Open Door Grants is a responsive semi-annual grantmaking program, especially focused on organizations serving and building power in communities historically excluded from institutional philanthropy and whose leadership reflects the demographic composition and lived experiences of communities they serve. 

We are actively working to share and shift power to community through community-directed grantmaking. Community directed grantmaking is the practice of sharing grantmaking responsibility with community members outside of the Foundation’s staff and board. Each round, since the pilot in May 2020, we have been deepening and expanding this practice, with the goal of having community members inform all the program’s grantmaking decisions. 

We will update the webpage with changes to the program later in the summer. If you have specific questions, please send an e-mail to o3YZzmiJzQlNc8kcjJ89YzQlxNa4Z/natnSD7jBKD/e/92bTqaYjn50ZiEbs+nV1dtei/fRaY9WsqkYHLEYUb6W8tPQKvwMYSQdp5pjQJIQmGM31SoPfUo7R2fSt0av+F4Vsmoe0Rggjd1E5guUz3AJ7+A31MIN4MrbiPKQNWf0= or call 617-338-4508.  

Who Is Eligible?

An eligible applicant would be an existing or new organization that primarily serves and builds power in communities historically excluded from institutional philanthropy within the cities and towns of the Foundation’s catchment area.

We are especially interested in supporting the following communities: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals and communities; immigrants (including undocumented); elders; individuals with disabilities; survivors of domestic abuse; and/or incarcerated and returning citizens.

An eligible applicant would also meet the following criteria:

• Is not eligible for funding through the Foundation's five impact areas, as defined by their strategies, goals and approaches;
• Has not submitted an application within the past 12 months;
• Has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit designation from the IRS or operates under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit;         
• Aligns with the Foundation’s Values Statement, which seeks to broaden participation; foster collaboration; and heal racial, ethnic and community divisions
• Does not discriminate in the hiring of staff or the provision of services on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability

While not an eligibility requirement, in using a racial equity lens in our grantmaking, Open Door Grants are especially focused on supporting organizations whose leadership reflects the demographic composition and lived experiences of the communities they serve, and organizations engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion practices, programs and/or initiatives.

If you are a current or prior grantee, please note the limit for consecutive annual support is two years, after which an organization must wait 12 months following the completion of their second year grant period before applying again for additional support.

Exclusions

The Boston Foundation does not make grants for capital construction costs, endowments, medical or academic research, scholarships, sectarian or religious purposes, or to support candidates for political office. Private non-operating foundations, 501(c)(4) organizations, and Section 501(a)(3) Type III Non-functionally Integrated organizations are not eligible to apply. In addition, grants are not made to individual persons or individual schools. Schools must apply through their school districts and districts may submit one application every 12 months.

How to Apply

Deadlines

The Foundation is not currently accepting Open Door Grant applications. Please check back for future deadlines and guidance on how to apply.

Applicants who submitted a proposal for the February 1, 2022 deadline were notified of their status via email in the last week of June. If you have a question regarding your submitted application, please email us at o3YZzmiJzQlNc8kcjJ89YzQlxNa4Z/natnSD7jBKD/e/92bTqaYjn50ZiEbs+nV1dtei/fRaY9WsqkYHLEYUb6W8tPQKvwMYSQdp5pjQJIQmGM31SoPfUo7R2fSt0av+F4Vsmoe0Rggjd1E5guUz3AJ7+A31MIN4MrbiPKQNWf0= and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.