The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is seeking applications for its Flexible Funding 2024 which will provide general operating support to nonprofits that benefit the region.
Donor Name: Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
State: Massachusetts
County: Franklin County (MA), Hampden County (MA), Hampshire County (MA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/16/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Flexible Funding aims to provide unrestricted financial support to sustain day-to-day operations of organizations, enabling you to focus on your mission. At CFWM, equity is central to all the efforts. They especially welcome applications from smaller, newer, non-traditional, or fiscally sponsored organizations that have not yet received substantial institutional philanthropy. They also prioritize organizations deeply rooted in their communities.
Focus Areas
The foundation’s strategic vision serves as the cornerstone for establishing the priority support areas for Flexible Funding. The aim is to fund organizations that work to increase equity and opportunity while demonstrating a strong mission in the following areas:
- Racial justice
- Accessible and more affordable post-secondary education and training
- A strong start for all children
- A vibrant local arts and creativity ecosystem
- Financial resiliency (Springfield only)
- Family economic resiliency (Franklin County only).
Funding Information
Flexible Funding provides grants of up to $30,000.
Grant Period
January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible organizations must have IRS-designated 501(c)(3) status or an existing fiscal sponsor.
- Organizations should be located in and serve residents in Franklin, Hampden, and/or Hampshire counties.
- For organizations who also have locations or a presence outside of the region, They look for key indicators such as local staff, an office in the region, and/or programs solely dedicated to residents of the region.
- Organizations with operating budgets larger than $10 million are not eligible.
- There is a strong preference for organizations with an operating budget of less than $5 million.
Ineligibility
- Expenses that occur outside the 12-month funding timeframe.
- Endowments or capital campaigns.
- Sectarian or religious organizations unless as a fiscal sponsor for a broad community benefit.
- Institutions of higher education – including scholarships.
- Academic research.
- Organizations whose mission is to support municipalities/government agencies such as friends of libraries or school systems.
- K-12 schools – public, private, or charter.
- Start-ups or organizations less than one year old.
For more information, visit CFWM.
