Greater Worcester Community Foundation today announced $500,000 in grants from the Inspiring Generosity Match Fund, a partnership with the Esler Family Foundation designed to encourage philanthropy across Worcester County and strengthen nonprofit organizations advancing mental health, youth opportunity, and economic mobility. The Esler family has committed $1 million over two years to the Inspiring Generosity Match Fund, which is hosted at the community foundation as a donor advised fund.

Thirty-eight nonprofits received grants up to $25,000 for initiatives that aligned with the three focus areas of the grant program. Each grantee will work to raise a dollar-for-dollar match by December 31, 2026, doubling the community investment in their mission.

“Through this partnership with the Esler Family Foundation, we’re investing in organizations that are deeply rooted in Worcester County and driving meaningful change every day,” says Pete Dunn, President & CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation. 

"This match fund not only strengthens their programs but also helps expand their fundraising capacity by encouraging them to reach new donors and re-engage longtime supporters."

- Pete Dunn, President & CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation

A full list of grantees is attached to this announcement. While some have received grants from the Esler Family Foundation in the past, many are new to the family foundation.

"Partnering with Greater Worcester Community Foundation has introduced us to an even broader network of local nonprofits aligned with our philanthropic priorities. We were impressed by the depth and diversity of the applications, and we look forward to getting to know these organizations more fully as the grant program continues."

- John Esler, Co-Founder of the Esler Family Foundation

"In this time of unpredictable funding for nonprofits, we felt it was important to stand with the changemakers in our communities — those who dedicate themselves each day to providing hope and essential support where it’s needed most."

- Jeanne Esler, Co-Founder of the Esler Family Foundation.

Grantees were selected based on their alignment with the Inspiring Generosity Match Fund’s three focus areas, their roots in Worcester County and their plan for leveraging the match requirement. Examples include: 

Economic Mobility

  • Girls, Inc.’s first grant from the Esler Family Foundation will support the delivery of their Future Pathways programming, including Eureka!, a long-standing STEM and leadership program, and Project Accelerate, a newer initiative focused on career exploration, skill-building, and readiness for post-secondary pathways.

Mental Health

  • Genesis Club will receive a grant to enhance their direct member services, ensuring uninterrupted support for individuals with serious mental illness and support outreach to marginalized populations. This will be their first grant from the Esler Family Foundation.

Youth Opportunity

  • Regional Environmental Council will receive funding for its YouthGROW program (pictured above), which employs high school teens to maintain three urban organic farms. REC calls the grant’s matching component “a powerful incentive for individual donors, local businesses, and community partners to increase their giving … For YouthGROW, this means turning one gift into two sources of support for paid youth employment, leadership development, and local food production.”

Greater Worcester Community Foundation will host a Fundraising for a Match workshop in April through its Nonprofit Support Center to help grantees plan and execute their match campaigns. Nonprofits that raise their full match by the end of 2026 will be eligible for an expedited second-year renewal.

Visit greaterworcester.org to learn more about the Inspiring Generosity Match Fund and to see the full list of grantees.

About Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Greater Worcester Community Foundation is central Massachusetts’ leading community foundation, employing its expertise and resources to address the region’s most urgent needs. Since 1975, it has worked in partnership with donors to build a $270 million endowment composed of more than 650 named charitable funds and award over $186 million in grants that have helped transform communities and build a strong and vibrant region. For more information on the Foundation’s programs and how to give, please visit www.greaterworcester.org.

About Esler Family Foundation

Esler Family Foundation is committed to healing minds and strengthening spirits in partnership with organizations at home and around the globe. John and Jeanne Esler, who are passionate about giving while they’re living, established the Foundation in 2019 to address some of the most pressing needs of our time - mental health, youth opportunity, and economic mobility. To learn more about the Esler Family Foundation, please visit eslerfamilyfoundation.org. 

Full List of Grantees 

Economic Mobility

Youth Opportunity

Mental Health