Cambridge Sees Record Demand for Nonprofit Support as CCF Directs $1.5M to 161 Organizations
Unprecedented 65 percent increase in funding responds to growing pressure on local nonprofit sector.
April 2025
March 2025
Arts for All: Meet our Winter ASA Fund Recipients
CCF is pleased to announce two new grants totaling $13,150 through our Arrow Street Arts Fund, supporting local artists who enrich Cambridge's cultural landscape and create meaningful connections across communities. Since its launch in fall 2023, the fund has invested over $100,000 in local performing arts organizations, addressing a critical need in our arts ecosystem: access to affordable performance space for historically underrepresented artists. Through our partnership with Arrow Street Arts, we're ensuring their voices have a stage in the heart of Harvard Square. Meet our Winter 2025 grantees: Asian American Ballet Project presents "Receding and Reemerging," a ballet exploring themes of cultural memory and future possibilities through Asian American perspectives. The program features a Japanese American reimagining of Spectre de la Rose and a Philippine Forest tale, showcasing the talents and stories of AAPI dancers and choreographers. Theater Offensive, Inc. hosts the "Queer Republic Festival," a four -day celebration showcasing original theater, dance, and workshops created by queer and trans artists of color from historically underrepresented communities. Culminating from a 22-month residency program, the festival amplifies these voices while fostering connection, cultural dialogue, and creative innovation in Cambridge. "These artists represent the incredible diversity and talent of Cambridge's
Legacy of Love: How One Family’s Journey Continues to Support Cambridge Families Today
When Peter Sturges reflects on his brother Morris's life, his voice softens with emotion, even decades later. It's a story about family bonds, difficult choices, and, ultimately, a commitment to ensure that other Cambridge families have the support that wasn't available in the 1940s. "Morris' institutionalization has had a significant impact on our entire family in different ways. It was devastating, absolutely devastating," Peter shares. Born in 1941 with Down syndrome, Morris was the second child of Alice and Walter Knight Sturges. They later had four more children. "My parents had the financial resources to care for Morris at home, but not the support," Peter explains. "They had absolutely no encouragement from the medical profession, from their religious leaders, from their parents. And as a result, he was institutionalized." Following the advice of doctors, priests, and family, Morris, at the age of three, was placed at the Perkins School in Lancaster, Massachusetts. For his mother Alice, the separation was deeply traumatic. This decision had an enormous impact on the family for decades. Separated from his family, Morris lived in various institutions until his death in 2001 at age 59. Peter and his siblings often wondered
December 2024
Announcing our ASA FY25 Fall Grantees
Art has the power to bring people together, spark dialogue, and create belonging.
July 2024
Arrow Street Arts Fund awards new grants for local performing arts.
The fund invested $65K in 11 organizations in its first year.
April 2024
The Cambridge Community Foundation invests $645K in nonprofits responding to local needs and uplifting community
With record requests, 78 organizations receive funding this spring.
February 2024
Building economic mobility.
We've invested in Just A Start's Economic Mobility Hub, opening this year at Alewife.
Kicking off a multiyear collaboration to reimagine food pantries.
Cambridge needs to think big to solve food insecurity, and a new cross-sector collaboration funded by CCF is taking it on.
December 2023
Fifty-eight nonprofits receive $782K in grants
New grants build on a $1.1 strategic investment in food safety net earlier this fall.
August 2023
Our Fall grants cycle is open.
Nonprofits serving Cambridge are invited to apply to the Community Fund until September 25.
