Boston Grants
Our grantmaking in Greater Boston/Massachusetts focuses on organizations that help teens and young adults get re-connected to a supportive community and become independent adults. Typical grants range from $2,500 to $20,000, with occasional larger and multi-year commitments.
When we evaluate proposals, we look at fit with our focus and the impact you are working toward with your program participants.
Target population
Within the spectrum of young adults, we tend to prioritize these segments:
- youth with mental health conditions or severe emotional disturbance [SED]
- youth experiencing homelessness
- justice-involved youth
- LGBTQ+ youth
- youth aging out of foster care
- immigrant or refugee youth
- neurodivergent youth (eg. autism spectrum, ADHD)
- youth needing workforce skills
Metrics
We like to see how you measure your impact on the population you serve. When you tell us about metrics, try to identify them as one of the following:
- Impact metrics measure long-term, fundamental changes in the lives of beneficiaries or in broader society. They answer: "Did we change lives or solve the problem?" Examples: Reduced poverty rates, improved health status, increased lifetime earnings, decreased homelessness
- Outcome metrics capture medium-term changes resulting from your programs. They answer: "What changed for participants because of our work?" Examples: Increased literacy skills, changed health behaviors, gained job skills, improved self-efficacy
- Output metrics measure direct products of your activities—what you deliver. They answer: "What did we do and how much?" Examples: Number of meals served, workshops conducted, people trained, counseling sessions provided
Financials
We don't overanalyze financials, but we often use 990s and third-party sources such as GuideStar, Impala and the Propublica Explorer in our review.
To request a grant in Greater Boston, start with the Initial Grant Request form.