Applications are now open and close on January 31, 2026.

About

The Esler family, founders of the Esler Family Foundation, have committed $1 million over two years to the Inspiring Generosity Match Fund, which will be hosted at the community foundation as a donor advised fund. 

The Inspiring Generosity Match Fund was developed to provide general operating, program, project, or capital project support to nonprofits doing critical work in Worcester County while also providing an incentive to organizations and donors to double their impact with a dollar-for-dollar match.  The Esler family believes that matching grants help organizations reach their goals faster, create opportunities to build new relationships, and create a broader and more sustainable community of support. 

Eligibility

• 501c3 organizations & fiscally sponsored projects
• Organizations based in and doing work to support Worcester County
• Organizational revenue has a 3-year average under $5 million
  • Programs embedded into larger organizations over this threshold should have a conversation with staff before applying to determine eligibility.
• What we cannot support:
  • Individuals
  • Businesses
  • Event sponsorships
  • Endowment

Areas of Support

Mental Health

We support organizations working to increase access to support and reduce stigma, prioritizing organizations that:

• Reduce barriers to mental health care
• Provide programs and services to improve mental health for underserved communities
• Evaluate the effectiveness of program models in reducing depression and anxiety, and driving broader well-being outcomes

Youth Opportunity

We invest in organizations working to build equitable and dynamic futures for young people (up to 24 years old), prioritizing organizations that:

• Support students' academic and personal growth
• Deliver job readiness and life skills programming to prepare and empower young people (up to 24 years old)
• Provide post-secondary opportunities

Economic Mobility

We support organizations focused on helping individuals and families to build livelihoods, improve their quality of life, and contribute to a vibrant economy, prioritizing organizations that:

• Deliver job readiness skills programming including ESOL and career training
• Foster and empower entrepreneurship
• Provide support and resources around financial literacy

Scope & Selection Criteria

• The grant size for this program is $10,000 - $25,000.
• Requests can be for general operating, program, project, or capital project support.
• Grantees will be assessed in the following areas:
  • Alignment with at least one of the above areas of support
  • Organizations with roots in Worcester County and proven impact for residents
  • Plan for leveraging matching requirement to meet new donors and deepen engagement with existing donors

Match Requirement

• Grantees will receive 50% of the grant up front. The remaining portion of funds raised will be disbursed at the end of the grant period.
• Grantees will have until 12/31/2026 to raise their match. Funds raised in the 2026 calendar year can count towards the match requirement.
• We expect for the match to be raised from new donors and/or current donors who increase their giving. We aim for the match to be motivating for donors while being least burdensome for our nonprofit grantees.
• A workshop on fundraising for matching grants will be offered for grantees shortly after the notification date. Additional resources and support will be offered on an as-needed basis through GWCF’s Nonprofit Support Center.
• Grantees will be asked to provide a report in early 2027 on their match outcomes.
• All grantees who are successful in raising 100% of the grant match will be eligible for an expedited second year grant renewal.
• Additional match detail will be provided to and reviewed with grantees.

How to Apply

• We encourage you to be in touch with a member of the GWCF program staff before submitting an application. GWCF staff are happy to provide feedback and coaching on your proposal.
• All applications must be submitted through GWCF's online grants portal. The application is open and will close January 31, 2026.
  • Be in touch if you are unsure if you have an account.

Please note, all requests receive a fair and thorough review and everyone will be notified regardless of decision. We encourage organizations who are not successful to set up a feedback conversation to learn more about how your proposal fared in the review process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Match Requirement

Can we begin fundraising for the match before we receive the grant?

Yes. Applicants will be notified of their grant on March 1. Match dollars raised as of January 1, 2026 can be counted towards the match.

What constitutes a new donor or a current donor who increases their giving?

We are defining “new donor” as someone who did not give to your organization in 2025. That means if they have given in previous years and have lapsed, this is an opportunity to engage with them again.

We will also accept an increase in giving from a current donor. For example, if they usually make a gift of $1,000 and have increased that to $2,000, the $1,000 increase would count towards the match. 

Can the match include corporate/foundation gifts/grants?

Yes.

Can the match be raised at a fundraising event?

Yes, money raised during an event can be counted. Event sponsorship cannot be counted towards your match.

Eligibility

Can I apply for capital project support?

Yes, if it is a distinct capital project. This grant program will not support capital campaigns. 

Can I apply if my organization is based outside Worcester County?

Yes, if your project will serve Worcester County.

What if I have an existing grant from the Esler Family Foundation?

We encourage you to contact us before applying if you have an existing grant from the Esler Family Foundation. In many cases, you may still be eligible to apply to this opportunity.

Promotion

Do you have guidelines for promoting the match?

We will provide grantees with guidelines and templates for talking about their grant and their match for fundraising purposes. Prior to grants being awarded, you may indicate that you have applied to the Esler Family Foundation Inspiring Generosity Match Fund and that gifts received may be matched.