Massachusetts Recreation Grants

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Worcester County that engage youth in projects focused on arts and culture, health and wellbeing, basic needs, and economic opportunity.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that offer summer programs for youth in the Greater Lawrence area, focusing on enhancing educational and developmental opportunities while addressing achievement gaps.

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 supports nonprofit organizations that provide essential services to Provincetown residents, particularly those with low to moderate income, in areas such as mental health, family support, housing, and services for marginalized communities.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and community groups in Brookline that provide programs for youth, particularly those from underserved or low-income families, focusing on areas like education, mental health, and leadership development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofits and community organizations working to improve health outcomes and address disparities in mental health, financial stability, and access to healthcare for residents in the Emerson Health service area.

This grant provides funding to support educational enrichment programs in Watertown Public Schools, encouraging collaborative projects that enhance classroom learning and after-school initiatives.

This program provides funding to organizations in Massachusetts to improve transportation services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income populations, ensuring they have better access to essential services.

This grant provides financial support to multimedia artists in Northampton, MA, and nearby areas to help them create innovative projects that enhance their storytelling and artistic skills.

This grant provides matching funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts to implement initiatives that address the opioid crisis through prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.

This grant provides subsidized access to a newly renovated arts venue in Harvard Square, supporting organizations and artists from diverse backgrounds to enhance the arts and culture scene in Cambridge.

The FY25 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program is a $5 million fund aimed at helping fire departments across the Commonwealth purchase essential safety equipment that meets NFPA and OSHA standards, with applications open from September 19 to October 17, 2024.

This grant provides financial support to community nonprofits in Greater Boston that are focused on improving economic opportunities, addressing health disparities, and enhancing the overall well-being of the Latino community.

This grant provides financial support to individuals, artists, and community organizations in Worcester County to develop projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences that enhance the cultural landscape and benefit local residents.

The Brookline Community Foundation (BCF) is offering a Community Grant Program, providing funding between $10,000 to $100,000 for one year to programs that promote equity and address community needs such as health, wellness, climate sustainability, arts, culture, and more, with a preference for BIPOC-led organizations and those focusing on vulnerable populations.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in Massachusetts focused on education, food, health, and housing programs, particularly benefiting communities north of Boston.

The Sarah G. McCarthy Memorial Foundation is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for a one-year duration to charitable organizations in Peabody, MA, supporting various sectors including arts, education, health, and housing, with applications open until September 30, 2024.

The second round of the 2024 Boston Athletic Association Gives Back Grant Program is open for applications. Donor Name: Boston Athletic Association State: Massachusetts County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/19/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The B.A.A. Gives Back Grants launched in 2023, with 32 organizations in Massachusetts having benefited since its inception. To date, the program has awarded $400,000 state-wide to nonprofits that advance the B.A.A.’s mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running, in order to build healthy communities. Funding Information Grants from $5,000-$15,000 are available. Eligibility Criteria The competitive application process is open to all nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria: Organization is a registered 501(c)(3) or a public agency.  Organization is not political.  The organization’s program advances the B.A.A.’s mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running, in order to build healthy communities. The organization is located in and serves residents of Massachusetts. Organizations are eligible to receive funding once per calendar year. For more information, visit BAA.

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.

Mayor Michelle Wu, the Office of Human Services (OHS), and the Boston Centers for Youth & Families are pleased to announce applications are now being accepted for the Swim Safe Access Grant. Donor Name: City of Boston State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/12/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Swim Safe Boston seeks to improve water safety in Boston, address the public health threat posed by drowning, and increase access to swimming for Boston families. Drowning is the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swim lessons are one effective strategy to reduce drowning risk; some studies estimate that swim lessons can cut a child’s risk of drowning by up to 90 percent. Providing lessons that are free and easily accessible to families lowers barriers to access, especially for low-income residents.  Funding Information Total Amount Available for Grant Program: $250,000 Award Amount per Grant per Organization: Up to $49,999 Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:  Applicants must be a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Boston Public Schools-affiliated entities are encouraged to apply.  Applicants may apply for programs that run on an ongoing basis. Funding will NOT be available for one-time events.  Programming sites must be located in the city of Boston. Only beginner level swim programs will be eligible for funding under this grant. The goal of this program is to get as many residents as possible to have basic water safety skills, so this funding is not available for intermediate or advanced-level swim classes.  Programs funded by this grant must be free for participants.  Programs must be able to demonstrate that they either operate the aquatics facility where the programming will take place or that they have a partnership with an aquatics facility that can accommodate the proposed program.  Preference will be given to programs that serve Boston residents that are predominantly made up of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups or underserved markets. Swim Safe Award Recipient Requirements  If selected, the following will be required to remain in compliance:  Applicants or programs must be currently in operation or starting no later than October 1, 2024.  Award recipients will be required to attend a virtual Mandatory Award Orientation.  Award recipients must submit regular reports on program outcomes. The report format will be provided by the Mayor’s Office of Human Services. For more information, visit City of Boston.