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Small Grants Program

  download .pdf version (184K) (instructions and application)

The Small Grants Program aims to be responsive to community needs and support organizations that advance the Foundation’s funding objectives.  This initiative offers opportunities for funding requests that may be too small to be competitive in the Foundation’s annual grantmaking cycles.

Overall, the Small Grants Program will allow the Foundation to respond to organizations’ smaller project or program needs in a simplified and expedited manner.  Under this category, eligible non-profits can apply for one-year grants of $30,000 or less.  The total amount available for this year’s Small Grants Program is $300,000.

Who is Eligible?

Organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) classifications, public school districts, charter schools, or diocesan or private schools that currently operate programs for children, adolescents, or young adults to age 26.

Please note that organizations must also provide services in one of the Foundation’s three funding categories:

  • Mental Health
  • Substance Abuse
  • Intellectual Disabilities

Organizations located in one of the following geographic areas:

  • Massachusetts:
    > Barnstable County
    > Dukes County
    > Essex County
    > Nantucket County
  • New York: 
    > Erie County
    > Niagara County 

Preference will be given to organizations with less than a $3 million dollar annual operating budget.

Please note that organizations awarded a grant under this initiative must wait one year after the close of their grant before they are eligible to reapply to the Small Grants Program.  However, organizations that apply for a small grant are not precluded from applying in other funding categories.

Types of Support

  • Capacity Building - For specific activities or projects aimed at strengthening an organization’s programmatic or administrative capacity. Some examples of allowable capacity building activities include: organizational assessment, an agency’s first audit, strategic and board planning, executive coaching and consulting, and staff participation in professional development.
  • Program Development - Support for program development, planning, expansion or enhancement.
  • Capital/Equipment Projects - For small projects that involve one-time capital or non-consumable equipment expenditures.

Timeline
 

Grant Submission Due Date Notification Date
Friday, March 2, 2012 Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012 Friday, November 30, 2012


 

 

 

Please note that applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on the due date and must include original (i.e., “wet) signatures.  E‐mailed or faxed copies are not accepted. 

Grant Limitations

Small Grants are not made:

  • To organizations that do not currently operate programs in one of the Foundation’s funding categories
  • For projects that fit more appropriately with one of the Foundation’s other funding approaches
  • For multiple year projects
  • For research
  • For start-up support
  • For fundraising
  • For endowment support
  • For lobbying purposes
  • For capital campaigns

Note

All of the requested information must be received in order to be considered for a small grant. For Small Grant Program instructions and complete application, click here.