The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is accepting applications for its 2020 Critical Community Needs Program that focuses on especially severe challenges to the welfare and safety of people in North Central Massachusetts.

The Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity founded in 2001, created by and for the people of the North Central Massachusetts region. Since then, the Community Foundation has been helping people establish charitable funds and make grants to improve the quality of life in the 33 communities across region.

The Community Foundation works with individuals, families, financial advisors and nonprofit organizations. North Central Massachusetts has proven to be a compassionate and caring community - working together to make the region a better place to live today and in future generations.

Focus Areas

• homelessness, especially those providing low-threshold services;
• Opioid and other substance use disorders;
• Suicide prevention.

Requirements

• The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts supports programs, projects and initiatives within 33-community region that address the Community Foundation's goals and action areas, that are executed by non-profit organizations, and align with the applicant's mission.
• Proposals for competitive grants should address each of the following principles:
  • Capacity for impact: Demonstrate capacity and potential for achieving and sustaining long-term impact.
  • Plan of action: Include a plan of action with evidence that the plan is likely to achieve its intended outcomes.
  • Collaboration: Leverage new and/or existing resources, organizations, relationships, initiatives, and investments to improve the likelihood of significant impact, efficiency, and sustainability.
  • Gauging progress: Include measurable objectives and outcomes with a plan to monitor progress.

For more information, visit The Community Foundation.