Massachusetts grants for Nonprofits

The Brookline Community Foundation (BCF) is offering a Community Grant Program, providing funding between $10,000 to $100,000 for one year to programs that promote equity and address community needs such as health, wellness, climate sustainability, arts, culture, and more, with a preference for BIPOC-led organizations and those focusing on vulnerable populations.

This program provides funding to support the development of ocean technology testing facilities and to enhance the ecosystem for ocean innovation in Massachusetts, targeting nonprofits, universities, and research institutions with at least three years of operational experience.

This funding opportunity is designed for nonprofit organizations in Worcester to develop projects that address the opioid overdose crisis through prevention, harm reduction, treatment access, and recovery support, with a focus on underserved populations.

The City of Boston’s Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC), operating under the Environment Department, administers the Community Clean Air Grant to support nonprofit-led projects aimed at reducing air pollution and carbon emissions. This initiative, piloted in 2021 and now in its 2025 cycle, funds community-based strategies that align with the city’s goals of carbon neutrality by 2050 and improving public health in Boston’s most affected neighborhoods. Applications for the 2025 cycle opened on March 17, 2025, at 9:00 AM and will close on May 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The grant supports projects that eliminate local sources of pollution, promote the transition to clean energy, enhance indoor air quality, and raise awareness about the impacts of pollution and climate change. The program prioritizes projects that benefit communities located near highways or transportation infrastructure and populations considered socially vulnerable, such as people of color, older adults, children, and individuals with chronic illnesses. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations operating within Boston. Although a nonprofit may submit multiple proposals, the APCC will fund only one project per organization per fiscal year. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend one of two scheduled information sessions on March 25 at 5:30 PM and April 4 at 10:00 AM. Weekly office hours are also held on Wednesdays from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Translation services for the information sessions are available upon request with at least one week’s notice via email. Applicants must submit a completed application, and they may also choose to submit an optional preliminary proposal and a partnership form. Once submitted, applicants will receive an email confirmation and subsequent updates on their proposal status. Awards are determined by a multi-departmental evaluation committee to ensure an equitable and comprehensive selection process. For more information or to ask questions, applicants can contact the APCC at apcc@boston.gov using the subject line “Community Clean Air Grant Question.” Additional details, including resources and application links, are available on the City of Boston’s website.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the purpose of establishing partnership agreements. The overarching goal, which aligns with the NRCS's mission to conserve natural resources on private lands, is to leverage agency resources to address local resource issues, encourage collaboration, and cultivate state-and-community-level conservation leadership. The funding is intended to facilitate projects that advance these conservation efforts, particularly those focused on priority topics within a specific geographic area. The availability and level of funding are noted as potential, pending full appropriation for fiscal year 2024. The program's target beneficiaries encompass a broad range of public and private entities capable of performing conservation work. Eligible applicants include various levels of government, such as city, county, special district, state, and Native American tribal governments and organizations. Nonprofits, both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status, are eligible, as are private and public institutions of higher education. The impact goals are centered on effectively addressing critical local natural resource challenges and substantially strengthening conservation efforts through on-the-ground project implementation. A key strategic priority of this NFO is a singular focus on projects based within Texas. Proposals must specifically address "conservation priority topics as noted in Section A of this notice." The agency places high value on collaborative projects that are designed to provide direct, on-the-ground support for Texas NRCS Field Offices, indicating a strategic effort to integrate partner work with established agency operations. Conversely, the NFO explicitly excludes and will not consider research proposals, thereby directing resources toward implementation and practical application. The NRCS's strategic approach operates under a theory of change that posits that local, collaborative leadership is the most effective driver for sustained conservation results. By funding a diverse range of partners (the listed eligible applicants) to work on local priorities and support agency field offices, the NRCS intends to multiply its conservation impact beyond its direct capacity. Expected measurable results for successful applicants include securing an agreement with a federal share funding floor of $25,000 and a ceiling of $300,000. The agency anticipates making selections by June 15, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 15, 2024, ensuring a swift turnaround from selection to project initiation.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Berkshire Taconic region for innovative projects that improve environmental quality and promote community health, with a focus on engaging at-risk and low-income youth.

The George B. Henderson Foundation offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for projects enhancing and preserving the outdoor elements of Boston, including parks, city streets, buildings, monuments, and architectural works, with a special interest in permanent public art projects and outdoor spaces, available to 501(c)(3) organizations and not individuals.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and collaborations that address community needs in Andover, Lawrence, and North Andover, focusing on areas such as basic needs, economic development, education, and environmental stewardship.

This program provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations and conservation districts in Massachusetts for acquiring land or conservation restrictions to promote outdoor recreation, conserve natural resources, and enhance climate resilience.

This grant provides funding for collaborative projects that improve digital access, devices, and literacy in Essex County, Massachusetts, prioritizing partnerships between organizations to address community needs.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide career development programs for Black youth aged 14-24 in designated NBA markets.

The Somerville Health Foundation (SHF) invites proposals for projects and activities in Massachusetts that align with its mission to promote and support accessible primary care and preventive health services for Somerville residents. This also includes supporting educational, research, and outreach programs to enhance the delivery and accessibility of these services. The foundation's overarching goal is to provide financial resources that enable it to fulfill these core purposes, ultimately improving the health and well-being of the community. The target beneficiaries are primarily residents of the City of Somerville, Massachusetts, with a particular focus on addressing the disproportionate health impacts on low-income communities and communities of color. The impact goals revolve around creating a healthier, more equitable Somerville by addressing social determinants of health. The foundation’s strategic priorities are rooted in principles of language justice, inclusion of underrepresented voices in leadership and decision-making, and system improvements that foster collective care. SHF prioritizes proposals that also address specific preventative health areas. These include Housing (affordability, stability, anti-displacement, safety, accessibility, homelessness), Equitable Economies (sustainable food systems, living wages, healthy working conditions, caregiving systems), Equity in Access to Healthcare, Services and Information (costs, cultural/linguistic barriers, navigation, referrals, staffing, transportation, digital access, quality, disability accessibility), and Climate Health and Justice (air/water quality, climate change preparedness). The expected outcomes are projects or activities that directly contribute to the SHF's mission and priority areas. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the general grant overview, the emphasis on addressing specific concerns within each priority area suggests that successful proposals would demonstrate measurable progress in these areas. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by strategically funding initiatives that address these core principles and preventative health priorities, it can improve access to care, reduce health disparities, and ultimately enhance the overall health of the Somerville community. The SHF plans to distribute approximately $30,000 this year, funding two projects at $15,000 each.

This funding opportunity supports organizations that partner with startups to advance and scale innovative clean energy technologies in Massachusetts, helping them navigate challenges to achieve commercial success.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Greater Lowell area that provide essential services to improve the quality of life for the LGBTQ community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Massachusetts-based organizations to improve food production, processing, and access, particularly in underserved communities, through infrastructure and equipment investments.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in Massachusetts that provide education, health care, and human services specifically for underserved populations, with a focus on improving the lives of elderly women.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Lawrence area of Massachusetts that focus on essential needs like food security, clothing, shelter, and adult education, particularly benefiting the city of Lawrence.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in implementing one-year projects that improve their capacity and effectiveness, focusing on initiatives that can be sustained without ongoing fundraising.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local organizations, artists, and community projects in Newton that promote free arts and cultural programming, community enrichment, and beautification efforts.