The NiSource has established the NiSource Charitable Foundation/ Columbia Gas Fund for Merrimack Valley, a Field of Interest Fund at Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF).

This responsive grantmaking program invites nonprofits to develop or expand programs that focus on the core areas of Basic Needs & Hardship Assistance, Economic & Workforce Development, Safety, STEM and Energy Education and Environmental Stewardship.

Funding Categories

Grant requests must be consistent with the purpose of the program and could include requests for existing programs that address continued need, new programs or collaborative efforts in the following areas and sub-categories:

• Basic Needs & Hardship Assistance: Food, Shelter, Heating Assistance, Social Service and Mental Health
• Economic & Workforce Development: Retention and Attraction of Job Opportunities; Energy Infrastructure; Community Vitality
• Safety: Emergency Assistance & Disaster Preparedness, First Aid, Safety Education & Energy Safety
• STEM and Energy Education: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Energy Education
• Environmental Stewardship: Protection and Restoration of Natural Resources, Energy Conservation and Environmental Education

Funding Information

• Each application is eligible to apply for a grant between $25,000-200,000 per year.
• These grants are designed to be a one-time, one-year grant for funding within the next 12 months.
• This Fund will incent cross-organization and cross-sector collaboration.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are welcome from:
  • 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Collaborations of two or more 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Municipal applicants (City of Lawrence, the Town of Andover, and the Town of North Andover) only in partnership with a 501(c)(3) organization
• Preference will be given to applications/nonprofit organizations based in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover. However, applicants based outside of the area will be allowed on two conditions:
  • If the nonprofit applicant is based outside of the three communities, they must demonstrate a successful history of working within those three communities
  • If the nonprofit is based outside of the region and has yet to work within these three communities, applications will only be considered if they can demonstrate an innovative solution to an unmet need that will positively impact the people and places of three communities of the Merrimack Valley.
• Individual programs as well as cross-sector/cross-organization collaborations are all encouraged to apply.
• Municipal/501(c)(3) partnership applications must fall within the funding guidelines. Appropriate municipal approval is required per each proposal that falls within the category of municipal/nonprofit partnerships.

For more information, visit ECCF.