The Nashoba Valley Health Care Fund's purpose is to advance the community health of residents in Nashoba Valley.

Fund Background

The Nashoba Valley Health Care Fund was established in 2006 when Essent Healthcare purchased the Nashoba Valley Medical Center. The endowment of the medical center was divided between the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

Objective

The Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund aims to advance the community health of residents in twelve (12) communities: Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend.

Priority will be given to, but not limited to, proposals pertaining to (in no particular order):

• Healthy living and preventative care
• Access to healthcare services (including prenatal/maternity care, emergency medical services, and health-related support services)
• Elder Health
• Youth and adolescent health
• Behavioral Health
• Healthcare entrepreneurship 

Proposals for the following will not be considered:

• Projects that do not directly benefit the geographic service area of the Fund
• Organizations that are currently receiving Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare awards from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation
• Multi-year grants
• Loans, capital campaigns, attempts to influence legislation, and support where the Community Foundation may become the predominant long-term source of revenue
• Individuals or for-profit organizations

Requirements 

All proposals will be reviewed and considered for funding based on each proposal's ability to:

• Clearly and concisely articulate the expected impact of the grant on the community
• Meet well-defined and documented community needs
• Provide strategic and achievable goals (that can be measured and reported within and or at the conclusion of the grant period)
• Provide a clear project budget (statement of revenue sources and uses of funds)
• Provide evidence of suitable measurement tools to adequately track outcomes, evaluations of change and/or return on investment

Grant Size

Grant awards typically range from $5,000 to $20,000; however, larger-scale collaborative projects with requests that are more than $20,000 will be considered if the project's impact justifies the increased funding request.

Grant Program Schedule

• Application open: December 9, 2024
• Application deadline: January 3, 2025
• Award announcement: February 7, 2025