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370 Main Street
Suite 650
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 755-0980

Contact Us

Mini-Grant Program
Guidelines

Application | Recent Grants
For Progress Report, please contact the Program Officer

ABOUT MINI-GRANTS

Mini-Grants are one-time discretionary grants in the amount of $500 to $3,000 made available to nonprofits in the Greater Worcester Community Foundation service area for: pilot projects, organizational improvement, restructuring, and equipment purchases. A total pool of $50,000 has been set aside for Mini-grants this year.

 

AREAS OF INTEREST

• Pilot projects – to test a new idea or adapt a proven program to a new situation; to discover whether an approach is viable.
• Organizational improvements – for board or staff education, program evaluation, shared training resources or collaborative planning efforts with other organizations.
• Restructuring – to explore or implement a major organizational change or strategic alliance arrangement with other entities, such as: outsourcing back office functions, administrative consolidation, shared staffing, joint purchasing, mergers, or transfer of programs. Note: a work plan from your selected planning consultant is required.
• Equipment – small-scale purchases that meet a critical organizational priority, or for technology enhancements based on a strategic plan.

ELIGIBILITY AND RESTRICTIONS

• Must be a nonprofit organization based in Worcester County
• Request may not exceed $3,000 and total project should be $15,000 or less
• Grant may not be used for expenses already incurred
• One mini-grant award per year (except if the organization is a sponsoring partner in a collaborative project)
• Public schools or other public agencies will typically not receive mini-grants, although they may be involved as partners in funded efforts.
• Mini-grants are not awarded to individuals or to start-up nonprofits.

 

DEADLINE FOR MINI-GRANTS

No deadline. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Decisions are made within 30 days.

 

WHERE TO SEND APPLICATION

Ann T. Lisi, executive director
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
370 Main Street, Suite 650
Worcester, MA 01608-1738

 

You are advised to contact a program officer to discuss your request before sending it in.

Contact: Lois Smith

Telephone: (508) 755-0980