The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for their Community Grant program. Community Grants support nonprofit organizations that build healthy and vibrant communities in Central Massachusetts. The Foundation focus on five areas of interest for community grants, which include arts and culture, civic engagement, and environment; early childhood development; youth development and education; economic security; and healthy communities.

“After a year-long “learning tour,” spent exploring issues and speaking with nonprofit leaders we revised our community grant guidelines in early 2016. The changes were made with both continuity and increased effectiveness in mind,” said Ann Lisi, President and CEO at GWCF. “One of the changes was to shift our community grants program from a semiannual to an annual schedule to make more efficient use of staff and volunteer time and to increase the rigor of our grant making by facilitating comparison of proposals.”

Several fundamental values inform GWCF's grant making: access to opportunity, respect for diversity, and sustainable institutions. With these in mind, we are confident that a healthy and vibrant community can be realized.

Community grants are available for first-time applicants as well as existing and past grantees. Applications must be received by September 15, 2016. For more information, contact Jonathan Cohen, jcohen@greaterworcester.org or 508-755-0980.