National Grid has partnered with Greater Worcester Community Foundation – through its Worcester County Green Fund – to support nonprofit organizations that help households reduce their winter and year-round energy costs.

As a Sponsor of the Mass Save Programs, National Grid offers qualifying income-eligible households a variety of no-cost upgrades, including comprehensive home energy assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades.

For residents living in single family (1-4 unit) homes:

• Low-income customers are defined as those earning up to 60% of state median income (“SMI”)
• Moderate-income customers are defined as those earning 61% SMI up to either 80% area median income (“AMI”) or 80% SMI (whichever is greater)

Who Should Apply

This funding is available to Worcester County Nonprofit Organizations that already do this type of home energy improvement work themselves, or sub-contract vendors to do this type of work as part of their existing service mix. The goal of this funding is to supplement existing National Grid programs and enable weatherization assistance.

Funds Available

For the first year of this program, GWCF has $200,000 available. Based on our experience this year, there is potential for a second year of funding to be available.

The goal of the program is to serve over 300 households in National Grid’s service territory over the two years. Grants to nonprofit organizations will be scaled based on number of clients currently served and the potential service expansion based on the availability of these funds.

Funding is available for:

• Pre-weatherization barrier mitigation: Programs and services that help address health and safety issues that may prevent a home from receiving the no-cost weatherization services National Grid, as aa Mass Save Program Sponsor, provides to income-qualified (low- and moderate-income) homeowners and renters – such as venting issues, roof repair, suspected electrical issues (e.g., knob and tube wiring), suspected environmental hazards (e.g., asbestos, mold).
• Weatherization assistance: Programs and services that provide home energy upgrades aimed at reducing energy bills, improving safety, and increasing efficiency – specifically insulation installation and air sealing.

Ideally, these funds will be used by nonprofit organizations who already do weatherization work to supplement existing programs by filling incentive gaps, and may be applied alongside (and/or in addition to) the pre-weatherization or weatherization incentives provided by National Grid under the Mass Save program brand. (For example: A household earning 81% SMI may be eligible for a $4,000 rebate under the Mass Save Program but require $5,000 worth of weatherization work—these funds could help close that gap to move the project forward.)

Target Population for Funds

For nonprofit organizations who do this work, the target populations for this funding opportunity are low- or moderate-income (“LMI”) households, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other challenged populations, whose homes have been deferred from the Mass Save Programs based on existing pre-weatherization barriers, OR for those who fall modestly above the Mass Save LMI eligibility requirements (i.e., households earning 81% SMI up to 135% SMI) and are not eligible to receive no-cost upgrades.

Target Geography for Funds

Funds may only be used in cities and towns in Worcester County that are served by National Grid.

Work in the following Worcester County communities is NOT eligible: Ashburnham, Boylston, Fitchburg, Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Shrewsbury, Sterling, Templeton, and West Boylston.

National Grid’s service area map can be found here.

Reporting Requirements

After grant dollars are expended, reporting requirements will include (but may not be limited to): Number/types/geography of households served. Investment per household, and on what improvement(s). How existing funding streams were leveraged/enhanced.

Eligibility

Types of Organizations:

• 501c3 nonprofits, or any entity operating under a fiscal sponsorship of a 501c3.
• Organizations should be in good financial standing with an intact governance structure.

Geographic Location & Service Area (in order of preference):

• Based in Worcester County and primarily serve its residents.
• Not based in Worcester County but have a meaningful physical presence.

Ineligible Organizations & Individuals:

• Businesses
• Government organizations or municipalities
• Individuals

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed by Foundation staff and community volunteers based on the following criteria:

• Feasibility: The budget is realistic, and the proposed work is achievable within our grant range.
• Community Access and Inclusion: The project increases access and reduces barriers for residents of Worcester County.
• Organizational Strength: The organization has sound financial and governance functions.

Links

• Guidelines (PDF)