Our mission at the Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in North Central Massachusetts through philanthropy. One way we do this is by directing grants to programs, projects, and initiatives within our 33-community region.These competitive grants are made for activities that address the Foundation’s action areas and objectives, are executed by a non-profit organization, and align with the applicant’s mission.

Proposals for Action Area grants are expected to 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.
• Collaboration: Leverage new and/or existing resources, organizations, relationships, initiatives, and investments to improve the likelihood of significant impact, efficiency, and sustainability.
• Gauging progress: Include measurable objectives and outcomes with a plan to monitor progress.

Grant amounts

While there are no set grant amounts, grants tend to fall between $2,000 and $30,000. The median grant amount is $10,000.

Grant application exclusions

What we do not fund:

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Loans or debt reduction
• Political activity

Action Areas

This action area focuses on preserving, enhancing and providing access to the natural beauty of North Central Massachusetts and on enhancing the welfare of domestic animals.

This action area focuses on increasing the competitive position of local residents for family-supporting jobs through post-secondary education and training, and other educational initiatives.

Community Enrichment and Organizational Development
This action area covers a broad range of activities that enhance the quality of life in our communities. They include community development, social services, and arts and cultural initiatives.  It also seeks to help nonprofit efforts to enhance their organizational performance and capacity and staff development.

This action area focuses on especially severe challenges to the welfare and safety of people in North Central Massachusetts.

Offered jointly through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, the Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund’s purpose is to advance the community health of residents in thirteen (13) communities: Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford.

Grant awards will range from $5,000 up to $20,000; however, larger scale collaborative projects with requests that are more than $20,000 will be considered if the increased funding request is justified by the impact of the project.

THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR 2020.

*SOURCE: APHA’s determination that racism is a public health crisis: https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/health-equity/racism-and-health).