Greater Worcester Community Foundation today announced the results of its 2025 Community Grants program: $2.13 million in project and operating support awarded through 170 grants to nonprofit programs and organizations across Worcester County.

This funding will support a broad range of local needs from youth development and basic needs to arts, health, and economic opportunity. This year’s awards include 77 project grants and 93 operating support grants, expanding the Foundation’s ability to meet nonprofits where they are and strengthen long-term organizational health.

The 2025 Community Grants also reflect an increasingly diverse network of partners: 26% of grantees are new to the program, and eight organizations received their first-ever grant from the Foundation, including Applewild School in Fitchburg, One Family in Worcester and Hope and Comfort Hygiene Hub, which serves the whole county.

Investments by Focus Area

The Health & Wellbeing focus area will be the most heavily funded this year at $542,000, representing a 51% increase in health-related investment compared to last year. Youth development and basic needs will also receive roughly half a million dollars each in investments.

Arts & Creativity — $355,000

Grants to 12 projects and 24 organizations will help local artists and cultural groups deliver community arts programs, workshops, festivals and creative experiences.

Grantees include:

• Open Door Arts: $15,000 to support the Open Door Gallery at Worcester Art Museum, a disabled-led and accessible space that showcases the work and stories of disabled artists.
• Worcester Chamber Music Society: $8,000 for its Neighborhood Strings program, offering free music lessons to youth from Worcester’s downtown and Main South neighborhoods, plus $7,500 in operating support.

Basic Needs — $496,000

Funding supports 13 projects and 21 organizations addressing urgent needs such as food security, shelter, housing assistance, and emergency support services.

Grantees include:

• Hope and Comfort Hygiene Hub: This nonprofit’s first grant from the Foundation of $7,500 will help distribute at least 450,000 essential hygiene products to an estimated 45,000 residents in Worcester County.
• Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts: SEACMA will receive $22,500 in operating support and $25,000 for its food security program, providing culturally and dietary relevant hot meals and groceries to Asian immigrants and refugees in Worcester.

Economic Opportunity — $240,500

Investments in nine projects and 10 organizations are advancing upward mobility through workforce development, training, and financial stability programs.

Grantees include:

• African Community Education Program: $25,000 for ACE’s Family Outreach Services, which provides sustained wraparound services to help refugee and immigrant families achieve stability and work towards self-sufficiency, along with $20,000 in general operating support.
• One Family, Inc.: Another nonprofit receiving its first grant from the Foundation, One Family will receive $7,500 for its scholars program, providing individualized academic and career coaching to single parent students in Worcester County.

Health & Wellbeing — $542,000

Funding supports 19 projects and 20 organizations expanding access to physical and mental health care, recovery services, and community wellness programs.

Grantees include:

• Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center: $15,000 for the Center’s harm reduction efforts, purchasing an on-site vending machine with free harm reduction supplies to assist people on their recovery journey.
• High Ridge Harmony Farm: Located in Westminster, this farm will receive $10,000 to expand equine-assisted wellness sessions to 20 students in alternative learning programs across Worcester County public schools.

Youth Development — $501,500

Grants support 24 projects and 18 organizations focused on youth empowerment, academic enrichment, mentoring and resources for immigrant families.

Grantees include:

• Applewild School: Located in Fitchburg, Applewild School’s first grant from the Foundation of $6,000 will support “Pancakes with Picasso”, a twice-a-year placemaking gathering that brings together over 140 preschoolers, families, and teachers to celebrate student artwork over pancakes and coffee.
• Edward Street Child Services: Edward Street will receive $22,500 in operating support and $18,000 for its Master Teacher Consultation Program, which provides coaching, professional development, and support to early education teachers and directors in Worcester County.

A number of considerations go into deciding grant awards and amounts, including the size of the organization and the overall operating budget. This year, 25 nonprofits received both project and operating grants from the Foundation.

About the Community Grants Program

The Community Grants program is made possible by people who have set up discretionary and field of interest funds with Greater Worcester Community Foundation and makes up approximately a quarter of the Foundation’s annual granting budget.

A full list of the 2025 Community Grant recipients is available for download. For more information about Greater Worcester Community Foundation, visit greaterworcester.org.