Community Grant Program

Greater Worcester Community Foundation, through its Community Grant Program, seeks to provide operational and/or programmatic support to nonprofit organizations working to create a more inclusive, equitable and vibrant Greater Worcester community.

Our Values

In all of the proposals submitted by nonprofit organizations, we value:

  • A commitment to the elimination of systemic racism and racial disparities.
  • Methods focused on promoting access and inclusion.
  • Impactful, evidence-based, culturally-responsive work grounded in experience, data and/or research.
  • Collaborative and intersectional practices.
  • Outcomes that are clearly articulated and measurable.
  • Decision making that includes community voice.
  • An authentic relationship to the community/ies in which they are engaged.
  • Demonstrated organizational capacity and fiscal responsibility.

We are particularly interested in work in the areas of economic security/basic needs; arts & culture; civic participation; environmental engagement; health access and equity; early childhood & youth development. And we are particularly interested in efforts that unlock opportunity for residents in under-resourced neighborhoods or communities.

2020 Eligibility

  • Grant requests should range from $2,500 to $25,000. 
  • Applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities serving Worcester or the cities and towns of Worcester County. Organizations located in the Greater Worcester area, engaging local partners or building local capacity, will be preferred.
    • Projects that are not incorporated as independent organizations must apply through an established nonprofit as fiscal agent.
    • Public agencies, municipal departments, and houses of worship are not typically eligible to receive Community Grants.
  • At the conclusion of the grant term, grantees are expected to submit a progress report.
  • For collaborative projects, only one application will be accepted.
 

2020 Application Forms & Instructions

The application form is online. The first time an organization applies to the Foundation through our online application system, it creates an Organization Account to use for each application going forward. Please use the same account you have previously used, or create a new one if this your first time applying online. You may contact Foundation staff to find out if your organization already has an account in our system.

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