areas may drive a substantial distance for groceries, so they will be liberal in interpreting this restriction. Eligible Organizations: Public and non-profit organizations Municipalities Faith Groups Tribal Governments Educational Institutions Note: If you do not have an IRS nonprofit or 501(c)3 designation, please find a fiscal sponsor for your program/idea. For more information, visit Maine Council on Aging.

This grant provides funding for public readings and discussions of Frederick Douglass's iconic speech in Massachusetts, aimed at nonprofit educational institutions, government organizations, and federally recognized tribes serving local residents.

The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is inviting applications for the Hardman Fund, aimed at enriching the lives of residents in North Adams, Florida, Clarksburg, MA, and Stamford, VT, by supporting nonprofit organizations that focus on arts, culture, historic preservation, health, human and social services, education, and the environment, with a special interest in initiatives that assist people in difficult economic circumstances and enrich the cultural and natural environment.

This program provides financial support to projects that enhance economic resilience, diversity, and sustainability in the Cape Cod region, targeting local organizations and initiatives focused on housing, entrepreneurship, workforce education, infrastructure, and climate resilience.