Our History
When the City of Worcester incorporated in 1848, it was a booming commercial and transportation crossroads. Even then, its business leaders were known for their philanthropy as well as their ingenuity.
The Greater Worcester Community Foundation continues this tradition of philanthropy with a citizen-led model of giving that engages the entire community.
In 1975, a group of Worcester residents established the Foundation. They shared a small endowment but a large vision: to develop an enduring organization that engages Worcester County in its own betterment.
In our first 35 years, we’ve used the simple, accountable and flexible model of the community foundation to build an endowment of $120 million, raise $107 million and distribute $75 million in grants. Each year, we continue to grow our resources—knowledge, relationships and funds—and do more for our community.
Organizations Outside of Worcester County
The Foundation was created to serve all of the cities and towns in Worcester County. Your program must be located in or benefit residents of Worcester County although your headquarters may be located elsewhere. If your project is outside our service area, use the National Community Foundation Locator to find your local community foundation.