The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is seeking applications for 2022 Community Grant Program: Project Support to work towards a more equitable, vibrant and just community, implement strategic focus areas, and emphasize the underlying approaches nonprofit organizations apply to their work.
Donor Name: Greater Worcester Community Foundation
State: Massachusetts
County: Worcester County (MA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/15/2022
Size of the Grant: $25,000
Details:
GWCF has been on a learning journey to better understand how to leverage and streamline resources entrusted to make the most meaningful impact in communities. These strategic areas – Health & Wellbeing, Thriving Families, and Creative Worcester – have emerged as their current priorities, and will be continuously honed.
Health & Wellbeing: Strengthening the systems that ensure those from historically excluded populations have equitable access to healthcare and behavioral healthcare. Strategies include:
- Expanding access to behavioral health services
- Expanding culturally-responsive healthcare workforce
- Improving pre-natal care/healthy pregnancies
- Wellness programs that promote health and/or improve health outcomes
Thriving Families: Ensuring that families have what they need to thrive and that young people have access to critical supports and meaningful experiences. Strategies include:
- Increasing access to quality early childhood care
- Providing meaningful out-of-school experiences
- Delivering critical family support services including housing & food security
- Providing opportunities to increase family wealth (job training, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, increasing minimum wage, etc.)
- Offering family oriented educational and/or recreational opportunities
Creative Worcester: For Worcester to have a diverse and strong Arts & Culture ecosystem where residents share a sense of ownership and belonging in all creative spaces. Arts & Culture will be fully recognized as a key component in assisting individuals, families and communities in living healthy and thriving lives. Strategies include:
- Increasing access to the arts
- Developing alignment between local diverse populations and arts & culture programming.
- Artists & creatives engaging as active partners in the growth and evolution of the city and its neighborhoods.
- Supporting the financial stability of cultural organizations
Funding Information
Grants will vary in size but in general range from $2,500-$25,000 to be applied to project budgets that include meaningful overhead.
Eligibility Criteria
- 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit or an entity operating under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit.
- Collaboratives or loosely organized coalitions are welcome to apply and should be submitted by the designated lead partner
- Your organization’s work is within GWCF’s geographic area served. Priority is given in the following order:
- Nonprofit organizations based in and serving Worcester County
- Nonprofits not based in Worcester County but have a physical presence (staff or location) should focus their application entirely on their work within Worcester County
- Nonprofits providing an unduplicated service in Worcester County without a physical (staff or location) presence will be expected to demonstrate their authentic relationships with local stakeholders (local board members, formalized partnerships, local committee/coalition service etc.)
- Have strong demonstrated alignment with one of the key strategic focus areas
- Tell an authentic journey of progress in one or more of 3 priority lens areas (racial equity, community voice, systems change). Successful grantees will not necessarily be advanced in these areas, but on a meaningful and inclusive journey.
- Sound Organizational Practices: A legitimate and effective governing or advisory board is in place and strong planning and fiscal stewardship is happening.
For more information, visit GWCF.
