Each year, the Boston Foundation distributes more than $15 million in grants and other support from the Permanent Fund for Boston, an endowed pool of funds built over the last 100 years by contributors who want to see the Greater Boston community thrive. Discretionary grants are largely awarded through a competitive process open to all nonprofits serving the Foundation’s catchment area, stewarded by the Foundation’s Program Department staff and approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Boston Foundation is pleased to accept applications now for our Open Door Grants program. For 2020-2021, the program has shifted to better support the needs of Greater Boston nonprofits. New grantees will receive two-year general operating support grants totaling $50,000. Review the guidelines and FAQs on the Open Door Grants page, and submit your application by February 1, 2021.
Now in its fifth year, Live Arts Boston supports Greater Boston area artists to test ideas, explore collaborations and build skills in the process of generating original work. LAB provides up to $15,000 in project-specific funds to create, produce or present new performing arts work for Greater Boston audiences.
Serving Cape Ann and Nashoba Valley, the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation provides grants for programs, direct services and new initiatives in the fields of mental health, environmental protection, historic and archival preservation and the arts. Grants range from $2,500 to $12,000.
The Boston Foundation invests the majority of its discretionary resources in five impact areas informed by research we have commissioned and by our Civic Leadership work in general. Nonprofits fitting within the defined goals of those areas and strategies are invited to apply for support after conversation with a program officer from their respective field.
To complement our program area–targeted approach, the Boston Foundation distributes a portion of its resources via its Open Door Grants program, which responds to expressed opportunities and needs in the communities we serve.
Open Door Grant Guidelines
The Foundation makes grants and strategic investments through a number of special issue-focused programs and initiatives. These activities have varying purposes, some of which are open to application.
Each year, the Boston Foundation devotes a portion of its discretionary grant-making resources to help support the fundraising events of nonprofits in the Greater Boston community.