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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 calendar 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, President & CEO
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