Massachusetts Employment Labor and Training Grants

The John R. Heerwagen Award for Nonprofit Leadership, presented by Middlesex Savings Bank, is designed to recognize and support experienced nonprofit leaders who demonstrate exceptional capabilities in developing and implementing effective organizational strategies. This award aligns with the Foundation's mission to strengthen local non-profits and its belief in the importance of leadership development and recognition within the sector. The grant provides a one-time award of $20,000 to a deserving individual. The primary target beneficiaries of this award are seasoned nonprofit leaders in Massachusetts, specifically Middlesex County, who are committed to advancing their organizations' work and producing tangible community benefits. The impact goal is to foster stronger, more effective nonprofit organizations through the recognition and empowerment of their leaders. By highlighting exemplary leadership, the program aims to inspire continued excellence and innovation within the nonprofit community. The program prioritizes leaders who demonstrate a clear focus on creating and stewarding collaborations and partnerships that yield tangible benefits to the community. Additionally, nominees should bring innovative ideas to fruition, build organizational and individual capacity and expertise, instill passion in their teams, and consistently exhibit the highest levels of integrity and ethical behavior. These priorities underscore the Foundation's strategic objective to support leadership that drives meaningful change and sustainable growth. Expected outcomes include the continued development of robust nonprofit organizations led by highly capable and ethical individuals. Measurable results would ideally involve observing the sustained success and growth of the awardees' organizations, the expansion of their community impact through effective collaborations, and the implementation of innovative programs that address critical community needs. While not explicitly stated as a formal theory of change, the program operates on the premise that investing in strong leadership directly translates to more effective and impactful nonprofit work, ultimately benefiting the broader community.

This funding opportunity is designed for nonprofit organizations in Worcester to develop projects that address the opioid overdose crisis through prevention, harm reduction, treatment access, and recovery support, with a focus on underserved populations.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the purpose of establishing partnership agreements. The overarching goal, which aligns with the NRCS's mission to conserve natural resources on private lands, is to leverage agency resources to address local resource issues, encourage collaboration, and cultivate state-and-community-level conservation leadership. The funding is intended to facilitate projects that advance these conservation efforts, particularly those focused on priority topics within a specific geographic area. The availability and level of funding are noted as potential, pending full appropriation for fiscal year 2024. The program's target beneficiaries encompass a broad range of public and private entities capable of performing conservation work. Eligible applicants include various levels of government, such as city, county, special district, state, and Native American tribal governments and organizations. Nonprofits, both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status, are eligible, as are private and public institutions of higher education. The impact goals are centered on effectively addressing critical local natural resource challenges and substantially strengthening conservation efforts through on-the-ground project implementation. A key strategic priority of this NFO is a singular focus on projects based within Texas. Proposals must specifically address "conservation priority topics as noted in Section A of this notice." The agency places high value on collaborative projects that are designed to provide direct, on-the-ground support for Texas NRCS Field Offices, indicating a strategic effort to integrate partner work with established agency operations. Conversely, the NFO explicitly excludes and will not consider research proposals, thereby directing resources toward implementation and practical application. The NRCS's strategic approach operates under a theory of change that posits that local, collaborative leadership is the most effective driver for sustained conservation results. By funding a diverse range of partners (the listed eligible applicants) to work on local priorities and support agency field offices, the NRCS intends to multiply its conservation impact beyond its direct capacity. Expected measurable results for successful applicants include securing an agreement with a federal share funding floor of $25,000 and a ceiling of $300,000. The agency anticipates making selections by June 15, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 15, 2024, ensuring a swift turnaround from selection to project initiation.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and collaborations that address community needs in Andover, Lawrence, and North Andover, focusing on areas such as basic needs, economic development, education, and environmental stewardship.

This grant provides funding for collaborative projects that improve digital access, devices, and literacy in Essex County, Massachusetts, prioritizing partnerships between organizations to address community needs.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide career development programs for Black youth aged 14-24 in designated NBA markets.

First Literacy awards grants to stimulate and support the development, trial, and implementation of innovative Adult Basic Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages resources and practices in Massachusetts. The program invests in ideas that improve educational and professional outcomes for adult learners and that may not be eligible for state or other major funding. Grant types include Program Grants for project based innovations, Organization Wide Grants for larger scale curricula, systems, training, or teacher improvement, and Incentive Grants for second year replication or for assisting another organization to replicate a program. Program grant caps are generally 5,000 dollars for returning organizations and 7,500 dollars for organizations that have not received funding in the past ten years. Organization Wide Grants are up to 15,000 dollars and include robust data reporting plans. The grant period is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Projects should demonstrate lasting impact in ABE schools and organizations and include clear evaluation and data collection plans. Eligibility is open to not for profit ABE and ESOL organizations in Massachusetts. Applications are due May 2, 2024. Additional information is available from First Literacy.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in implementing one-year projects that improve their capacity and effectiveness, focusing on initiatives that can be sustained without ongoing fundraising.

This funding opportunity provides unrestricted financial support to nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations in Western Massachusetts, focusing on enhancing social justice, community well-being, and local resilience.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that help underrepresented communities in Massachusetts access training and career pathways in the clean energy sector, addressing systemic barriers and workforce gaps.

This grant provides financial support to charitable organizations that serve the residents of Marlborough, Massachusetts, focusing on economic growth, quality of life improvements, and youth initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides reimbursement for Massachusetts employers to invest in safety training programs that reduce workplace injuries and promote safer work environments.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont for various charitable activities, including capital projects and youth campership programs.

This grant provides financial support to job training programs in Greater Boston, helping participants in healthcare, clean energy, and childcare sectors access essential wraparound services to ensure their success.

This grant provides funding to community-based organizations in Boston that support immigrant populations by fostering resilience and collaboration through various community-centered programs.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Boston that provide employment programs for young adults aged 18 to 30 facing barriers to work, helping them gain essential skills and experience for sustainable employment.

This grant provides funding to nonprofits focused on community development initiatives in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, particularly in the Northeast, Florida, and Texas.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to choreographers in New England for projects that enhance their dance practice or advance their careers, with grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 for various artistic endeavors.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofits and community organizations in Boston that create public events and initiatives to help small businesses grow and engage with the community during Small Business Month.