The Safety Net Grants program is designed to support social service organizations that respond to essential needs for marginalized communities and vulnerable residents in Greater Boston.
Built upon our now-closed Open Door Grants program, Safety Net Grants provide an opportunity to provide much-needed general operating funds to nonprofits addressing critical, immediate and essential needs for people throughout the region.
Safety Net Grants are $50,000, two-year general operating support grants, paid in two equal annual installments of $25,000. Essential needs are defined as resources that restore health, wellness, safety and belonging for individuals or families in crisis. They can include, but are not limited to:
Grants are offered twice each year - once in the spring and once in the fall. Information on the program is available via the Quick Links box, or elsewhere on the page below. If you have specific questions, please send an e-mail to w8L4oSn2osJjPbV/t4bcPcI6k/3bKONePUDgkfG/f0Guon+iLhiM9cRnX/1t9geGkHzyXdd/R7QZi/s37EpNkuciGQldxHXZDKyWHTdppcsk/FXj0Cp4jDJN1SZ3oAaz/m3aXZOUQrmKIDvkm+yMJXeLMcI8tELQhqFHlgICqRgaHyA1lhdJvIqpBXJ3tzpEzfYB+2KeE9lhdoLjaSKGvHbEVXg73o4SySnc7Buez8k= or call 617-338-4508.
This session offered potential applicants to the Safety Net Grants program a chance to learn more about the eligibility requirements, application process and selection criteria. If you were not able to attend the webinar, a recording of the webinar and PowerPoint slides are below.
Eligible Organizations primarily serve communities historically excluded from institutional philanthropy in the Foundation’s catchment area with a priority for organizations in Boston, Chelsea, Lynn, Randolph, and Salem. An eligible applicant would also meet the following criteria:
We are especially interested in organizations that are:
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. Parent Teacher Associations and tuition-based schools (including K-12 and post-secondary schools and universities) are also not eligible for this funding.
We anticipate that the Safety Net Grants program will be very competitive with demand far outpacing available resources. While we have worked to streamline the application process, we value the time commitment it takes to submit a request. Please review the eligibility requirements and funding considerations to assess your organization’s alignment prior to applying. A pre-conversation is not necessary to apply.
To preview the narrative questions and/or draft responses, download a Word Document copy of the application and download an Excel of the Demographics Form. When ready to submit, please use our online application portal.
Experiencing a technical difficulty with the online applicant portal? Check out our Smart Simple Login Guide for guidance.
The Safety Net Grants team strives to be conscious of accessibility in technology. If you have difficulty accessing our application or need accommodations to complete the application, we encourage you to reach out to us directly at w8L4oSn2osJjPbV/t4bcPcI6k/3bKONePUDgkfG/f0Guon+iLhiM9cRnX/1t9geGkHzyXdd/R7QZi/s37EpNkuciGQldxHXZDKyWHTdppcsk/FXj0Cp4jDJN1SZ3oAaz/m3aXZOUQrmKIDvkm+yMJXeLMcI8tELQhqFHlgICqRgaHyA1lhdJvIqpBXJ3tzpEzfYB+2KeE9lhdoLjaSKGvHbEVXg73o4SySnc7Buez8k=.