Massachusetts Private Grants

The First Literacy Grants provide funding that stimulates and supports the development, trial, and implementation of innovative and impactful Adult Basic Education (ABE) resources and practices. Donor Name: First Literacy State: Massachusetts County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/02/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Priorities To fund innovative and impactful ideas that will improve educational and professional outcomes for the students of ABE organizations. To fund ideas that may not be able to be funded through Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) or other major funding sources. To fund ideas that will have a lasting impact in ABE schools and organizations. Grant Levels First Literacy is offering three (3) types of grants: Program Grants, Organization Wide Grants and Incentive Grants Program Grants- Program grants provide funding for the development, trial, and implementation of innovative and impactful ABE or ESOL teaching and learning resources and practices that are project-based, fresh approaches to instruction, curriculum and staff development, and related areas. New Organizations Organizations that have not received a First Literacy Grant in the past ten years are eligible to apply for up to $7,500 in the first year of the proposed project. Returning Organization Organizations that received a First Literacy Grant in the past ten years can apply for up to $5,000 in the first year of the proposed project. Organization-Wide Grants These grants provide funding for innovative ideas for larger-scale, organization-wide curricula, systems, training, and/or teacher improvement. Grants of up to $15,000 are available and priority is given to projects with a robust data reporting plan. Incentive Grants Second Year Grant- Organizations that received First Literacy funding for the first year of a project are eligible to apply for up to half of their first-year grant amount in a second year of funding. Organizations applying for a second-year grant must replicate the program with fidelity in year two including capturing pertinent data and reporting that to First Literacy. Organizations apply for a second-year grant using the main grant application, along the same time as the program and organizational grants Program Replication Grant- Your organization and another organization can each receive $1,000 if: You assist a second organization in implementing your grant idea/program. Both organizations must submit a brief letter of intent to apply for this grant along with the FY 25 grant cycle. Project Period The grant period is from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Grants are open to all not-for-profit Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) organizations in Massachusetts. For more information, visit First Literacy.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the construction or renovation of affordable housing and services aimed at helping older adults live with dignity and independence, particularly in the Greater Boston area.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations that offer affordable housing and essential services to help older adults in the Greater Boston area live with dignity and independence.

This program provides funding to Massachusetts-based clean technology startups and academic institutions for projects that advance innovations in areas like high performance buildings, clean transportation, offshore wind, and net zero grid technologies.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life for residents of Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth through projects in education, health, culture, and community services.

Community Engagement Planning Grants in Massachusetts aim to provide support to community-based organizations, municipalities, and other entities to facilitate meaningful community input in the development and deployment of solar energy projects owned by electric and gas distribution companies. The program goals include enabling informed community engagement, providing flexible funding for stakeholder meetings and public participation incentives, building capacity for future collaboration in clean energy projects, creating a framework for robust future community engagement, and facilitating discussions with diverse stakeholders.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations focused on improving community well-being through initiatives in affordable housing, financial literacy, food security, health and wellness, and veteran support.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in Lincoln, Massachusetts, for projects that improve community services, cultural activities, and educational assistance for local residents.

The Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation is seeking organizations and/or projects that primarily serve the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Massachusetts to apply for the 2024 grantmaking cycle. Donor Name: The Boston Foundation State: Massachusetts County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation is a permanent resource designed to develop, strengthen and support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community power in Massachusetts, to galvanize and unite the diverse ethnicities within this community, and to build a stronger advocacy voice. The Fund seeks to advocate for equal access to all aspects of their society and collaborate with other communities of color and oppressed communities to build collective strengths to overcome injustice and racism. ACF’s grantmaking approach focuses on strengthening the broader AAPI community ecosystem across Massachusetts and advancing policy and systems change. Through its grantmaking, ACF strives to catalyze new partnerships, expand the capacity of the local AAPI nonprofit and business sectors, and respond to emerging community needs. To this end, ACF encourages applicants to form cross-agency partnerships, collaborate with other communities, and mobilize multiple groups around a shared opportunity.  Funding Considerations Grants will be made for general operating support to organizations and/or projects that primarily serve the AAPI community in Massachusetts. Grants will range from $5,000 to $15,000. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in June 2024. Funding will support the following types of work: Convening- Bringing communities together to elevate AAPI visibility, belonging, and narrative change, with a focus on advancing solidarity and partnerships. Catalyzing- Fueling new collaborations or innovations to tackle systemic gaps and opportunities facing AAPI residents in Massachusetts. Capacity Building– Expanding the reach and impact of programs that advance policy and systems change. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations based in Massachusetts or have a qualifying fiscal agent with 501(c)3 status. Applicants will be evaluated based on the organization’s mission, impact, and alignment to ACF’s goals of strengthening the broader AAPI community ecosystem and advancing systems change. Priority will be given to organizations that serve underrepresented AAPI ethnicities and geographical regions, organizations that have not previously received funding from ACF/TBF, and grassroots community organizations. Organizations receiving funding will share their experience and impact of the grant in summer 2025 via a phone call with ACF staff or a brief survey. For more information, visit The Boston Foundation.

Career Readiness and Educational Access Grant Program focuses on preparing local residents for family-supporting jobs through career-related training, post-secondary education and other educational initiatives. Donor Name: Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts State: Massachusetts City: Selected Cities Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The objective of the grant is to advance the economic wellness of residents of North Central Massachusetts by increasing their access to education and effective career development initiatives. Priorities include: Scholarship programs that foster career pathways Career exploration Career navigation support systems Work-based learning programs Intermediaries that connect stakeholders to career advancement resources and services Requirements The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts supports programs, projects, and initiatives within 33-community region that address the Community Foundation’s goals and action areas executed by non-profit organizations or municipal governments and align with the applicant’s mission. Proposals for competitive grants should address each of the following principles: Capacity for impact: Demonstrate capacity and potential for achieving and sustaining long-term impact. Plan of action: Include a plan of action with evidence that the plan is likely to achieve its intended outcomes. Measuring impact: Include measurable objectives and outcomes with a plan to monitor progress. For more information, visit CFNCM.