Massachusetts Youth Grants

The 2024 Community Experts Fund, spearheaded by the Peter and Elizabeth Tower Foundation, is a grant initiative designed to amplify youth voice within organizations. This program aligns with the Foundation's mission by directly engaging young adults with lived expertise in the grantmaking process, ensuring that funding decisions are informed by the concerns and priorities of the young people it aims to serve. This strategic approach underscores a theory of change that values authentic youth engagement as a catalyst for effective and impactful program development. The target beneficiaries of this grant are youth-serving nonprofit organizations working with young people who have an intellectual disability, learning disability, mental health challenge, or substance use disorder. The program specifically prioritizes services delivered in Massachusetts (Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, or Nantucket County) and New York (Erie or Niagara County). The impact goals include fostering youth leadership and ensuring that community voice directly shapes grant allocation and program design. The fund focuses on supporting a variety of initiatives that empower young people. Eligible expenses include stipends for youth participation, staff time dedicated to youth engagement, transportation and accommodation for youth programming, program supplies and food, community and recreational programming, outreach and promotion of youth leadership opportunities, technology and equipment, and training. This broad scope allows organizations to tailor their proposals to specific needs while adhering to the core objective of youth empowerment. Applicants can request up to $25,000 to support their programs. While the grant duration is not explicitly mentioned, the emphasis on youth-led design and ongoing engagement suggests an expected outcome of sustainable youth leadership within recipient organizations. The measurable results would likely include increased youth participation in organizational decision-making, development of youth-led projects, and the overall strengthening of youth voice in the designated service regions. This grant opportunity exemplifies the Foundation's strategic commitment to empowering young people and integrating their perspectives into community-based solutions.

The Swim Safe Access Grant, spearheaded by Mayor Michelle Wu, the Office of Human Services (OHS), and the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, is a critical initiative aimed at enhancing water safety and increasing access to swimming lessons for Boston families. The program's core mission aligns with public health goals to address the threat of drowning, which is a leading cause of death among children in the U.S. The grant seeks to mitigate this risk by providing free and easily accessible swim lessons, directly supporting a strategy proven to reduce drowning risk by up to 90 percent. This directly reflects a strategic priority of improving community health and safety through preventative measures, particularly for vulnerable populations. The primary beneficiaries of the Swim Safe Access Grant are Boston residents, with a specific focus on low-income families and socially and economically disadvantaged, historically underrepresented, or underserved groups. The program's impact goals center on improving water safety knowledge and skills among these residents, ultimately reducing the incidence of drowning. By making beginner-level swim programs free and accessible, the grant aims to lower existing barriers to access, ensuring that a broader segment of the community can acquire essential water safety skills. The grant prioritizes beginner-level swim programs operating within the city of Boston, emphasizing foundational water safety skills over intermediate or advanced instruction. Funding is specifically available for ongoing programs, explicitly excluding one-time events, to ensure sustained impact and skill development. Eligibility criteria further specify that applicants must be non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations, with Boston Public Schools-affiliated entities encouraged to apply. Programs must also demonstrate either direct operation of an aquatics facility or a partnership with one that can accommodate the proposed activities. This focused approach reflects a theory of change that by investing in foundational, accessible, and sustained beginner swim instruction, a significant and measurable improvement in public water safety can be achieved across the city. Expected outcomes include a substantial increase in the number of Boston residents, particularly children from underserved backgrounds, who possess basic water safety skills. Measurable results will be tracked through regular reports on program outcomes, which award recipients are required to submit. These reports will provide data on participation rates, skill acquisition, and potentially anecdotal evidence of increased water confidence and safety awareness among participants. The total available funding of $250,000, with individual awards up to $49,999 per organization, underscores the program's commitment to supporting multiple community-based initiatives to achieve its broad safety and access goals.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that offer summer programs for youth in the Greater Lawrence area, focusing on enhancing educational and developmental opportunities while addressing achievement gaps.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Boston that help 7th and 8th grade students, particularly those who are first-generation college aspirants, prepare for post-secondary education through mentorship, tutoring, and career exploration programs.

The 2024 Youth Development Fund (YDF), launched by the City of Boston's Human Services Cabinet, is a $1.5 million grant program aimed at supporting non-profit organizations that offer high-quality, engaging programs for youth and young adults aged 14-24. The fund prioritizes initiatives aligning with Mayor Michelle Wu’s Connect, Learn, Explore commitment, aiming to increase free youth programming and provide positive outlets for youth outside school hours. Applications are open until 5:00 p.m. on August 19, 2024. This year, the fund will offer two tracks of funding: one for small, emerging organizations and another for larger, established organizations. Emerging organizations will also receive technical assistance and capacity-building support through the Emerging Organization Learning Community. Mayor Wu emphasized the importance of investing in youth programming for the community's future, while Human Services Chief José F. Massó highlighted the fund’s role in partnering with diverse youth development organizations. The program aims to foster growth in small organizations with annual budgets under $200,000 through mentorship and support, while larger organizations can receive grants up to $30,000. The 2024 YDF will focus on sports, gardening, urban farming, culinary arts, arts, and other youth development programming, supporting initiatives across all Boston neighborhoods.

The City of Boston has launched the Third Annual Community Empowerment Grants, offering a total of $500,000 to strengthen capacity and expand programming for organizations supporting men and boys across Boston’s neighborhoods. Administered by the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Advancement (BMA), these grants provide up to $20,000 per organization to enhance programs aimed at empowering Black men and boys. Applications are open now and must be submitted by January 6, 2024, at 5:00 PM. The grants focus on seven key areas: Mentoring and Out-of-School Time, Youth and Young Adult Pathways, Housing Mobility, Economic Inclusion and Wealth Building, Workforce Training and Development, Fatherhood Engagement, and Mental Health and Wellness. Programs in these areas should foster social, economic, and emotional wellbeing for men and boys, providing pathways to success in education, housing, employment, and mental health. Building on the success of prior grant cycles, this year’s initiative introduces enhanced capacity-building support through the BMA Capacity Building and Impact Institute and mentoring opportunities in collaboration with Mass Mentoring. These programs offer personalized coaching, nonprofit training, and expert resources to help grantees amplify their impact and build long-term sustainability. To further promote collaboration, the BMA will facilitate a community of practice for grantees to share insights and strategies. Eligible applicants must be Boston-based organizations with a demonstrated history of positively impacting Black men and boys. Interested organizations can attend a virtual information session on December 11, 2024, at 12:00 PM via Zoom, with registration available on the BMA website. For further questions, applicants may contact the City of Boston grants team at grants@boston.gov. In previous cycles, $1.5 million in Community Empowerment Grants has been awarded to 115 community-based organizations. This ongoing investment aligns with the BMA's mission to create equitable opportunities and lasting change for Black men and boys across Boston. For more details on this and other grant opportunities, visit www.boston.gov/grants.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and municipalities for summer programs that enhance academic achievement and mental health services for school-aged youth in Central and North Central Massachusetts.

The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is offering its Health & Wellbeing and Youth & Families Grant Program, which is designed to be responsive and flexible, incorporating trust-based philanthropic principles. This approach aims to reduce applicant time, increase interaction, and provide alternative storytelling methods. The foundation's mission, as reflected in this program, is to strengthen systems that ensure equitable healthcare access for historically excluded populations and to support families and young people with critical resources and meaningful experiences. The target beneficiaries of this program are individuals from historically excluded populations needing equitable healthcare access, and families and young people who require support to thrive. The impact goals are to improve healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities and to ensure that families have the necessary resources and young people have access to essential support and enriching experiences. The program seeks to achieve these goals through projects and programs that align with its focus areas and meaningfully address the identified lenses. The program's priorities and focuses are primarily within two key areas: Health & Wellbeing and Youth & Families. For Health & Wellbeing, the focus is on strengthening systems to ensure equitable healthcare access for historically excluded populations. For Youth & Families, the focus is on ensuring families have what they need to thrive and that young people have access to critical supports and meaningful experiences. Requests should support projects or programs that are highly aligned with at least one of these strategic focus areas and demonstrate an ability to meaningfully address the work through the specified lenses. The expected outcomes and measurable results, while not explicitly detailed with specific metrics in the provided information, are implicitly tied to the program's focus areas. For Health & Wellbeing, outcomes would include improved access to healthcare services and better health outcomes for historically excluded populations. For Youth & Families, outcomes would involve increased family stability and well-being, and enhanced opportunities and experiences for young people. The foundation's strategic priorities are centered on this responsive and flexible approach, utilizing trust-based philanthropy to create a more efficient and impactful grant-making process. The theory of change suggests that by investing in highly aligned projects and programs that address the identified lenses within Health & Wellbeing and Youth & Families, they can effectively strengthen community systems and improve the lives of Worcester County residents, particularly those from historically excluded groups. The grant range for this program is $2,500 – $25,000.

The Island Foundation is accepting applications for a grant program, with a deadline of 10/23/2024, aimed at supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island that focus on environmental conservation, social change in New Bedford, alternative education, and addressing inequality for womxn and girls.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofits and community organizations working to improve health outcomes and address disparities in mental health, financial stability, and access to healthcare for residents in the Emerson Health service area.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in select U.S. markets that focus on youth education, storytelling, and community engagement initiatives.

This grant provides funding to Boston residents and community groups to host neighborhood block parties that foster community engagement and connection during the summer.

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

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Boy Scout Councils in Massachusetts for major capital projects that improve or maintain summer and training camp facilities.

This grant provides financial support to charitable organizations in Massachusetts that deliver educational, human services, and healthcare programs for underserved youth and children.

This funding opportunity provides unrestricted financial support to nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations in Western Massachusetts, focusing on enhancing social justice, community well-being, and local resilience.

This scholarship provides financial assistance to women in Massachusetts and New York for travel or equipment related to their studies, athletic pursuits, professional training, or alternative healing, helping to cover up to 50% of the associated costs.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Cambridge that are working to address community challenges and improve local opportunities across various focus areas, including education, health, and economic security.