The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation, has announced a special round of $2.625 million in grants to 77 organizations through the Foundation’s Safety Net Grants program. The special round was originally intended to distribute $2 million, but it was expanded with extra support and commitments from TBF’s community of donors.
“I am both humbled by the generous commitments from our donors to expand the pool for this special round of grants and sobered by the level of unmet need during this unprecedented moment in history,” said Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “This is just the latest piece of our continuing commitment to use all of our tools – advocacy, research, convening, grantmaking, and more – to improve lives, strengthen communities, and nurture a city and region where opportunity, justice and equity are extended to everyone.”
More than 500 nonprofit organizations applied for grants during the special round. The grantees were selected by a dedicated group of 57 community reviewers, whose tireless effort made it possible to complete the evaluation process in just six weeks. Community reviewers represented a broad cross-section of Massachusetts nonprofits and were compensated for their time and effort.
“The Safety Net Grants program would not be what it is without the wisdom and commitment of the community leaders who make this a 100% community-led process, coordinated by Candace Burton and Quynh Nguyen of our Safety Net Grants team,” said Orlando Watkins, Vice President and Chief Program Officer at the Boston Foundation. “The best decisions about what Greater Boston needs are informed and made by local leaders who understand the issues, challenges, and opportunities woven into the diversity of every community.”
The new grants are part of the Boston Foundation’s overall strategy to “Meet the Moment” at this critical time, supporting organizations that are responding to the essential needs of marginalized communities and vulnerable residents. TBF plans to offer another round of grants through the Safety Net Grants program in the second half of 2025, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
Below is an alphabetical list of the grantees and grant amounts in this round. Grantees were eligible to receive awards ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Where noted by an asterisk, grant payments will be made over two years.
The Boston Foundation is one of the nation’s first and most impactful community foundations. Partnering with community members, donors, the public sector, businesses and nonprofits, we exist to close the gaps caused by our city’s greatest disparities, to advance economic justice, and to help build a better Boston. We collect data, commission research, share knowledge, develop dynamic programs, fuel new ideas and fund change. Our work informs public policy, catalyzes conversations and advocates not only for change, but for repair of the historical harms of inequity. Ultimately, we aim to support, contribute and create well-being and opportunity within our communities. TBF is also one of New England’s largest grantmakers, supporting nonprofits in Greater Boston through our endowment and working closely with our donors to support nonprofits locally, nationally and internationally.